A wide range of writers have influenced me from Hemingway to W.E.B. Griffin, James Clavell and William Manchester.  I admire most the authors who have a good command of the English language – even more than the ‘good storytellers’.  (“It is with words that we govern the minds of men” – Disraeli, I believe.)

What makes me ‘tick’ as a novelist is the use of language.  I want the writing to be very literate and for the narrative voice to be very formal.  I want the reader to be impressed – moved – by the use of language.  Using that as a tool, I want to make the reader think deeply about matters and to be moved to strong emotions.

I want to create characters that are so believable that readers will wonder who the “real life” counterparts are.  I want the reader to feel so close to the characters that they will miss them when they are no longer there.