What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
My previous three novels were part of a Series about a troubled Vietnam War vet who made some bad decisions in life. It took me seven years to finish. At the end, I was exhausted by all the historical research involved and mucking through all the moral decisions made by the protagonists.
I decided to write "The Life of Daniel" since it’s about a good man who made good decisions in life. But life's misfortunes, like the rain, has a way of falling on everyone. I wanted to show how the main character, Daniel, dealt with misfortune in a unique way. Faced with the loss of his wife and the “bubble” they lived in, he decides to leave the noise of the "English" word to join the Amish. He wants to live a simpler life oriented toward service to God rather than serving his own needs and desires. His transition led me to explore the Nature versus Nurture argument. It was an interesting journey for me to take.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)
Daniel: "When God Made Me" - by Neil Young
Eli: "I am a Rock" - Simon & Garfunkel
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I don't read so much anymore; too busy writing. But before that, I read non-fiction (history; religion and philosophy). When I was younger, I read a lot of literary fiction from English and British authors like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Conrad and Greene,
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Believe it not, "Wilderness Empire" by Allan W. Eckert. I read it when I was younger and would like to re-read it now. I remember it being a fascinating read about our roots in the "New World."
The next one is "The Jefferson Bible" by Thomas Jefferson. I am anxious to how he compiled the life and morals of Jesus in chronological order taken from the Bible.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
It was the ending where Eli (Daniel's son) has a heart-to-heart talk with his father. This is where the Nature versus Nature comes into focus.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
None really, except having a cup close at hand and playing mellow music from my iTunes collection
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
To thine own self, be true
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
"The Life of Daniel" is for anyone feeling exhausted by the "noise" of the 21st century. It is a quiet, steady, and deeply moving inquiry into the forces that shape us and the choices that save us. It reminds us that while we cannot choose where we start, we can choose which master we serve.
