WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER? Playing Dungeons & Dragons.
WAS THERE A TEACHER OR OTHER MENTOR WHO INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING? I was fortunate that Steve Niles, author of 30 Days of Night, was generous with his insight and encouragement.
HOW DID YOU GET THE IDEA FOR YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? The Crime Cats books were originally Christmas gifts for my 19 nieces and nephews. I never had intention of writing for kids. I was just looking for a way to stay in their lives and pass along some wisdom.
WHICH OF YOUR CHARACTERS FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING TITLE DO YOU BELIEVE ARE MOST LIKE YOU AND WHY? I see a lot of myself in Orville Dusenbury. He's the neighborhood recluse, who lives in a dilapidated house, and often relates to kids more than adults. He's a bit lost in life.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE READERS WILL GLEAN FROM YOUR AWARD WINNING BOOK? That we must let go of anger. It becomes poison to our bodies and souls if we hold onto it.
TELL US SOMETHING FUN ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A WRITER: More than a few of my readers believe I am actually a werewolf. So far, I've had nothing to do with the perpetuation of this myth.
IF YOU COULD BE COMPARED TO A WELL-KNOWN AUTHOR WHO WOULD YOU MOST WANT THIS TO BE AND WHY? John Bellairs. His work was a major influence on my own writing.
WHAT HAS HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE? My own self-discovery. The more I work through the process of figuring out who I am—and who I've been—the more I'm able to take part in life. I have a long history of dysfunction that stems from childhood trauma.
HOW DID YOU GET PUBLISHED? I self-publish.
IF A CLOSE FRIEND OR LOVED ONE WANTED TO WRITE A BOOK, WHAT GREATEST PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM? Write for the love of writing. The fewer expectations you place on yourself and the book, the more you'll enjoy it.
CAN YOU OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR WRITERS ON HOW BEST TO PROMOTE THEIR BOOK? Do it in person and often.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ACCOMPLISHMENT? Writing three novels. And by that, I mean I actually finished them.
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST LITERARY ASPIRATIONS? I would like to make my living as a creative writer.
TELL US SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT THEY MIGHT FIND INTERESTING: I was a punk rock recording artist once upon a time. I toured and still have fans all over.
WHAT (IF ANY) OTHER BOOKS HAVE YOU PUBLISHED?
Crime Cats: Missing (which won the Silver Medal in the Literary Classics Awards in 2016)
DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW BOOKS IN THE WORKS? I will be working on the fourth Crime Cats novel later this year
LITERARY CLASSICS Book Awards & Reviews International Book Awards • Top Honors Youth Book Awards • Seal of Approval http://www.clcawards.org
No comments:
Post a Comment