What was the hardest part of writing The West Texas Pilgrimage? 

I struggled with the ending.  This is a story that doesn’t really have a conclusion, and that is intentional.  There are no easy answers to the issues the main character faces, and the only thing that ends is the party.  As much as it pains me to admit it, Robert Earl Keen was wrong when he said that “….the party never ends.”

What did you enjoy most about writing the book?

See above about the nostalgia.

Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured if your book?

This story is written from the perspective of a twenty something young man who comes from a privileged background in south Texas.  There are a lot of unrepresented groups in the story, but again, that was intentional.  I hope that readers from all different backgrounds will appreciate it for what it is and enjoy a look into that perspective.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?  How does that affect your writing?

I’m a part-time writer, at least for now, and I think that is what makes it enjoyable.  The little time I do find to write is an escape for me from the crazy corporate world.  It’s typically late at night, on weekends, or even better yet on vacation when I can really detach and pour myself into writing.

What do you like to read in your free time?

I go back and forth between military history, biographies, and critically acclaimed novels.  In true form, my last three books have been Without Getting Killed or Caught The Life and Music of Guy Clark by Tamara Saviano, Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls, and Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly.

What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m currently working on a story based upon a trail of corruption in healthcare in South Texas. One of the few places you might think would be devoid of corruption in South Texas, a not for profit faith based hospital, actually turns out to be the center of it.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I have a few other ideas I would like to get to, but the most developed is a story about a salt water fishing guide.  I’ve got to know a lot of them and they all make for interesting characters.

What book do you wish you could have written?

The list is long, but I’ll tell you what, my most recent read, a biography of Guy Clark, would have been an amazing story to put together.  I’m extremely jealous of Tamara Saviano to have connected with one of the premier poets of our time.  It wouldn’t have been a bad deal to write Old Man and the Sea or Lonesome Dove either.

How important are names to you in your books?

The names were very intentional in this story.  South Texans seem to really favor unique names. If you notice, there’s not a lot of common names in this one. The Mexican influence is also apparent.  I personally know four “Cuatros,” two “Cincos,” and six “Hunters.”  My own kids’ names are Hunter Ann, McCoy Martin, and Kerr Dunkin, while our dogs are Uno, Chula, and Gordo. We wouldn’t stand for a normal name in this household.

Where is one place you want to visit that you haven’t been before?

Cuba; I hear the flats there haven’t been overfished yet. I would travel anywhere to catch a fish on a fly.

What’s your funniest flaw?

I have a little bit of an issue with red wine; I really like it.  I probably like it more than I should. I blame my Mom for that one as well.