FAQs
What’s The Deal with Rocky and Bullwinkle?
Favorite Authors/Best Story Songs?
Who can resist Jay Ward’s flying squirrel and a hapless moose who champion American Democratic values? Their arch nemesis? A pair of stereotypical Russian spies - Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale whose Fearless Leader is bent on world domination.
The parallel between ‘60s Cold War humor and today’s current international order, which features Illiberalism, is, not so funny. Just like the 60s cartoon, Putin assassination squads use the same methods as the 60s cartoon villains. Check out Novichok and The Wagner plane explosion. Read about Alexander Navalny. Ask Bill Broder about Sergei Magnitsky.
Rocky and Bullwinkle feature great political satire and comedy. Putin’s Russia, Orban’s Hungary and sock puppets like Belarus are just plain not funny.
Who Are Your Primary Influences
All my writing features many references to refined international experts and intellectuals beginning with Jay Ward, The Three Stooges, Groucho Marx, Rodney Dangerfield and, finally, Jon Stewart.
These are just a few of the many influences who, for better or worse, have made me the man I am today!
Enserio? We want to know who’s responsible.
Do You Prefer Working Mornings, Afternoons or Evenings?
Ok, already…. I’d say my mom and my wife.
Mom was a bibliophile and a former bookstore owner who had an extensive personal library of signed first editions. Lois always pushed me to write, but I resisted, preferring to eat three meals a day and support my family.
Unfortunately, at 90 years old she passed away before I finished the final draft of the Chaco Vendetta. She never saw the finished product but did get to read the first draft.
My lovely Paraguayan wife has also played a big role in helping me create many of the South American characters and their litany of cultural disconnects. She just doesn’t know about her contributions and, frankly, I’m not the one’s going to tell her. She’ll have to buy the book like everyone else!
How Did A Guy From Chicago End Up In Paraguay?
Tell Me About Your Writing Style
It’s not that complicated. I met a wonderful woman in Chicago who happened to be from Paraguay. She has a wicked sense of humor and is the bravest person I’ve ever met. We eventually married and now split our time between Asuncion and Chicago. As you’ll note, many of my secondary storylines feature the culture clash of feral Norte Americanos and the refined and respectful Paraguayans.
For example, while dressing for an upscale gathering I was told “Be yourself. It’s a low bar. They don’t expect much from Norte Americanos.”
I’m definitely a ‘Pantser’ with a dash of ‘Outliner’. Many of my writing sessions reveal something unexpected - whether it’s sharp humorous dialog or a serious reckoning between characters. The next day I’ll then go back and outline the day’s creation. This allows me to be consistent with previous chapters.
The ending of a book is as much a surprise to me as it will be to you. I actually cried when I finished the final chapter of The Chaco Vendetta. If that twist blindsided me - the guy writing it - you won’t see it coming either.
Hmmm, easy question to ask, more difficult to answer.
When we’re in Chicago, I prefer early mornings. I’m the only one up and about at those early hours and it’s easy to focus.
On the other hand, when we’re in Asuncion, I usually write early evening and late evenings. Morning hours are dedicated to landscaping or renovating the old house in an unconditional surrender to the Paraguayan heat and humidity.
There are also cultural considerations. Afternoons are reserved for lunch, siestas and then Merienda. By default, evenings are the best. I can spend several hours focused on writing.
My reading tastes are all over the map. I still get excited about the launch of any new John Sandford Book. I’ll stay up all night to read the new Daniel Silva books. Let’s not forget, Elmore Leonard Jr., Lee Child and James Rollins,
How could anyone not be fascinated by Gabriel Allon, Lucas Davenport, Raylin Givins, or Jack Reacher.?
It might surprise some folks that two of my favorite authors are Alexandre Dumas (very French) and Jack London (classical bootstrapped American).
I mentioned my mom’s collection of signed first editions. When I visited, I always picked up each Hemingway and would stare at the signatures. I’d try and discern where he signed the book. Havana, Chicago or Key West? Paris would have been very cool.
If I’m in the mood for humor, my go to authors are Carl Haissen and that good ol’ boy, Dan Jenkins. Florida and Texas humor. Proof positive the United States is not homogenous.
I grew up reading, Donald Westlake -still love the Parker series. Fletcher Knebel’s classic, Seven Days in May strains for modern relevance - particularly after the failed insurrection of January 6th.
By the way, if it’s storytelling you're looking for, check out just a few of these timeless songs. Marty Robbins’ classic ‘El Paso’ and ‘The Gambler’ written by Don Schlitz, recorded by Kenny Rogers. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot is also a dramatic retelling of a shipwreck on Lake Superior. Don’t forget about Billy Joel’s, Italian Restaurant or Johnny Cash’s Boy Named Sue.
If you’re curious about what it was like to smile in the face of conscription during the Viet Nam war years, an all-time favorite is The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree by Arlo Guthrie. Yes, that is the correct spelling - Massacree. If you’re from the East Coast, you’ll hear the song replayed every Thanksgiving.