SOMETIMES I GET ASKED STUFF... #44!

And we're back for the 44th installment of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff… 

You can check out all of the past installments of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff... here.

Q: What do you WANT from your writing career?

Why, fame and fortune, of course. Isn't that why we all do this? Okay, seriously, I want to make a decent living as a writer. I'm a long way from that being a reality, but it is a goal I strive toward. I also want my work to reach as wide an audience as possible. I am working on growing my audience daily. It's a process, but I am making it work. On the selfish side, I would like to be known as a New York Times Best Selling Author one day too. I think that would be great and it's one of the goals I aspire to achieve.

Q: CREATORS: inspire the next generation by telling them how you broke into the industry.

One Friday night, after a stressful week at the day job, I emailed every publisher with a website. I had done some stuff on my own and with locals, but I introduced myself to all publishers. I received one reply,which thanked me, but mentioned they were closing shop and wished me well. A year later, that same person was at another publisher and asked to see samples of my writing then asked me to do a try out issue. They liked what I did and I was on the book. When that project ended, I had to break in again and again. Eventually, I got more work. I keep looking for more writing work and sometimes that feels like breaking in again, even after all this time. Keeps me hopping.

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SOMETIMES I GET ASKED STUFF... #43!

And we're back for the 43rd installment of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff… I am honored to get questions sent to me as well as share answers to questions from writers groups. Please, keep 'em coming.

You can check out all of the past installments of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff... here.

Q: What is your style of writing? fiction, non-fiction , or something else!!!

I write fiction across multiple genres.

Q: tell me about one of your biggest professional disappointments to-date, but also what, if anything, positive that you got get from it.

I've had my share of "this close" stories. I was "this close" to

working on... The last year or so has seen a good deal of disappointments in regard to projects being cancelled or publishers vanishing/going under/not paying/etc. Even though the Edgar Rice Burroughs' At The Earth's Core graphic novel continues to sell well, the Pellucidar graphic novel adaptations were cancelled while we were working on book 2, Ghost Gal went on indefinite hiatus and off sale when our publisher passed away, Pro Se cancelled their Signature Series line, which I am part of with two titles: Freelancer (originally a recurring series of one shots) and Crimson Moon (which was originally intended to be a trilogy), Domino Lady: Threesome was cancelled, the Snow books were stalled at the publisher, anthologies sitting ready, but unpublished for years, a decade in some cases, etc, etc, etc. Each one of those stung, but I know it's part of the business.

The positive takeaway has me focusing on more novel work and original projects. After a struggle, I regained the rights to Snow and am releasing those 

myself through BEN Books. So far that has been a positive, although they could be selling better. The cancellations did open up my schedule, though not in a way I wanted it to happen. Will Ghost Gal come back for a second novel? Hard to say. I hope so. I love the characters.The characters from the Pro Se line are mine so I may try them on my own down the road. The Pellucidar license has gone to another publisher so that project is dead. I am honored to have been part of ERB's legacy, even if for a short time and working with Jamie Chase was a dream collaboration. Domino Lady: Threesome is being repackaged as a trade by Moonstone instead of releasing the issues individually so that is a positive. At least they will be released.

And I keep writing.

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SOMETIMES I GET ASKED STUFF... #42!

Welcome to the 42nd installment of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff… 

You can check out all of the past installments of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff... here.

Q: Where do you get your ideas for writing?

Anywhere and everywhere. From real life to ripped from the headlines to I have no idea where that idea came from. I sure do get this question a lot.

Q: Scrivener - yea or nay?

I've never used it.

Q: Are you an early morning writer, or a late night writer? When are you most productive?

It varies. When I had a day job, I was a night writer. When I first started writing full time, I wrote all night and went to bed early in the morning. These days, I start writing around 11 or 12 and write until 6 or 7. I take a break and then most nights pop back into the office to get in a few more hours, especially if I'm on a deadline.

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SOMETIMES I GET ASKED STUFF... #41!

And we're back for the 41st installment of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff… 

You can check out all of the past installments of Sometimes I Get Asked Stuff... here.

Who are you?

Q: The best band/singer you've ever seen live?

The WHO. Tom Petty was a good second.

Q: Is Monday Still the START of Your Work Week? And, if Employed, What Do You Really Do at Your Job?

As a writer, my work week is 7 days. No beginning or end.

They won't back down!

Q: How do you deal with competition in your industry?

I don't really think about it. I don't consider other writers as my competition. I prefer to think of them as peers or co-workers. Sometimes we go after the same gigs and we're all looking for readers, but even then I find the writing community to be a very open and supportive bunch. I don't put other authors down to push or promote my books, for example. That feels unprofessional to me. Oh, sure, there are some who no doubt disagree with me on this (I get disagreements with my thinking a lot, maybe that's why I'm not more successful), but most writers I've met are wonderful. I'm thrilled to be part of this community so

No competition here...

I don't actively compete with other authors.

Q: What do you tell people when they say they want to be an author? Are you encouraging, or discouraging?

Always encouraging, but I don't sugar coat the realities of trying to write for a living.

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