When I started collecting books, I started with Robert Heinlein, so his books are at the top of my list. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. Starship Troopers. Tunnel in the Sky The people he writes about are real, they come off the page. The other two books would be The Hobbit and the series, Lord of the Ring. J.R.R Tolkien paints a picture of a world that one can see and feel.
What do you read for pleasure?
I learned to read because my parents discovered I was in love with science. My first book was about the Space Program, from there Science Fiction was inevitable. I collect Robert Heinlein and other. I also enjoy some fantasy.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
I am still experimenting and learning. FaceBook is a big help, but one must be careful of annoying friends. Not all my friends are fans of the genre I write in.
I have started using Twitter, though I have not seen a measurable uptick yet, but, as this is a new technique for me, it will take time to build followers.
Describe your desk
A complete mess. But I know where things are... most of the time.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Simi Valley California in the 1960s. Simi Valley was where a lot of the employees of North American/Rocketdyne lived, my dad, being one. The engine test facility was in the hills on the south side of Simi Valley. We could see the glow of the tests at night and always feel and hear them. It made me wonder about our future and how far we could reach.
What's the story behind your latest book?
The book I am working on now, started out as a short story The Sinkhole, and is now being expanded to book length. The story is about an accident on the Moon that leads to the biggest discovery in human history
What motivated you to become an indie author?
Rejection letters I received from my short stories. Getting an editor to read a new author's work is all but impossible.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
When the character I have created does something I didn't see coming. I have actually re-written things, because I didn't like what took place, and each time the character did a variant of the action. I finally gave in and discovered in the next chapter why he did it and the book was much better for it. And it gave me the subtitle.
What do your fans mean to you?
They teach me. They take their time to read my work and then take more time to write a review, and even when the review is bad, there is always something I can take away, learn from, and use to improve my next story.
Who are your favorite authors?
Robert Heinlein, J.R.R Tolkien, Orson Scott Card, and Asimov. There are others to be sure, but there come to mind first and foremost.
Dear readers, if you have more questions, post them in the comments section, and I'll do my best answer them as fast as I can.