IBR: Did you
always want to be a writer?
D.F: I've always loved
story telling, ever since I was young. What held me back from writing was that
I was a horrible speller. "Thank you word processing!" LOL. That
however, shouldn't have been an excuse. If you love doing something, do it.
IBR: What was the very
first Book, play, script, scenario that you ever wrote?
D.F: When I was in
school, I would write stories around the "White Space" of my text
books. I like to write engaging stories. Stopped by Time was my First book. The
Condiments was my first script. It is a story about an ordinary plastic bottle
of ketchup who falls in love with a beautiful glass jar honey mustard princess.
IBR: You are still
teaching High School, how do your students respond to your writing? Is it
difficult to get them to read their teachers book without having it look like
it is a school assignment or homework?
D.F: I believe if you're
going to write a book, you're doing to be shared. I give everyone one of my
students a free copy of my books so they have something to read in their
classes if they have free time. I've had students read my books and tell me
they hated reading but my book was the first book they've ever read and that
they loved it.
IBR: Is Stopped by Time
your first Novel of the Sci-FI / Supernatural/Fantastik Genre?
D.F: Yes. I love that
genre.
IBR: What inspired you,
when you were writing out the plot of the story?
D.F: I have so many ideas
running around in my head. When I finished writing the first draft, I realized
that I had actually begun the story in the middle and went back and wrote the
beginning. I really didn't have an outline for Stopped By Time. It just sort of
came to me. My following series Night of the Witches was all planned out.
IBR: How did you choose
the name of your characters, their personae, their physical description…etc?
D.F: I always try to
incorporate my students into everything I do. So, when I began writing Stopped
By Time, I told them if they did better in their other classes and stayed out
of trouble, I would use their names as characters. I usually use one person's
first name with another person's last name. Some times I'll use famil and
friend's names as well. I would say 95% of the names I've used in my five
books and nine screen plays have come from students. They get really excited
when they see their names.
As for personae,
sometimes I'll relate the character to someone I've know in my life. Other
times I'll just be in a "mood" and I'll turn on some music when I
write and that character just comes to life. I love to listen to music when I
write. Especially if there is tension building or a lot of drama getting ready
to happen. I get so excited and it doesn't matter if it's three AM, it's as if
it's in the middle of the day and I have hours and hours to write.
IBR: Back to Stopped byTime, what has been the response from your readers when you first published it?
How was it received ?
D.F: Everyone who has
read it has really loved it. It truly is an emotional roller coster.
IBR: One of my favorite
Fantastic genre author is Edgar Allan Poe. There is a little of the Mysticism
in Stopped by time that is reminiscent to Poe's Fantastic Novellas. Are
you a fan of that author, did he inspire you in any way?
D.F: I do like Poe. I am
a big believer in the balance of things and where there is darkness, there must
be light, good, evil and sadness, happiness. I think however, I was
inspired more by some writing when I was in elementary school based on the
supernatural. I have always been drawn to the topics of ESP and telekinesis.
IBR: Is Stopped by
Time still available through Amazon.com or Barnes & Nobles? If not,
will there be another edition of Stopped by time in the near future?
D.F: Yes, it is
available on both those sites, as well as , many other Internet sites. It did
sell in stores when it was first release but that was back in 1998. There were
only 1000 original first print copies made, so if you can get your hands on
one, that should be pretty special.
IBR: As you know I have
a lot of French readers of my blog and a few Spanish readers as well. In that
regard, do you have any plans to translate it in French and/or Spanish?
D.F: I would love to.
D.F: I have written a
treatment for Stopped By Time and would like to turn it into a one hour
television drama.
IBR: What is your advice
for any young and not so young aspiring author out there?
D.F: Write when ever you
can. If you can write just a little every day, that would be awesome. But more
importantly, share your writing. Let people read what you have created. That is
the reason we write.
Thank you very much Don for this insight into your writer's mind. With your permission, I'd like to repeat this for your other works. I am planning to read the "Night of the Witches" series next and interview you again on those so my readers can interact and ask you their own questions about each of your works.
For those of you who have not yet read my review of Don's Book: "Stopped By Time" click on the link or go back to the main page of the blog to read my review of this great book and don't hesitate to leave your comments directly on the Review posting.
If you have any questions or comments for Don about "Stopped by Time" don't hesitate to ask it directly here. Whenever Don's busy schedule allows him some respite, he promised me, he'll come from time to time to respond personally.
Thank you again Don for your time and consideration, it is truly appreciated.