Tell us about yourself.:
I have written "The File on Thomas Marks," a mystery, "The Prize Winners and Other Stories," a collection, several short stories that have been published in literary journals, and numerous poems that have appeared in literary journals and anthologies.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?:
I grew up in a small town on the Ohio River, not far from Cincinnati. Primarily because it was a small town I got to know numerous folks over the years. Although I moved away in my twenties, I still return from time to time to see relatives. Without question, what I experienced growing up influenced my writing, especially the short stories, many of which are set in small towns or rural areas.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don't think so, except I try to write or edit something almost every day.
What authors have influenced you?
I grew up in a small town on the Ohio River, not far from Cincinnati. Primarily because it was a small town I got to know numerous folks over the years. Although I moved away in my twenties, I still return from time to time to see relatives. Without question, what I experienced growing up influenced my writing, especially the short stories, many of which are set in small towns or rural areas.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Even though one should try to write about what s/he knows or has experienced, I think one needs to learn the fundamentals of writing. In other words, enroll in one or more courses in creative writing. The critiques from others are worth it.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Many people say they liked to write a book. Most people never do. If you are serious about writing, write, learn, and write some more.
What are you reading now?
I'm reading a few collections of short stories by Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Erskine Caldwell. I'm also reading several books of nonfiction.
What’s your biggest weakness?
I write fiction and nonfiction, so I guess my biggest weakness is my trying to switch gears after writing fiction or vice versa and then writing nonfiction or vice versa.
What is your favorite book of all time?
I don't know whether I have a favorite book of all time, unless it's the "Holy Bible," which I find fascinating because of the people, the history, the predictions, and the primary beliefs.
When you’re not writing, how do you like to spend your time?
Reading, walking, and traveling.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
Since this occurred so many years ago, I don't remember what the story was. Sorry.
What has inspired you and your writing style?
I would say where I grew up and what I was exposed to, not to mention what I read and learned.
What are you working on now?
I have two novels–a mystery and a thriller–that a publisher is readying for publication. In fact, the mystery–"A Killing in Oklahoma"–will be out the end of June. I don't know when the thriller will be out. I am writing another mystery. I am writing a book of nonfiction, too.
What is your favorite method for promoting your work?
I contact editors of newspapers and magazines, people who work at public libraries, and people who have blogs or other websites. I also employ websites that appeal to specific groups of readers/authors.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, the mystery I'm writing will not present too many problems. However, when I wrote my first mystery, I made numerous changes before I was satisfied with it.
How well do you work under pressure?
Okay, I guess, considering my age. However, I try not to have too many irons in the fire at one time.
How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing?
This generally depends on the characters, situations, and locales that I have in mind for the short story or novel. For instance, a character may be rough, or the situation may be unusual, or the locale may be different. Each plays a role in the tone I use.
If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be?
I just hope readers enjoy what I write, no matter whether it's a poem, short story, or novel.
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