Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. Often, ideas for my books are inspired from small moments in my life. These moments can range from going down a Louisiana dirt road like Tiger does in My Louisiana Sky, to standing in line to see the fattest boy in the world like Toby does in When Zachary Beaver Comes to Town. I rarely realize that these small experiences are potential starting points for novels. They wait patiently until the time comes when they knock on my door and ask to tell their story.
Q. Are your books based on real people and true events?
A. Although many of my books are inspired from some moments in my life, they are transformed with my imagination. For instance, one character could be a mix of three people from my childhood. In When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, Antler was created from combining the two Texas towns of Claude and Memphis. My books may seem real, but they are spun from my imagination.
Q. What is your favorite book?
A. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird, but the one that inspired me to start writing was Carson McCuller’s The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Her characters seemed so real to me and I yearned to be able to transform words the way she did.
Q. Will you write a sequel for When Zachary Beaver Came to Town?
A. I haven’t heard in awhile from Toby, Zachary, and Cal. So, no, I don’t think there will be a sequel. This way, readers can decide for themselves what happened to these characters.
Q. Where can I see the movies of My Louisiana Sky and When Zachary Beaver Came to Town?
A. Both movies are available on DVD so check with your local video store or purchase them on Amazon.
Q. Did you have anything to do with the making of the movie?
A. Nope, I just wrote the book.
Q. Are you related to your publisher, Henry Holt?
A. No, it’s just a strange coincidence, but some of the employees tease me that he’s my Uncle Henry.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. Yes, I have one daughter who attends college. She’s a theatre performance major.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. We have a poodle named, Bronte. She’s very smart and does all kinds of tricks. She can even play dead.
Q. How many times do you have to rewrite your stories?
A. Some of my stories only need twelve rewrites. Some need almost a hundred.
Q. What do you like most about writing?
A. I get to stay home and work in my pajamas.
Q. When is your birthday?
A. September 9
Q. Where were you born?
A. I was born on a Navy base in Pensacola, Florida during a hurricane.
Q. What’s your favorite color?
A. Green.
Q. What are your favorite foods?
A. Dark chocolate, chicken and dumplings, and sushi.
Q. Our class is doing book reports and I chose your book. Will you send me information about yourself?
A. With my website, you have a lot of information about me at your disposal. If you want to find even more information, search engines such as Google and Yahoo should bring you to past articles and interviews.
Q. I want to be a (writer, photographer, astronaut, president), but I am not talented enough. Does writing come to you easily?
A. Don’t worry about what you consider talent. Perseverance and passion endure. Writing is hard. But when you have a passion for something, it is worth every bit of time and effort. Work hard, dream hard!
