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(2001-04-15)Q: Can you tell us a little about Twilight Dynasty's Scandinavian heroine? A: Blonde-haired, turquoise-eyed Tanya Jensen is not only charming and captivating for her looks, she is a psychic as well as a practicing witch. The "White Witch" links up with attorney Morrow to assist him in his battle with his mysterious adversary. But, does she have her own agenda in this power struggle? Q: How has your background as an attorney affected your writing style and/or writing habits? A: Attorneys work toward deadlines, such as trial dates, on a regular basis. They are also forced to structure convincing and logical arguments, often involving complex legal issues. These skills have allowed me to develop disciplined writing habits and multi-faceted storylines. As to writing style, my real life experiences, especially in the emotionally charged area of family law, have allowed me to tether my fantasy elements to our realistic day-to-day existence. As H.P. Lovecraft demonstrated, you don’t have to journey very far from our ‘real’ world to come face-to-face with the frightening world of the supernatural. What style of writing might result from a collaboration between John Grisham and Stephen King? Why, the Barry H. Smith style of writing, of course :-) Q: What do you see as the most challenging aspects of writing a novel? A: As far as I’m concerned, a novel has to do more than tell a story. It has to grip the reader, so that the reader cares about the characters, feels their emotional highs and lows, and is concerned when the story takes them into uncharted territory. A concept or idea is not sufficient to bring a novel to life. If your characters do not ‘live’, neither will your story. Secondly, characters have to evolve from page one to the final chapter. Static characters cannot carry a plotline to a satisfactory climax. The longer the story, the more depth the characters must possess. I feel that motivated characters are the most challenging aspect of writing a novel. Luckily, with Twilight Dynasty I was able to put together a cast of characters who live and breathe. They are based on people and personality types who I have interacted with over my twenty plus years of legal practice, such as the bikers who I defended during my years in criminal law, and the shattered families who I encountered during my years in the family courts. Q: Can you tell us a bit about your current projects? A: I just finished the first draft of "Twilight Dynasty: Temporal Justice", the second book in the series. Fans of "Courting Evil" have demanded more of the same. I vowed to keep my writing fresh. This second tale therefore takes a different tact with similar subject matter. There’s a new rave drug on the street. It takes the user to a new high, to a spiritual plane, a very real spiritual plane. This book will give an all-new meaning to the phrase ‘first contact’. I also write crime fiction, and have published short stories in such on-line magazines as Blue Murder magazine. As a special treat to fans of the original Avengers (the British Cult T.V. show), I have posted a short story on my web site featuring a character based on Emma Peel, entitled "Twilight Town". Q: What has the Internet meant for you as an author? A: In some ways, the Internet is like a vast collection of kiosks and boutiques, which allows authors to display their wares to people who they could never hope to reach, even by crisscrossing the world in a private jet. I have fans in Australia, Japan, Europe and throughout the United States and Canada who I correspond with on a regular basis through my web site at: http://www.twilight-dynasty.com I believe that the Internet has opened up a more intimate world for authors and readers to interact. It has also leveled the playing field between small publishers and the large and, often impersonal, publishing houses. 
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