About Me
My background
I live among the hills of Northwest Georgia. I'm a UGA grad ('79) and have worked in the textile industry all my life. My best days are on my 1964 Ford tractor or with my wife and any of our kids or six grandkids. I love stories of struggle, grief and romance. I know all of that pretty well. It's not that I love tragedy, but rather I want to see how people respond to it. I feel like one of those lone trees on the top of a mountain by the sea; all bent and gnarled but still standing somehow. I am an avid reader...love the classics and especially stories or journals from those who lived it. I like to spend time in the woods, by the ocean, under the stars or outside immersed in any of God's creation.
My writing roots
I cut my teeth on Dickens, Hemingway, Kipling and Twain. I'm a huge fan of classic movies. Stories seem to bubble up inside me and the characters, at times, seem to be tugging on my shoulder wanting to be brought to life. I'll imagine a beginning and an end then get started. "Athena Rising" started as a "What if?" proposition and considering global upheaval, new social constructs are quite possible.
"The Edge of Heaven" kicked off because I've had a good bit of supernatural experience during a period of my life. There is a war between good and evil 24/7 and it is real.
I'm working on "Walt", a novel about a Vietnam vet just trying to run out his string. He is a Sky Soldier from the 173rd. It's my homage to all the men and women who served over there and deserved a lot better than what they got.
My style
I am a Christian and a conservative. So, usually there's a Christian thread that is woven in the story, either subtle (Athena Rising) or obvious (The Edge of Heaven). That sentence alone may trigger some feelings from some but I'm a lot more tolerant than you may think. We live in a violent, sexy world and I don't shy away from that but it has to fit into the context. I'm a hopeless romantic so I'm always rooting for the good guy or girl, though they may have to go through hell before it's over. Bad things do happen to good people and there are some truly shitty people. I try to weave believable stories with sympathetic protagonists and really nasty foes. Since I'm controlling the narrative I like to have the bad guys lose...hard...but sometimes they don't. I like quirky characters too but mostly incredibly strong women and men that haven't realized the potential of what they are truly capable of.