What motivated you to start writing?

I have always carried a deep passion for writing stories and the imagination to go with creating them. What really prompted me to stop imagining and start writing was the moment my mother took her last breath—that was the day I knew I had to stop dreaming and start writing. The very first novel I penned was the story of my mother’s life. It still sits, unedited, bound, and in a box in my office. When I feel I can do justice to the tragedy that was her life, I will lift the lid and face the demons of my first work.

What are some of your proudest moments as a writer?

My proudest moment was the first time I received a written thank you from a soldier serving in Afghanistan. He’d read my Warrior World series and thanked me personally for writing about the effect war has not only on the warriors, but their families and friends as well. A soldier’s life isn’t 9 to 5 with weekends off, and he will never forget the horrors.

Do you have any advice for anyone starting out with their writing career?

Every day, I learn more and more about marketing and editing and submitting and publishing, and, and, and…Basically, the author has many steps to follow before his or her work will be considered and/or accepted by others. As well, in this age of ebooks and indie publishers, more authors than ever are competing for a place on the shelf. Accuracy and following instructions are the top rules to follow if you want a publisher to even breathe in the general direction of your completed work of art.