How did you become interested in Science Fiction Fantasy for your first book?
I always enjoyed the fantastic ideas presented in Science Fiction and have read many of the classics. After weaning myself from The Wizard of OZ fantasy’s by L. Frank Baum, I began reading The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon, Nancy Drew Mystery stories by Carolyn Keene, Tom Swift Jr. adventures by Victor Appleton II, and Tom Corbett Space Cadet space action adventures by Carry Rockwell. Stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert A Heinlein and Ray Bradbury soon followed. Looking back at all of the above mentioned authors, I realized that I was drawn to the idea of intermingling Science Fiction with magic and that lead to my innovation of a Fantasy in Space. My reading also formed my idea of what I like to call the “YA of Yesteryear,” which extends the Middle Grade age range to Adult readers. The rediscovery of this audience is today called the New Age genre that has been growing for the past five years.
Have other writers inspired your writing style?
Two come to mind, Robert A Heinlein and Ray Bradbury. Heinlein’s Space Cadet and Rocket Ship Galileo were the first true Science Fiction books that took me on trips to the Moon and beyond. His books excited my imagination. I read every book of his that I could lay my hands on and I wanted to write stories like him. Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes influenced scenes in my trilogy and the word, Darkside in the title of my first book and in the name of my trilogy. His story has a macabre atmosphere that has stayed with me for many years. Who couldn’t love his characters with names like: Jim Nightshade and the chilling Mr. Dark?
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