Can
you share a bit about your journey to becoming a writer/published
author? Was this always your dream?
I
learned to read at a very early age. I consumed books shelf by shelf
at my school library. Then I started on the public library. There was
a point where the ten book limit became an issue, and the Librarian,
bless her, waived the rule for me. I started to write my own stories
to amuse myself. In college I worked on short stories and took every
writing course I could find. I discovered the satisfaction there is
in writing, and the power in self-expression. Once I unshackled
myself from the idea that what I wrote had to be literature, I was
off! I was even able to write a couple of papers as fictional
stories. My professors weren’t sure they should accept this form,
but thankfully they thought they might as well give it a try, and
they were happily entertained by the results. For a while I wrote
spec (speculation) scripts for television (I lived in LA, that’s
what people do there!) Then, I thought I’d try long form. I
haven’t looked back. I love the room long form gives me to build
characters and situations and emotions.
It
wasn’t until Indie Publishing appeared that I considered the
possibility of publishing my own books. Even then, I was rather
cautious and waited a long time to see what would happen. Then, I did
research and found resources online to help me with the process. I
have to admit that receiving the paperback proof copy of my first
book was exciting. It arrived just in time for a presentation I was
making at the International Festival of Books. This event is held
every year in San Jose, Costa Rica. (I live in Costa Rica) Things
went well. I presented my book in Spanish to a group of non-English
speaking or reading attendees. The book is not available in Spanish.
It was highly ironic to say the least. We all had a good laugh over
it.
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| Review HERE! |
I
noticed this is your first collaboratively written book. How did this
come about? How does the writing and editing process work when
two distinct authors are involved?
You’ve
done some background checks on me! I’m not going to be coy
about the reality. The book is not actually written by two authors.
My “partner” Lesley Meryn is a character in my first two books
“Lust. Mechanics. Mini Cooper.” and “Sex. Coffee. Time Travel.”
She is an adventure-suspense-romance author who writes the Saber and
Steele books. There are several references to them in the first two
books. I started wondering what her Saber and Steele books would be
like, so I decided to write one. It was a challenge, but an enjoyable
one. It was only fitting that I put her name on the cover.
So,
in reply to your writing and editing process question; things went
rather smoothly.
Where
did the inspiration for the storyline in The Fabergé Entanglement
come from? For the characters who make the story come alive?
I’ve
been fascinated with Fabergé Eggs for a
very long time, so I thought that it might be a good place to start.
Then I figured a kidnapping would up the stakes, and the story
evolved. I’m a great fan of the Modesty Blaise series of books by
Peter O’Donnell. There is some influence there, but for the most
part, they kind of took control of their own characters. Steele took
over for himself, and I just followed, but there’s quite a bit of
influence from Adam Hall’s Quiller. I wanted Saber to be
independent, and not spoiled or reliant on her father’s wealth and
influence. She is not a woman easily biddable. By her father, her
frequent employer Hennessey, or anyone else. She has her own money
and pays her own way.
This
book took place in many locations and involved the use of cutting
edge technology here and there. What kind of research was
necessary to bring a sense of reality to the locations, the
characters and the technology included?
I
have personally been to the locations that are described in the book.
I have even been to the Noto Peninsula in Japan, a location mentioned
by the character Saber in the book. Having had the experience of
being in a place opens up new perspectives in how a location is seen
and sensed. In the book the locations are characters in their own
way. Especially in the case of Las Vegas! I try to stay true to the
technology. The SonicStar is real. It isn’t ready for a rollout
just yet.
I
do a lot of research on the Internet, and I have access to
publications that are not classified, but are not widely available to
the public. I also have sources that decline to be mentioned in the
Acknowledgements section.
How
do you approach writing - schedule time, when inspiration strikes
or ?????
I
really have no set schedule or structure that I follow. Where I live
things can be very unpredictable. Just this week we were caught in
Tropical Storm Nate. I write when the sparks hit me, and it can go on
for a long time. Last week I was on a trans-Pacific flight from
Japan. The lights were dim so passengers could sleep. I had my tablet
out, dimmed as well, and wrote for hours while others dozed. I also
spent a bit of time in my hotel room in Tokyo writing. I always carry
a notebook in my bag and will scribble notes on anything that’s
available, like cocktail napkins, or paper bags. I even use the
Reminder App on my iPhone to make notes.
What type of books do you love to read? Do you have a favourite title or author?
I’m
fairly omnivorous when it comes to reading. I deeply admire the
Quiller novels of Adam Hall aka Elleston Trevor. His work is a great
inspiration for me. When I was younger I enjoyed Robert Heinlein when
I was going through my adolescent Science Fiction phase. Lately, in
that genre I read Robert Charles Wilson, Octavia Butler, Sara King
and Hannu Rajaniemi. I enjoy Tim Powers, and Taylor Stevens’
Vanessa Michael Munroe series. I savor Nordic Noir. As I mentioned
above Peter O’Donnell and his Modesty Blaise books are inspiration
for Saber and Steele, even though Modesty and Willie Garvin have a
very different relationship than my characters. The last book I read
that blew me away was “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts. It’s
an absolutely gigantic, gorgeous adventure story.
What's
next for you as a writer? Do you have any titles either in the
planning or writing stages?
I’ve
been putting together notes and plotting out a new Saber and Steele
book. I am very fond of the characters, and want to explore them
further. They are so different; yet compliment each other so well.
Right now I have them appearing in Havana, Cuba, Tangiers, Morocco
and Japan. The story concerns a very new, cutting edge military
technology that is very real and very dangerous.IO
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