One of the best parts about having a book released has been seeing how the gears turn in this sector of publishing. I’m familiar with newspapers and magazines but until I signed the contract to get Hero’s Tribute going, had no idea what to expect in this segment. I plan on sharing some insight into the writing/editing process, but for now I wanted to post a Q&A I did for the promotional campaign for Hero’s Tribute.
1.) Where did you originally come up with the idea for a story about what defines a hero?
I just wanted to know what made them tick. You hear stories of World War II veterans who did heroic things
but never mentioned them to their families, and then their families would find a silver star hidden in a trunk
in the attic. Most heroes are like that – the medals and ribbons are significant, but they don’t define them.
2.) Is there a particular reason why the families of soldiers are near and dear to your heart?
I was born in Fayetteville, N.C. while my dad was a captain in the 82nd Airborne stationed at Fort Bragg.
I’ve always held soldiers and their families in the highest regard.
3.) In your opinion, do actions or character ultimately define a hero?
I think character comes through in the actions, ultimately. If there is failure, you can still see where a person
tried their best to do the right thing. We don’t always get to choose the battles we fight or the hardships we’ll
endure, but we can choose how we react to them, and I wanted that to resonate in “Hero’s Tribute,” especially
with Michael Gavin.
4.) What made you decide to write a novel?
Always wanted to do it. I’ve got a pretty active imagination and spent a lot of time in school daydreaming
stories. That’s sort of what led me to writing/editing as a career.
5.) What are you reading right now?
I just finished Donald Miller’s A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. My sister gave me a copy of Blue Like
Jazz a few years ago and I read it in one night.
6.) Who is your favorite author? Why?
Probably Philip Yancey. He digs deep into spiritual topics and biblical figures but doesn’t tell you what to
think about them. More like he presents the information and allows you to decide for yourself, or sets you
off on your own investigation.
7.) Do you have any advice for other aspiring authors out there?
You’ve got to write every day. When you’re not writing, turn off the TV and read. It’s like exercising – you
get what you put in. You can’t wait for the epiphany moments of a story to come to you, but rather have to
go out and work for them
