What's the story behind your latest book?
The Aestrah Cycle came about as the result of two non-related incidents. The first was my involvement with the Houston Esoteric Center (now defunct) and an Akashic Reading from founder William David. Somehow this reading opened up dim memories of past lives which eventually took on a life of their own. The second incident was a series of trips to South America where I came in contact with the Uros and Auca Indians. From them came the legend of Las Madres del Sombra, a whispered story that obviously originated from the Inca's. These two things eventually framed Aestrah, along with the miserable state of women's affairs all around the world.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I've been hammering away at fiction for over 35 years. During the 1980's I had connected with a literary agent, had a book accepted, sent to an editor who gave me a wonderful edit, but by the time I had finished the rewrite, my editor had left the profession to become a lawyer. After that, the publishing wars began, with the majors eating up the minors and hard-line genre's became the norm. I had submitted Aestrah to several agents and publishers, but the book, while well received, never truly fit into a genre (wasn't really Fantasy, Science Fiction, etc.). I even submitted it to feminist publishers under my wife's name, but had the same result. As time passed, I felt this book needed to be published; thusly making me an Indie author.
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