How many books have you written and which is your favorite? “Maxwell,” my children’s book is my first.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing? Well, it was kind of an epic story in the beginning, so trying to get it down to 40 pages was very challenging.
What part of the book was the most fun to write? All of it. Watching Sherene’s illustrations come to life was particularly satisfying.
Which of the characters do you relate to the most and why? The kids and their way of looking at the world / using their imaginations in spectacular ways.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it? No plans for a sequel yet.
What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft? As I stated earlier, it was cut down greatly to satisfy the children’s book format.
What perspectives or beliefs have you challenged with this work? Maxwell challenges its readers to remember the importance of looking at the world with wonder and not forgetting the power of imagination.
What inspired the idea for your book? I had a real-life interaction with a wild spider that was beyond belief and inspired me to write the story as a children’s book.
How would you describe your book’s ideal reader? Ideally, it’s for ages 4-8, but I worked hard to make it speak to all ages.
How much research did you need to do for your book? Most of my research was on other children’s books, just to better understand the genre I was entering.
How important was professional editing to your book’s development? Sherene, the illustrator, and myself did all the editing – we had no “professional” help in this area.
How long did it take you to write this book? I’d say between 2 to 3 years
How did you come up with the title for your book? It was the name of the lead character, Maxwell – who is really a hero of the imagination.
Would you and your main character get along? Absolutely. And we did , in real-life, which is explained in the true story of Maxwell, which is included with the children’s book!
If you could meet your characters, what would you say to them? Dream on!
What is the hardest part of writing your books? The hardest part of writing my children’s book “Maxwell” was trying to fit such a big story into only 40 pages. Super hard.
What songs are most played on your Ipod? Roots reggae – Bob Marley/Peter Tosh/Burning Spear, etc. And a very healthy dose of Classic Rock – Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, etc.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers? I have some very trusted friends with writing experience who are always willing to give a read and their honest opinions.
What book are you reading now? Stephen King’s memoir / writing advice – “On Writing.”
How did you start your writing career? I’ve been writing poetry since I was in college and over the course of hundreds and hundreds of poems I have generated a lot of subject matter and grown considerably in my approach to writing.
Tell us about your next release. Hopefully, my next release will be in the form of one of my screenplays making it to the big screen! But, more likely, it will be the publishing of some more of my poems.
