Frequently Asked Questions
When and where were you born and raised?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California in 1958 which makes me 67 years young.
Please tell us about your family.
My mother and father both worked full time so I had a live-in housekeeper, nanny, cook for most of my child years. I have both a brother and a sister five and six years younger than myself.
How were you as a child? Are there any childhood memories you'd like to share?
As I look back, I had a very easy childhood. Even though my parents divorced when I was about 9 years old, I was able to spend time with my father every weekend until I left for college at the age of 17.
What are your educational and professional qualifications?
I graduated from college in 1980 with degrees in Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Planning.
What is your greatest accomplishment to date?
I consider myself to be a “creator” or Protopian visionary, someone who can see a need in society and figure out how to efficiently meet that challenge. I have started two national non-profits, the Cohousing Association of the United States and the National Hemp Association. I also consider the recent Protopian books I have written and published as contributions to a vision of a sustainable future.
Which writers inspire you?
Earnest Callenback, James Kuntsler, Hugh Howey, Kim Stanley Robinson
What books do you really enjoy reading? What are you currently into?
I love mysteries, sustainability primers, crime thrillers, and of course, dystopian end-of-world novels.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
That is a very interesting question. I would have to say “A Pattern Language” as it documents how humans have historically build homes, neighborhoods and towns to support human growth.
What made you finally start writing?
My writing journey began as a desire to offer a wide audience a realistic and positive vision of the future. My initial novel, Catapult, started as a screenplay to give viewers and powerful visual experience of how the future could be. Eventually that screenplay was converted into a novel and I have been writing ever since.
Do you have a specific time to write, or does your day just naturally fit around it?
Creating a consistent pattern and schedule is best so I try to devote part of my morning to the craft.
What attracts you to the scientific fiction genre?
The genre I write in is new. It is called "Protopian Near Future Fiction." In addition to offering a positive view of the future, this style has engaging elements of mystery, thriller, and hard science fiction.
What makes your books different from others in the scientific fiction category?
There are very few novels set in a realistic and positive future where that is the backdrop to a more traditional mystery or thriller. That combination is sorely lacking.
What do you think readers should look forward to in ‘Catapult’?
Readers of Catapult can expect to be both educated and inspired while navigating the back and forth of a dual futuristic timeline.
What do you think readers should look forward to in the ‘Silo 42’ series?
For anyone familiar with the books by Hugh Howey, or the recent Silo series on Apple TV, my books offer a unique sustainable adventure thriller set inside an extremely dystopian world.
How long did it take you to actually write the books?
The writing time has varied greatly. Catapult, as I mentioned, started as a screenplay in the late 1970’s and was first published as a novel in 2012. The following books have taken less than a year. The second silo book was just released on Amazon to very positive reviews.
What was the toughest and the easiest parts of writing ‘Catapult’ and ‘Silo 42’? Share any cool stories.
My process of writing often follows the “pantzer,” seat-of-my-pants model where I have an idea and then let it evolve as the characters dictate. One of my favorite places of inspiration is in a very hot bath and when the heat relaxes my conscious mind, I simply ask my characters “what’s next” and the scene and dialogue naturally flow into my mind.
What are your goals for your writing career?
As a sustainability educator and consultant for most of my adult life, my hope is that my writing generates conversations that allows me to reach and speak with audiences who can act on these topics.
Are you working on a new book? What's it going to be about?
The "From Here to There" series will most probably end up being four to five books in total. The Silo 42 series may consist of a similar number, so I have my work cut out for the next few years already.
What does winning mean to you as a writer?
I would love to add a speaking schedule to my writing to answer people’s questions about how to bring these ideas into their lives. , I would be extremely happy if my first novel, Catapult, is reconverted into a feature length film or mini-series. This was my original vision, to show a sustainable society on a big screen where it can have a strong visual and emotional impact and inspire action.
Any advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?
Write regularly. And as Stephen King says if you are not writing then read. Write about what you know or are passionate about as that will make your creative process easier.