20 March 2019

Do you have any tattoos?  Where? When did you get it/them? Where are they on your body?

Yes, I do. Each one is very meaningful to me—they relate to who I am at my core.

The first one is a red rose on my right bicep. I got it when I was thirteen. Just a single rose, with a bit of a stem. In time, I realized it felt lonely on my arm, so I had my tattoo artist add some tribal swirls around it a few years ago to give it more substance.

I also have the words “Never Forget” tattooed around my left wrist.  This one I got maybe two or three years after the rose.

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

Yes, it hasn’t changed much. Same day-job, same passion for writing.

How long have you been writing?

As long as I can remember, I’ve always loved writing. I always had good grades when we had to write stories or essays for school. Then I dabbled into fanfiction when I was a teen and published my first novel back in 2013.

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Being a writer is a though, difficult, lonely job and you have to do it for the right reasons. If you’re only in it for the fame, or the money—you’re going to be disappointed real fast. Writing has to mean something to you deep down, it has to bring you something. That’s the only way you’ll get the strength to carry on, through the years. Also, you have to believe in yourself. Know your worth, and don’t give too much credit to other people’s opinion.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

Well “Evil Embers” is the second book in my Vale Investigation series. It chronicles the exploits of Bellamy Vale, Death’s PI on a retainer. It’s a mix of classic noir detective and urban fantasy, and is set in a universe where mythologies exists, and every story that you thought was just folklore is actually true.

I try to focus on a new mythology with each book, and “Evil Embers” draws a lot from old Middle Eastern tales (think “1,001 Nights” and the likes). There’s also a dab of Greek Mythology in it too, because some of the main characters are from that side of the border.

Originally posted @ Candrel’s Crafts, Cooks, & Characters