He is an American writer who grew up in Forest, Va. An ex-tennis pro, he also spent his winters competing in Big Air & Slopestyle competitions on skis. After many years of an undiscerning lifestyle, he decided to put his experiences into his first novel.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself not many
people know?
A. I have a
stuffed woolly mammoth that I bought in the fifth grade that I take everywhere
with me. I've lived in dozens of countries and moved a lot, but that is
something that I always have with me.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What
will it be about?
A. I'm working on my second novel right now and hoping to have it done by
the end of the year. It has to do with the seven deadly sins and a group of
people that go to an island.
Q.3 When did you decide to write The Final
Weekend: A Stoned Tale?
A. It had been on my mind for at least a year, but I definitively sat down
to write it after Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc through St Croix in September
of 2017. I was stuck on the island for over a month with no electricity and a
lot of time, so that's when I just dove in.
Q.4 Is your book inspired by certain events/memory/person, etc.?
A. There are
several people, events, and memories throughout my life that are in the book,
yes. For instance, Nene, the fruit vendor, the first non-major character the
reader is introduced to, is my mom.
Q.5 What
were your feelings when your novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of
the finished product?
A. I can't begin to describe the feeling...the accomplishment and pride I
felt knew no bounds.
Q.6 How do you select the name of your
characters?
A. That's a good
question. Most of them were just made up and were names that I thought fit the
characters I was writing about. A few of the names are from events in my past.
For example, Claudette, the infamous blowup doll in the novel, is named after a
sandwich shop, I used to frequent on Nantucket Island.
Q.7 What was one of the most surprising things
you learned while writing your book?
A. How long it
would take and how picky I would be. There were days when I would log sixteen
hours of writing, sometimes writing until the next morning. One day it took me
six hours to write a three-sentence paragraph because I didn't think it was
"quite right."
Q.8 How will you describe your life before and
after getting published?
A. Nothing
has really changed except for the number of emails and messages I get, which I
really appreciate. To think that someone took the time to read my novel and
reach out to me means the world to me.
Q.9 If you could change one thing about your novel,
what would it be and why?
A. Nothing. I
did it my way just as wanted to.
Q.10 What is the future for the characters?
Will there be a sequel?
A. No, no sequel
for this book. But if you'd like to see what may lie in the future for the
characters, please check out the book.
Q.11 Who
would you most like to thank for their involvement in your writing career?
A. My mom because
she rocks. She is the most amazing person I have ever had the pleasure to meet, and
none of this would be possible without her.
Q.12 Do you
believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. Meh. I do and
I don't. I think there are times when you just need a break or you've been so
involved that you just need to pull yourself away for a bit. Whenever I feel
like this, I always just go to the window and puff on a blunt.
Q.13 Tell us about your writing process while
you’re working?
A. Every morning
starts out pretty much the same. I roll five blunts, fix a cup of hot, black
tea and make a bowl of fruits and frozen chocolates. Then I smoke a little and
dance wildly to one of three songs (Make Em' Say Uh by Master P, September by
Earth, Wind & Fire, or It's All About the Benjamins, by Puff Daddy, Rob
Zombie, Fuzz bubble, etc.) After that I put Tchaikovsky on a low level and
begin writing.
Q.14 Do you
have any unique and quirky writing habits?
A. I don't think
so...well, maybe smoking copious amounts of weed while writing.
Q.15 How
does your family/friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. Some are quite
supportive and some not so much. But I have found that with friends, too. It is
what it is.
Q.16 Do you read your book reviews? How do you
deal with good and bad ones?
A. Some of
them...and nope.
Q.17 What is the most difficult thing about
writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. I think just getting into a woman's mindset. Would she talk this
way? Would she react this way? How differently to two female friends speak with
each other as opposed to two male friends?
Q.18 Which
famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
A. I'd skip the famous person and just have lunch with my mom.
Q.19 What books
have most influenced your life?
A. Less
Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, & American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis,
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl, The Devil All the Time, by Donal Ray
Pollock.
Q.20 Share
the experience of your journey so far?
A. It has been a wonderful experience so far. Writing and publishing this
book has allowed me to meet some wonderful and very cool people. I've grown as
a person and that along with the joy it has given me is what life is all
about.
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