Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When do you write?
A: Mornings. Most sessions go into the afternoon.
Q: Of all the novels you've written, do you have a favorite book?
A: It's often the book I'm writing at the time. But when the dust settles and the novel is out there in the world, I no longer have a favorite book. The latest novel becomes part of my family of stories and the people that live within those pages.
Q: Can you read my work and give suggestions?
A: For legal reasons, I can't.
Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: Everywhere. All around us. Ideas for a novel can come from the news, life events, out of the blue, and even from dreams. Most often they come when I begin thinking about the "what if's in life." What if a reclusive man owned a remote artesian spring that was the real Fountain of Youth? Its water can slow down human aging. What would that be worth to corporate water companies? Thus my novel, The Fountain, was born
Q: How do you come up with the titles for your novels?
A: I usually have a working title. However, there are times when one of the characters, as I'm writing, will say something that becomes the finished title.
Q: Do you outline your novels?
A: Not in a rigid sense. That is too confining. Fiction, I believe, should be more free flow and organic However, I do make bullet points. These are really "plot points" or parts of the story's structure. They're more like mile posts or a loose map to follow. I usually have sixteen bullet points. Five for the first act. Six for the second act, and five for act three. Things will change along the way. But this approach to the story, a least for me, helps to develop a better and more refined plot that will propel me and readers through the story.
Q: Do you have advice for aspiring writers?
A: Yes. What is the story that you'd really love to write? Be passionate about it, and make sure it's something that you want to live with for weeks or months until you write The End. When you're writing, try to do it every day. Even if it's only a paragraph or two - it keeps the creative juices flowing. And remember to have some fun.