What makes your book a must-read?
I guarantee that you’ll be inspired. Matt Miller is a hero, and there is something healthy about being immersed in a hero’s journey. A hero has convictions and fights for what is good and right. We need examples of this more today than ever.
If you could give your book to one world leader, who would it be and why?
Justin Trudeau seems to have all the pieces to become an inspiring leader, yet he comes off as milk toast. It feels like he never got into a fight as a kid on the playground. I’m sure Trudeau could up his game by reading the Matt Miller series. Ha!
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
It was finding the time with everything else that was going on. Over the last few years, many personal things needed attention, including joining a startup biotech, my father dying, and getting remarried.
What is the most exciting story you tell in your book?
Without giving away too much, the most exciting story is Matt Miller trying to find his way back to his family.
One word that best describes you.
Tenacious.
Any ritual like a specific scented candle, preferred writing place, or drink that you kept through writing?
I get up most days before 5:00 a.m. and write for as long as possible before going to my day job. I do all my writing at the kitchen table. The new puppy is doing her best to disrupt my routine, though.
If there is a movie adaptation of your book, who do you think would be perfect for the lead roles?
I’ve always imagined Ansel Elgort as Matt Miller and Chloë Grace Moretz as Grace.
What can this teach to a motivated and mission-driven population of writers?
Don’t wait for inspiration. The most important thing for a writer is butt-glue. Sit yourself in a chair and don’t get up until you’ve written at least a double-spaced page. Putt together enough double-spaced pages, and suddenly you have a chapter. It begins to snowball after that.
What can you advise another scientist who wants to write?
Two things:
Don’t quit your well-paying scientist job to write full-time. You need resources while you learn the trade of writing. The requirements might seem trivial at first, like time to sit and write, the internet, and a laptop, so it’s easy to think you can let your spouse worry about the bills for a couple of years. It will get much pricier when you want to travel to a writer’s conference, take a class on writing, or hire an editor or an artist. You don’t want to be strapped for cash when these decisions arise. Writing is an expensive discipline that will take 7-10 years to master. It’s going to cost money to learn this trade, and there will be a long time before you see a return
Find someone in your life that is supportive of your writing. A good muse is hard to find, but once you find him/her, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
Are you ready for our rapid-fire questions? Let’s go.
1. Money or Power – Money
2. Physical strength or Mental strength – Mental strength
3. Expensive presents or homemade presents – homemade presents
4. Beauty or Brains – Beauty
5. Love or friendship – Love
6. Salty or sweet – Salty
7. Do you prefer driving or flying – Driving
8. Cats or dogs – Dogs
9. Summer or winter – Summer
10. Would you rather fly or have super strength – Super strength
Find your copy of The Architect on Amazon now.
Want more author interviews? Check out The Meatrix here.
