Poverty! I was living in San Francisco. I was 19, barely able to pay the rent, buy groceries, etc. No TV, no radio, nothing that I could afford to fill the evenings other than reading. So I started writing to break things up just a bit.

Greg Scarpa, Legendary Evil is a biography of a Mafia goodfellow who was also an FBI informant for nearly 30 years. Nothing about this man was ordinary. His life was filled with violence, deceit, and treachery right up until the day he died in a prison hospital.

There are many factors which inspired me to write. First, it was the influence of Tolstoy when I was around 12 years old. Then it was the numerous books I read from such masters as Virginia Wolf, Kazantzakis, Dostoyevsky, classical literature and philosophy and so many others. Of course my prime inspiration was Dr. David Suzuki.

My latest book, "When the Earth Died," ISBN: 979-8-9917268-1-8 published by Inkwell Books LLC. It won the International Impact Book Award in the “Contemporary Fiction; Literary Fiction” category in April 2025. "When the Earth Died" was inspired by the increasing devastation of the Earth and our atmosphere I witnessed during the last decade, or so. The catastrophic hurricanes, fires, glaciers melting, drought, and the depletion of the Earth's atmosphere. The book is set 25 years into the future (with flashbacks to the present). There is a great deal of discord between what the politicians are telling us and what we see happening. There is (or there will be in the future) famine, diseases, wars, devastating fires, oceans rising and totalitarian regimes. But there is a hint of hope that somehow we will prevail and our planet will not go to waste as it did three times before. “When the Earth Died” is a narrative that follows the life of Orson and Niles in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world (2049), where the world has been ravaged by fires, environmental collapse, societal breakdown, climate change and disease which have drastically altered life on Earth. The story delves into themes of survival, loss, hope, the human condition and the existence (or the absence) of God. It explores themes of environmental destruction and human responsibility. Orson, Niles, Ciara and her son Kolten, struggle to survive this harsh new reality. They build a shelter, grow food, and navigate the dangers posed by both nature and human threats. They reflect on their pasts and strive to find meaning and stability in their disrupted lives as they navigate through the ruins of their world, dealing with personal loss, survival, the search for loved ones and the bonds of family. Orson is a reflective character who contemplates the destruction of nature and their dismal human condition. Niles is driven by the hope of finding his sister, Aberdeen, who was separated from him during a catastrophic fire that destroyed their town and family. The narrative explores themes of grief, survival, the impact of human actions on nature, and the quest for meaning and connection in a devastated world.

A: This book was born in chaos. At the time, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I was running from the law, ducking charges that could’ve put me away for 90 months while my wife was pregnant My mama’s house got shot up while we were inside — I’ll never forget that night. The fear. The silence afterward. You can read my story here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HcdqSJS97/ I started writing “Reflection” because I had to — not for fame, but to survive. It became the one place where I could put all my pain without getting judged or buried by it. > 🔗 You can read it now here: https://a.co/d/8gSI3Ht

They're going to feel shaken… but understood. I want someone out there who’s drowning to know that even if your house got shot up, even if your people left you, even if your past is ugly — you are not beyond redemption. This book helped me start over. I truly believe it may have helped save my life. Because now, I'm a father myself, and my son Allen deserves a better man. I couldn’t give him that until I dealt with my demons.

My writing journey began when I was about nine years old. I had just finished reading The Diary of Anne Frank, which moved me deeply and inspired me to start keeping a diary of my own. I would jot down daily events, small anecdotes, or simply whatever was on my mind. That quiet habit gradually grew. By the time I was in middle school, I had started writing poetry. Later on, I contributed articles and short pieces to school and college magazines. Reading was my other great passion growing up. I devoured books by authors like Enid Blyton and Carolyn Keene. Those stories would spark my imagination and make me dream of being an author someday—though, back then, it felt more like a whimsical thought than a real goal. I never seriously or ambitiously pursued it. But the love for reading and writing stayed with me. It grew quietly, almost like a companion, and eventually turned into something more—a calling I never planned, but couldn’t ignore either.

"Butterflies in the Storm" is the coming-of-age story of an eighteen-year-old girl named Rhea Siddhant. Life has never been easy for her—she grows up without parents and lives on the charity of relatives. Faced with financial struggles, manipulative aunts, jealous cousins, and a controlling brother, Rhea’s circumstances are far from ideal. Yet she handles it all with a quiet strength and maturity well beyond her years. With grit and determination, she excels in academics, becomes the school topper, and earns a scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in the country. For a while, life finally seems to be falling into place—Rhea blossoms at university, becoming one of the top all-rounders of her batch and forming strong bonds with her friends. However, her intelligence and charm soon draw envy and unwanted attention. When Aditya Sareen—one of the most eligible bachelors in the city—begins to fall in love with her, Rhea finds herself at the centre of a storm involving jealousy, deceit, and revenge. A blend of family drama, university camaraderie, light-hearted romance, and moments of suspense, Butterflies in the Storm follows Rhea’s journey as she overcomes every challenge and transforms into a woman of strength and substance.

I had an English professor who encouraged me and said I had a lot of talent. I always enjoyed stories so I thought it would be the perfect creative outlet for me.

Earth's Last Encore is a close-to-home story about anyone who is doubting their purpose or simply at a loss for one. In an age of post-modernism, we need stories that have concrete answers about the world we live in and how we can fulfill our needs and those of the people around us. It also uses aliens to explore personal relationship trauma and growing to trust again, instead of giving in to the fear that can be caused by pain. Ultimately, it's a story about perseverance, even though you may not always see the finish line.

My writing began out of a personal miracle. After being hurt by someone I trusted and diagnosed with HIV, God healed me completely. During that time of fasting and prayer, He gave me words to share—stories and tools to help others move from bitterness to wholeness. Writing became my way to testify of His power and guide others to healing in Christ.

From Bitter to Better is a faith-based guide to help women heal from emotional pain and step into wholeness. Using my R.A.P. method—Reflect, Act, Pray—I walk readers through practical steps, scriptures, and affirmations that turn hurt into hope and bitterness into a better life in Christ.

I have always loved reading and dreamed of writing a novel some day. When I was little I would write small stories. My grandmother was a huge influence in my love of reading and writing. She and I would share books back and forth and talk about stories together. I would like to think that she would be proud of the fact that I have written two novels.

My latest book is at the publishing company as I do this interview. There are some details to work out as far as the cover art and things, but I will hopefully have a publication date soon. It is a sequel to my first novel, Mia Amata, with the same characters and a few new ones.

I have published sixteen children's books to date, with a new book due out in October 2025. I never intended to write children’s books; that sort of came about by chance. I wanted to teach, which I did. At college, I wrote poetry and had a few published in the college magazines. While teaching, I would often write with the children or for the children, modelling examples of poetry, etc. We might also create a shared write together. ‘A Spooky Tale’ was written with my class following a class trip around our neighbourhood.

My latest book, 'A Ticket to Ride’, is a collection of stories and verse. A ticket to ride is a book to be read and shared with the children. With animals and friends who hop on and off the bus as it travels through lands near and far, on special days and everyday afternoons. Meet everything from cats and elephants to one very celebratory bee, telling jokes and adding their opinions along the way. This collection of light-hearted poems and stories is ideal for a cosy afternoon with children and adults alike.

I had a near-death experience with cancer. I wrote a memoir about it, and it won an award for I AM CANCER FREE in the Readers' Favorite International annual awards some years later. That spurred me on to write more books.

Zeeka Chronicles: Revenge of Zeeka is a fast-paced, ethically layered Caribbean sci-fi thriller that explores the dark possibilities of artificial intelligence, human ambition, and vengeance in a futuristic Caribbean. It is loved by fans of high-concept science fiction, biotech suspense, and readers seeking underrepresented voices in speculative fiction.

I was about to retire and a friend dared me.

I have just published More than a Lady, the stories of the First Ladies of the USA. Not much attention to the husbands, although at times I thought we should have elected her.