I usually have an environmental theme in my stories, so there is nothing more rewarding to me than to have a reader tell me they enjoyed the story first, but also learned a few things at the same time. I’m not saying my books are “educational” but they do have story lines that revolve around the ocean and marine life that readers may not be familiar with. The second greatest joy is hearing from someone who knows what I was talking about who tells me I got it right.

I write full time, so it is my job and I think of it that way. I get up every morning and go to work. The great thing about being a full time writer is that I take my inspiration from a lot of different places so when I am feeling stagnant, I can go do “something” or explore or take a trip and that is all part of the job. I love adventure and seeing the world, especially from a unique angle.

My writing process may seem a little haphazard, but it works for me. I get an inspiration for a story, often from real events and then stew on it for a while, planning and plotting in my head. I usually have a rough outline in my head when I start writing, but it is very rough. Often, as I am writing, the story takes twists and turns that I didn’t expect. Most days I will spend my morning promoting books, working on social media and answering emails. It seems my more creative writing time is in the afternoon so I try to hit it for a couple hours every day.

My first three novels were originally published with a publisher, but it was a frustrating experience. I was one of many and they were pretty inflexible. They weren’t willing to listen to promotional ideas or ways to get my books out there. As the publishing revolution hit in the last few years, I decided I could do better on my own, be in control of my own destiny if you will. I’ve never looked back.

I always have a couple different projects going at any given time. Right now, I am working on a biography about a disabled diver who sets world records and a How To book on collecting oral histories. I also have a new novel in the works. It’s about 10,000 words in, but mapped out.

Like a lot of writers, I write the books I would like to read. So, even if no one read them, I would probably still write. For me, writing is like reading except I get to decide what happens to the characters. That said, I love my fans. I realize there are so many options when it comes to entertainment and books to read so when someone chooses to spend time in one of my stories, it is a great feeling. My fans are what drives me to continue, to try new things and to keep it fresh and interesting. I never want to let them down.

I love Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler. I’ve been told I write in the same vein as those two. I’m a fan of Carl Hiaasen as well. Jim Butcher is really creative and I’ve read just about all of his books. I really enjoy SG Redling as well. She is new, but has some great stuff.

My passions are scuba diving, photography and my family. Those three things take up just about all of my spare, non-writing time.

Like most readers, I get a lot of recommendations by word of mouth. I read a range of things from fiction to non-fiction, but I love to get tips about great writers or books. Every once in a while, I will also read an out-of-print ebook from a long-dead writer.

I have an Android tablet that I do all of my ebook reading on. It’s a great way to read in multiple formats so I don’t feel locked into a single retailers books. I still read “real” books, but probably 80 percent of my reading is on the tablet. I love to be able to learn about a book, download it on the spot and begin reading immediately.