Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an Atlanta, Georgia, native who currently resides in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with my wife and daughter. I attended Roosevelt High School in Atlanta, continuing my education at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia for two years. I met my future wife in Atlanta after my second year at Mercer and transferred my junior year to Georgia State University.
In 1973, with new responsibilities, I became an Atlanta Police officer while attending college full time, attaining a BA degree in English Literature from Georgia State University in 1974. I retired from the Atlanta Police Department in 1996 after a very fulfilling and personally satisfying career.
I’m an award-winning cover designer, best-selling, and prolific author, writing in a wide variety of genres. My novels are; Seven Fish Tree, The Yellow Bus Boys, Transmutation: The Life of a Twisted Cop, RED, and The Yellow Bus Boys Go Blue: Canada Bound.
I co-authored a novel with Texas author, D.A. Grady entitled Around The Campfire: Two Badge Toters’ Tales.
I have three novellas and a short story in my paranormal/ghost/historical romance Cramped Quarters series, consisting of Mary’s Trunk, Mary’s Journey Begins, Mary’s Journey Continues, and Paul’s Story.
I’ve published a short story, The Dead and the Dying, that also appears in the horror anthology, Dark Tales. Another of my published short stories, J, also appears in the anthology, Short & Fun Stories.
I have two books of poetry, containing superb photography (courtesy of my brother-in-law, J. Robert Sosby) Without From Within: Poems by Ron Shaw (available in English and French) and TraVerses: Poems by Ron Shaw.
My latest works are; a novelette, Christmas Past: An Angel’s Story, a collection of poetry with photographs, Southern Brewed Poetry, and a novelette, The Rebooted.
Currently, I have twenty-four published pieces available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iTunes.
RED, my erotica novel, will be published in French during the first week of October 2016.
Our collaborative poetry book will be entitled Poetry East to West.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest books are a novelette entitled The Rebooted and a 152-page book of photography entitled Photography by J. Robert Sosby.
The Rebooted sprung from an event in our life that occurred during the late 1950s. My younger brother was injured in a pedestrian-vehicle accident. His life hung in the balance for a time. In The Rebooted, I update and tell this story with a horror twist in time for Halloween 2016. It’s a scary tale about life, death, and bringing back the dead.
My photography book took many months to complete. It was done as a promise to my brother-in-law whose fine photos I’ve used in my three poetry books, two for covers, and J’s short story cover.
I’ve advertised it as, “Finally, a book that shows rather than tells!” It’s filled with beautiful photography by J. Robert Sosby and as luck would have it, very little text.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, not really. I write when the stories present themselves. My process is simple. Regardless of time or day, when the muse speaks I’ll write. I don’t have a set regiment. I may write a short story or novelette in one sitting if the story pushes enough.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
My primary author influences are; William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Edgar A. Poe, Jonathan Swift, James Dickey, Flannery O’Connor, Dan Brown, Hunter S. Thompson, and Jack Kerouac.
What are you working on now?
I’m finishing the formatting and publishing of my novel, RED, in French. There’s a collaborative book of poetry waiting on my fellow poet’s work for the book.
I have a Thanksgiving story brewing before the Holiday. It’ll more than likely be a long short story or novelette.
I continue to write poems on a regular basis.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
The promo sites I prefer in order are; Authorsdb, iAuthor, Wise Grey Owl, Readers Gazette, Google +, Linkedin, and Pinterest.
I also frequent Facebook and Twitter to get myself and books out there.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in yourself.
Write what you know and always from your heart.
Develop thick skin… quickly.
Take the good with the bad.
Learn from the bad.
Hone your writing craft.
Go with your gut. It’s your story, show it.
Sell yourself and your books will follow.
Get your name and books out there in every conceivable way. Turn down no chance for an interview or blog contribution.
But most of all, have fun writing.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“To thine own self be true, , and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” Wm. Shakespeare
and
“As you wander through life brother.
Whatever may be your goal.
Keep your eye upon the doughnut
and not upon the hole.”
What are you reading now?
Here are the authors I’m reading now; Vanya Vetto, C. A. Hocking, Dyrk Ashton, Christy King, Susan Jean Ricci, Olivia Stanton, and Bibiana Krall.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m having fun writing poetry and shorter works these days. I may add another novella or three to my ghost series Cramped Quarters. I’ll write short stories and continue my goal to write in various genres.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Great Expectations
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