Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an author, screenwriter, and blogger. I have written one novel of supernatural suspense, one short horror story, three screenplays, and one cat memoir which are all available from Amazon. Two of my works, The Strangers Outside and A Good Man, have been turned into films. My short film script Next to Her is currently in pre-production.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a cat memoir. It’s called Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story. I started to write Avalon a few days after his passing in July 2013. I wasn’t ready to let Avalon go and the book was a way to keep him alive through my writing.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I love to write at the airport… at night. The airport is almost abandoned during the night, but some coffee shops there stay open all night. There’s no better place to write.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
John Saul inspired me for my supernatural thrillers Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside. For my cat memoir, Avalon: a Heartwarming True Cat Story, I wanted to know what works and what doesn’t in this type of story, so I read every pet book I could find.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently putting together a movie reference guide on animal attack movies containing essays from several writers. The contributors are a mix between film historians, filmmakers, screenwriters, bloggers, horror fiction authors, film critics, film festival programmers, film distributors, and writers of movie reference books.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Mentioning my book on my own blog and collecting reviews from top Amazon reviewers and bloggers.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep improving yourself. Keep learning about your craft and about book marketing. Think hard about the emotional impact you want your stories to have and work consistently in that direction. Many works are forgettable because the emotional impact is missing. A book can be well-written, original, and smart, but if the reader doesn’t feel anything, the book will have less potential. And no DIY book covers, please.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Taking up one idea and making it your life in order to see real changes. However, I’m horrible at prioritizing. I want to do it all. I’m currently traveling, promoting my latest book, editing a new one, and growing two blogs. I’d better be following this advice myself.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Children of the Most High by Anna Scanlon.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next for me are several movie reference works, a horror novel, and a drama. This summer, my short story Next to Her will be filmed. It’ll be part of an anthology film.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The first two ‘olive’ books from Carol Drinkwater.
Author Websites and Profiles
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