Author Life Questionnaire—Pegasus Publishers 2025

1). Could you tell us three interesting facts about yourself?

I was born in West Germany when there was still “West” and “East.” I was on a movie game show in the early 2000’s called “Ultimate Film Fanatic” and was the national runner up and got to meet famed producer Robert Evans. I’ve been married 4 times (to the same person)—the last time legally.

2). In your own life, what influences and inspires you to write?

Good question! Just a strong desire to tell stories, and to move/connect with people.

3). Which book or author has had the biggest impact on you, and why?

Strangely, one of the first people I thought of was L. Frank Baum, as I learned to read at a very young age via the Oz books. I loved their mixture of the fantastic and the very grounded, down-to-earth writing style with an occasional winking humor. They didn’t talk down to kids.

4). Can you tell me about the book?

“The Deep End of the Pool” is a drama/thriller about a high school swimming star named Shan Milne, who finds himself in way over his head when he is roped into a relationship with a beautiful girl who first turns out to be controlling, then abusive. My first book was a romantic comedy, albeit with some dark twists and turns; with this one, I really wanted to challenge myself and show more vulnerability. I also think it’s a subject our society doesn’t talk about nearly enough.

5). What were your first experiences with writing?

I’ve always written, even when I was a little boy. I’d write goofy stories and comic strips. Then as I got older I attempted some more substantial short stories, and was THAT KID who got his work read out loud in high school and college classes. Then I placed in a short story competition in college writing a loosely autobiographical story about my boyfriend, and the die was cast. When Paramount didn’t move on three of the scripts I’d submitted to them (see: the Ultimate Film Fanatic story), I decided to turn the first one, “Darts and Flowers,” into a YA novel, which won an Indie Foreword gold medal two years ago. “Deep End” is my second novel, though I have a third written.

6). In your opinion, what are the key ingredients for a good story or novel?

Something at stake. I saw Anthony Perkins doing an interview once where he said an audience—or a reader—should be emotionally invested, not mentally working on their grocery shopping list. I admire people who can write several pages zeroing in on tiny details and use gorgeous language to describe very little action because everything happening is internal, but I’m not that guy. I’d like to make a reader laugh, or be moved, or even a little frightened.

7). How long should an author spend on their craft each day?

That’s a tough one as it’s so idiosyncratic. I write something in my head over and over before I even put the first words on paper. I see the characters, picture their features, imagine and block scenes, mentally write dialogue. Then when I sit down to write, it’s almost like channelling. I think if you’re writing every day even in small ways—even social media posts—you’re sharpening your literacy tools and honing your use of language. But I am more motivated now that I’ve received some encouragement to not live in the realm of, “Oh, someday I’d like to….” Start firming up that wispy idea now.

8). What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what did you learn from writing it?

I love my characters, and I don’t like hurting them, and this entire novel is about a boy who’s being hurt. I had to dig into some very, very hard stuff emotionally to write some of the violent scenes. Even if I haven’t had an abusive partner—thank God—I still had moments from my past dealing with bullies or an angry person where I went into flight/freeze mode. I remember being forced to eat a cherry tomato as a kid and vomiting all over myself and the kitchen; that was kind of a traumatic moment, but I drew heavily on it for a scene with Shan being fed a bell pepper and reacting badly to it. I also had to fill in some backstory for the antagonist, so she was not just a malevolent force with no reason for why she does what she does; even “bad” people have their reasons. Once I knew who she was, she gained more complexity and even a kernel of pathos—the “hurt people hurt people” thing.

9). What common pitfalls should aspiring writers avoid?

I can say from experience: know your ending before beginning to write! I had a couple novels stuffed in drawers and abandoned, because I was following that philosophy of “don’t stop and think or censor yourself, just write.” Well, for me that didn’t work at all—they’d peter out before page 50. I need to know how the story is going to end, what the final moments look like, where the characters are; then I can make the story move towards that point fluidly and logically. You may futz around a bit with the denouement, especially in rewrites, but you should probably know how the story is going to end, and what you want the reader or viewer to walk away with. Unless you’re doing something experimental or post-modern, you need to have some sort of structure in place.

10). What writing advice would you offer to your younger self?

Writing is kind of like giving birth (I hope I don’t get beaten up for saying that!). You can rewrite and rewrite and second-guess yourself and tie yourself in knots, but at some point, it’s like you’re sending your little one out into the world, walking to kindergarten on their own. All you can do is love them for who they are, the imperfect, beautiful thing that they are and that you’ve made, and send them on their way with your blessing. How the world receives them may not be in your locus of control. But you have to love them. If you do, then that’s “success” right there.