Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Over the course of 68 years, I’ve had a series of jobs, dealing mostly with various business disciplines. (Accounting, sales, marketing, management) My love of what I like to call ‘literature of the fantastic’, began in my preteen years with a self study of mythology. In particular, Greek mythology, as well as Celtic myths, native American myths and others. The first actual science fiction novel I read was Arthur Clarke’s ‘Childhood’s End’, and I was hooked. It was later in life that I decided to try my hand at writing. The Seeds of Akara being the initial result. The second book, ‘The Elements of Prey’ is also out and the final installment (unnamed as of yet) should be out soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The working title of the third book is The Blanket of Eternity. The catalyst for this series was a line from the Tao Te Ching as read by Wayne Dyer: “The spirit that never dies is called the mysterious feminine. Although she becomes the whole universe, her immaculate purity is never lost. Although she assumes countless forms, her true identity remains intact. The gateway to the mysterious female is called the root of creation. Listen to her voice, hear it echo through creation. Without fail, she reveals her presence. Without fail, she brings us to our own perfection. Although it is invisible, it endures; it will never end.” I use a lot of Eastern myth and religion, especially in the third book, where I use a lot of Vedic cosmology.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Sometimes I like to write while exhausted and greatly in need of sleep. I think it shuts my left, logical brain down. At least a bit. Sometimes I write in the dark with my computer screen off. The problem with this is that I have to fix all the typos.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In science fiction, my single biggest influence was Clarke. Childhood’s End, Rendezvous with Rama (I keep hoping Villeneuve will make that), and a lesser-known one, The Songs of Distant Earth, are my favorites. I like Asimov, Bestor, Bradbury, and many of the Grand Masters. Others who have influenced me include Joseph Campbell, whom I heard a number of years ago, and who gave me the impetus to write. The aforementioned Wayne Dyer, Alan Watts, and other spiritual thinkers. More recently, I’ve been following Sadhguru and Master Shi Heng Yi.
What are you working on now?
I’m in the embryonic stage of a book I’ve wanted to write for a long time. It’s about Artificial Intelligence, but it’s not the ‘Terminator’ scenario—that’s been done. What if they were benevolent? What if our goals aligned? Would we be a kept people? Would we be pets? And what would be our purpose in life? It is science fiction, but would be loosely based on Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha. As well as elements of the life of Tolstoy.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Amazon for most everything. I will do book sites which intuitively makes more sense than a blanket approach with social media. Why not go to places where people like to read, and are looking for books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be brave. (It took me a long time to learn this.) Don’t let naysayers scare you from following your bliss. Tell the story you want to tell. You’ll have more passion for that story. If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about it right now. Trust Fred (Fred is that voice inside your head, according to Damon Knight in Creating Short Fiction) when he has you write something that seems to make no sense to you. He had you write it for some reason. Maybe it won’t be for the story you’re working on, but save it. He wanted you to write it for some reason. In the third novel, Fred had me send one of the primary characters back in time. It took me about three months to figure out why.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’ve always believed you learn to write through osmosis. (I think I heard Ursula Le Guin say that.) In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, Stephen King states you need to do two things: read and write a lot.
What are you reading now?
I recently finished A Clockwork Orange (the latest edition with the 21st chapter) and just started Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I haven’t done a lot of promotion. As a person with a business degree and a lot of experience in that area, I know how important that is. I want to finish the third book and try to promote the trilogy.
What is your favorite book of all time?
This is tough. There’s about ten books that are my favorite. I’m going with two that are large, epic, and deal with great themes. One is Crime and Punishment. The other is Moby Dick. I actually didn’t read these until later in life, but they both resonated with me. To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. Melville.
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