In my new novel, Michael Mace opens his eyes 24 hours following an event in which everyone perished—including him. He awakens with an extraordinary ability unlike anything he has ever imagined. Now, he must ensure that light survives in a rapidly darkening world. After Death release July 18 at Amazon.com/AfterDeath.
Let’s take a look at the world of my new novel THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD.
My alcoholic father was a threat, not a father. My mom was a good and loving person but often very ill, not able to cope with my dad, and rightly fearful of the future. My father’s family contained many profoundly troubled people that it was wise to avoid, and many people in my mother’s family were emotionally remote. Essentially, I raised myself, not always well. In fact, I sometimes marvel that I avoided earning a position on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.
Q: Did HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD scare even you?
A: I often had to be wrapped in a thunder blanket & curl up with Elsa in her bed.
Q: What did Elsa think of THE OTHER EMILY?
A: Nice love story. Really scary. But lack of dog character means no chance of a Pulitzer.
Q: How many books do you own? Have read?
A: I culled the library down to 20,000. Read maybe 3,000. The rest will go with me to the after life.
Q: Do you meditate or have a favorite type of exercise?
A: I enjoy meditating about all kinds of exhausting exercise routines.
Understanding an autistic point of view requires thinking of it less as a disability than as a different angle of perception. Canine Companions for Independence has produced socializing dogs for children with autism, and it’s remarkable to see the positive effect——which is how I conceived the boy in DEVOTED.
I see the story as it unfolds, almost as if it’s a movie, but I hear the dialogue, which can make me laugh out loud or weep.
Q: Words of advice for an emerging writer?
A: You’re just emerging from the womb? Don’t be in a hurry! Relax. Get some life experience.
Q: I loved THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD! What other of your books might I like?
A: THE TAKING and maybe INTENSITY.
Ask me anything. I’ll either find a smart person who knows the answer or mock your ignorance in order to conceal my own.
Q: Your first date with Gerda?
A: She said she’d never laughed so much. With me or at me? I decided it didn’t matter. Laughter is always good.
Q: Which is winning——good or evil?
A: Evil often wins in the short term, rarely in the long term. Sadly, “short term” can be a century.
The pleasure of creation never gets old. I do, but not the pleasure of creation or touching readers’ minds and hearts.
Q: What is your favorite spring activity?
A: Breathing. I’ve seen what happens when people stop breathing.
Q: Do Jane Hawk’s enemies have a chance against her?
A: Even Godzilla wouldn’t have a chance against Jane. Not Kong, either.
Q: How do you feel when you receive copies of your new book?
A: I feel like a writer. I feel lucky. I light sparklers and do cartwheels.
Q: It’s the Ides of March. How do you ward off evil?
A: I changed my name from Julius Caesar & poisoned all friends named Brutus.
Q: How do you devise a plot?
A: Find evil people who want to overthrow the system, buy a lap cat, and then meet in secrecy every Wednesday.
Q: What is your pet peeve?
A: Blue with purple stripes, named Fluffy, very cuddly, the cutest little peeve you’ll ever see.
To avoid praising myself, I asked Miss Elsa for her opinion, as she is a canine and cannot lie. She says my writing has gotten tighter and more sophisticated, but the primary change has been greater depth in the characters. I offered her a new squeaky toy of her choice, but she said that would be wrong.
Q: What books helped you become a better writer?
A: Anything by John D. MacDonald or Dickens. Plus THE LITTLE BOOK OF COOL PREPOSITIONS.
Q: Do I see a nod to FRANKENSTEIN in THE OTHER EMILY?
A: It’s more than a nod. It’s a shout-out, a “Hey, way to go, Mary Shelley!”
