Well, after having done 17 books under my print publisher I decided that I wanted to do something outside of their box. There is a lot of stuff that I considered writing about and spaceflight was at the top of my list. My print publisher was really not interested in a spaceflight series, so I just figured to do it myself.

Since I primarily write historical narratives, my greatest joy is doing the detective work and rooting around to find the obscure facts and then weaving them into the story. Frankly, I think that I get most of the fun out of the book because I get to do the first-hand discovery.

Without readers you may as well scribble in the sand, so readers are very important in the process. That said, I often get rolling and producing so many stories that I tend to forget that people actually read the darned things. Of course that malady is quickly cured when I hear from a fan who really enjoys my work. Let's face it, only a few people actually get rich writing- and I ain't one of 'em... so, hearing from someone that I made happy makes my efforts worth it.

After the six volume set of spaceflight books I'm considering doing a similar set on aviation. Additionally, I have a book of my best shoplifter stories that is nearly finished. Yes, one of the jobs that I did while I was working my way through college was bustin' shoplifters and after 372 arrests and 100% convictions, I have some fun stories to tell... well, "fun" from my perspective, not from theirs.

Dwight Boyer, Fred Stonehouse and Walt Cunningham

A small wrist watch alarm that is back up by a portable alarm clock that is so shrill it'll wake the dead.

I own and operate Dr. Zooch Rockets, a company that makes flying model rockets. Additionally I draw the Klyde Morris cartoon strip. Other than that I'm a dad and that alone is a full time job.

So far as writing for publication, the first story that I wrote was "All In A Day's Frustration" and was the story of a modern lake freighter that became stuck in the ice on Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay.

For my Great Lakes books I keep a huge series of assorted little "events" on file. After years of sifting through microfilms of old newspapers and records from the US Life-saving Service I just picked out odds and ends that looked unique. Then, when I need a story, I look back through my files, pick one that suits my fancy and then I research the crap out of it. After I start writing I ask myself questions about the details of the event and then go and find the answers. The stories then write themselves. For the spaceflight books, the process was a bit different. Since each is based on my own recollections I had to sit down and remember some event, no matter how small that happened during the time in question. As I considered that event more closely other things began to fall into place until had a good recall of what it was like. I used my own tapes and personal journals about the missions to guide me. Then I went to the NASA documentation and some independent archived news video and filled in the technical details. As I did that I asked myself questions about those details and researched them farther. It was really fun.

It was an amazing adventure about a boy named Dick and his friend Jane and their dog Spot... required reading in my second grade class. I refused to read it aloud and thus was sent to see the "reading specialist" downtown. It was 1964 and my parents were in fear that their son "could not read." It took the specialist just minutes to show my parents the difference between "can't" read and "won't" read. They were told to get me something to read with a subject matter that held my interest better that Dick and Jane. That turned out to be spaceflight. The impact is self-evident.

Big title lettering in high contrast to the background so it is easily read in thumbnail size. Next, two pictures- one that is also easily recognized in thumbnail and the other being one that requires closer scrutiny because it is a metaphor for what is inside the book. Lastly, my name in large letters for when the book comes out in print form. Covers are for catching readers. The title and the first photo catches the eye, the second photo reels them in and the author's name says that I was the one who got them.

A Train wreck... just like my brain.

I don't pleasure read. That may sound odd, but I am so busy researching and writing that I have no time for pleasure reading. After 17 print books and 6 eBooks since 1990, writing is my job- reading and research are key to that job. If I sit and try to pleasure read, I feel like I could be more productive working on another story of my own.

Nope. Probably because I don't even think about such things. I have, however, had to put airline ramp ear-cups on when the kids are going nuts around the house in order to keep the flow flowing.

My best method has come while "doing the lonely card table" and a book signing at a mall or some such thing. If it's slow, people are scared to death that if they stop at your table they'll have to buy a book. So, I just smile and casually say, "Asking questions of the author is free of charge." It works. Or, if you are gonna do the table, bring a friend of two to stand there and thumb through books. It makes other people feel more comfortable to approach the table. After all they have no idea that the person standing by the table came there with you. Then you hit them with the free questions line. It works.

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away. (Sorry folks, but with these computer-generated interview questions, I just couldn't resist.)

In the womb- my mom still doesn't forgive me for that.

Apollo Part One is part of six book series about "Growing Up With Spaceflight." But it is the third book in the series. I was writing all six books concurrently, so when I'd get bored with Mercury, I'd switch to writing about the Shuttle, get bored with Shuttle, go and work on Gemini, tired of Gemini, work on Apollo and so on. Apollo Part One was the first book finished and so it came out first.

I'll let you know when I actually have success.

A hall tree... yep... a hall tree for sure.

In late 1997, as the lighthouse series of my books were rolling off the presses, I was hired as a corporate pilot flying Falcon Jets. This new job placed me in one single situation where I found myself to be terribly uncomfortable as the author of some seven books. My new boss’ wife was a writer and she was also a member of a local “writer’s club” that met monthly at a local bar /restaurant. My boss thought it would be a good idea for him to take me to one of these meetings… ooookay. Here’s the poop- there are a bazillion “writers” out there, and very few “authors.” Many of those writers are dreaming, struggling, wishing and trying very hard to get ANYTHING published, anyplace. Very few are as lucky as I have been, and that never really soaked in until I went to that “club” meeting. They were all milling about with drinks in hand chatting as friends do, when someone rang the attention bell and made a “big announcement.” As the room went quiet, the lady said “I want everyone to know that Bob was published this week in the Sunday magazine!” there was a cheer and Bob proudly boasted “Yep, three full paragraphs!” There followed applause and a good deal of back-slapping for Bob. I began to feel pretty uncomfortable… then my boss introduced me as a published author. The room went silent. “How many books is that you have out now Wes?” Every eye was on me… my only thought was “I have to get to a cave- RIGHT NOW!” I mumbled, “Seven.” And then tried to recover by adding “but, they’re all just regional stuff.” That didn’t help very much. No one in the “club” approached me or even spoke to me thereafter. Finally, after a very awkward half hour I managed to slip out and go home… my weirdness meter was pegged.

Just my desk-top computer.

Radio spots. They are great because you reach a lot of people and you can do them while you sit at home in your P.J.s. The only type of radio that I will not do is the "wacky morning crew." That's because you spend 12 good minutes with them and then after you hang up, they spend 20 minutes making fun of you and it negates the whole purpose of the spot.

Be professional. Your first book is not your first born child. It is a product to be sold. Make it, finish it and sell it, then start on the next book. It is that simple.

I look on my computer.

My first five.