Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Writing has always been a strong interest of mine since I was a teenager. I like to create an immersive experience for the reader by describing the environment and my characters’ emotions. Although I have written or attempted to write several other novels in the past, Dreams of Fire is my first serious attempt to publish one. The very first novel I wrote was titled Remnants of Cronus, which I never published. It was about a boy who was from an island which was magically transported to some other world but he himself was left behind in ours. He discovers that he has magical abilities and must travel to his land of origin to fight an insurmountable evil. The second novel I tried to write was an unfinished sci-fi story about a cyborg fugitive in hiding. He is trying to give up his criminal ways and raise an orphaned teenage girl, but his past soon comes for him and he must face ghosts from his previous life.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest work is titled Dreams of Fire. The concept that inspired this novel is the idea of magic in the modern world. What would our society look like if magic was real and everyone knew it? It was fun to imagine a world where magical and ordinary people intermingle on a daily basis. Spells are cast in plain view and paranormal happenings are commonplace.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I write things out of order and then piece it together chronologically. It’s kind of a nightmare but it’s the most efficient way that I’ve found. If one day I want to write something that’s supposed to happen in the middle, I do that. Then the next day I might go back and create a scene that’s supposed to be more towards the beginning. It all depends on my mood.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The work that has had the biggest influence on me is probably Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. This series is what inspired me to write a novel in the first place. I love how descriptive Tolkien is about the places and cultures of Middle Earth. I strive to illustrate my worlds just as vividly as Tolkien did.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on Dreams of Thunder, the sequel to Dreams of Fire. In this next installment, the reader will find out what becomes of Saba’s quest for vengeance and discover more about Daniela’s origins. The seeds of a new Kara Hartman are also foreshadowed in the battles that ensue.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have been doing most of my advertising on Facebook and various book promotion websites.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Promote your book like there is no tomorrow. New authors need visibility to get their work seen. Also, get as many reviews as you can. Reviews add credibility to your book and makes it more likely that people will buy it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It was indie author Jenna Moreci who said “No one should care more about your dream than you.” That sentence is what drove me to write even when I was tired or unmotivated. It’s what lit a fire under my butt when I was seeking reviews and feedback before publication. If you want to be an author, it’s on you and no one else.
What are you reading now?
Right now I am reading Olympos by Dan Simmons. It’s about a highly evolved race of humans who have styled themselves as Greek gods and the brave mortals who have declared war on them.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I really don’t know. But let this first publication be the first of many on my to becoming a successful author.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I’m not sure what my favorite book of all time is, but one of my favorites is Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I love all the different worlds in it and the ideas that are explored. What stood out the most to me is the idea of humans that are genetically altered to survive in harsh environments.
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