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Q: What inspired you to start writing?
I've always loved stories and had a huge desire to create my own. I wrote my first full novel at 15 and loved the process. A voracious reader I began to look critically at the books I read to discover how to construct a novel. It was the best writing school and I've never stopped writing, reading and learning.
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Q: Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Across the Dusty Mesa is my latest published book. It's the 4th in a Western series featuring an uncompromising gunfighter called Hahmood. He's unlike any other character I've created. He sets out to help a local farmer over a dispute about water rights but fairly soon become the target for malicious threats. This is escalating fast but one thing everyone needs to understand is that Hahmood does not back down from a fight. Those who are threatening him are about to discover the error of their ways.
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Q: How do you create your characters?
Usually a germ of an idea will develop on my mind. For Hahmood I wanted someone who was different. Not a knight, not a figure for good but a brutal, determined killer without a hint of compassion or remorse. I often base my characters on my own frailties but I didn't want Hahmood to have any. He simply gets the job done.
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Q: What does your typical writing day look like?
Usually I begin mid-morning, go over my previous day's work, revising, rewriting, etc. Then, I continue. I often have a very loose plan so I know where the story is heading but quite often I surprise myself with unlooked for developments.
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Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being an indie author?
Receiving praise from readers I do not know.
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Q: What’s one challenge you’ve faced in your writing journey?
Constant rejection from agents. It hurts. I've been submitting work since 1979 and still, even though I have over 55 books published, agents don't want to know. It's soul-destroying, it really is.
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Q: Do you have any favorite writing tools or apps?
I use Word to write my novels, and I often utilise Scrivener to help me plan.
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Q: What advice would you give to new or aspiring indie authors?
Read and NEVER give up!
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Q: How do you handle book promotion as an indie author?
It's the single most difficult aspect of writing. With so many books now being published, how do you get yourself noticed? I don't know and I hate it as I'm not good at promoting myself.
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Q: What’s next for you? Are you working on a new book?
The 5th in my Hahmood series is finished and I'll be getting it ready for publication soon. In the meantime I'm writing a sequel to a previous book called Minus Life. It's set in a dark and terrifying future in which an ageing detective tries to uncover what is going on at a reprocessing centre for deceased rich people. It's called Riven Inside and I'm very excited about it. I'm about halfway through.
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Q: Where can readers find your books?
All the usual platforms. My books are available for every major system - Kindle, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, Apple and Google. Details can also be found on my website, which essentially is my name.
Thanks for dropping by and I hope you find something to enjoy.
