Interview for 'Authors Unleashed' 2011

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I started making up stories for my son when he was about three. It went from there, once he was twelve his grades improved after he read the ‘Harry Potter’ series. However once that was finished he could not get into a book that would hold his attention, he wanted an action adventure boys book. So I wrote Fledgling: Jason Steed, for him.

Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?

I originally self-published Fledgling: Jason Steed, it was just intended for my son and immediate family. It was listed like all books on Amazon and Barnes & Noble; there were all sorts of rumors circulating to who actually wrote the book, I was stunned by the book's success. One afternoon out of the blue an agent called me, I have since signed with her and we now have a contract to publish two more Jason Steed novels.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?

The publishers are going to re-publish and edit Fledgling: Jason Steed. I have completed Jason Steed book two; ‘Boudica’. In this Jason is on the run from a ‘Triad’ gang across Europe, he travels on trains, planes and even a ski lift. I feel this is by far the best book I have written, the action is non-stop, yet we still have the emotion that we had in Fledgling. I know my readers who enjoyed Fledgling will devour it.

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

In 1939 a fourteen year old British cabin boy was killed when a torpedo from a German U-boat shot it. Raymond V Steed was the youngest recorded service dead of the Second World War.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

My son is my biggest fan; I have often found him peeking at my notes and computer to see what’s happening to Jason Steed.

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

That’s easy. I am an Ice Cream aholic.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

After I stop myself from throwing the alarm clock out the window, it’s straight into the shower, followed by a glass of ice water. This wakes me up much faster than coffee.

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

My wife keeps our home immaculate, if we don’t have a need for it, she gives it away to charity, so you would be so surprised how organized it is. Our attic must be the cleanest in America.

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

I would be Blue, like the warm sky on a summer’s day.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Bart Simpson.

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Apu from The Simpsons. I don’t work in a 24 hour Kwik E Mart but I am a workaholic, working seven days a week.

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

Beam me back to May 14th 1944 to Auschwitz with a modern high powered machine gun. I would love to spray the Nazi’s with bullets as they tried to gas the poor Jewish people.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I listen to music most of the time, the list of artists are too many to name. The style of music, ranges from classical composer Rossini, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley right through to Queen and my favorite rock band AC/DC.I do listen to music while I write, but I often write the next chapter in my head while driving, eating and much to the annoyance of my family when they are trying to talk to me….Sorry!

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

Favorite TV shows: 24, and American Idol, last movie I saw at the theatre was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Movies I will watch over and over are Rocky, Rambo and my favorite movie of all time are the ‘Scrooge Christmas Carol movies, they are all similar but I am a sucker for a happy ending.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

At some point in your life someone; maybe your parents, boy or girl friend, will let you down and hurt you. Get over it; no one is perfect not even you. We all have a fault, that’s who we are. Love them for their good points and bad points.

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

The Jason Steed novels are set for at least eight books. We will see Jason come across the very worst our society has to offer. We may lose some of the other characters along the way.