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Stump the Author
Q: How would you describe your writing style?
A: Heavy on action and suspense; light on dialogue. I also try to limit backstory. I feel too much of it slows down the pace. But sometimes it can't be avoided. Basically, I'm trying to make the reading experience a five hour, high intensity workout for the mind. Q: Your books are rated very high. Readers seem enthralled with your work. Whatever you're doing must be working. A: I've read so many novels where they didn't start to get good until the last 75 pages or so. My plan with each of my novels is to start page one at the good part and maintain the excitement all the way through. Q: What does your writing process look like? Do you work off an outline? How do you come up with your plots? A: I think the plots have been in my head all along. But for whatever reason, they're just now bubbling to the surface. I usually have the beginning and the ending in my head before I sit down and start writing the story. Then I just fill in the rest. Q: Do you have a special spot where you like to write? A: Yes. The basement in my house. I have some weightlifting equipment down there. I write between sets. Some days when the writing is going well the workout becomes a sit-down. I used to listen to hard rock while writing. I thought maybe the music boosted my adrenaline and made my action scenes more hardcore. But I eventually had to turn down the music. It's difficult to type while head-banging. Typos were popping up everywhere. And the dog was giving me some weird looks. Q: Who is your intended reading audience? A: All literate males and females ages 16 to 99, and anyone who enjoys novels containing copious amounts of action and suspense. Q: What about all the centenarians out there? Why not include them in your reading audience? A: I figure they're probably blind by that age. But if they can still see, why not? Q: Why are you writing mostly eBooks? A: In this economy I wouldn't feel right about asking someone to plunk down 15 to 20 bucks for a print book. On the other hand, an eBook is an exceptional bargain. There are thousands of titles available for less than four bucks. You can even get some for free. But after saying all that, I do have a print versions of The Grace Painter and The Treasure Box. Q: What are you working on now? A: Near the end of 2014, I published the second book in the Grace Series. The book is entitled The Treasure Box. In 2016, I published the fourth and final book in the Battle Series. This book is entitled Battle Sky. And in August of 2017, I published the first book in a new series entitled, Chronicles of the Mercy Giver. I'm currently writing the follow-up to it. Q: Battle Scream, Battle Storm, Battle Siege and Battle Sky are certainly exciting reads, but some may be a little squeamish about the subject matter. Why did you write these books? A: We tend to forget that there is an unseen, supernatural war of epic proportions being fought all around us. It's a little unnerving to think about, but visiting this topic helps us to keep our guard up against the Evil One, who night and day wants to destroy our lives. These books are also metaphors of my own spiritual battles. I hate Satan. And I've declared war on him. This probably isn't the safest thing for me to do. But I'm all in, and I know God has my back. Q:What is the significance of the birds on the Battle Scream and Battle Siege book covers? A: The cover is a reference to Revelation 19:17-21. Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers? A: Yeah, I do. Find a different hobby. Try golf. You'll be equally frustrated, but at least you'll be sporting a nice tan for your efforts. Q: Of your seven books, which one is your favorite? A: I would say it's a tie between Battle Storm and The Treasure Box. Battle Storm was a blast to write, and The Treasure Box has a good message to it, a message I need to take to heart. Q: Final question. What is the takeaway message of The Grace Painter? A: We all have made mistakes we regret, mistakes we can never seem to forgive ourselves for. And many of us yearn for a shot at redemption to make things right. The protagonist in my book struggles with this very issue for nearly a decade. He eventually gets his shot at redemption and takes advantage of it. But most of us may never get a chance to redeem ourselves. We would be better off to just forgive ourselves and move on. Leave the past in the past. Life is too short to waste looking backward. After all, only God can truly redeem us. |