DID YOU CHOOSE TO SELF-PUBLISH OR GO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE? WHY? Self-publish. I think the e-book revolution is an amazing thing—it’s given people the freedom of choice, and that’s a huge thing. For both readers and authors.
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK? By placing my butt in the chair.
DO YOU EVER FEEL FORCED TO WRITE? I set goals for myself, and do my best not to break them. The best way I overcome this feeling is to sit down and start writing. Eventually I find myself getting into the flow.
DO YOU PREFER EBOOKS, PAPERBACKS OR HARDCOVER? I appreciate all forms, but I’m sold on e-books. You can’t beat the convenience!
WHAT BOOKS HAVE INFLUENCED YOUR WRITING? King and Koontz.
WHAT BOOK WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ AGAIN? Master of Murder by Christopher Pike. This was a book I loved growing up—it was about a high school kid that was a really a famous writer, but nobody knew it. It really inspired me as a young adult. I’m pretty sure I still have it somewhere. One of these days I’ll find it!
DO YOU BUY A BOOK BY THE COVER? Not exclusively, but I think the cover is often what draws me to a book in the first place (other than the recommendations of friends and family). I think a cover is very important in getting across the theme and tone of the book. There’s nothing better than an awesome cover!
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME? WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE? I was born in Connecticut, and I’m still here today. However, in my younger years I was a touring musician, so I was lucky enough to travel across the United States, Europe, and Canada. If I were single, I’d probably move each year, but with a family, it’s a little tough!
LAPTOP OR DESKTOP FOR WRITING? Laptop. I love the flexibility to take it wherever I go. Of course, I usually end up working at home. Fewer distractions!
DO YOU EVER WRITE IN YOUR PJ’S? Yep. As often as possible! J
WHERE AND WHEN DO YOU PREFER TO DO YOUR WRITING? At the kitchen table or on the screened-in porch, preferably in the morning.
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? “Half the battle is just showing up.” I have such a great appreciation for anyone who paves their own way—whether it’s in the arts or in business. It takes a lot of courage to create something from nothing and share it with the world.
COFFEE OR TEA? Tea. I’m not a coffee guy. However, I love Vanilla Chai.
SLEEP IN OR GET UP EARLY? I’m an early bird all the way. I’m most productive in the morning, and then I start to sundown.
YOUR FAVORITE GADGET? My Kindle, of course!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN TROUBLE WITH THE AUTHORITIES? Nope. (wink)
IF WE HAD A CUSTOM THAT ALLOWED US TO EAT OUR CHILDREN, WHAT KIND OF
SAUCE WOULD YOU USE? Tomato sauce. I love Italian.
ARE OUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES STEALING OUR SOUL? AND IF SO, DO YOU MAKE
OFFERINGS TO YOUR TOASTER? They absolutely are, but I don’t know if there’s any going back. There are so many positives and negatives with technology; it’s hard to disconnect. I think the best thing to do is to take breaks, leave the cellphone at home, and enjoy nature once in a while. After all, there was a time when we didn’t have them. Can you imagine that?
IF YOU COULD BE ANY FAMOUS PERSON FOR A DAY, HOW MANY PAPPARAZZI WOULD
YOU KILL? I’d be a recluse like J.D. Salinger. Nobody would find me.
DO YOU HAVE AN INTOXICANT OF PREFERENCE FOR THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU ARE WRITING? Yes. Energy drinks. My favorite is one called Venom Killer Taipan, which is mango-flavored. I’m not even sure if they make it anymore, so I end up ordering it. Either that or Monster Zeros.
HAVE YOU SEEN MY SHOES? Yep. They’re hanging over the power line.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT A "BRACT" IS? Is that like a “bro pact”?
BONUS QUESTION: WHY DO VILLAINS PREFER LONG HAIR CATS INSTEAD OF
HAIRLESS CATS? HAIRLESS CATS ARE MUCH MORE EVIL LOOKING. SEEMS LIKE A
MISSED OPPORTUNITY. Wasn’t Dr. Evil’s cat in Austin Powers hairless?
WHERE DID YOUR TOMORROW SPRING FROM? IN OTHER WORDS, HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE CRAZY WORLD? The idea for the first CONTAMINATION book I wrote (Book 1, The Onset) came from a setting. I read about a guy who owned an entire town in Buford, Wyoming, and he was auctioning it off to the highest bidder. Because his “town” had a post office, it was considered an actual town and he was the only resident.
The idea I had was—what if the zombie apocalypse started there, instead of a major city? What if someone started infecting small populations in the Southwest as a trial run for something larger? The character became Sam Cook and his town became the fictional setting of White Mist, New Mexico.
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA FOR THIS STORY? The premise was simple, but one I had never seen before: What if the virus was ingested, and you couldn’t trust anything you ate or drank?
JUST HOW FAR IN THE FUTURE IS YOUR TOMORROW? Not too far. In fact, I could envision it happening now…
DID YOU DO ANY SPECIFIC OR UNUSUAL RESEARCH FOR THIS BOOK? I researched a lot of locations in the Southwest. Luckily, I’d been to some of them, so I had firsthand experience. Route 191 in Arizona was one such place. I know it well, because I almost died there.
We were on tour, and a “friend” we met on the road suggested we take a shortcut while driving from Albuquerque NM to Tucson AZ. Little did we know we’d end up in the mountains driving over ice-covered roads! We almost slid off the side because there were no guardrails! When we finally made it to town, we had no brakes, and the town ended up being a ghost town. Good times! (Route 191 was featured in Contamination 1: The Onset.)
QUOTE A CHARACTER, ANY CHARACTER. Sam Cook on religion and free will: “You know what I think? I think if there is a God, he’s given us free reign over our choices, and it’s our decision as to whether or not we fuck it up.”
GIVE US THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR YOUR TOMORROW. Cloudy. Very cloudy.
WHO SHOULD NOT READ YOUR BOOK? Anyone with a heart condition.
WHAT SORT OF BODY COUNT ARE WE TALKING HERE? It’s bad, but it could be worse. The virus is contained to the southwest…for now.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOUR MAIN CHARACTER IN A MOVIE? I’m flexible, as long as Steve Buscemi’s in it.
YOUR MAIN CHARACTER VS BATMAN, WHO WOULD WIN? Batman, of course. Because…we…he’s Batman!
MULTIPLE CHOICE
IF THERE IS TEOTWAWKI IN YOUR TOMORROW, WHAT CAUSED IT
DISEASE
ALIENS
++++MONSTERS&ZOMBIES++++
WAR/GNH (GLOBAL NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST)
THE SUN
IMPACT EVENT
ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE
SUPERNATURAL/RELIGIOUS
HUMAN DECLINE/MODERN DARK AGE
TECHNOLOGY/CYBERNETIC REVOLT
OTHER
ALL OF THE ABOVE
$2.99
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