How did you
start your writing career?
I’ve
been trying to write my whole life, with little scraps of story ideas trailing
behind me like autumn leaves. I didn’t focus on writing until ’99, though.
That’s when I happened to sit beside an older gentleman on a plane who was a
published writer. When I mentioned I always wanted to write, he said “Well
start early, you might get published before you die.” Shortly after that I
bought myself a computer and started to write. My first book, a memoir of
sorts, was published in 2003.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
Tell us about your current release.
Amish Vampires in
Space
is a science fiction tale, filled with a good dose of suspense, some realistic
Amish (and futurist non-Amish) culture, a little humor, and a dash of romance.
Think Witness meets Pandorum. Or maybe Dracula meets Beverly’s Lewis’s The
Shunning.
The
story is about a number of things, but primarily it explores the conflict
between self-defense and the defense of loved ones versus adherence to
tradition. That’s the idea that drew me to the story: What happens when you put
a group of agrarian pacifists in a ship with a very real threat from which they
cannot escape?
My
hope is for the next release to be a sequel. Though Amish Vampires in Space has a definite ending (no cliffhangers)
there are some characters and situations I’d like to explore more. I’m far
enough along now—80,000+ words—that it is starting to seem like a real book.
Not sure how it will all work out yet, but I’m excited about it.
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
The
hardest part of writing AViS was keeping the characters in line. They kept
begging to run the show. Getting them to service the plot was the difficult,
but I think it worked out okay.
What do you think makes a good story?
It
has to be about something. It has to have some overarching theme that ties it
all together. It doesn’t have to be blatant, or even that profound, but the
story has to have meaning.
The
best stories also have resonance. They have that one scene or that special
character that will stick with the reader long after he or she has closed the
book. Resonance is a plus, but theme is a must.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I
don’t have a cellphone. That one is probably extra surprising because I used to work in the software industry
and I’m still a bit of a gadget guy. But a cellphone...I don’t like the
interruption aspect of it. I like to have time where I know I can just think.
Call me reclusive. J
Do you come
from a large or small family? Is it a blessing or a curse? For instance…..
I
have two siblings. Not sure if that qualifies as a large or small family, but
it feels right to me. (I have three children, as well.)
Growing
up, my family dynamic was a little unusual in that my younger brother was/is
thirteen years younger than me. (My sister is just three years my junior.) I
was in high school when he was a baby. So it was almost like he had two mothers
and two fathers.
I
thought that was a blessing, though. The only time I ever had the high school
cheerleaders mob me was when I was holding my baby brother. J
What songs are most played on your Ipod?
I
don’t have an iPod either (egads!) but lately I’ve been listening to Daughtry
and Weird Al. Go figure.
Quick Picks:
Favorite
color:
Orange
Favorite
season:
Autumn...until
the leaves start to fall.
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