I was born in San Antonio, Texas but spent nearly half my life overseas. I grew up on Misawa Air Force Base, Japan and then went on to Seoul, South Korea and then onto Osan Air Force Base, South Korea where I graduated from Osan American High School. I loved that life. I loved living in a country where I was able to absorb different cultures and traditions. I learned a lot from that and I use a lot of what I learned in my writing.
I started very early on. In fact, I can remember one of my elementary school teachers asking us all what we wanted to be when we grew up. My answer was that I wanted to either be a cartoonist or an author. Well, I didn't end up being a cartoonist (although I still draw and create my own characters). I went on to pursue the graphic design route, but I never did give up on writing. I think I really started to pursue it again when I was a senior in high school. That's when I tried to get a little more serious about it and also when I completed one of my first short stories. Ever since then, I have written several stories, flash fictions, a couple of novellas, two novels (Book One: Dragon and Indestructible: PAST (although that hasn't been released yet)), and working on getting out my third, Blood Ties: The First.
I've always enjoyed the creative process. I love taking things and seeing them through until they are something real. Something you can actually grab onto. For me, the creative spark really began in Misawa, Japan. All of my friends, myself included, would make up characters, cartoons and the worlds they would go in. Shortly after that I started drawing and spent a long time creating even more characters. It wasn't until a couple of class projects where we had to write and make our own books that I realized I could write about the characters that I drew.
Everything just sort of spun off from that and I've spent nearly my whole life creating these characters and sharpening them and their worlds until I have stories that I like. I hope that everyone else likes them too.
Please tell me about your novel. Who or what was your inspiration behind it?
Book One: Dragon is about two races, the Rooks and the Terraqouis, that inhabit the world of Purga.
Rooks have embraced science and technology, inventing helpful, microscopic robots called nanos to create any machine they need.
The Terraquois are their opposite. They embraced the spiritual, developing a deep bond with nature. This bond allows them to shift into the animal that resembles their own, inner selves.
These two races have fought each other with brutal savagery for centuries. But things change when the Rook prince, Rone Varlamagne, is attacked and left for dead by an unknown force. Keiara, the daughter of the Terraquois chieftain, finds him, but instead of killing him, she saves his life. It is one act. One conscious choice. But it changes everything for them and the entire world of Purga.
Together, they face foes from every direction...and they will stop at nothing to protect each other.
The inspiration behind this epic adventure sprung from my love of both science-fiction and fantasy. I wanted to create a believable world where these two genres existed together. Naturally, the two races would be in constant opposition. That all changes when a Terraquois girl decides to save the life of her enemy, a Rook. I wanted to show that even though they were different, they could still get along if they better understood each other.
What are some of your favorite genres to read and to write?
My favorite genres are science-fiction, fantasy, paranormal and a little bit of horror. I like reading and writing about places and universes where the rules change and anything can happen. I love worlds where superheroes actually exist, where people have amazing abilities, where magic is real, where people can travel through time, and where all those Boogieman monsters of your nightmares can actually show up to eat your face off. I've always had a passion for them, ever since I was a kid, and I love writing about them, with my own spin on things, of course.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What was the biggest compliment? Did those change how or what you did in your next novel?
The biggest criticism that I've received was for my novella Cat's Paw. The reviewer found that I used too much flowery words and purple prose and that I wasn't able to pull of my first person narrative. The biggest compliment that I've received was for Book One: Dragon. I've had several reviewers tell me that I am very imaginative and creative and that they loved how seamless I melded the genres of science-fiction and fantasy in my novel. With writing, you always take the bad with good. That's what I try to do. I like the positive reviews. I like the compliments. But I also like the criticisms. They help me learn and grow as an author. So yes, I will try to take those into heart when I write my next novel.
When you sit down to write, do you do it the old-fashioned way with pen and paper or do you use a computer? Do you prefer one way or the other?
I write on my computer, mainly because that's what I've always used. I will, however, outline and flesh out my plot lines on paper first.
What do you do when you are not writing? Do you pick up some from your to be read pile?
When I'm not writing, I'm doing what feels like a million other things. I'll read my to be read pile. I'll work on graphic design projects I have going. I'll get ideas for new stories and write them down. I'll play with my kids. Sometimes it feels like my brain is on creative overdrive, like I always have to be doing something to get the creative juices working.
Compared to when you first started writing, have you notice any big changes in your writing style or how you write compared from then to now?
I have noticed quite a few things. For one, I feel that my dialogue has improved drastically from when I first started writing. I recently read over one my very first short stories. The dialogue in it to be stiff, awkward, and generally horrible. I feel that it's more natural now and better formatted. My plots, characters and over all story lines have also improved a lot. The plots are more complex and the characters have more personality and layers. I have also developed a mentality that everything has to have a reason or an explanation behind it. From why this character did that, to why I decided to name my world Purga, right down to the names I give my characters. I think that this really gives my stories more strength and believability.
What do you look for in a book when you sit down to read for fun?
I usually look for a book that has a naturally good flow and an easy to read writing style. Errors and grammar mistakes do become a problem for me, but not until they are extremely prevalent in an author's book. If there's only a misspelled word here, or a missing punctuation there, or the wrong word somewhere, I usually don't let it bother me. The books that draw my attention to them first is a well-written blurb and (this one's important to me because of my graphic design roots) a really awesome cover. Also, they are usually sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal and sometimes horror.
What has been your favorite part of being an author? What has been your least favorite?
My favorite part of being an author is to completely create a new world with new rules. I love being able to make impossible things possible. For me, that's a lot of fun. I also love seeing my works up on a real site that other people can see and that they can buy. That's a little surreal. My least favorite part would be writer's block. That is certainly not fun.
When you walk into a book store, where do you head to first? Why?
I will typically head to the fantasy, sci-fi section. I love reading those kinds of books.
Did you get to quit your day job and become an author or do you still have a day job and writing is something you do for fun? If you still have a day job, what is it?
I am currently writing full time but in the process of trying to find a day job. I would still like to work as a full-time graphic designer because I love doing that too. My main specialty is with logos and vector illustrations.
What has been the strangest thing that a reader has asked you?
I haven't really had any strange questions from a reader.
What is your favorite junk food vice?
Anything sweet. I apparently have a major sweet tooth.
Besides writing and reading, what is your most favorite thing to do?
I love drawing and playing around on my vector illustration programs. I can create some really cool things including what I like to call photo to art. An example of that would be my author pic. I get a kick out of doing those.
Did you have any teacher in school that encouraged you to write? Did you take their advice?
I've actually had a few that told me I showed some promise with writing, but my fifth grade teacher is the one that really got me interested in it. One of our class projects he had us do was to create (and bind) our own books. We even had a little book release party when they were all completed. It was, by far, one of the coolest experiences I've had and it really sparked my interest in being an author.
We all have our little things when it comes to reading, is there anything that bugs you when you read a novel? What is it?
There are quite a few things, but the big ones are a really bad flow or pace to the story and awkward, unrealistic dialogue. Those would be my biggest pet peeves.
What do you listen to when you write? Do you find one type of music over another that inspires you to write? Why?
This might come as a shock to many people but I rarely listen to music. I do like it and will listen to it when someone else plays it, but I don't typically sit down and listen to it myself. I've always been more into reading than listening to music.
On a typical weekend, what can we find you doing? Who are you with?
On a typical weekend I am with my wife and kids and we are usually at the store buying groceries and things. Glamorous right? My wife will always try and find fun things to do, so occasionally we will go to the Zoo or something interesting that she's found.
What genre are you most looking forward to exploring during your writing career? Why?
I think horror. I am a huge fan of Stephen King and I'd like to write something as truly creepy and nightmarish as him someday. Cat's Paw was my first endeavor on that path.
Who was your current novel dedicated to? Any particular reason?
My first novel, Book One: Dragon was dedicated to my wife. She's always been there to see the mistakes that I've missed in my writing.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading the Guardians of the Akasha. So far, it is very promising and I really like the author's natural and easy writing style. Her story is very interested so far.
Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors are Jim Butcher, Stephen King, Terry Brooks, Piers Anthony and so many more.
What authors inspired you to write this particular novel? Why?
I don't really have a specific author that inspired me to write Dragon, but if I had to pick one, it would be Terry Brooks. He was the man that really hooked me on fantasy back when I was still in high school.
What 7 words would you use to describe yourself.
Creative. Imaginative. Intelligent. Artistic. I got four, is that close enough?
Which is your favorite character in your book and why?
It would be Rone. He felt like he was pretty stupid for hating the Terraquois and admitted that freely. Not a lot of people are willing to admit their mistakes. Also, he gets his leg cut off but still comes out strong. I can personally relate to that.
Is there anything else that you would like to share or say to those who will read this interview?
I really hope that Book One: Dragon is a hit with my audiences. If you like the book, pass it along. Share and recommend it to your friends. If you are a die-hard Histories of Purga fan, you can go to my website and sign up for the mailing list to get firsthand knowledge of new releases.
ASIN: B00A0P2UGM
Publisher: Rustin Petrae Publishing
Kindle (229 pages)
Purchase the book here: Amazon
Book blurb:
Now with a bonus sneak peak of Book Two: Roc.
HE WAS HER ENEMY. SHE SAVED HIS LIFE. THE REST IS HISTORY.
Rooks have embraced science and technology, inventing helpful, microscopic robots called nanos to create any machine they need.
The Terraquois are their opposite. They embraced the spiritual, developing a deep bond with nature. This bond allows them to shift into the animal that resembles their own, inner selves.
These two races have fought each other with brutal savagery for centuries. But things change when the Rook prince, Rone Varlamagne, is attacked and left for dead by an unknown force. Keiara, the daughter of the Terraqouis chieftain, finds him, but instead of killing him, she saves his life. It is one act. One conscious choice. But it changes everything for them and the entire world of Purga.
Together, they face foes from every direction...and they will stop at nothing to protect each other.
I found your great blog through the WLC Blog Follows on the World Literary Cafe! Great to connect!
ReplyDeleteSyl Stein