What book from your childhood do you remember the best? Why?

Not a singular book, but a collection. My parents and I were taking a road trip from Missouri to New York and stopped for lunch. My mom and I went into a used bookstore. We left with a full set of hard cover Nancy Drew books. I spent the rest of that vacation lost in mystery. The memory is both bittersweet (I would lose my mother a few years later) and inspiring. Mystery is a good teacher for how to hook a reader without cheating. Those books started to form what would become my writing voice.

Does writing energise you, or exhaust you?

Yes. It really depends on how many rounds I’ve had to go with my characters. You’d think I had control, but no. They do as they like, and negotiations can be tiring. But when we all get along, I’m ready to take on the world!

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Be brave. Trust your voice. Find your people. It’s all too easy to look at the writing world and be intimidated. The act of writing is a solitary thing, but community can inspire and charm and take the frightful edge off the craft. You still have to do the work yourself, but you don’t have to be alone.

What does literary success look like to you?

My name in lights! Tickets sold out months in advance! No, wait. That’s Broadway.

My book on a library shelf. As a child, I practically lived in libraries. My favourite job was in a library. I still keep a social media eye on some of the people I worked with. In my heart, libraries are one of the most important institutions we have. And yes, I have shifted books to make room an for as-yet-unfinished novel. It’s going to look goooooooood.

If you didn’t write, what would you do? Or, if writing is not a full-time job, what do you do?

Cry? I stopped writing for a couple of years. Life wasn’t kind, and I let myself believe it was for the best. I was wrong.

I do have a full-time job. It gets in the way of everything I’m trying to do, but when something matters, we find the time, right? We do what we need to until we can do what we are supposed to.

What inspires you?

My wife. She has invisible pom-poms permanently attached to her hands. She encourages me to keep writing, keep reaching. She’s a brilliant writer herself, so she’s wonderful at helping solve hitches and glitches. And she makes a mean spaghetti. (Pasta being a key ingredient in sucessful writing, you know.)

Did you always want to be an author?

Always.

Besides hard work and talent, what other traits have led to your success?

Timing and luck. Being surrounded by people who both encourage and know what they are talking about. My journey with Black Hare Press began with the Apocalypse anthology. A writing friend (Hi Michelle S!) posted the call. I submitted my first ever drabble 15 minutes before the call closed. It was accepted and here I am!

It is, however, important to keep an eye out for that timing, for that luck. Had I ignored the post, we might not be having this conversation.

What is a little-known fact about you?

I had to fight off a giraffe once.

Were you an avid reader while you were growing up?

My childhood was pre-internet. Reading was escape, entertainment, and education all rolled up in wondrous format. I used to buy a purse based on how many books I could carry.

In relation to your latest book;

What sparked the idea for this book?

This is the origin story of a character in a project I’ve been working on. She wanted to tell her story, but there wasn’t room in the main work.

Which of your main characters do you relate to the most? Why?

Sidanthe. She is the nurturing peacekeeper. I can identify with that role. Neither of us are pushovers, but we do take care of our people.

What’s your favourite scene?

The battle for Sidanthe’s mind was a lot of fun to write. Given that there were no physical wounds, it was a challenge to translate the fight.

And, lastly;

What’s brewing? What projects are you working on?

Quite a few things! I’m finally getting around to starting a newsletter. (Follow any of my social media if you’re interested.) I’m working on creating some online writing courses, as well as offering coaching services for people who would benefit from some one-on-one time.

How many half-finished and unpublished books do you have right now?

Too damn many! But two major projects right now. One is a trilogy where we will see some of the characters from Chrysalis. The other is a collection of short stories, all set in the same post-apocalyptic world.