What is your writing process like?
I try to write as my schedule allows. Sometimes once a week, often more.
Writing tools are Scrivener, MS Word, and Open Office. Each one has characteristics that make it better for one task or another.
How do you come up with ideas for stories and characters?
My preferred genre is SciFi, with a touch of humor and maybe a little horror.
Traveling in our heliosphere on Solar Sail ships takes up four volumes of the H2LiftShip saga.
Some short published stories deal with breaking through the Time wall, avoiding cat parasites, AI tablets, Algae rocket ships, and outer space pirates. Some of those might be part of a book or two.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Time to step outside, maybe do something else for a while.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
My books use complex science and pseudo-science concepts. No magic, swords, or much romance.
The books should be no more than 4* unless the reader is a true science geek.
1* reviews are expected, although not a thrill to read.
What is the most challenging part of your writing process?
It's all challenging. Finding the time and motivation are the two biggies.
How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
I've been writing SciFi for 4 years as of 2023 and started this path at age 70
What advice would you give writers working on their first book?
Don't listen to advice.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I build the world, set the parameters around working science, toss it a few interesting characters and let them have at it.
To be honest, I wanted a nice friendly Space Opera.
The characters are now involved in a heliospheric war with two hives of AI tablets and algal rockets.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I'm on the 4th volume of the H2LiftShip saga. As a writer, I'm in a Schrödinger’s Cat dilemma. I both love and hate all my work at the same time.
And I'm not about to open the box.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
Writing is hard.
I try to write, edit, and go on without thinking about the hard times.
What inspired the idea for your book?
Einstein's discrepancy theory
What was your hardest scene to write, and why?
As above, they're all hard.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
A laptop and a lap.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Roger Zelazny, but he's dead, so I'll pass for now.
When was the last time you Googled yourself and what did you find?
Never and Nada