What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Monroe Doctrine (Books 1 - 4)?
It has been said that a book can entertain or it can educate. If a book can do both, it has the power to transform lives, offering not only an escape into new worlds but also the tools and knowledge to navigate the real one more wisely. In crafting the Monroe Doctrine series, I wanted to provide the reader with a story of what the future of modern warfare may look like and how we as people must learn how to navigate the changes in technology while not losing our humanity in the process. The introduction of drone warfare in Ukraine is scary, it is unlike anything we have seen, and I believe this will have the same impact as the machine gun, the tank, and the airplane had when they were introduced at scale during the First World War. I also wanted to create a set of characters we follow through this terrible conflict and how they learn to cope and deal with the stressors of war. Having served multiple years in the Iraq War, I felt it was important to bring a level of realism and authenticity to the characters in this book to remind people of what our brave men and women go through and endure so we may remain a free nation.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Monroe Doctrine (Books 1 - 4), what would they be?
Rob Bailey & The Hustle Standard: "Hungry", Metallica: "King Nothing", Saliva: "Always"
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Biographies, military-technothrillers, and military SciFi.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Achilles in Vietnam, Helmet for My Pillow, The Bully Pulpit, War Without Rules, and The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
There are several chapters that involve the invasion of Cuba. I enjoyed those the most as it gave me an opportunity to write some POVs from some Air Force pilots, Army Rangers, a Green Beret team behind enemy lines, and a Florida National Guard HIMAR unit. It was an incredible fast paced couple of chapters that really grabs you and places you in the thick of the action.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Noise Canceling headphones, background music, and some caffeine. Our cat, Mr. Cuddles, usually finds his way to my feet and sits on them as I write.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
Don't sweat the small stuff. If you are a Christian, then Trust God has a plan for whatever it is you are going through. Find the positive in everything and remember, you can do this.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
China is not our friend, AI is not evil, but AI in the hands of evil people can lead to devastating effects.
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