Connections DEC 2014 | Page 27

What genre do you enjoy writing the most and why? I enjoy writing horror and thrillers. Horror really interests me because I really get to test the boundaries of my imagination. With horror, you can get away with everything, provided it’s believable to your readers. From where do you draw your inspiration? This may seem strange, but mostly I draw my inspiration from Achilles. He wanted his name to be remembered for all time-this same ideal applies to me and I feel I can accomplish that through my literature. Other authors I have come into contact with and met via the internet have also inspired me. Their advice and feedback have been a source of invaluable information and encouragement. Do you ever base your characters on real people in your life? Does it help your characters come alive? Yes. In my 1st book, “The King of Hearts”, all my characters were based on people I have met, and in essence I felt I was able to bring them to life because of that. Which of your books is your favorite and why? The one I am currently working on: “CUTTER!” I like it because it is extremely graphic and I feel uninhibited in my writing ability and creativity. Although “The King of Hearts” is a fantastic novel, I had to gear it down considerably and write it so that young readers would be able to enjoy and understand the story. Which of your books was the most fun to write and why? I am deeply engulfed in my current work-in-progress: “CUTTER!” It is extremely enjoyable to me because of the subject matter. It deals with serial killers and multiple personality disorder. I have always found these topics intriguing and I have been able to unleash my imagination by actually having to “become” several different people: An author, A woman, A French painter, A vicious serial killer. Although the entire process is fun, I think I enjoyed pouring over the hundreds of case files and crime scene photos during the research process. Which of your characters is your favorite and why? My favorite character is “Holly”. She is one of the personalities of the main character, Jackie Cutter. Although she is extremely violent, she is highly animated and quite hilarious in her position in the psychological spectrum of Jackie Cutter. Tell us about your latest book. My latest book is called, “The King of Hearts.” It is the endearing story of Tim Cunningham. A shy and lonely singer in Lubbock, Texas who quickly rises to local fame. His beautiful wife, “Jamie”, and his adorable dachshund, “Buddy”, become the inspiration and encouragement he needs to succeed in his lifelong dream of being the best performer that ever lived. The book teaches about the love a man should have for his wife and fellow man... and of course, his dog. It is a tearjerker and will have the reader going through quite a bit of tissue. If you like such books as “Where the Red Fern Grows”, “Bridge to Terabithia”, and “Old Yeller”, then you will certainly enjoy this heartwarming classic.