What is your writing process like?
I still tend to write the old-fashioned way, with a pen and paper and, though a longer process that some other authors sometimes don't quite understand, I find that it is a great way to review, re-read and edit my stories one more time before they get typed up. Besides, for me, there is still something special about the flow of ink on paper.
How do you come up with ideas for stories and characters?
The world we live in, the people around me, provide unique traits for my characters. I find that I do take bits and pieces of interesting people and sort of mend them together into alluring and interesting characters in my novels. I get ideas from everything from the news, television shows and documentaries and, of course, the internet. Some are derived from stories that people tell me about themselves or other people they know. I also tend to put small pieces of myself into my books. Often times, I am just thinking up the stories that I would like to read or see in a movie, perhaps.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Boy, do I know writer's block, as I think every author does. I can be in the midst of writing an intriguing story when, suddenly, nothing. My mind just sort of stops or simply starts second guessing everything I have written. I can't concentrate or create, and I know then that I have to step away for a bit. Sometimes, that has happened in spans of a couple of months! I never force myself to write the story. It has to be in my mind, playing like a movie. Typically, I will overcome writer's block by doing some blogging on my website or switching to another book idea for a while, a change of scenery, so to speak. For me, it works, but I've certainly been known to write two books at once on several occasions.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
It takes thick skin to be a writer, or creator of any sort really, because someone will always be judging, maybe even criticising work that I have put my heart and soul into. It's always tough to hear critical feedback, but I try to remember that my stories aren't everyone's taste, and I try to use their feedback to make myself a better writer. I try to view the negative as fuel for improvement. Besides, there is no worse critic of my work than me!
What is the most challenging part of your writing process?
Nothing about penning a novel is truly easy, even as intriguing as the story may be to write but, for me, the biggest challenge is to try to keep it interesting enough for my readers not to put it down. I want every novel to be a page-turner, a story that leaves them wanting more. I feel the need to provide readers a delightful escape from their everyday lives with my books. The real challenge for me is making sure that they end my book as a fan of mine.
How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
I started writing at twelve years old, when I was assigned an essay to write in my english class. I ended up writing far more than was necessary, and I found it to be very therapeutic. As a teenager and only child, writing helped me through a lot of problems that I felt I had no one to really confide in about. It really saved me a lot of the time. I wrote a ton of poems and short stories to get my feelings out, most of them I still have today, more than 30 years later.
What advice would you give writers working on their first book?
I actually get this question quite frequently from budding authors who ask me for advice. I always tell them to write from the heart, without worrying what other people will think of it, and not to be afraid of it not becoming a best seller. Many great books aren't. My biggest piece of advice is never to do it for the money. Writing a novel is a huge challenge that requires every ounce of one's courage and heart. The payoff should be that you finished writing it.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
It really depends on the story but usually, it plays in my mind like a movie I am watching on TV. I can see the character in action, not only his words and actions but his entire personality, his stance on various issues, the way he stands, his facial expressions and reactions to others. The character becomes almost real to me, as if I see and interact with him in my own world. I know everything about the character and the way they travel through the story.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I have written and published seven novels and am currently writing my eighth now. Each has required my blood, sweat and tears, so to speak, so it is tough to pick a favorite, but I suppose Cigars & Coffee is a definite contender. Tied with it would probably be Within the Depths.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
Each of my books have a little piece of my life in them so certain parts can definitely be a challenge to write, but I think the most difficult for me are the tough goodbyes, the heart-wrenching moments of a character's life. Some have brought me to tears writing them, but I want my readers to feel it and identify with my characters and their hardships.
What inspired the idea for your book?
Well, again, I garner ideas from all sorts of interesting people and stories. The crazy world we now live in easily provides plenty of reading material.
What was your hardest scene to write, and why?
I mentioned earlier that the hardships and woes of my characters are always the toughest. A breakup or a husband going off to war, perhaps, where a tough goodbye must happen. Maybe even a death that someone has to bear. These moments are very real to many of my readers as they may easily identify and recall the agony of the situation. Some still bring me tears.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I have a writing room in my house that is only mine, and I fill it with books, mood music and even storybook decor, like old army chests, a mysterious set of golden keys and an hourglass - just things that remind me of storytelling and fantasy. I love having the atmosphere, almost like I'm living in a book myself. Even as much as I love my room, I've also been known to write at the kitchen table. All I really need is a pen and paper with a good idea.
If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?
Great question and a tough one to answer because there are so many terrific ones. I would probably choose someone like Stephen King or Anne Rice so that I could pick their minds a little.
When was the last time you Googled yourself and what did you find?
Are you kidding? I google myself every month, looking for my books and author interviews, tidbits that might have been posted that just maybe I haven't seen yet. I usually find my books listed on various websites and stores, which is still always a thrill to me, but not much more.