I've been writing nearly all my life. I remember being in elementary school and given creative writing assignments. I used to write these short stories and incorporate people from my class into the story. I had a knack then that only refined and grew over time.

I wrote a short book about the Armor of God as depicted in Ephesians 6. I wanted to talk about the armor itself and create a short book to give insight to powers that we have as Christians. I always knew I was going to be a successful writer and felt like it as a God-given gift. I felt like the most proper way was to give God glory through the first of hopefully many books to come.

Mainly convenience. Smashwords was an extremely easy way that I could accomplish my lifelong dream. Through its simple format instructions, I was able to format my book for publishing in 2 days and designed my own book cover utilizing a free photo site online. I am so thankful that this site exists and for the opportunity to begin my career in writing through them!

The greatest joy of writing for me has been to bring an abstract truth to light, or - as will be seen in my next book - to bring fictional characters that exist only in my mind at present to life for the readers. I'm working on a novel for follow up and I believe this story will be very successful in the near future.

I think it's too early to think of myself as someone with numerous fans. However, I hope someday to have millions of them. But in the meantime those who have purchased my book already and for those who have believed in me - this effort and my continued efforts are for you. You mean the world to me and I'm humbled to have such awesome people in my life. I cannot thank you enough for your belief in me and for contributing to the success I have experienced now and that I will have in the future. Thank you!!!

I would have to say that I have so many of them that I will have to keep it brief.

I think my greatest single influence is Nicholas Sparks. I was in a store in Swansboro, North Carolina when he suddenly walked in on Thanksgiving Day 2014. Here was this guy who had written so many books and here he was about 100 feet in front of me and people were so respectful of him and probably was as awestruck as I was.

I had picked up his book "True Believer" in an airport gift shop. During my flight I read the entire book from cover to cover. His choice in writing about the supernatural and interwoven with several characters and their personal dramas was so well done. I hope to one day be as accomplished as he has been.

Other authors I have really appreciated have been Max Lucado, Henry David Thoreau, Louis L'Amour, and Jack London. They wrote books that are timeless and who touch readers many years after their books were written.

I know the best is yet to come. I believe I have been given this opportunity to utilize my gifts for the betterment of society. I believe that every day I do not do something to bring me closer to my goal is a day wasted. I strive to write these stories in my head and to bring these characters to life and to rekindle the interest in reading to the next generation.

I love photography. I enjoy taking my Nikon out and shooting pictures. I enjoy working on our home. We have recently completed a renovation of our hall bathroom. We did most of the work ourselves and it has been highly rewarding.

I also love spending time with my family camping and hiking. I have some fun tinkering with small engines and woodworking.

I like to look at the premise of my novel first, then outline it. I like to determine how I want it to start and finish and steps along the way. I also like to start out high-level then work to layer it in very carefully. Finally, I also enjoy writing and seeing where it goes as I write and allow a little spontaneity to enter the fray. As in painting, sometimes you have an idea how things will go, but until you put the paintbrush onto the canvas, you have no idea how things will turn out and even the most well-planned subjects can yield astonishing surprises.

I think having a little experience with photography and graphic design has been a major plus in this category. For my first book I found a picture on a free photography website since I didn't have a photo of anything close in the subject matter I have in my photography portfolio. Then I set up my font and title and determined how I wanted the book to look. It took a considerable amount of time but one cannot be too careful or spend too much time when everything that someone will come to know you for when they read your book starts at the cover page.