First, can you please give our readers a brief overview of your book Ghosts of Glory and what inspired you to write it? Where did you come up with the idea for it?
Ghosts of Glory is an urban fantasy novel that follows a washed-up old street brawler and ex-convict that suddenly regains his youth and finds out the true origins of his birth and new-found powers as he fights his way through the city of Glory, an urban city teeming with all manner of monsters. The main character, Jersey “The Brawler” Romero, was a product of one of my college writing classes (Hi, Dr. Weaver!) and later I expanded his origins for this particular novel.
What author or authors inspired you to become a writer, if any? When did you decide you wanted to become a writer?
I decided I wanted to write seriously in junior high. My English teacher, Mrs. Pratt, was a huge influence on supporting a young kid’s dreams to tell stories. Later on, it was a few of my college writing professors who continually believed in me and really helped me grow as a writer.
My inspiration comes from several writers in a variety of genres. At the foundation of my inspiration is probably the father of sword and sorcery, Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian and many well-known pulp fantasy heroes. Later on, I discovered Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, and Harlan Ellison, all which have aided me in growing as a storyteller. Barker’s work really gave me the bug for writing horror, and I think really helped me hone my craft. Ellison’s words and interview provided me with the fervor to continue submitting work.
What does your writing process look like? Do you outline first, etc.? How long does it usually take you to finish a book?
I’ve toyed with outlines before, but I’ve never been a true outliner. I usually document specific scenes I need to establish the flow and message of my narrative, but for the most part, I let the writing flow and surprise me. However, I do usually work from the school of “know your ending” before you start. If it fluidly changes as you work toward it, the writer can always reshape it later.
How did you come up with the idea for the character Jersey “The Brawler” Romero? Do you prefer writing female characters or male characters?
The genesis of Jersey the Brawler can straight out of Dr. Weaver’s creative writing class my freshman year of college. In many ways, he was my escape from the boring traditional “goody-goody” heroes I was used to writing and thrust me down the path of the anti-hero—a path that have loved writing ever since. I remember making a pact with myself that I would see him published (in something) one day, and roughly a decade later I accomplished my goal. As far as characters go, I don’t really have a preference on gender. However, I think it’s naturally easier for me to write male characters simply because I’m male.
Are you working on any new book projects at this current time? Can you tell us a little bit about them, if you are?
I am! I have a completed novel I’m shopping around right now called The Many Masks of Tom Roanoke, which follows a young comic book artist that is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse with a serial killer.
I’m also in the process of putting together my first short story collection, a blend of my previously published work and new work.
How did you get your book published under Lachesis Publishing? Do you have an agent, or did you just send in your full manuscript without one? Do you have any advice for new writers?
A friend of mine knew an editor at Lachesis (which I had not heard of) and put me in touch with her. After messaging back and forth over Tumblr and e-mail, she asked if I had anything else finished and we went from there. At that point, I had just had my first novella published, Focused Insanity, through Damnation Books/Eternal Press, and they had been absorbed by another company, so I was looking for somewhere else for my further work. I had just finished a rough version of the book that would eventually be titled Ghosts of Glory at Lachesis Publishing and be released under their umbrella after a few stages of edits.
My advice to any new writers is finish your stories. Finish them. So many people just never finish that story they’re writing, so if you can finish a first draft, you’re putting yourself in another tier and eliminating some competition. The second thing is don’t self-censor your own writing. Write the story that YOU want to write.
What inspires you to write? Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration lies somewhere between pure joy and madness (half-joking). I think perpetually trying to create something better and better inspires me. I strive to be held in as high regard (from a writing craft standpoint) as Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, John Langan, and Brian Keene, to name a few, who are masters of the craft.
I also have a fascination with all things 80s and 90s pop culture, which has definitely continued to provide inspiration for characters and character traits.
Ghosts of Glory is an urban fantasy novel that follows a washed-up old street brawler and ex-convict that suddenly regains his youth and finds out the true origins of his birth and new-found powers as he fights his way through the city of Glory, an urban city teeming with all manner of monsters. The main character, Jersey “The Brawler” Romero, was a product of one of my college writing classes (Hi, Dr. Weaver!) and later I expanded his origins for this particular novel.
What author or authors inspired you to become a writer, if any? When did you decide you wanted to become a writer?
I decided I wanted to write seriously in junior high. My English teacher, Mrs. Pratt, was a huge influence on supporting a young kid’s dreams to tell stories. Later on, it was a few of my college writing professors who continually believed in me and really helped me grow as a writer.
My inspiration comes from several writers in a variety of genres. At the foundation of my inspiration is probably the father of sword and sorcery, Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian and many well-known pulp fantasy heroes. Later on, I discovered Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, and Harlan Ellison, all which have aided me in growing as a storyteller. Barker’s work really gave me the bug for writing horror, and I think really helped me hone my craft. Ellison’s words and interview provided me with the fervor to continue submitting work.
What does your writing process look like? Do you outline first, etc.? How long does it usually take you to finish a book?
I’ve toyed with outlines before, but I’ve never been a true outliner. I usually document specific scenes I need to establish the flow and message of my narrative, but for the most part, I let the writing flow and surprise me. However, I do usually work from the school of “know your ending” before you start. If it fluidly changes as you work toward it, the writer can always reshape it later.
How did you come up with the idea for the character Jersey “The Brawler” Romero? Do you prefer writing female characters or male characters?
The genesis of Jersey the Brawler can straight out of Dr. Weaver’s creative writing class my freshman year of college. In many ways, he was my escape from the boring traditional “goody-goody” heroes I was used to writing and thrust me down the path of the anti-hero—a path that have loved writing ever since. I remember making a pact with myself that I would see him published (in something) one day, and roughly a decade later I accomplished my goal. As far as characters go, I don’t really have a preference on gender. However, I think it’s naturally easier for me to write male characters simply because I’m male.
Are you working on any new book projects at this current time? Can you tell us a little bit about them, if you are?
I am! I have a completed novel I’m shopping around right now called The Many Masks of Tom Roanoke, which follows a young comic book artist that is thrust into a vicious game of cat and mouse with a serial killer.
I’m also in the process of putting together my first short story collection, a blend of my previously published work and new work.
How did you get your book published under Lachesis Publishing? Do you have an agent, or did you just send in your full manuscript without one? Do you have any advice for new writers?
A friend of mine knew an editor at Lachesis (which I had not heard of) and put me in touch with her. After messaging back and forth over Tumblr and e-mail, she asked if I had anything else finished and we went from there. At that point, I had just had my first novella published, Focused Insanity, through Damnation Books/Eternal Press, and they had been absorbed by another company, so I was looking for somewhere else for my further work. I had just finished a rough version of the book that would eventually be titled Ghosts of Glory at Lachesis Publishing and be released under their umbrella after a few stages of edits.
My advice to any new writers is finish your stories. Finish them. So many people just never finish that story they’re writing, so if you can finish a first draft, you’re putting yourself in another tier and eliminating some competition. The second thing is don’t self-censor your own writing. Write the story that YOU want to write.
What inspires you to write? Where do you get your inspiration?
My inspiration lies somewhere between pure joy and madness (half-joking). I think perpetually trying to create something better and better inspires me. I strive to be held in as high regard (from a writing craft standpoint) as Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, John Langan, and Brian Keene, to name a few, who are masters of the craft.
I also have a fascination with all things 80s and 90s pop culture, which has definitely continued to provide inspiration for characters and character traits.
