What was your favorite childhood book?
That has to be The Hobbit. I was given a copy when I was about 11, I read it until it fell apart and then bought another. I still have a copy on my bookshelf today.
What have you written to date?
I have twenty finished novels available on Amazon. Ten of them are a series about a private eye company based in the Teays Valley area of West Virginia, the rest are either thrillers, crime or historical novels.
Do you have a special time to write?
Early morning is my best time. I’m one of those people who gets up around 5:00 a.m. Once I have my first cup of coffee my mind is active and I’m raring to go, especially at weekends. By late evening I find the words don’t come as easily and I can’t get much done.
Do you work on an outline or plot or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you?
I don’t have an outline. I tend to get an idea, start to write and as the characters develop they start to take on a life of their own and they go where they want. Sometimes I know early on how the story is going to end but how it gets there is a mystery.
How long does it take you to write a book?
That depends, I have produced two books in a year but I’ve also spent more than a year writing. My historical novel “Weoley” is nearly 200,000 words, it covers 900 years of British history and took two years to write, mainly because I got engrossed in the research.
Do you proofread your own books?
I have a system, when I start writing each day I begin by reading through what I wrote the day before. This enables me to get back into the story and I can proof read as I go. When I finish the book I go back and read the whole think, proofing as I go. Next I put it aside for a week or two and then give it another read through. Finally I give it to my proof reader. All this and still the occasional spelling error gets through.
How do you select the names of your characters?
Hmm, I don’t think I do consciously. I come across many names in my day job, I may see one name I like and use it later but usually the character’s personality and behavior suggests it and the name just comes to me.
How long do you spend on research before stating a book?
Not long at all. It depends on the novel really, but I’m usually doing research while I’m writing. As I said, “Weoley” took two years to write because I researched 900 years of history. While I was writing “Hunted” I was constantly researching everything from media in Afghanistan, through London street names to European car ferries and the US/Canadian border.
What is the hardest thing about writing a book?
Being satisfied with the end product, I’m constantly reviewing my books and without fail I find something I’d like to change, usually a word or two but there’s always something.
How can readers discover more about me and my work?
I guess the easy answer to that is by going to my Amazon page. All my books are listed there together with a short bio.