I don’t write about myself often on here (which is ironic, as I get more feedback when I do).  But I was tagged by a writer I have great respect for, so here we go.  Thank you to Melissa Rose Rogers for the tag.

The rules are simple:

• Post the Tag and Image on your blog.

• Thank whoever nominated you and link back to their blog.

• Mention the creators of the award and link back to their blogs.

• Nominate 6 bloggers and notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.

Let the questions begin…

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Name one novel that inspired you to write.

It isn’t easy to only name one, but if put to it, I’d say Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke.  It’s one of the great masterpieces of science fiction: a novel based not around drama but a mystery, arguably the greatest mystery ever faced by mankind.  I admired Clarke’s distinct style of story structure.

What’s your favorite genre to write and read?

I both write and read science fiction almost exclusively.  All my life, I’ve dreamed of the future, of what humanity might become, and what’s out there beyond our tiny world.  I have always believed that science fiction, above all other genres, has the ability to speak to us.  At its best, it forces us to consider the choices we make today, either by presenting us with the consequences of our poor choices (dystopian sci-fi) or showing how bright our future could be if we choose correctly (utopian science fiction).

I would say my entire motivation for writing science fiction can easily be summed up by a quote:

“Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinded critics and philosophers of today, but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all.” – Isaac Asimov

Do you prefer to write stand-alone or series?

That’s a difficult question to answer.  I suppose the best answer I could provide is to say that it depends on the story.  I always say a story should only be as short or long as it needs to be.  My current work-in-progress will be the first book in a relatively long series.  The manuscript I’ll begin querying soon was originally written as a stand-alone, though now and then I feel I may eventually write a sequel.

Use 3 words to describe yourself.

Optimistic, deeply curious.

Reveal your WIP image that represents your MC or setting.

I feel that this image nicely represents both the setting and protagonist of The Pioneer.

How long did your first MS take to draft?

First draft and revisions took the better part of two years.  Editing took another.

Who is your author idol?

That’s difficult to answer.  My first instinct would be to say Arthur C. Clarke, as early on I tried to emulate his language and writing style, and still employ a modified form of his story structure in my current work-in-progress.  However, I wish I could write like Frank Herbert.  Dune was, without a doubt, the most inventive piece of literature I’ve ever read.  His ability to shift seamlessly between drama and surrealism is something I envy.

Share a writing memory that made you determined to carry on.

I wanted to write for years, but never felt that I could do it.  Time and again, I’d sit down and try to write out one of many novel ideas I had rolling around in my head, but it never seemed to come out right.  Then, I took up writing one of the more outlandish concepts I’d come up with over the years.  I sat down one night, and before I knew it I had about three pages of text, mostly dialogue, and it just felt right.  For the first time, I truly felt that I could do this; that I could actually write an entire novel.

Those early pages ultimately developed into my manuscript, Wide Horizon.  Never believe you can’t do it.  If I can write a novel, so can you.

Tell us something surprising or unique about yourself.

Most of my frequent readers would probably be surprised to know I’m a huge fan of college football.  It started when I was in college, and my alma mater, the University of Cincinnati, was one of the top teams in the country.

I adore college football.  Usually, I devote my Saturdays to short fiction, but during CFB season, I move that to Sunday, so I can spend the entire day watching games.  During the week, I look over the schedule and jot down a list of the games I want to watch.  I never write on Saturdays during college football season.

Share the hardest part about being a writer and how you overcame it.

For me, the hardest part of being a writer was taking myself seriously.  From the start, it was difficult to look at myself and see a writer.  I held my self in roughly as high an esteem as most would hold writers of fan fiction.  It was a gradual process, but each time I exposed more of the world to my work, I was surprised anew by the generally positive response.  Eventually, it got to be pretty easy to talk about myself as a writer, to share my writing.  But it’s still something I struggle with, which is partly why I keep posting here.

Share some uplifting wisdom in six words or less.

Only you can tell your story.

My nominations:

1. Sherri
2. M. Roach
3. Rebecca
4. Alice
5. Candace
6. James