When did you realize that you wanted to become a writer?
I have been writing for as long as I can remember. In high school I wrote a lot of poetry. I was an English major in college, so I wrote a lot of short stories and research papers for four years. I thought about writing a novel about eleven years ago, but I could never settle on a plot or find the time with two babies. Then about six months ago, I made the decision to really make an effort. Four months later, The War Within was completed.
Is being an Author all you dreamed of, or did it just happen? The best and worst thing about it?
No, being an author is definitely not what I thought it would be. When you pour yourself into something and then set it free into the world, it's like sending your child into the world. You worry how it's doing, if it is okay. Will it be successful? Will people like it? And you're never really ever done, just like parenting. I am constantly thinking about things I should have put in, changed, or taken out. I didn't expect to feel so much for my book. The best thing about being an author is being able to bring to life your characters, or as I like to call them my alter egos, and share them with the world. The worst thing about being an author is the publicity. It takes a lot of time and energy to get the word out about your book so that people will even know that it exists. It took me by surprise the amount of avenues I've had to travel down to promote my book and still only reached a handful of people.
What was the very first thing you ever wrote?
Besides journaling, the very first thing I ever wrote was a really mean poem to and about a boy who broke up with me for another girl.
What made you create (your book)? How did it come to you?
The idea for my book came to me one night after reading a lesbian romance novel. I said to my wife that all the lesbian books I seem to find have to do with two people finding love or fighting societal or family forces to get the love, but I really didn't find any that had to do with maintaining love and the ups and downs that go with it. The best I could find was stories ending in marriage. Without opening her eyes my wife said, "Well write one." That's really what I get for waking her up to share that enlightening thought. I know a lot of married couples with families but I haven't seen it portrayed in any books I've read. I stuck the mental illness aspect in to help spread awareness about the disorder.
Who is your literary hero?
My literary heroes are Edgar Allen Poe and Jane Austen. Edgar Allen Poe is one of my literary heroes because there is so much life in his poems. I get enthralled in the deepest recesses of the dark side of humanity's subconscious. Jane Austen is also one of my literary heroes because she wrote at a time when there weren’t many women authors. Jane Austen's works emphasize the societal image of women during her time and she didn't conform to it. She was basically a feminist before the feminism movement.
How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
All of my characters are based on either myself or someone I know. I am very familiar with a Kira, Avery, Evie and Emma and they all bring something different to my life.
Describe your main character in six words.
Six words to describe Kira: vulnerable, caring, afraid, depressed, lost, and exhausted.
Describe the world you’ve created in six words.
Six words to describe the world I created: cruel, disloyal, untrustworthy, confusing, unfair, and eventful.
What scene was your favorite to write?
My favorite scene to write was the confrontation between Evie and Avery. Through this conversation many positive traits were highlighted about Kira, demonstrating that people with mental disorders are more than just their illness.
What scene was the hardest for you to write?
The scene that was hardest for me to write was the confrontation between Kira and Evie. My heart hurt and I felt every emotion that went into that scene.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I am simultaneously working on book 2 in the War Within Series and a romance novel involving a firefighter.
Goals? Accomplishments? Improvements?
I would like to write at least one best seller in my life. Some of the things I have accomplished are writing a full length novel and being able to connect and speak with authors I have admired for years. Since I believe that you never stop learning (that's the teacher in me), I would like to improve my writing and expand my creativity. I would also like to achieve successfully editing my novel before the eighth version.
Are there any authors or books you recommend?
Yes, absolutely. I have too many really, so I'll just list a few of my top ones. Raw by Belle Aurora, Say Something by Jade Winters, Veritas by MJ Duncan, In Absentia by Kelli Jae Baeli, London Calling by Clare Lydon, Driven Series by K. Bromberg, Fighting Series by JB Salsbury and Awaiting My Assignment by AJ Adaire.
What's your favorite thing to do when you're not writing?
My favorite thing to do when I am not writing is photography. I used to do it professionally part-time but now I do just for fun. I shot and designed the cover of The War Within.
