I read Fantasy, Science Fiction and Westerns. I'm looking for cast of characters in a world that the author can make believable. A place really, that I can go explore. I've found I can easily enter a world based on any of those three types of fiction.

For stand alone, single purpose reading platform, you can't beat the Kindle Paperwhite. However, I find I most often use my iPad or my laptop computer.

That's a difficult question, as I've just published my first book. So far, I'm using a Twitter account and a Facebook account, which seem to be working. Perhaps the most effective techniques will be diligence and patience. I have those.

ROFL! I would, but I really can't see much of it! OK, I will do my best, for those who feel this will provide an insight about me. My desk is two file cabinets spread apart far enough to support a standard sized door. I did this because I need a lot of space to play on. On my desk sits Three computers, a photo scanner, a weather radio, various parts for robots (I like to build using Parallax parts), a pocket knife, a two meter amateur radio, two large bins of hand-written notes, a pirate hat, a Cisco console cable, the top cover to an oscilloscope I use, several Cisco switches and routers, and a Springfield .45 semi-automatic pistol. I am a man of many interests and passions.

I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. In Charleston, I had access to a local library I could ride my bike to. I also was able to visit several museums there. I visited the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site. We lived close enough I could ride my bike there as well. I was in walking distance of an expanse of marshlands and woodlands, where you could often find me exploring. Of course, I was surrounded by historical buildings and old ghost stories. I learned at a very early age that everything and everyone had a story to tell, sometimes they were even true. It was there that I learned the fine art of observing, which every good story teller needs. My family then moved to Florence, S.C., where I lived until I joined the U.S. Air Force. I met my wife one of the times I returned home on leave, so Florence is where I learned about true love. A writer must understand love, or the stories told will remain one dimensional at best. These two places in South Carolina exposed me to so many possibilities and formed my love of exploring the world around me.

I first started writing when I was a kid who had just learned to read and write. You know, those epic one, two or even three page novels in crayon. Heavy in art work... When I was in High School I started writing poetry and then lyrics for songs I played on guitar. I continued to write lyrics, and still do. The idea of writing a book always seemed daunting. Until I tried it. Now I must simply have another. "What Witches Want" is already in work, the second part of my series.

It's a follow on from my first book. John and Tish are preparing for an epic battle with the witches. During this journey it appears they might actually be falling in love. However, life can throw many choices at us, and take some away. They are on a dangerous path and there's no promise of tomorrow. I keep writing because I can't stand it, I want to see what happens!

The idea of e-publications. I could never afford to print enough hard copy books to break even. However, an e-pub cost me nothing but my time. Also, as an indie author, I could bypass the gateway of a publisher looking for a specific style, allowing the public to decide if they are entertained by my stories.

Smashwords made it possible to for me to publish my book. Without Smashwords, I can't imagine a path that would have given me the opportunity to share my world, my story, with the public. I imagine that my story, and countless others, would never have been told without Smashwords. Smashwords is a platform broad enough that everyone has a chance to tell their story. If you ever thought what if, then Smashwords offers you the key to find out. Go ahead, open that door.

Learning what happens. I have a basic idea of who and what when I start writing. However, as I write, the story comes alive, unfolding on it's own. I'm the first person who gets to read my story. I think it's like being the first person to explore a new civilization, a space colony, a parallel world. Afterwards, I love hearing from others about the book. I want to know what they loved, what broke their heart. Something special is always better when shared.

If the book is the heart, the fans are the life blood of an author. Fans validate the amount of time and work I put into writing. When I learn that the world I created, the people I invented, bring joy and excitement to another person, I know I have created something good. I love feedback from fans to help me fine-tune my writing style. I love to share favorite moments in my story, and learn why someone else enjoyed those as well. I love my fans.