The Ivy concept started out as a pure murder mystery but quickly accelerated into a thriller with a paranormal bent. Often, my writing goes this way. An idea strikes me, refuses to let go. I scratch down the frame of it and start writing. As the story unfolds, it does so in its own way—for its own purpose (which is fun for me). In fact, I find it difficult to peg some of my favorite reads into a single genre. My stories come as they are, and I hope I won’t get too pigeonholed by my readers. I have a lot I want to write, and it may tend to bleed all over the place. Where it fits on a shelf may need to be secondary.

Happy to oblige. Yes, there are plans—and hoards of notes—to follow up Pieces of Ivy with Sins of the Father. It’s going to be a very tense one, introducing some fantastic new characters—it’ll be a lot of fun to write. I haven’t set a target date yet as I have two other books on the go right now, but I look forward to diving deeper into Vicki’s past and the mysteries of New Brighton.

I’ve only scratched the surface of Vicki’s character and Hank has some deeper issues, but I really enjoyed writing the Roscoes. I could totally misbehave with those two. Their bizarre relationship just works, and works well; and the dichotomy that is John Roscoe was both fun and endearing to write. I needed a good chuckle as some of the darker aspects of this story truly bothered me as they materialized.

I can’t help but love to hate Father Reilly … man, does he have it coming. But I think sinking my teeth into Lionel Starr is going to be a blast—that’s a killer character who’s gonna drive you mad. So fun. The pack of young Hoods are also going to be a problem—can’t wait!

Hmm, let’s see … A strong, sexually aware woman with esoteric prowess who enjoys walking around naked? One who is not afraid to call men on their shit? What’s not intriguing about Miss Sky Veil?

Quite the opposite. In fact, Ivy was nearly two-hundred-thousand words by her second draft … it was a magnificent free flow of ideas that came pouring forth. I could barely keep up. However, my resolve was to have the story weigh in at under 100K. Thus, I had much to cull, many darlings to slaughter. Thankfully a lot can be saved and birthed in later stories. Writers often fear cutting the most, but the results are always a far better—a leaner, meaner—story.

True to form from my old software days, I do indeed leave tiny eggs throughout my writer’s universe. To-date, I have eleven different stories and/or series developing, unrelated to the Vicki Starr series, that I have already mapped out little Easter eggs or subtle tie-ins for fans of my books (and a little secret pleasure for me, of course). I ensure none are material, or worse, distracting, to the story (i.e., you don’t have to read all the books to understand what is going on) but they are fun little winks that I hope thrill my most voracious readers. Happy hunting. :)

Am not! Am not! I know you are but what am I?

Truth be told, I’m actually a really nice guy (don’t let that get around) and I genuinely grow fond of my characters. When bad things happen, I get as upset as my readers would. But I do write to make things intense—and twisted. No apologies.

Unfortunately, these days, it’s a challenge for any horrifically imaginative writer to surpass the shocking fare served up in today’s news. Real life as some seriously twisted serpents out there. My stories are made to entertain; and while the content can go pretty dark, I hope no one feels that I am glorifying the horror—I strive to have my own shock and dismay to carry through. I think that makes me a pretty level-headed fella. However, be warned, my imagination’s malevolence knows no bounds. >;)