Q: In three words, describe yourself.
A: Imaginative, dry, witty.
Q: How many books have you written? How many of those are published?
A: One (there are two available, but the first one is a preview of the first. Kinda like a delicious Costco sample).
Q: Do you have an upcoming release? If yes, tell me the title and impending release date.
A: My humorous memoir, Suburban Luchador: Memoirs From Suburbia, was published on Amazon last month.
Q: Tell me about how you come up with your titles for your stories. Do you create the title before or after you write the book, and does it ever change from the initial title?
A: My book is a collection of short, slice-of-life stories gathered from my adventures as a dad, husband and high school teacher. When life offers up a humorous situation in one of these realms, I try to capture it in the title. For example, my family and I were going on a road trip to caves in northern Florida. During that trip, we crossed a time zone line, which led to an imaginative discussion with my wife about movie soundtracks, Back to the Future, and time travel experiments. The title of that story was “Roadside Temporal Anomaly.”
Q: Out of all your characters in all of your books, who/what (sometimes a setting can also be an important “character”) do you think is the most interesting and why?
A: Since my book is based on stories from my life, I would humbly say I’m the most interesting character since I’m in every story. Each story is a blend of real-life scenarios mixed with my whimsical imagination. Like the time when my wife mixed up a pop-culture analogy in a conversation, I imagined her confused thought as a team of minions scrambling through her brain, desperately trying to get the correct analogy into the correct “thought tube.”
Q: If you could “create” your own genre of what you write, what would you call your books?
A: Imaginative nonfiction memoir.
Q: Without quoting your back cover blurb, tell me about the last book you published.
A: My last (and only) book is a collection of short, humorous stories from my life as a dad, husband and high school teacher. I took daily, mundane situations from suburban life, inserted them into my imagination, and out popped thirty stories about a normal man who envisions himself as the ultimate suburban underdog hero.
Q: Quote your favorite line from one of your stories. Indicate the line, and then the book title.
A: “Release the Princesa or face my wrath!” yelled the knight (me) as he raised his sword at the gargantuan beast. Behind the dragon, in an oversized birdcage, sat an attractive Puerto Rican princess (my wife) with long black hair, who casually scrolled through her phone.
From the introduction to my book, Suburban Luchador: Memoirs From Suburbia.
Q: Tell me something about yourself that is separate from writing.
A: Before being an author, father, or husband, I am a follower of Jesus Christ. This relationship affects everything I do and forms my worldview. My greatest aspiration is to live the type of life that reflects the love of Christ to those around me, even if they have a completely different spiritual perspective. In addition to writing, I also love traveling and learning about different cultures. I hope to pass this passion on to my three young children.
Q: Who are your top THREE favorite authors?
A: Jack Handy, Jenny Lawson, Joel C. Rosenberg
Q: What is the last book that you read? (Not counting anything you wrote)
A: Damascus Countdown, Joel C. Rosenberg
Q: When writing, do you have a system or something you plan, or do you just write?
A: I just start writing and worry about the editing after.
Q: Why do you write?
A: I feel like I have a unique, humorous view on everyday life that others can connect with. I believe each person has inside them a creative story teller that can weave fascinating tales that pass down myths, memories, and morals. I hope to inspire them to see the valiant, heroic and grand moments in their mundane lives, if they would only look through the eyes of imagination.
Q: Do you currently have a WIP? If yes, what’s the title, and is it part of a series or standalone?
A: I’m working on my second humorous memoir. The title is still in progress, but the current one is “Suburban Luchador: Memorable Memoirs and Menacing Minivans.”
Q: Do you read your own work a lot? If so, what does it do for you?
A: Yes, for review purposes. I find myself thinking, “I like this guy. He’s funny.”
Q: I play music when I write, and depending on the setting or mood of the story depends on what I listen to. Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what genre or artist/band do you listen to?
A: I sometimes listen to music. I bounce from 80’s pop to modern instrumental music.
Q: As an author, I find that the hardest thing to write (for me) is the blurb that will be on the back cover or book’s description. When you write, what is the hardest line to write, the first line, the last line or the synopsis for the book?
A: The whole thing was hard! I had to do some research and learning, and I found Bryan Cohen’s resources excellent.
Q: If you could sit down and have a coffee (or your favorite beverage) with anyone, living or dead, from any era, any time, who would it be and why? (You can pick up to 3 persons).
A: Jesus – I’ve dedicated my life to Him and His word…but there are some clarifying questions I have.
The creators of the show Lost – amazing writing, but I need the ending explained.
Nate Bargatze (comedian) – he’s a clean, hilarious comedian with an awesome deadpan delivery. I think I can learn a lot from him.
Q: What does it mean to be a “successful” writer?
A: A successful writer has an established, loyal following that he/she dialogues with and provides grassroots promotion.
Q: What do you want to accomplish, so when you look back at your life, you can say “I did that”?
A: To live a life that reflects my Christian values and to use the gifts God has given me to their fullest potential, one of which I believe is writing. I want to see my books in the shelves of bookstores and to be able to use my platform as an author to encourage fathers to be an active part of their family’s lives.
Q: Any final thoughts that you want to give to your fans or even future authors?
A: Fans – Thank you for following me on this journey! Writing is risky job because you’re opening up your life to others, and there’s no guarantee they’ll like what they read. I hope my writing inspires you to enjoy the simple moments of life and to not take yourself so seriously (most others don’t). Future authors – don’t give up, ask for help, educate yourself! I’m still at the beginning of my self-published career and I’ve learned that it’s an “easy” venture to get into because there’s no middle man, but excellence is what will make you stand out. Some of the podcasts I’ve gleaned a lot from are Self Publishing Formula, Bryan Cohen, Nick Stephenson and Kindlepreneur.
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