Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in a small Iowa farm town where books contained the only available adventures. I wrote my first published short story in 7th grade and the second in 8th grade. I moved to Mesa, Arizona, for high school and college where I became enamored by the microcomputer revolution. I became a specialist in teaching with technology. During my career in higher education, I've taught and coached nearly 800 instructors in how to use technology to motivate and educate students, but it took me away from creative writing into the publish-or-perish world of academia. To try to reclaim some of that enjoyment, I enrolled in a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Since then, I'm actively writing and enjoying everything about the process.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in a small Iowa farm town and moved to Mesa, Arizona, for high school and college. I've used farms and the Arizona desert for several settings in my writing.
What was your journey to getting published like?
Sporatic and shifting. With two short stories published as a youth and a series of professional articles and text books over 40 years of "publish or perish" in academia, I've really enjoyed publishing my first novel.
What’s the best piece of feedback you’ve ever received?
Get a writing coach or developmental editor.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Get a writing coach or developmental editor who has published in your genre. The Eagle Scout Picture as published is substantially the same as it was when I finished it as my thesis project for a Master of Fine Art in Creative Writing, but it is so much a better read. Every speck of improvement is due to my writing coach who consistently challenged me.
What’s a fun fact about you that your readers might not know?
I love to travel and have gone to every location in my writing.
What’s your guilty pleasure book or genre?
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I love how the author plays with format. I love the autistic character because I am autistic, too.
What’s your favorite quote about writing?
{From Vonnegut:
"Be a Sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them-in order that the reader may see what they are made of."
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Travel. Watch the plethora of movies and shows streaming now.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The first one I remember was Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. I was 12 when I read it, and it made me want to stay 12 forever.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
Steven King's "On Writing" which I read in my writing master's program. The assignment was to read it in parallel with one of his novels to critique how well he followed his own advice. I chose "The Body."
How do you deal with negative reviews?
I encourage negative reviews from my early readers. Their criticism is the only way to improve the work. Once in print and ebook, when things can't be easily changed, I remind myself that it is impossible to please everybody.
How do you connect with your readers?
I love to give presentations, meet with book clubs, and do signings. I appreciate the personal touch so much more than the social media approach.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Building The Eagle Scout PIcture into a book series.
Are there any Easter eggs or hidden messages in your work?
Sometimes, but I usually don't leave them hidden throughout the work. I do offer what I call "secret homages" to people and media. Sometimes, I rebveal them but some are open only to people in the know.
How do you approach writing dialogue for your characters?
The characaters live in my brain and tell me what they say and how they say it. so, I transcribe.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
Enjoy reading wether it is my work or that of others.
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.