When he's not writing, he enjoys competing in triathlons, playing music, and hiking.
Tell us a bit about your most recent work.
No Wrong, Just Write, is my latest publication. I decided to take a detour from writing novels to compile a step-by-step guide of how I write, publish and promote books. Many people have asked questions about my process, and in an effort to share this knowledge efficiently, I wanted to breakdown my thoughts into an easy-to-follow system.
What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?
Romance and Mystery are my favorite genres to write. Inside of those areas, I find myself revisiting first loves and taboo topics the most.
What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer?
The story that became my first novel, If and Only If, lived in my mind for six years. I would think about the story often and new ideas would come. Eventually, I had a bunch of ideas written but in no particular order. One day, I felt like I needed to write the story, put everything together and fill in the blanks. Once I wrote the first book, I want to publish more.
What inspires you to write?
The challenge to create something from nothing drives me write more and more books. Anytime doubts from myself or others surfaces, I use that as inspiration to keep going. As far as inspiration for ideas, many of my stories come from a single thought that pops into my head. From there the story begins to grow.
What of your works has meant the most to you?
The creation of the audiobook for Four-Thirty Girl is probably one of the most meaningful accomplishments of my journey. As a kid, I struggled with reading, so, being able to read my book aloud and record it to share with others, displays the embrace of one my biggest weaknesses.
If you have any former project to do over to make it better, which one would it be, and what would you do?
I always critique my work pretty harshly. However, the process that got me to where I am today required me to “make mistakes.” That said, I would not go back and redo anything. I give it my all when I write a book and if I tried to change it, there probably would be something else that could be changed.
What writers have influenced your style and technique?
Colleen Hoover’s Verity was a big inspiration for my style. The mystery, unknown, and darkness of the story has played a role in forming which direction some of my stories have gone.
Where would you rank writing on the "Is it an art or it is a science continuum?" Why?
Writing is definitely an art for me. I do not practice the science of plotting stories based on common formulas for writing. I do believe in adhering to grammatical rules in an effort to make the book polished.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Editing is always a struggle. By the time I complete my initial rounds of self-edits, review two of my professional edits, and complete the final read-throughs, I have read the book seven to nine times.
How do your writer friends help you become a better writer? Or do they not?
The group of writers I converse with regularly are always providing encouragement and support. They help me become a better writer by helping me realize we are facing the same battles, which confirms the process of becoming a better writer.
What does literary success look like to you?
Sitting in a theatre and watching my book as a movie would be an awesome feat.
Any other upcoming projects you would like to plug?
I have another novel written, and a few other book ideas in my head. None of the title names or details have been released yet, so we will have to wait and see what’s next.
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