Here’s the top ten questions I get about being an author…

1.  Why did you want to become an author?

The question should be, why did you want to do anything else?  I’ve spent most of my career working in the business world architecting technical solutions for large corporations.  In between this, and raising a proper family, I have been writing.  To me, writing is one of the ultimate expressions of life.  You have the power to create amazing worlds, characters, and feelings that can be shared with others.  Writing is what I love to do.

2.  Who are your biggest influences?

The biggest influence for me would be my wife Nancy and my two boys Zach and Alex.  They are my true inspiration in writing and my life.  Without them, all this would be pointless.  Of course, my ultimate influence is God, without Him we have nothing.

3.  When did you start writing?

My first attempt at writing was actually with music.  It was 1976, I had just turned ten, and wanted to write a symphony.  I know, why not start with a jingle or a tune?  Not for me - I wanted an epic symphony.  Of course it was only two pages long, but it was my triumph.  Later that year I finished reading JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and was forever changed.  I knew at that moment I wanted to become a writer.  The way the story moved me and made my imagination grow was profound.  It was like an epiphany.  I quickly got to work on my epic novel, “Banderville”.  Thirty years later, I’ve completed it!  I’m hoping the next book doesn’t take thirty years…

4.  How many books have you written?

Over the many years of writing, I have worked on dozen or so short stories, several novels, a few magazine articles, and a couple technical books.  I am thankful I’ve had the chance to publish the technical books, however my passion is in fiction writing. 

5.   How long does it take to write a book?

The technical books were easy to work with.  Your agent/publisher defines the timeline – 6 weeks of writing, 6 weeks of editing, and about 6 weeks of publishing.  The fictional books are a bit more difficult.  In theory, it takes me about 6 months from start to finish.  However if you break it down further, you find that the overall book gets written in only about ten weeks.  The rest of the time is spent editing, rewriting, editing, rethinking - oh, did I say editing?.  I tend to write the first pass rather quickly – it makes you feel like you’re reading it for the first time.  It’s quite amazing to watch your fingers flying on the keyboard as the ideas spew forth onto the screen.  I write without knowing much about where the story will go - I find it much more enjoyable that way.  It's fun to watch the words drop onto the page and see what the characters will do.  That way, I get to be the first one to read the story!

6.   What would you do if you were not a writer?

This is an easy one.  I’ve spent most of my career as a computer consultant.  I love to work with complex situations at large corporations, trying to solve their computer system problems.  Architecting solutions is a blast.  In a weird way, it relates to the creative writing process – you sometimes have to be creative with your ideas to solve the problems.  It's quite fun.  Aside from that, I was heavy into music for a number of years, playing piano & tenor sax – professionaly even (well, I got paid - that's professional enough!).  I probably would have been a music teacher somewhere by day, and a fiction writer by night.  Or would it be a fiction teacher by day and a music writer by night?

7.   What do you like the most about life?

Life is the best part about life - although that’s too easy of an answer.  The reality is that everyday that shines with a new sun is great.  I love the adventure of a new day.  I love the new experiences.  I love the old and new friendships, the movies, the music, and of course the books.  The best part of life is in that fleeting moment between 3:45 and a quarter-to-four when it all makes sense.  You smile, sometimes chuckle, then get on with it.

8.  What do you like the least about life?

I suppose the hardest part about life is patience.  It’s hard to find that, especially when you’ve never had it.  Still, my two boys (Zach and Alex) help me.  I’m hoping to find patience and keep it before they have grown up and are searching for it themselves.  Then maybe I can make a map and show them where it is!

9.  Where do your characters come from?

The characters come from real life people.  Jon and Ben in The Magic Krystal Series come from my two boys Zach and Alex, but also from myself and my brother, Erik.  The character are similar, although not entirely.  However, Sophi the Wonder Dog is real.  She is an amazing golden retriever that is much smarter than me, especially when it comes to knowing when I want to rest and when I want to go outside and play ball.  She's always right about that.

10. What's your favorite book?

My favorite book is a tough one to sort out.  I have read loads books, most of them have been quite enjoyable (except perhaps the ones in college on 'Simultaneous Equations' or 'Telecommunications').  I would say that at the top of the list would be a series of books;  JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenent, Piers Anthony's  The Magic of Xanth and Apprentice Adept, and recently J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series.