When did you first realize you wanted to write?
There is one defining moment when I realized that writing was what I wanted to do. However, I’ll get to that later.
The truth is I wanted to write from an early age, but my lack of maturity was a hindrance. You could say I hadn’t experienced enough of what life has to offer to even consider writing about characters that were anything but one or two-dimensional. In addition, the necessities of life got in the way. So I shelved my plans, attended university, found employment and then began working my way through the daily slog of being a salary man.
The biggest problem was that I was really nothing more than a kid wearing a business suit. I really knew nothing about life, and I knew very little about how to deal with people. I guess you could say, I didn’t understand what makes people tick. But little by little, working as a consultant helped me get into their heads, understand their thought processes, and appreciate the differences between them and me, and how to use that understanding to my advantage.
In saying all that, the moment I realized I wanted to really try my hand at writing was when I finished reading a Japanese Manga by the name of “Suzuka” by Seo Kouji.
For months before then I’d grown in love with reading Japanese Manga. I found it different and refreshing from western writing and comics. I was never a fan of the Marvel and DC comics, so when I encountered Manga, I was quickly overwhelmed with how different it was, and how much I enjoyed their style of storytelling.
But I came across “Suzuka” at a time when I was doubting most of my choices in life. I’d broken up a few years earlier, and while I thought I was over that relationship, I realized I wasn’t. Reading “Suzuka” made that painfully obvious for reasons I won’t divulge, but needless to say, that after reading it I was overcome with the urge to write something that could elicit feelings in readers much like Seo Kouji’s work elicited feelings from me.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Quite simply the fact a series like this would never be published since I'm a first time author.
I realized that late in the game, much to my chagrin.
Read more of this interview.