About the Author

1. As an author, what drew you to the thriller genre, and how do you think your approach to storytelling within this genre sets you apart?

I am a fan of many genres.  I prefer a blended story.  While the heart of this story is about a cop searching for a killer, it has an element of science fiction to it.  I am currently working on 5 different projects that cross the lines of normal storytelling.  A futuristic tale of a school in the remote regions of the world that hides a secret (this will end up being a trilogy). A simple love story. A series about two young friends coming of age and dealing with prejudice and bullying. I science fiction story about the hero trying to fix World War 1 to save his family. The latest is a story idea about an army special forces unit that is after a terrorist but ends up in the 1860’s.

2. Can you walk us through your writing process, particularly when dealing with complex narrative elements?  My writing style is rather unorthodox.  My son calls it my ADHD nightmare.  I will work on one project and often come up with ideas for one of the others.  I move back and forth between the stories as I go along.  I must work hard to keep my ideas separated because of this process. The heart of each book stays in the forefront of my mind.

3. "Be True to Yourself" is filled with suspenseful twists and turns. How do you manage pacing and suspense throughout the story, keeping readers engaged from start to finish? I took my cues from music.  The pacing goes through a few evolutions along the way.  I write things that I find interesting but work hard to make sure it is something the readers will like and identify with. Be True to Yourself is not about a race finishing with one knock out, it is a dance of events and emotions until the very end.

4. Can you discuss the significance of the setting, 1993, in the narrative? How does the time period contribute to the atmosphere and challenges faced by the characters? I guess the easy answer is that I am an old dinosaur. I like the past. In current law enforcement, dealing with serial killers often comes under the responsibility of a higher agency such as a state bureau of investigation or the FBI.  I wanted to be able to keep this focused on Detective Harris.  Also, having it set in the 1990’s, I have the freedom to stay within my own guidelines. Technology of the 21^st century makes things easy, but often makes us lazy.  Basing it in the past forces Harris to rely on himself and the people around him.

5. In "Be True to Yourself," the protagonist must confront the unknown and adapt to the changing world around him. How did you balance Donovan's personal growth with the escalating tension of the plot? Early in the book, I share Donovan’s childhood to showcase that he is a person of integrity, cares for others and will stand up for what is right, regardless of the cost.  Over the course of the story as his reality changes, Donovan strives to stop the killer. His personal growth comes from adapting to the changes to become a better person without sacrificing his core.

6. Your portrayal of Donovan Harris showcases a deep understanding of character psychology. How do you typically develop and flesh out your characters during the writing process? That is a big question!  Well, for my primary characters in development, I focus on them one at a time. I try to make them believable.  Every good guy has faults, every bad guy has some redeeming quality (however small it may be). I have used people I know as a model for a character and built from there.  I also look inward to something I have, or would like to be and go from there.  The key for me is to keep them consistent.

7. The theme of identity and authenticity seems central to the narrative. How did you explore these themes through the characters' actions and choices, especially in the face of unimaginable circumstances?  Donovan spends time examining himself.  He struggles in the beginning with the subtle changes to his reality.  The way he deals with it has to change when the people around him are being affected. Many of the support characters have to deal with the changes in their own way, specifically, Jessie Parker Harris.  Ultimately, the choices come down to selfishness or selflessness. 

8. The concept of reality fracturing around the central character is intriguing. How did you approach conveying this gradual shift in Donovan's world without relying on traditional time travel tropes?  My intention was never that this story revolved around time travel.  It is a fracturing of reality.  SPOILER ALERT!  I set up the connection between Donovan and his grandmother (Elise Harris) having a telepathic ability to communicate.  However, it comes with risks. She warns a young Donovan not to try to connect over a long distance or time. The telepathic conversations occur throughout different times of the story for Donovan, but for the grandmother, she is always in 1962.  It is that ability that has caused the rupture to reality.  The killer is gathering the victims in the past only by manipulating the version of reality he wants.  I know that is kind of a cheat around time travel but the goal of the story is the tension between Detective Harris and the killer.

9. Detective Donovan Harris is portrayed as a character of integrity, shaped by his upbringing in a diverse family. How did you develop his character arc, particularly in the context of the fracturing reality he faces?   Well, I felt that Harris would have to be a certain level of an idealist, otherwise the events would be overwhelming.  I put myself in his shoes and realized, his core beliefs had to be his driving force. I share several flashbacks of his life in order to capitalize on the fact that Donovan Harris wasn’t a hero, that integrity is just the kind of man he always was.  The prologue (which I wrote well after the main story had been developed) is one of my favorite glimpses into the character. Kids are incredible.  They do not see labels or conditions; the truth is easy for them and I wanted to show that part of Donovan as real.

10. Your book, "Be True to Yourself," blends elements of serial killer thriller and sci-fi. What inspired you to merge these genres, and how did you ensure a seamless integration of their elements?  It is about the story.  As a writer, you set out to share an idea with your reader.  I like complicated back stories and characters with depth. By merging sci-fi and thriller, I make my story more interesting. I am a fan of Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock. They were masters at using this concept to tell a story that is familiar in a way that keeps us intrigued.  I strived to be like that.

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