Fans are a validation of that common chord that runs through many of us connecting us by what we may find entertaining. I write with the fans in mind. I write because I want to entertain an audience. I know you are out there, you who will like my very own unique style of writing and storytelling. Let's connect and find ourselves together in the same audience.

I just finished Bear and it was a bear to finally get 'er done. Bear is dedicated to my son, Ashton. Next, I'm working on a zombie apocalypse survival test, a memoir or two, and at least two business essays about workplace bullying. I'm also pitching in with ePublicity Plus Writers Group to help one of their premier artists launch her writing projects. My next major writing project will be a full-length novel about a group of kids who uncover an alien invasion plan where alien bugs have invaded our world. They hide by burrowing under our skin, secretly living inside our bodies, controlling us in ways we do not know. Bugs will be dedicated to my daughter, Ashleigh. After that, I'm planning to shift gears and write an epic fantasy novel. Then I've got another SciFi writing project planned about a major government conspiracy at a secret military base. Check my website for the current update on my many projects.

I often start with an idea. If I dream about or think of something cool, I like to work fast to understand what the point or message should be. I start with a frame, a skeleton that says here is the start, the middle, and the end. I decide what is the big thing that's happening. I know right away where the story needs to go and how it has to get there. From that skeleton of an idea, I begin fleshing things out more and more. I just continue to work on the carcass until at some point it is ready to come to life. When I hit a roadblock I shift gears to a different story. This way I always have a number of stories needing my attention. My writing lab is full of experiments and projects. At some point one of my stories is ready to come to life. On a dark and stormy night, I hoist the thing up to the rooftop and then raise my lightning rod and when lightning strikes, I pull the wet smoldering thing back down inside my lab and giggle at my work.

Tolkien, Tom Clancy, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dean Koontz, Alex Haley, Malcolm Gladwell

The first story I ever wrote that caught anyone's attention was in the 6th grade. My English teacher, Ms. Alexander, told me that she was blown away by a space saga I had written. She said she believed in me. Her nice words about my work made me cry. I had a tough childhood and reading and writing quickly became two damn nice distractions.

I would spend all my time writing if I could...or busting criminals if it paid well enough (it doesn't). I have a full time job as a Federal something or other. I also have two big kids who need my help with life, homework, tennis practice, driving them places, and paying for their stuff. For pure selfish fun I like to go on long motorcycle rides, stopping here and there, checking far and wide to see who's got the best margaritas.

I grew up in Houston, Texas. We were a poor inner-city family, no TV, not very many toys, but we had lots of books. When I look back, I'd like to think that because we didn't have much, I developed a strong imagination. I never felt trapped by my circumstances. I read lots of books to escape, I daydreamed all day long, I made my own toys out of anything I found, and I made up my own stories. I liked to watch the world around me and try to understand the way things were. I liked to believe that I had the power in me to do something about the world around me. I looked up to heroes and difference-makers. I knew life would get much better later.

Bear is my first full-length novel. I would prefer to remain cryptic about what the book means to me. I am just so much more interested in what it means to the readers. What did you the reader take away from Bear? I tried to write the book in a way that the story is about much more than just trying to survive a bear attack. I hope the book resonates with all kinds of readers from all over the world and they will share with me what the book meant to them in their life. Then maybe when I'm ready, I'll share more about what the book means to me. Promise.