Greetings fellow fans...

Before you send an e-mail, read these frequently asked questions...

Q: When were you born?
A: April 4th, 1961

Q: Where were you born?
A: Summit, New Jersey

Q: How do you get your ideas?
A: They just pop in my head: Pop! They unexpectedly flash in my mind’s eye
any time or place, but my best ideas come in the middle of the night!

Q: How did you come up with the Henry Fickle trilogy?
A: Well, one fateful night, while sleeping in an old rented farmhouse, my life took an unexpected 
turn. I was awakened with the sudden vision of Henry Fickle clearly formed in my head. From the beginning, I envisioned the project as a
three-volume series. To make sure I knew the layout of the fictional town I called Willow Creek, I 
created "a jumble" of notes, drawings, diagrams, etc. I feverishly plotted out all three novels, building the foundation from the start.

Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?
A: That’s a difficult question, because there are many talented and gifted authors, but if 
I had to select a few, I’d have to definitely say
J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl and Mary Norton.

Q: What are two of your favorite books?
A: Wow! That's a tough one, because I have a growing book collection. Humm Let me see ... I'd have to say J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I tend to fancy British author's, mainly because of their unlimited supply of imagination.

Q: Are you going to make movies about your books?
A: I believe someday. I mean ... for over a year, I've been having this reoccurring dream that Steven Spielberg directed the movie. Who knows? I guess if I'm going to dream at all, I might as well dream big!

Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: Oh yes. I love to play tennis, bike, swim, hike, and of course, read. I love playing fun, old-fashioned, board games, and even with my busy schedule, I always manage to go to the theater to catch the latest movie.

Q: How long does it take to write one novel?
A: It usually takes 12 months from start to finish, because since I made the difficult decision to self-publish, I have to hire an editor, illustrator, type-setter, cover artist, and printer.

Q: Why did you decide to self-publish Henry Fickle?
A: I chose to self-publish Henry Fickle because I was rejected by over 30 publishers. Most people would have given up, but I wasn't like most people. Instead of interpreting this as a failure on my part, I viewed it as a blessing in disguise. After some research work, I found out that large publishers receive 3,000-5,000 manuscripts EACH week. After selecting the best ones, and pouring in promotional money, only 3 books out of 10 will sell well, 4 will break even and 3 will fail. That means only 10% sell enough copies to pay the author advance before royalties are paid. The book has to sell well in bookstores for the first few months, otherwise they're returned to the publishers. Publishers keep books in bookstores for only four months then replace them with new titles. To make matters worse, publishers focus on well-known authors or Hollywood personalities. They rarely accept a well-written manuscript by and unknown author! The odds of getting published by a big New York publisher is not only grim, but also once in, very discouraging. So when people ask me why I decided to self-publish, this is the main reason. The other is I believe in the project and always wanted to be an entrepreneur. To have the freedom to work when and where I wish with no boss looking over my shoulders. I must say, it's not easy running your own self-publishing business. It's a lot of hard work and discipline, but it's rewarding to see and hear my book is being read, enjoyed, discussed and read again. Seeing young faces light up during book-signings, sharing in their laughter, and answering their questions, makes it all worth it. Also, I wanted to retain creative and financial control over the book. The idea for Henry Fickle came from the universe. I felt I owed it to the readers to deliver it no matter what it took. I can't imagine doing anything else. It's been the most enjoyable work I've ever done!

Q: Do you illustrate the book covers?
A: No. I hired a very talented artist named James Browne. I searched for a very long time for someone who not only loved my story, but connected well with the characters. James illustrated the book covers and black & white chapter drawings. We work well as a team and I consider him my friend. You can visit James at www.jamesbrowne.net But be prepared to be catapulted into a world of fantasy artwork.

Q: I have a great title for a book, can I send it to you?
A: No. I'm sorry, but all three Henry Fickle titles, as well as future titles, have been chosen.

Q: Can you tell me what the book titles are?
A: Hahaha Sorry-but they're a secret. I have them hidden in my notebook, which is locked safely away from curious fans!