Tell readers a little about yourself.
I have multiple public works out in the real world. My latest novel is Wilted Crowns, I am working on my follow up, Empty Throne, due in 2027.
When did you start writing, and what got you going?
I've been writing for many years, started actually publishing my works in 2025 built on a project that spans 30 years. Crazy stuff.
Where do you write, and what does that space look like?
I do a lot of writing on my laptop or at my office job when things are idol. I spend a lot of time in OneNote or word just compiling ideas or trying to work through pacing of books/chapters/plot threads, etc.. My mind is always on the books.
What do you know now that you wish you'd known when you started?
Don't trust people that say they will help you. Especially if they require you to pay up front. It doesn't work that way. My pain is your gain.
What are you working on right now?
I'm working on the follow up to my first major novel, Wilted Crowns. It is titled Empty Throne. Published on Amazon. I have a second work in the making with a tentative title called Evermore. Different genre, different feel altogether. Each book will probably see the light of day in 2027. One last piece of work is my "Warden" series. No ETA yet on that one. That is a background project when I get stuck on the other two.
If readers loved your book, what other books or shows would they enjoy?
I'm a huge fan of the Expanse tv show. I also love Battlestar Galactica and all of the latest Star Wars projects (Andor, Maul, Bad Batch, etc....) You will see influences of their work in mine.
Which of your characters is your favorite, and why?
Peri Blackwood from my Blood & Steel series is my favorite to write. She is just conflicted and full of action. Unlike modern productions, I keep things within reality. She is capable of many things, but she has limits.
How do you build your story's world?
This is a tough one to answer simply. My storybook world started back in the 90's. It was originally a high fantasy world that transitioned to a grounded fantasy world, scifi world, to a dystopian modern world. I spent a lot of time building the political background of the landscape, building maps with Wonderdraft, creating characters, factions, themes, everything that you can imagine... and it waited until I finally had the courage to do something with it. For those wondering what to do, keep sculpting until it feels right. It will click when you have it.
What was the hardest scene to write?
For me, the hardest scene to write is the scenes that move the plot forward, but have no real value. I'll explain. In my second book, I have an event that has to be seeded correctly in order for it to pay off as intended. That seed starts somewhere and is nursed somewhere else to keep the reader aware of it. I'm not drawing attention to it, but it is there. Sometimes a scene may only exist to highlight that one narrative. Which could be a failure if I don't tie a few more threads into it. Actions scenes, confrontational scenes, emotional scenes are all easy for me. But things that propel a book forward, can be a slight challenge.
Have you hidden any secrets in your books that only a few readers will spot?
You have no idea how many things are hidden in plain sight. The last thing I hate is shoehorning in an idea at the last minute without proper setup.
Have you ever killed off a character readers loved?
Josh Whedon has nothing on me. I'm awful.
How do you approach revising a draft?
This is the hard part. Revising for me is where AI comes in. To help me understand what is working, what doesn't work, where my grammar fails, continuity checks, etc... A story bible helps, to make sure everything is followed correctly.
Where does AI fit in your process, and where doesn't it?
AI helps me smooth out ideas and help revise my work. AI does not create the ideas or create the work. I have a rule on that. When working with a limited budget, you do what you can.
Why did you choose to publish the way you do?
Money. I had to turn to self-publishing because I didn't have the money to go with proper cover artists, formatting, and editors. I had to learn it all on my own. All I wanted to do was write.
What advice would you give a writer finishing their first book?
Finish it. Let it sit for a bit.. come back and read it and make sure it flows correctly. Writers get blind to their own work. They only see what is in their head as they read. Someone coming in cold does not have that context.
