Q1 Could you please start by introducing yourself to our readers?
A1. I’m a long-time author and radio veteran. I’ve been in radio broadcasting for 55 years mostly as a newscaster, reporter, journalist and formerly a disc jockey in my younger days. I’m a sports fan and got into radio to do sports back in 1972 and am a hopelessly devoted fan of my hometown teams from Pittsburgh. I love gaming but not video gaming and have written 17 books, produced a feature length documentary, several short films while writing 20 scripts and pilots. Yes I’m always busy.
Q2 What would you say is your strength as an author?
A2. Experience, creativity and an endless stream of ideas and that I’m willing to do several things at the same time.
Q3 What is your favorite part from your book ‘Lancer: Hero of the West: The Virginia City Affair’?
A3. The fact Lancer is a good guy who rarely loses, his love for Turkish Delight and of course his running into someone who really was a famous person at the time in almost every book.
Q4 How do you handle literary criticism?
A4. Like most people, not well, but I get over it figuring this is MY story, not theirs.
Q5 What do you like about audiobooks?
A5. I’ve only done two. I’m not a fan. They are necessary. Some people use them while driving, others who are visually challenged buy them because they love books but are unable to read them.
Q6 How has the experience of writing and publishing a book influenced your perception of yourself?
A6. It’s brought about the realization that I really am a creative. I was always bothered by the wondering how I would face the challenges of being a writer but now I don’t fear it, I just tackle it.
Q7 What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
A7. Certainly not spelling as I’m the worst. I was known as the worst speller at UPI when I worked there. Thank the Good Lord for spellcheck. Good writing means breaking barriers, sometimes forgetting about the norms and do what you feel makes your story better. Punctuation and all that other stuff will fall into place but while you will always get challenged by editors on your creativity, I believe their job lies mainly in the corrective process.
Q8 What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
A8. I sit and write until my eyes go buggy or my wife says she needs some help with something. I write in the morning and the evening and in the afternoon and often just push through.
Q9 What is the significance of the title ‘Lancer: Hero of the West: The Virginia City Affair’?
A9. Each Lancer book is called an “Affair” meaning his challenges happen in a different city where he took the job. Prescott, AZ, Los Angeles, Broken Bow, New Orleans. Wherever he goes the Affair part follows. To be honest I stole (uh, borrowed) that from a great TV show in the 1960’s, which probably stole it from somewhere else. The Man From U.N.C.L.E, labelled each episode “the Affair” and I thought it was a good way to separate the Lancer stories.
Q10 What did you want to be when you grew up?
A10. A Major League Baseball Player.
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