Book 3 of the Dog and Troll series. I just finished writing it, now I like to take a couple weeks off and read some other books, sort of as a palate cleanser before I do the final edit. I recommend this for all authors; take a break and come back and finish your work after you've had some time to step away from it.

I love authors who get deep into character like Stephen King and Anne Rice, and I also enjoy reading authors who do a lot of research into what they write about, such as Michael Crichton, and Arthur C. Clarke; who get a lot of information from actual scientists, so you feel like you're also learning something new as you read.

I like to peruse the free-section of smashwords and see what other new writers are doing. I also enjoy getting in touch with those writers by reviewing their work and writing helpful comments. At first, I was leery of doing this, because I thought a lot of people would write back, "Forget you, what does that guy know?" But, moreover people have been writing back and thanking me for the free advice.

Yes. The first story I ever wrote was back in the fifth grade, entitled "The Lost World of Walla-Walla-Bing-Bang". I wrote if for a class-periodical in which, every student had to include a unique story of their own. Initially, my story was a knock off of Indiana Jones, and my mother and sister laughed at it. Disheartened, I never stopped writing, 'though naturally, I never shared another story with my mother or sister until I published my first novel. I'll tell you one thing, they're not laughing anymore.

I make all my covers myself. I wouldn't necessarily call it a process, I just envision the way I want the cover to look, and then I attempt to create it with programs such as Photoshop and SnagIt.

I grew up as a military "brat"; moving every couple of years or so. Back then, having to relocate and make new friends seemed like the hardest thing in the world, but now I look back on all the places I've lived and all the people I've met. That's resource material you can't buy.

I've always been a writer. As a kid I'd write my own comic books. As a young adult, I branched out into poetry, short stories, and writing music, as I play a number of instruments. In my twenties I began writing full-length movie scripts which, in turn, evolved into writing novels.

There's not much room for aspiring authors in today's world. Most publishers won't even give new writers the benefit of the doubt, so there's not really much of an option: either be an indie author, or none at all.

Creating.

I don't have a lot of fans, but the ones I do have I cherish. Having people believe in you and looking forward to your next story is like having an invisible safety-net; it doesn't matter how high you fly or how far you fall, there's always someone there rooting you on.

Be tenacious. Don't give up. Nothing worth doing is ever easy.

No. I read a lot. A lot. But, the earliest books I read that still stand out are: Stephen King's "The Eyes of the Dragon", "The Hobbit", and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". I don't know if reading at an early age really had much of an impact on me, but it certainly served as an escape from the cruelty of everyday life. By-the-by, does anyone remember "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator"?

Currently, I'm working on the next installment of "The Dog and Troll series". I'm also laboring away at a new poetry book and of course, "Twisted Falls". I like to juggle projects.

Anything.

Books. No gizmos or gadgets. Just books.

Just getting yourself out there. Marketing is by-far the toughest part of free-lance authors. Smashwords, Createspace, Twitter, Facebook, GoodReads, blogs, creating your own website. Just try and utilize the internet to connect to as many facets as you can. That's what the web was designed for. The more you inch out onto the limb, the more people see you dangling from a tree, or something to that effect.

Cluttered.

Recently, I was offered the chance to ask Stephen King a question via GoodReads' November news letter. I've always wanted to pick Mr. King's brain, but when I finally offered the chance, I couldn't think of a single thing to ask him. Ironic, right? (eventually I thought of something, time will tell if they decide to use my question in the interview).

Ha!

By living the dream, baby! Living the dream!

Too many people sit before a blank page or word document. I like to picture each scene in my head, like watching a show. Then when my fingers start to twitch, I sit down and the words just flow from my fingertips.