Tell us about yourself.:
I have cycled through all 50 U.S. states, crisscrossing a vast network of roads and trails. With 25 marathons and other endurance events under my belt, I retired from a successful career in the aerospace industry as a chemist, engineer, and operations manager, responding to God’s call to a different direction in an otherwise comfortable life. While pursuing my cycling goals, I seek to inspire others to chase their dreams through my writing.
I grew up in Canfield, Ohio, and now live in Louisville, Ohio, with my wife, Barbara, a former Spanish teacher and high school guidance counselor. I graduated from Greenville College (now University) with a double major in chemistry and English, hold a Master’s degree in Analytical Chemistry from Youngstown State University, and have an MBA from Walsh University. We married in 1979, have two sons, and are active in the Nazarene church at the local, district, and denominational levels.
I have been accused of being a coffee snob but deny it, confessing only to the pursuit of a perfect cup of the beverage through one of my 12 home coffee makers. My current favorite is the Cuban cafecito produced with a Moka pot
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in Northeast Ohio, and I began cycling on the local roads and parks at an early age. Initially, it was utilitarian, biking to play pickup team sports at nearby friends’ homes, but gradually grew into longer distances, including my first 100-miler while still in high school. The sights, sounds, smells, and sensations from the perspective of a bicycle seat captivated me. Adventures emerged without warning, and I considered documenting them to remember the details. Eventually, the notes I took became the basis for my current book, Pale Pink Roads.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I began keeping detailed notes of all my long bike rides when I was a teenager. As technology evolved and spreadsheets became ubiquitous, I currently “fill in the blanks” at the end of each daily ride with mileage, temperatures, elevation, wind speed, and other data. For trips that take a week or more, I convert that data, my notes, and pictures into an extended description of each day’s ride as soon as possible, hoping that I accurately capture my feelings before the memories fade. Later, I edit the entire trip document, using only the sections that others would find interesting.
What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in Northeast Ohio, and I began cycling on the local roads and parks at an early age. Initially, it was utilitarian, biking to play pickup team sports at nearby friends’ homes, but gradually grew into longer distances, including my first 100-miler while still in high school. The sights, sounds, smells, and sensations from the perspective of a bicycle seat captivated me. Adventures emerged without warning, and I considered documenting them to remember the details. Eventually, the notes I took became the basis for my current book, Pale Pink Roads.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
First – don’t expect to get rich. Second, be prepared to make marketing part of your author journey. No one knocks on your door, asking if you wrote a book. But in the end, holding your published book in your hands for the first time is an incredibly rewarding experience. The key for me is to maintain consistency; I try to write something for at least an hour every day. And make sure you perform due diligence on the publishing options available. The choices can be overwhelming, and one size does not fit all.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
For those familiar with the Meyers-Briggs personality test, I’m a strong INTJ, meaning I’m an introvert and VERY reluctant to share my feelings. The best advice I received came from my first editor, who constantly challenged me to share my feelings on a deeper level. It was uncomfortable (and still is), but I realize that readers relate to me better the more I share what I’m going through.
What are you reading now?
I’m currently reading Roger Gordon’s The Forgotten Decade: Compelling Stories of the 1970s Cleveland Browns. I love reading books about the Cleveland professional sports teams that I have been a long-suffering fan of since the early 1960s. I don’t learn much more than I already knew, but the books always conjure up more favorable memories of the games that they lost.
What’s your biggest weakness?
My books cover (or will cover) my bicycle trips through all fifty United States, and I’m reluctant to exclude anything that happened. Fortunately, I work with more discerning editors, who show tough love and guide me into a more concise and meaningful manuscript.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I’ll have to go with The Fellowship of the Ring. After reading Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy at 15, I wanted to write a story that made others feel they were right there, a part of the action, and seeing and feeling everything.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
My bicycles are always ready to take me on an adventure if the weather is halfway decent; otherwise, I read.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
My earliest memory of reading is from the first grade. Honestly, the only impact it had was frustration – that there were words that I didn’t know, and I couldn’t understand what was happening. Fortunately, Google arrived, albeit much too late for my 6-year-old brain.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I have been blessed with good health and the opportunity to see the United States from the perspective of a bicycle seat, and I want to share my incredible experiences with others. I love to tacitly imply heroic tales from Tolkien’s Middle-Earth, C.S. Lewis, Beowulf, The Odyssey, and Moby Dick into my stories. I love the format used by Primo Levi in The Periodic Table, and John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed.
What are you working on now?
My two published books only cover the first 14 states I’ve ridden in. I’m hoping to cover the remaining 36 in my next book, but I’m willing to accept that it might turn into two more.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
Most of my promotions are on social media, but I have recently started doing podcasts. My favorite way to connect is at book signing events. I love meeting folks at coffee shops, and if no one buys anything during the two hours, I still made some friends and drank good coffee!
What’s next for you as a writer?
After finishing my memoirs about cycling the U.S., I’d like to try a sci-fi short story.
How well do you work under pressure?
The short answer is, “Very well.” Just as I embrace the challenge of a 1700-mile bike trip and training, and running a marathon, I accept the fact that no diamonds are created without pressure. It can cause frustrations, but also rewards. One of my employees wore a T-shirt that I always liked. It read, “High on Stress.”
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
I try to keep my readers in mind, uncertain what they may be going through while reading one of my books. After any negative experiences I describe, I always try to provide positivity and inspiration.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
You may not be able to ride a bike across the country or run a marathon, but get outside and do what you can, even if it’s a hobbled walk to the corner and back. I keep my dad’s canes in the corner next to my treadmill to remind me where I’m eventually headed if I live long enough, and to never take good health for granted. Being outside in God’s creation is good for the soul!
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