Tell us a little about yourself :Born 1956 in Gonzales, Texas. I was adopted by my grandparents who raised me as their own son. Later in life I went from being the youngest child in the family, to being the oldest of enough brothers and sisters to form my own basketball team (with cheerleaders). My first marriage produced my son, Scott (yes he is referred to as Scotty, my favorite Star Trek character), a couple of years later my daughter Leia (yes, she is named after my favorite princess) and now have four granddaughters. After serving 13 years in the US Army as a medical NCO, I left the service and moved back to Gonzales where I met my wife Kathy. We will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this year.
When did you decide to become a writer?
This is a good question. I actually started writing when I was still in High School. Mostly short stories and poems that have disappeared over the years. My first wife didn't show any enthusiasim toward my work, so neither did I. Then one day Kathy was going through a stack of papers I had in a metal cabinet and asked me what they were. After telling her about the books she read them and stated "You have to get these published." So even though I started writing when I was about 16 or seventeen years old. I really didn't start to seriously write until I was near 45.
What was your first published work?
My first published work is The Sea Huntress.
What is your dream as a writer?
My dream is to write stories that people enjoy to read. Not stories that make them think about social problems, how depressing life can be or how depressing my life has been, or anything else that writers try to put into their books.
What writing avenues are you currently pursuing?
My only work right now is in the Sea Huntress series. The first and second book in the series have been published, and now I'm polishing up the 3rd installment, The Sea Huntress: Unwelcomed Visitors. There is also another series that I will try launching in the near future, which is named Blue Death/Red Courage: Chronicles of Team Panther.
Is there anything you wish you had been told earlier in your career?
That people would pay to read my books. Yes, there were signs that people would read them, and that they enjoyed read them, but nothing told me that they would pay money to read them.
What advice can you offer writers just breaking into a serious writing career?
Be ready for what your about to do. Writing the book is only one part of the process. It's going to take a lot of hard work upon their part. Don't think that you can just write a book, then wait for the money to come rolling in. You have to do a lot of research into the process. Also don't think that every bookstore is going to wrap their arms around you, as though you were some long lost relative. You have to show them why they should stock your book. As well, don't think that you can go to a booksigning and just sit behind a table, expecting people to beg for your book. Your in competition with every other book that is in that store. You have to demonstrate to the customer why they should buy your book, especially if it cost more than others in the same genre.
Anything else you want our readers to know?
My book, The Sea Huntress, has gained more popularity than I expected in the short time that it has been out. Every, and I do mean every person that has read it always ask me the same question: "When is the next book coming out" or "Is this going to be a movie?" Not only does this do great things for my ego, but it helps to spread the word about my books, because the reader wants more. Which is what every writer should want. Right?
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