Author Q & A
Which age group would you say your stories are most appropriate for?
I try to make the content of my stories appropriate for as broad an age group as possible. That said, there is often fantasy violence in my stories, so they may not be appropriate for very young children. Also, my stories often deal with serious social issues such as prejudice, bigotry, hypocrisy, and addiction, although I try very hard to handle these subjects in a tasteful manner.
In short, I usually respond to the above question by saying that my stories are written for adults, but are accessible to young adults.
How would you define your writing?
I primarily write character-driven Fantasy stories. I prefer Fantasy because it allows my imagination to move freely without inhibition, although I will occasionally do a Sci-fi piece if I feel like I have a specific message I want to get across. I enjoy action, adventure, romance, and wondrous imagery in near-equal proportions, and my stories will typically lean towards one of those four corners throughout the course of its plot. I also try to work a deeper meaning into almost every piece I do, usually dealing with either a personal or social issue that I feel adds emotional weight to the storyline.
Where do you get your ideas for your stories?
I don’t think I ever really grew up. I got older, but I never lost my fascination with playing make-believe. Writing has been the best way that I’ve found to let my imagination free to play without embarrassment or awkwardness. My ideas for my stories come from the same places that children get their ideas for the games that they invent. Daydreams, evocative music, rainy days, the roar of the ocean… when my mind is free to wander, I follow it. That’s where I get my ideas.
How does your faith as a Mormon affect your writing?
Probably the most direct way that my faith affects my writing is in what I choose to include in my stories. I choose not to write stories with explicit sexuality, graphic violence, or heavy swearing because I don’t think that they’re necessary and I don’t enjoy that kind of entertainment.
I also try to give each of my characters (especially my main characters) a sense of hope as well as a belief in a greater good. I don’t feel the need to be “preachy” in my writing, but I also don’t think that religion should be ignored in telling a story. A person’s beliefs should be an integral part of who they are, and that’s true in real life as well as the fictional world.
Finally, I want all of my stories to give my readers a sense of the happiness and peace that comes with choosing the right, regardless of how difficult that may be. The heroes of my stories are not perfect, but they fight the good fight and do their best to do the right thing. Put simply, that’s what makes them heroes.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
I think that I’m a lot like most people in that my favorites change as I grow and read more. But there are some writers that I enjoyed when I first read them, and they have endured through all the repeated readings. J.R.R. Tolkien is one, as is his good friend C.S. Lewis. I also enjoy H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and, more recently, David Eddings and Brian Jacques.