Frequently Asked Questions

Can I write a fan fiction based on your work? Would you read the fan fiction I wrote?

I have a detailed policy in place regarding derivative works such as fan fiction. You can read this policy on my blog as well as a link at the top of this page. The short answer is that you can do fan work, but not for profit. For legal reasons, I have to be careful when I read any work of fan fiction based around my own works. Some fan works could open up a lot of second guessing that is best avoided entirely. This is also addressed in my main policy.

If I see you in public, can I come up and say hi?

I can't say this question is asked frequently, but it tickled me so I am including it. Call it author perogetive. If you actually recognize me in a public place and want to say hello, sure. I obviously want you to be polite and respectful of my privacy, but at the same time I love having fans who are enthusiastic.

What books do you recommend?

That is a very open-ended question. I read so many books in a year. While not all of them are superb, there's a fair number with interesting ideas or exceptional writing. I may at some point sit down and work out a list of my top five books for each genre that I actively read. I might also list non-fiction works I consider noteworthy. For now, we will just call this one TBA.

What is the channel name for your youtube (rumble/twitter/etc)?

I use (insert social media here) and I noticed you aren't using it too. Why is that?

If you already follow some of my other social media, you'll notice that anything important shows up on all of them equally. You'll also notice, that each is slightly different in what tends to appear there beyond those important items. This is most pronounced on Twitter. I don't actually like most social media to be honest. If left to my own devices, I wouldn't be on them at all. The point is I am on some major media, but won't go to go out of my way to join every one.

I try to only add new social media if it will do something unique. Since I try to do something a little different on each, they take up precious time. I don't want to spend a lot of time on social media if I can help it. Does the site do something valuable for my readers that the others do not? If the answer is no, I don't join. If I am going to choose between using my time to post or using it for writing, I pick the latter.

I'm sorry if this means I am not on your favorite site. Take heart in the fact that it means I spend more of my time on the writing that drew your attention to me to begin with.

What was the female silhouette in the old website header?

Her name is Droya. She appears in The Platinum Chain. She's the central character in the novel and is something of a mascot for me. The idea for her story is the first time I focused myself on writing as more than a hobby. While hers isn't the first book I've written and published, it still holds a place in my heart as a symbol of my professional work.

I can't find the sites you used to write for. Are there links?

Unfortunately, not all of the sites I once wrote for still exist. The most notable example of this is from when I was writing for Yahoo. While they are still around as a company, they went through several changes on their freelance writer system and eventually closed their freelance article service entirely. When they switched to in-house only, they reverted all existing articles back to their owners. In my case, any that were sufficiently unique were added to my blog after editing.

If the sites are no longer functional, it can be blamed on the shifting nature of the internet. I've seen a lot of excellent sites disappear and a lot of good sites shift venues entirely. Suite101 is an example of such shifting. The site went through several major shifts before closing entirely. Before the end, the article layouts had been heavily altered and the majority of the images with them were lost to the sands of time.

Do you have higher resolution photographs than the ones on your biography page?

At this time, no. Sorry about that. I am pretty picky about the photos I take, so having them is rare by default. I intend to get some professional headshots done, but for now, the photos that are there are what I have.

What is that press page all about?

It's a page for the press. I don't mean that as sarcasm, just stating a fact. Most of my fans don't really have any reason to care about that page. It exists so media outlets, interviewers, magazines and other members of the press can find what they need. They can access relevant information all in one spot. Cover images, press releases, and similar things are what appears there. Readers are free to wander over that page too, but it's just a resource tool.

I liked one of your older site designs. Why did you change it?

I liked each of the old designs, but I needed to redesign periodically. Several aspects of the original site were no longer serving a valuable function for example. Later designs have been more dynamic and offer cleaner layouts. This website has been a steady evolution as I grow and better understand what works best. I've tried to incorporate aspects of the original site, certain color elements. I hope that my readers who liked an older design understand why there is a need to grow and change.

How often do you update the site's look? Is it entirely new?

I try to review my site every year or so. Sometimes I am only adjusting information that is out of date. Other times I am fixing minor issues that were missed on the last pass. Then there are times I do a full overhaul. I have learned a lot over the years and beyond that the tastes of the public change. There was a time when the Geocities look was everywhere. Now if you were to build a site like that you'd be avoided as an eye-bleed site.

Do you always have the dragon icon?

Several years ago, I decided to do a version of my name that was a bit more iconic. I wanted it to become a trademark. Much as how some authors have a picture that appears on the spine of their books, so too is this design. At a glance, you can recognize it as one of my books. This being said, I have considered doing a version for each genre I write within. Seeing a dragon on the side of a horror book, for example, doesn't quite work.

Can I make a suggestion on site design?

Sure. See the contact section of the site under About the Author.

Where can I find your publication history?

It can be found in a document on the press page. It includes dates, but with regard to online articles, it only references when I started working with a company.

You have a degree in Early Childhood Education? So you're a teacher then?

I am qualified to teach children age 3 through grade 3 in a school setting, but I am not currently employed as a teacher. I learned a lot of useful things in college, but when it was all said and done, I wasn't comfortable working for the education system as it currently exists. With that said, my education has come in handy both for aspects of my writing career and in homeschooling my own children.

What inspired you to hike the Appalachian Trail?

I was first introduced to the trail through boy scouting and became captivated after meeting a few thru-hikers. A close friend and I decided we both wanted to try our hand at it and began researching. He finished his college with a two-year degree and decided he had to go then or never. I was still in the middle of college at the time, so couldn't join him. When he completed his own hike successfully, it further inspired me to succeed. It took another five years to afford the time and money to take the trip myself.

What were some of the most interesting jobs you've worked?

I think the most eye-opening job I've ever done was working with the Maryland Department of Corrections. It was far different than a lot of my expectations and a revealing look into human nature. What I learned of both officers and inmates has profoundly impacted my views on both heroes and villains in stories. Another interesting job was working for Kemmer's Greenhouse in Pennsylvania. My understanding of plants and how they grow expanded greatly while there. It has helped me to improve the quality of what I produce for my family. Looking back, I think it was actually my favorite job outside of writing.

Why was there such a long break between the alpha version of The Cursed and your online writing?

Does 'because I was an idiot” count? At the time, it had a lot to do with my belief that online was not the right venue for success. I kept focusing on the wrong areas. This was compounded by the loss of the Mac Book I'd been writing on. I still had the files from a few short stories and the RPGs, but nothing to write with. It threw me for a loop.

I didn't begin seriously trying to make a go of my writing again until I was working a day job with a surplus of downtime. When someone I knew found success with online articles, I decided to try. Even then, my activity level didn't jump until 2013. If I had it to do over, I'd kick myself into action way earlier.

What is the reason for such a long wait for a final release version of The Cursed?

After releasing the beta version of the system, my playtesters were no longer able to assist in testing the system. It took a good bit of time to find another set of playtesters who were able to offer helpful insights. I did revisions and expansions of the system, completing it. From there I kept trying to commission the artwork needed for the final release version. As I was never successful. Some were flaky, some were out of my price range. It went poorly to say the least. I have had to instead work hard to do the artwork myself..

What Genres do you prefer?

I'd say it's probably pretty clear that I have a strong love of fantasy. That said, I also enjoy science fiction and horror writing as well. I only rarely stray beyond those three. In nonfiction, I mostly stick with topics on hiking, camping, and homesteading topics.

What was your first book?

The first publication under my own name was a collection of stories titled Nighteyes. However, the first full book written was under the title of Hike Not Alone. I didn't find a publisher for it unfortunately. As for fiction, the first full book to see publication is The Platinum Chain.

What are you currently working on?

As of the latest FAQ update, a book under the working title of Meddle Not. On the off chance that I have somehow forgotten to update this page recently, double check on my social media sites and blog. I do try to update this periodically, but sometimes things slip past notice.

I don't agree with something a character you wrote did. You're a terrible person.

Ignoring for a moment that, once again this isn't really a question, let me note that I am not my characters. They aren't me. I know that is a shock to some, so I want to get that out there up front. Every protagonist I write has made both good and bad choices in life. They have ideas and opinions that I don't agree with. Each has talents and flaws that make them more complex. There isn't a single character I've ever written who champions my own ideals.

This is true of my antagonists also. Unless I'm writing something about Satan, don't expect them to be absolutely evil. Even if I do write the devil, he'll probably have traits that make him sympathetic. This isn't me advocating anything. It is me giving characters the depth and variation required to feel real. I'm sorry you think I'm terrible because of something a character did. Remember the character did something that managed to draw a passionate response from you. He or she wasn't so flat that you brushed them off. I'll count that as a victory for my characterization.

Are the things you write conveying aspects of your beliefs?

Sometimes I agree with what happens in a story, sometimes I don't. I tend not to write towards a moral, though by the nature of storytelling, a moral will form regardless. Some of my favorite authors lost my interest over the years when they focused on writing the same few topics. They began to circle the wagons around a moral stance and everything they wrote settled firmly into it. It's off-putting when novels in a series have a flow that suddenly shifts in a jarring direction towards some new belief on the part of the author.

I think the worst case of this was where the author got so caught up in a single viewpoint that it broke the fourth wall in a series where that wasn't a feature. In the final novel of the series, they were all but beating the reader over the head with the author's personal beliefs. The entire final chapter was so off-putting that I never picked up another book by the author in question. Originally, this was an author whose writing helped forge my desire to be an author!

I don't think that is fun to read sermons. I doubt it's fun to write. Yes, some of my beliefs will appear in some of my works, but since there will be beliefs very different from my own as well, I hope that they won't stand out. To me, I want to respect each character enough that the reader can empathize with them.

Do you read your own works?

By that, I'm assuming you mean besides proof-reading. I do, but only after time's passed. I like putting distance between myself and the story. It lets me enjoy the work as a reader and also offers me a chance to review what I've written with fresh eyes. It's amazing how many typos and plot holes you catch when you have had time away from a work of fiction. If I did my job well, they won't matter because the story's just too engaging.

Where do you get your ideas and inspiration?

All over. I get ideas while I'm hiking. I get ideas from dreams. I get ideas watching nature programming. I even get them from some passing phrase I overhear. One of the big reasons I've moved around so much in life and tried out so many jobs is that I love to experience and learn new things. I think some of the best authors have made a point of continually taking on new tasks. It's very easy to get into a rut if you never grow.

Do you suffer writers block and, if so how you deal with it?

I don't seem to suffer from it way some authors do. I think some of why I don't find myself at a loss for ideas because of how I have remained active in expanding my knowledge and experiences. The rest of it is the willingness to slow down and let my subconscious mind work on problems right along with my conscious mind. Despite this, as I'm not putting out six books a year, I'm clearly not super productive despite avoiding writer's block. I tend to suffer more from depression and anxiety. No matter how many ideas I have, it is hard to get myself working in a low period. Making my daily word count becomes a struggle, not because I don't have the words, but because I just feel so drained that getting them out is like pushing a boulder up a hill.

Are your character names important?

The short answer is yes. I don't believe that being born with a name determines who we become. That being said, in literature it's a way to convey something about the character right away. They may be true to their name or play against type. I also believe that your name influences how you grow up and behave. Someone with a common name may seek to distinguish themselves, for better or worse. Certain names are targets for being picked on. Our names don't decide who we are, but they're a factor in how we develop.

Do you have a writing process?

Honestly, it varies with each new work. With short stories, I do a basic outline of key elements and events, then brood on it for a few days. When I sit to write, I adjust that outline based on any new ideas I came up with. With novels length works, I often build the world and some of the characters. I then work out potential plots, themes and set a general direction for the story. The degree outlining varies greatly, but I've done outlines almost 1/4 of the book's finished length. By contrast, the project under the working name of Meddle Not is being written without an outline at all. One day I may settle on a permanent method that works best for me... Maybe.

How many drafts do you go through before a work is ready for publication?

That's tough to give an answer to. Short stories usually get two drafts, but sometimes more. Novels get an outline (which is more or less my first draft), an initial written draft, a second draft for line edits, and a third draft for copy edits. From there, it's a matter of what goes on between the agent/editor and I (unless I am self-publishing). The results of that dialogue decide how many more drafts I go through.

What are helpful sites for learning to write well? Do you have any advice on for new artists and writers?

Oh my. That is a huge question to answer. What helps one person is going to be meaningless to the next. I'll have to think on this one a while. I may add more to this question's answer when I have a better suggestion. For now, I will say that the single best thing I did for my writing was to write. You can learn every trick in the book and if you don't have experience, it is meaningless. There are hundreds of Booktubers out there offering advice. When they write books, many of them are absolutely terrible.

You know what really makes the difference? Sit down and write. But it isn't any good, you say? So what? No one's first draft is good. Most people write several full books before they find their writing voice and gain enough confidence and skill to write something worthy of print. Aim for a million words. Each time you finish something, shelve it and don't look again until the next major project is done. You'll see huge changes in your skill and find all sorts of things you would have done differently. That is the manifestation of experience. Write terrible things so you can write amazing things. This is just as true about art.

Do you use AI and if so, to what extent?

I have some personal feelings regarding AI. The questionable ethics of many varieties has led me to limit my use of it. The basic answer is that I am willing to use 'noise generator' style AI, but have stopped all use of it beyond that. This means that I only use limited and heavily modified use of it as an art tool and zero use of it for writing. My AI statement can be found in a link at the top of the site. Also, for a deeper exploration of my views please see my blog entries with the AI tag.

Do you use Beta Readers and ARC Readers?

I do. If you wish to participate as a Beta Reader, please sign up here.
If you're interested in being an ARC reader, you can sign up here

What is the Cryptidverse™?

While I don't intend for my works to be public domain while I'm still alive, I like the idea of a universe written where others can share beyond just fan fiction. Much as the works of H. P. Lovecraft have grown into a much richer tapestry thanks to the additions from other authors, I would like to see the same of my own horror universe. As such, I have created an open license for the Cryptidverse™.

I never saw myself as a horror writer. I think it's clear I see myself more firmly rooted in the realm of fantasy. That being said, I discovered I have some talent for writing horror. From the very first horror story I wrote, others were drawn to the world I was building. They would speak about how the fear had seeped into them to a degree that it followed them into the real world. It was entirely unexpected for me.

I pondered my feelings on the matter for a long time. Several of my stories were shorter works about small parts of what could easily be a larger universe. Many followed events around strange creatures that existed unknown to the better part of their own world. Strange and haunting creatures that somehow escaped modern knowledge. In a word, Cryptids.

More importantly, I've seen several author's universes that had extended beyond their originators. Not just works that have gone public domain fall into this category. Some rare writers have opened their universes up for others to write in. Their works are their own, but the rules of their universes are open for others to use. The things they've created may appear in new stories from other authors. For that, I decided to expand this setting into an open world, allowing others to write within.

Why not just make the Cryptidverse™ part of the Lovecraft Mythos?

I suppose I could have, but one of the elements of Lovecraft is that much of it is tied up is Cosmic Horror. A reality so far from what we know that it invalidates even our sanity. We are insignificant beings who occupy a meaningless moment between greater events. For the Cryptidverse™, I wanted to focus on things a little more grounded. The fear isn't in the unknowable, but instead the unknown. These things can exist, yet elude us despite our belief that we've explored all there is.

I wanted a world populated with beings visceral and real for the people of that world. Not so alien that sanity falls away before them, but instead just plausible enough that those who've encountered them can't deny them. Things just alien enough that those who’ve not encountered them refuse to accept that they could exist. That thin line between unimaginable and undeniable, where horror can coexist with our own real world.

Is there a specific site for the Cryptidverse? Do I always have to use the tm mark?

I have a page dedicated to the criteria for writing in the Cryptidverse, but at this point it is not large enough to have its own dedicated site. You don't need to use the tm each time you write the word. I do this just to be clear that it is my own intellectual property. Only those who write within the criteria have the allowance to make use of the word.

What are the rules to the Cryptidverse™?

I've compiled an entire set of rules at the Cryptidverse™ Open License.