Our author today writes for the young adult market, but any other fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy would love his books. If you haven't tried any Sci-Fi or Fantasy, maybe now's the time.
My protagonists will usually possess a world view similar to mine as well as a determination to do what’s right, at least according to the moral code he or she has at the time. My other characters are usually quite different.
What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
I am so “unquirky,” I define square and humdrum. So, I suppose you might say that I’m so mundane, I appear to be quirky. For example, I considered it a huge change to buy a pair of cargo pants. Since I almost always wear jeans, when I wore the new pants, my kids looked at me like I had lost my mind. “Who are you, and what did you do with our father?”
When did you first discover that you were a writer?
About thirteen years ago, I began writing a story to help teach our kids how to write. They were all homeschooled, so I was looking for a good method to instill a desire to write. As the story I was writing grew, I developed a passion for story creation that hasn’t waned to this day.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I enjoy stories with strong, moral characters, rather than foolish protagonists who do stupid things. I like complex plots that don’t spoon feed their themes. I want descriptions that flow with the action rather than those that make me sit and read page after page of boring details.
What other books have you written, whether published or not?
I have written the four-book Dragons in our Midst series, two books in the Oracles of Fire series, two non-fiction books for men, The Image of a Father and Spit and Polish for Husbands, four children’s picture books, and three unpublished, contemporary novels.
How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
Who says I’m keeping my sanity? Actually, my family is so supportive, the pressure isn’t too bad. I get to work at home, set my own schedule, and, since my kids are homeschooled, I get to take one or more with me when I go on book tours. It’s a great life!
Sounds like it. How do you choose your characters’ names?
Some just occur to me and just seem to fit. With others I search for original meanings. Since I have so many fantasy characters, I can choose odd names with obscure heritage. I have also used a fantasy name generator on the Internet.
What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Having seven children who have, so far, grown into godly young men and women. They are precious jewels, and I love them very much. I am thankful to God for His guiding hand.
What is your favorite food?
I enjoy so many foods, I can’t pick one, but most Italian dishes are great, and I love a seasoned, broiled fish. And I love cakes and ice cream!
What advice would you give to an author just starting out?
Get a seasoned author to critique your work. Develop a thick skin. Be willing to take advice. Realize that good writing is very hard work, so if you’re hesitant to bleed over your manuscript, you might be in the wrong profession. If you have a passion for a story, never give up on it. That passion is there for a reason.
Raising Dragons was my first novel and marks the beginning of a fantasy journey through eight books, four in the Dragons in our Midst series and four in the Oracles of Fire series. Two unrelated teenagers in our world and our time learn that they each have a parent who was once a dragon. The parents had been transformed into humans by a miracle back in the time of King Arthur, and since they retained their dragon genetics, they were able to live for centuries. When they finally married and had children, their offspring had dragon traits.
A dragon slayer, who also survived those centuries, has tracked down the dragon-humans and their offspring. He will stop at nothing to kill them all.
Wow! Sounds exciting. How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com
Bryan, thank you for spending this time with us.
Readers, check out his web site. If you want a copy of his book, leave a comment.
