Why I Started Writing:

My junior high English teacher had us write a one-page short story for a class exercise. I chose to tell the story of a soldier in Korea defending Hill 168 from his point of view. My teacher wrote “Great Imagination” across the top of my story and from that moment forward, I was hooked! Honestly, these stories build in me and then force their way out. If I didn’t write, I’d likely explode, which would cause more problems for my wife. So, in order to preserve my family, I write.

Authors Who Have Influenced Me:

I’d love to tell you that I was deeply influenced by the classics, but I grew up devouring dime store novels such as Louis L’Amour westerns. I would go to the local hardware store and examine the bookrack for new books as often as I could get my parents to take me to town. I do have an appreciation for English writers, including Tolkien and Lewis, but my favorite author is J.K. Rowling. I love the way her characters interact, and how she makes me want to live in a castle full of ghosts.

Books I Have Written:

My first novel was a self-published Christian romance titled, When Love Calls. I contracted with another publisher to rewrite the story and changed the name to When Love Called. The rewrite was significantly different than the first version. In this story, a three-year-old girl was playing with the phone and accidently dialed a working number. When her widowed father discovered the open phone line, he also discovered Lily, and they talk for more than an hour about everything and about nothing. Sadly, he wasn’t ready for a relationship, so he said goodbye. Forever. But, a few months later, his daughter was playing with the phone again and accidently redialed the number. It had to be Divine orchestration for him to have a second conversation with Lily. And, being a man, I throw in an excellent car crash, helicopters, deadly blizzards, a world class Army surgeon suffering from PTSD, a friend who has the morals of an alley cat, and a long night stranded in the desert while desperately praying for the morning to bring rescuers.

My other book, Shadows: One Choice a Future Makes tells the story of an ordinary man living an ordinary life when an extraordinary woman tempts him to spend the night with her in her hotel. He must choose whether or not to stay faithful to his wife and kids. In the spirit of It’s a Wonderful Life, I allow him to make BOTH decisions, split the story into two separate realities, and explore the probable conclusions of his decisions. In the reality where he chooses the wild night with the temptress, his life begins to unravel, slowly at first, and then continues to spiral beyond redemption. In the reality where he stays faithful to his wife, God blesses him in ways he could not imagine, and he slowly starts changing the world and those around him in a significant way.  Truly, no man is an island unto himself, and every single decision he makes changes the lives of everyone in his life.

What I'm Working On Now:

I have contracted with Elk to republish When Love Called and turn it into a 4 part series, complete with a handful of accompanying short stories. I’m also working on a time travel action adventure that chronicles a team of explorers who get caught in another dimension while exploring the ancient Mayan ruins on Dec 21, 2012. Suddenly the past and present collide when someone drastically rewrites history. Oh! And I’m working on a young adult series involving parallel universes and alternate realities. AND … I’m drawing up the plans to write a couple of more romantic stories. PLUS … I’m writing my second theatrical play. Man, I’m busy! If anyone can add 4 hours to each day, I’d appreciate it!