The writing industry has changed so drastically over the years, just since the early 1980s. Maybe it was because of the advent of PC computing but as a result of rapid change, traditional publishers have become insensitive, more profit oriented and, increasingly selective about what they want. Good stories go overlooked or, just plain ignored everyday. Yet, no person can say whether a truly great story is among those not reaching the public. Further, now that self-publishing has become a major movement, traditional publishers are using it to screen stories. I was told by a publisher, that if a self-published writer can sell 15,000 copies of his own book, then they would seek to get that writer under contract. In the interim, they would publish the indie writer's book for an upfront fee. In my opinion, the method is no longer publishing for the sake of edifying or, entertaining the public; it is only another form of usury. I became an indie author simply because I don't want to be controlled by these forces but, do want to get my words out.

All I can say is that, it has to be a toss up between Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and, Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I read them both in grade school.

It might surprise you but; no, I don't.

My first professional writing experience goes back to my early days in the U. S. Navy back in the 1970s. As a fairly junior Petty Officer placed in charge of a Division of Sailors, I was sometimes tasked to write award recommendations and, performance evaluation comments. Over time that progressed into writing Point Papers, and various government reports.

I grew up in Cleveland Ohio. I think the influence shows up in my writing, whenever I talk about living in a neighborhood. I also draw upon some of my childhood experiences from those times, that may be still relevant today.

I typically discover the e-books I read when searching online for a specific topic. Often I am doing research for one reason or another, and run across an interesting read beyond what I was looking for originally.

The greatest joy of writing for me exists within the ability to communicate. So often, people are hindered in one way or another by the lack of the ability to communicate effectively. It is a joy to me when I can successfully be understood, and accepted through writing or, when I can successfully support my position in intellectual and, legal discussions. Yet, it is an even greater joy that I am still learning about, when people enjoy my writing for entertainment.

In my youth I loved the Martial Arts; now I just watch the movies about them. I also like to go backpack hiking, sightseeing, trail biking, playing Chess, spoiling my grandchildren, and target shooting.

E-book reading devices are becoming as numerous as PC types. I don't have one of choice. I prefer one that provides ease of use, sturdy but, light weight, provides a bright screen (especially in bright sunlight), has long battery life, and has clear text magnification options.

Andre Norton, James Baldwin, Samuel Clemens, Alex Haley, Ernest Hemingway, Mary Shelley, Langston Hughes and, Tom Clancy.

I like to read a good science fiction or, horror fiction for pleasure. On occasion, if I run across one, I will read adventure fictions on the order of those like Indiana Jones. I also like some select military related fiction.

There are a number of reasons. Chief among them is, that I believe it to be absurd, that the greater population of humans still have not comprehended or, accepted, that as responsible adults, it is not so important who you love as it is, that you love. There will always be variability in human sexuality whether physiological or, psychological. No one, regardless of their perceived or, actual social power has the right to repress people with those leanings when it is against their will. To do so only creates more unhappiness in a world that has enough of it. Further, members of the LGBTQ communities live in every profession and, location of the world. They deserve to be represented, not ignored or, hidden, in all of those aspects of life by story, because they contribute to every social culture in human reality, just like every other population segment.

I am aware of the biases held by a population that is homophobic and, those who are pseudo-religious ultra-conservatives, that will choose not to read anything that portrays Gay or Lesbian relationships. Human societies all have moral skews toward hatred, death and destruction, as opposed to love on a linear continuum from one extreme to the other. The problem is that most people don't perceive the skew. Yet, it is no more morally correct to tend toward violence, than to be more sexual with anyone. People corrupt the practice of religion upon which social morays are based, for their own ends. They appear so outraged when violent, homicidal events are perpetrated. Yet, violence is a central feature of movies, books, video games, even music, conveniently classified as "action."

If people want their society to become less hateful and, violent then, they must cultivate the opposite. Writers must put out more literature that includes relationships that already, truly exist in the society "on the downlow," not just the whitewashed romantic visions fantasized about, until freer, open, less constrained kinds of relationships no longer present a threat or, frighten or, disgusts any readers. For human society to exist in a state of stability, there must be balance and, acceptance of differences. Attempting to eliminate one inherent aspect of human nature, or another from human social structure altogether, throws the effort to create a stable society out of balance. Although I would prefer it to be otherwise, if I lose readers who don't see their vision is skewed by preferring unrestrained violence over, unrestrained sexuality then, so be it. I seek those readers who are unafraid to open their minds to experimentation. Human socio-political structures are nothing but enormous experiments anyway. To eventually get it right requires further expansion of the mind.

From the perspective of my Gracinne Chandler stories, with the exception of where medical reasons must be observed by them, my characters have left the petty morays of a civilization corrupted by constant wars behind. They recognize from their own personal evolving experiences with the lead character that love, cooperation, compromise and, forgiveness are extremely superior to violence, continuous conflict, competition and, war. Yet, they understand the reality of the world they live in and, that violence is woven into the fabric of human life. Yet, as a group of people who love beyond the norms of their socio-political and, governmental paradigms, they set the example for striking a balance in an unbalanced world that they increasingly find includes the paranormal. Heterosexual men and, women in the stories are incapable of meeting such challenges. Their biases always reveal themselves in their choices, if not their rhetoric. In the stories about Gracinne Chandler, she represents the ultimate in the Ying/Yang model for balance in life and, love even though her actions wobble back and forth to either side of that balance. She represents a new center.