Q: When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how did you start?
A: I became interested in writing during middle school and started writing poems and songs. Then, in high school, I began writing short stories and started several novels.
Q: Where did you grow up and where to do you currently live?
A: I grew up in Albuquerque, NM, USA, and I’m still here. They don’t call it the Land of Entrapment for nothing!
Q: What other things do you like to do besides writing?
A: I enjoy writing software and watching TV shows (primarily British) and nearly every movie genre. I like video games too but find little time to play these days.
Q: When and how did you start your first published novel?
A: The Dragon’s Stone is my first published novel. I began writing the first draft of it in 2006, but shelved it for nine years after completing just seven chapters. In 2015 I attended a writing conference called Re:Write, and it inspired me to start writing again. I finished final edits on The Dragon’s Stone in 2017.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?
A: This is a tough question. As far as inspiration goes, definitely Terry Goodkind and Dean Koontz. From a pure enjoyment perspective: Ted Dekker, Tosca Lee, Dan Brown, Ernest Cline, J.K. Rowling, George R. R. Martin, Donita K. Paul, Ben Wolf, R.J. Batla, and Joshua C. Chadd.
Q: What are your favorite foods?
A: Pizza. Pizza, pizza, pizza. Does any other food exist? Okay, I also like green chile cheeseburgers (especially from Blake’s Lotaburger), and Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese food. A good steak can be great too.
Q: What is a favorite place you like to vacation to?
A: I like going to Hawaii and Florida (only for the theme parks!).
Q: What subjects did you enjoy in school?
A: I enjoyed English, Programming, Social Studies, Math, and Music.
Q: Do you have a big family?
A: I guess it’s a matter of perspective. I don’t feel like I have a large family, but others seem to think so. I have a wife, two sisters and a brother, and more than 100 living relatives.
Q: Do you listen to music when you write?
A: Yes! Often, I can’t think without it. However, it has to be music without lyrics or music in another language so I don’t get distracted or want to sing along to it. Some of my favorite writing music is Audiomachine, Epic North, Future World Music, and Brand X Music.
