If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? Well,
I assume that going into the future would be safer, since there would
more likely be the technology to refuel the time machine and send me
back if things did not work out. However, I am always fascinated by
historical stories. When I visit museums, I stare at the exhibits trying
to imagine how every detail actually looked and felt in the long ago. I
suspect it was more vibrant than books and movies depict it, so given
the choice, I would go back the past (just to test my theory).
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? A
fully staffed cruise ship, a bathing suit, and a credit card. Barring
that cheat, I would probably need a good knife, some rope, and a book
about how to survive on a desert island. That would not leave me
anything fun to read, but I could daydream and sing without worrying
about who would hear me.
Nickname? I drew a short straw in the nickname
department. The most common is, wait for it, Moon. In order of
frequency, I have also been called Moondoggie, Moondog, Moonie, and
Moonbeam. A couple of people call me Scotty. I should consider myself
lucky, because in the crew I run with, these are tame. At home my
favorite is Daddy, but only four people get to call me that.
If you were a superhero what would your name be?
Something hard to say, like Captain Indefatigable. The super villains
would have aneurysms trying to say my name during their monologue and I
could hit them with a surprise attack.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose? Flight.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Chocolate!
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? My grandpa Jack or my grandma Ruth. I was too young to know them when they died.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Raisin Bran.
Night owl, or early bird? That depends on what time
my pager goes off. If no one is barricading themselves in their houses,
doing drive-bys, or causing a riot, then I am generally a night owl
because that is the best time to write—fewer distractions.
Pet Peeves? People who see a police officer and
immediately push their kids toward the officer and say, “If you don’t
behave, he will arrest you and take you away.”
Skittles or M&Ms? M&Ms, all the way. When I
was a detective in the Exploited Missing Child Unit, the detective
across the hall kept a large jar of M&Ms. Some days, I ate
everything in the jar.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. The characters are great and they get into all kinds of trouble.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? I
have recently finished book two of the Dragon Badge series and have set
it aside to cool before beginning revisions and edits. In the meantime I
am rewriting a science fiction novel from scratch that I am excited
about. When both of these projects are done I want to revisit about six
of my previously completed manuscripts (urban fantasy, dystopian
thrillers, and fantasy) and either shop them for an agent or
self-publish.
My new projects, stories that range from rough outlines to partially
complete manuscripts, include all of the above genres plus something I
call cowboy fantasy. This is very exciting. Last summer I started a
“90,000 words in 90 days” project writing the cowboy fantasy, but quit
after about 20,000 words to work on my Dragon Badge series again.
What inspired you to want to become a writer? Writing
was the first thing, besides snow skiing, that I felt I was really good
at. As a kid I always wanted to be on the ski patrol, which was tough
to do in Kansas. I remember writing a story in third grade that the
teacher praised, which was cool because I daydreamed too much to excel
in most subjects. When I was twelve, my mom suggested we write a book
for kids my age, which we did. I think she still has it somewhere.
Can you see yourself in any of your characters? I
try not to. No one wants to read about me. I also take deliberate pains
not to allow real people or their stories into my books. Fiction should
be fiction, in my opinion. Plus, my personal experiences would be
embarrassing and I am shy.
Hidden talent? I can make someone not want to fight
me. The trick is to “be nice” just like Patrick Swayze said in
Roadhouse, while at the same time being absolutely ready to throw down.
How do you react to a bad review? I cry, not
literally, because that wouldn’t be manly. The process for me starts
with admitting that the bad review is a punch in the gut and then
rallying to write better, if the criticism has any merit. I am an
introspective, self-critical person (ask my wife) and tend to assume any
fault is my fault. Then, and this is the important part, I read one of
my stories. It does not take long to impress myself with the raw genius
and power of my narrative style. LOL. I focus on the writing, have some
fun with it, and run through green meadows of nirvana.
Who are your favorite authors of all time? Stephen
King, Dean Koontz, Patrick O’Brian, Bernard Cornwell, George R.R.
Martin, James Clavell, Elmore Leonard, Thomas Mullen, Ken Follett, J.K.
Rowling, Michael Moorcock, Michael Connelly, Philip Roth, Cormac
McCarthy, and I had better just stop there.
I like J.K. Rowling for story and character, Stephen King for
character, Elmore Leonard for pace and dialogue, Michael Connelly for
depth of setting and development of Harry Bosch, and Michael Moorcock
and George R.R. Martin for world building. Patrick O’Brian, Thomas
Mullen, and Ken Follett blew me away with their historical fiction.
Cormac McCarthy and Philip Roth inspire me with their overall power and
James Clavell took me far and away. They all do everything to near
perfection, but that is how it falls out for me when I really think
about it.
What was your favorite children’s book? Leo the Late Bloomer.
What do you do in your free time? After work,
family, writing, and reading I enjoy exercising, playing the guitar,
watching movies, drawing, and a ridiculously long list of hobbies.
Exercising should be its own sub-category, because it includes weight
lifting, running and other cardio, flexibility, and martial
arts—Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate. I had a teacher in high
school who did me the dubious service of convincing me I could do
anything I want, so anything I see that is cool, I want to do. But
mostly, I write, read, and hurt myself working out.
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre – Contemporary Fantasy
Rating – R
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