1. How did you get started writing?
I’ve always had an interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy. One of my friends embarked on a writing adventure and to support his efforts, I went with him to a conference. It all went downhill from there.
2. Out of all your books, which one is your favourite and why?
Currently I have one book out. So it is my favorite right now. But once the others come out I will default to the parent’s answer: “I love all of my children equally.”
3. If your friends were asked to describe you in one word, what would it be?
Crafty
4. What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?
Before I started writing, It would have been playing strategy games. Now, It is cajun cuisine. For our twenty-fifth anniversary, my wife and I went to New Orleans and took a cooking class. Now, I am having fun experimenting with things beyond gumbo, jambalaya and ettoufee.
5. What do you love most about the genre you write?
My current novel is Wuxia, Asian Fantasy with martial arts and magic. I really like exploring aspects of Asian culture and literature as applied to swords and sorcery. Subtle things like quantified martial arts and mysticism of Qi and Qigong amped up with magic. I like that anyone can go take a class in Xing Yi and will immediately understand the foundation of my magic.
6. What do you want readers to take from your books?
I want readers to be entertained. Books got me through some tough spots in my life and I hope that my stories can do the same for someone in the future.
7. Describe yourself in 3 words.
loyal friendly connector
8. What made you decide to write in your current genre?
I grew up watching Shaolin Theater and I’ve studied Asian martial arts forever. I had submitted to an anthology for James Hunter at Shadow Alley Press and because of that, James encouraged me to take a swing at Wuxia.
9. Tell us about your current release/or new release?
This is a story about two young men who survive their village getting destroyed and are offered to attend a magic school. Think of it as a blend between Mortal Kombat and Harry Potter. I’m currently working on the next book even as you read this.
10. What does your writing space look like?
I have a bamboo standing desk that hold my MacBook pro and two twenty-six inch monitors in an office with french doors.
11. What’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without?
Macbook Pro – it has everything – Games, Scrivener, Kindle, Zoom
12. Do you find it hard to kill off your characters?
Not really. I had a character in this book that it made sense to advance the story.
13. How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
The characters are blend of some real people and fictional characters. My favorite thing to do is people watch, especially at coffee shops. I like to watch them and guess at their background from what I see and how they act.
14. What are you working on now? Can you share a teaser of it with our readers?
I am currently working on The Animals (Silver Coin Saga Book 2)—
Xan put his hand up on the scarred and blackened wood door. It was cold to the touch. He closed his eyes and reached out with his awareness and something about the door felt vaguely familiar.
“Open,” he whispered.
“Look!” Cho pointed to the edges of the portal. Golden bands formed around the edge and pulled back into the surrounding stone.
With a grunt, Xan pushed, and for the first time in four-hundred years, the door opened.
15. Is there one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing?
I haven’t written in Horror. I had a story idea come to me and I’ve workshopped it with a couple of horror writers. If my schedule frees up then I might take it on.
16. What do you do when a flash of inspiration hits you at an inopportune moment?
I have hidden in the bathroom of a party furiously typing notes into my phone so I could bottle the lightning while it was there.
17. What keeps you going while writing?
I love the telling of the story. While I am a serious outliner, there are definite discovery moments as I write and it is fun to see the nuances come to life from those strikes of creativity.
18. What’s next for you?
Book 2 for the recently release series and a collaboration on a science fiction work with an author in Denver.
19. Where can we find you on the internet?