What is your writing process like?
I spend time with the main characters as if they were here with me.
How do you come up with ideas for stories and characters?
I love history, everything comes out of history for me.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Absolutely nothing, for me it is all about finding the time and the energy, the stories are there, waiting to come out.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
I try my best to learn, if there is a legit criticism. Example - i have accused of being cryptic, I hope I fixed that in the 2nd volume of the Watchers series. "The 36 Watchers book I: Fall.", and "The 36 Watchers, book II: Spring", are a conspiracy theory / fantasy / Sci Fi / thriller
in the wheel house of the Da Vinci code and the matrix. In book I i may have indulged a bit too much in the richness of the material, after receiving criticism about that, I took it to hear in book II. I think i did a good job with it :)
What is the most challenging part of your writing process?
"Show, do not tell", is a big part of script writing. I did co-write 3 scripts. I love that concept. As film is visual, it is easier to obey that principle. It is harder to do so in a book, this is my challenge,
How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
Decades, started very young but not very good...
What advice would you give writers working on their first book?
Voices, make sure your characters are not all speaking in one voice.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
I think about my characters as if they were here with me. Then I work the broad strokes of the story, I need to know the ending and work my way through to that ending.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
3 books, My favorite is part II of the 36 Watchers series.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
Dialogs are the hardest, to make them flow right and make the reader like he is a part of the conversation is a challenge.
What inspired the idea for your book?
Honestly, It just happened, i was visiting Tel Aviv, Israel, stayed at a fabulous apartment, 12 floor, balcony, right on the beach of the beautiful Mediterranean, I was chilling with the night sky, and then inspiration struck, I turned on the laptop and the first chapter wrote itself out.
The rest is history (pun intended).
What was your hardest scene to write, and why?
The scenes about the evil power. They are cruel, some of my readers stopped reading them.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
A mix of very healthy exercise routine and very unhealthy snacks.
Exercises - running, sit-ups, pushups. A few squat-thrusts and weights
Snacks - mixed nuts, chocolate. potato chips, Order varies.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Oh wow, that a tough one, If Umberto Echo was still with us it would be him.
Otherwise Dan Brown, Becky Chambers.
When was the last time you Googled yourself and what did you find?
I do it regularly. I found another review of book I of the 36 Watchers series, pretty cool.