Unlike some authors, I do not write in just one genre. I let the story idea dictate which category it fits into so that way I do not force a hard edge sci-fi story like Life In The Fast Lane into a detective story such as A Notary Public Is Missing!.
The late author, Michael Chricton, wrote the same way. For example, would the theme of Jurassic Park fit into the storyline of Exposure? That would be doubtful. More than likely he, like me, had ideas about stories and wrote them in the genre that served them best.
Unlike this great author, though, I only write short stories. I have tried to write novels but no idea will stick in my brain long enough to complete one. I have to get stories out of my fractured mind before I forget what I am writing about.
One other thing about my writing is that I frequently create my stories and characters out of real-life situations and real people that I know. I only change their names to protect me from the innocent.
For instance, the latest victim of The Prime Cut Killer in my story Tat is based on a real-life bartender who is every bit as beautiful as described in the story. When I showed her the final work, her only objection to it was that she was dead. When I told her that she would be the lead supporting actress, and possible co-star, if the story were made into a movie, she dropped her objection. Hollywood is waiting.
Not only that, the story Tat is based on a real-life incident that occurred in the very same bar where she works.
In this blog, I will be going behind the scenes of my works to reveal what lead me to write a story. I have given talks on this matter and people are often surprised at how little an incident needs to be to get me going. Sometimes it is just a word or a sporadic action that lights the fire and, believe it or not, I never know in advance what it will be.
I will also be talking about the art of writing. Not so much how to do it but how and where to find inspiration to do it along with examples from my life. I will offer advice to new authors as well.
I like short stories. Capturing somebody's entire life in a small space is a beautiful art.