Here's what John had to say in response to our questions about him and his career as a writer.
1. Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I was born in Denver, Colorado. My late wife and I moved to Canada in the mid 70s. After spending time in Montreal, Edmonton and Ft.St. John BC, we settled in Dawson Creek BC where we spent 22 years. Our plan was to retire there, but she came down with cancer and required treatment available only in a larger centre. We moved to Red Deer in 2002 and she passed away in 2003. In 2005, I reconnected with my first sweetheart (then living in Denver) who was also a widow. We married and settled in Red Deer.
2. When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve been doing some sort of writing my entire adult life. Before age 50, it was mostly technical material, newspaper columns or stuff for politicians I supported. I promised myself that I’d get serious about fiction writing when I turned 50. Via the Writer’s Digest Novel Writing Workshop, I produced a novel, but didn’t do anything with it. Although I wrote numerous short stories and a couple of novellas only one was ever published. After I lost my late wife, I got serious about writing, and produced “The Kitten Burglar” which was released to distribution in November of 2009. I’m currently working on a sequel.
3. Who or what influenced your writing over the years?
I love to read about astrophysics, palaeontology, comparative religion, mythology and mysticism. I’ve travelled widely and done many different things for a living. My writing is primarily influenced by this eclectic bent. People often remark about the number of things they are exposed to when reading my work.
4. What inspires you to write and why?
I wish I could take credit for saying "The only aim of writing is to help the reader better to enjoy life, or better to endure it," but that honor belongs to a Dr. Johnson. It expresses my entire reason for writing — to bring enjoyment to others. And, if the reviews of “The Kitten Burglar” which have appeared on the links above, are any indication, I’m a success.
5. What genre are you most comfortable writing?
Fiction, because I’m not trying to be informative or say anything, I just want to provide a few hours’ enjoyment.
6. Have you developed a specific writing style?
I try to adhere to the general principles of good writing such as telling the story through action instead of explanation, maintaining a good “beat,” and providing unexpected plot twists.
7. Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?
Nope, I relax, get calm, and stories unfold inside my head. It’s like they are there all the time, I simply need to “tune in.”
8. Which books have most influenced your life?
“One Cosmos Under God,” by Robert W. Godwin, “The Tao of Physics” by Fritjof Capra, the writings of Joseph Campbell and Tom Harpur for philosophical underpinnings.
Tom Clancy’s stuff for examples of unexpected and satisfying conclusions.
Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb in the “In Death” series for character development.
Herman Wouk’s “Winds of War” and “War And Remembrance” for an inspiring example of historical fiction.
9. What are your current writing projects now?
A sequel to “The Kitten Burglar.”
The Red Deer Public Library is putting together a series of programs called “The Time of Your Life.” I was featured in the pilot program and I’ll be participating in the production of future programs. If you are not familiar with this effort, I can supply details.
I’m putting together a website that will be a continuation of “The Time of Your Life” series.
10. Do you have any advice for writers?
Avoid being inspired by your own genius. Publishers go to great lengths to avoid prima donnas. Much of your initial exchange with a potential agent or publisher will involve their trying to determine how flexible you will be about your work. This intent may not be obvious at first, but that’s what they are doing.
Read your work aloud to other writers. If it sounds as good when you read it as it did when you were writing it, you’re fooling yourself. Listen carefully to critique offered by other writers. They may not be right, but the exercise of weighing their opinion has intrinsic value.
12. What is your most recent work?
The Kitten Burglar
13. Where can we find some of your work?
Chapters, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the Red Deer Public Library.
14. Do you have any specific last thoughts that you want to say to your readers?
Our society tends to characterize old age as a time of decline and loss. I disagree. I’m finding the years since I left the workforce to be time of my life. I sincerely think this is the way it is supposed to be.
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