Author Interview

Thanks so much for joining us today! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

PD: I write books, that’s what I do. Good ones, crazy ones, fun books, entertaining books, scary creepy books that are absolutely insane, books with depth and books with excitement, and books that tear out the heart of humanity and throws it on a slab to be feasted on. Yeah, that’s what I do, I write books. Any questions?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

PD: I’ve been writing ever since I can remember. I wrote my first full-length novel at 12 years old, so the idea of being a full time writer has always been on my mind. If I had to pinpoint an exact age, I would say ten years old, during a time when I was writing short stories consistently and also writing for my grade school newspaper. I knew then that writing was what I wanted in my life.

Your books are so creative and unique compared to similar genres. What inspired you to write this particular series?

PD: The idea spawned about two decades ago and was largely influenced by Star Wars, The Matrix, Ancient Aliens, and John Carpenter films, like They Live and The Thing. The idea behind alien vampires, however, came about when I was a young lad, probably around 4. At that time there was a sci-fi television series called Buck Rogers, and on one of the episodes they featured a space vampire that scared the all mighty hell out of me (remember I was 4). The concept stayed with me for so long after, I had to write about them.

What is your writing process like? Do you typically develop your characters or plot first?

PD: Plot first, always. The idea usually spawns first with an emotion, scene, and lesson to be learned. Then the plot develops, attracting the appropriate characters to represent the narrative. These all become ideas I write down, usually in a word doc or by sending myself little emails. Once the most major plot points have been thought of, I then allow the story to sit and ferment for a while, which helps to bring up additional concepts I want to include in the book and especially specific scenes or narratives I want in the story. Then, one fateful day, I sit down to write and hang on tight, wide eyed as the story unfolds and never, not once, do I look at the word document or those emails with all those notes.

What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?  (without giving away too many spoilers?)

PD: The hardest scene to write was the climax for both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Both Volume’s have a climax that ends with a bang, and a large scale battle. When writing across multiple viewpoints, as a writer we want the pacing to be perfect; switching from scene to scene, character to character, and then having to decide which point of view will push the narrative across to the finish line with the most profound impact. As a writer, to me the ending needs to be awesomely perfect. I’ve read a lot of books lately where the end was a true disappointment, as if the writer was so engrossed in writing the meat of the story they forgot how important a powerful ending can be.

What part of the book(s) was the most fun to write and why?

PD: Every part of writing The Rose series has been fun to write. Truthfully, I feel like a little kid when writing the series, as if I’m discovering Star Wars or Star Trek for the first time, or reading books like The Time Machine or Dune for the first time. It truly has been amazing and I’m thankful to the powers of creation for allowing me a bit of self-nostalgia over the last few years. I think the most fun I have when writing The Rose is introducing, hiding, or adding into the plot the intricate and fine details pertaining to things like: conspiracies, alien theories, quantum mechanics, ancient philosophical concepts, science of mind concepts, and spiritual components or philosophies (that aren’t mainstream but garner a rather intricate and detailed concept of the universe).

If you could meet your characters in person, what would you say to them?

PD: “You have all done an excellent job, now pick up your belongings and follow me. We’re headed to the farm to pick grapes.”

What book(s) are you currently working on?

PD: At the moment I’m editing my upcoming horror novel, Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, a book I like to refer to as my ‘Covid Quarantine Satirical Cosmic Grindhouse Horror Fantasy Thriller’ novel (yes that’s a mouth full, but then again, so is Jigglyspot), and writing Vol. 3 for The Rose.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

PD: Reading, hanging with the family, meditating, tumbling down ancient alien rabbit holes, hypnotizing people (I’m a therapist and hypnotist, specializing in trauma/PTSD, addiction, and personality disorders), listening to music, taking walks by the beach, listening to the beauty and wonder of silence, and learning the laws of the universe.

Fun Facts:

What is your spirit animal?

PD: The blue whale. I love whales and I love swimming. Plus I’m a big guy, so whales seem to fit me quite well. I’m kind and compassionate, but also an absolute beast when needed- much like the blue whale. I’ve convinced my wife and kids that when we reincarnate, we should all come back as a family of blue whales. Cool right? At least I think so, the family took some convincing.

What is your favorite food?

PD: Imported Del Parma Prosciutto with thinly sliced fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and black pepper on NY Italian bread.

What book(s) did you love the most as a kid?

PD: A few books come to mind with this question. I remember loving Peter Pan as early as Kindergarten and definitely into second grade. Also, I grew up close to the town of Sleepy Hollow, NY, and Washington Irving’s classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow was required reading at a very early age (not the actual book itself but the kids version of the story). I still love that story, and even wrote a re-imagining a few years ago, titled “Knickerbocker”, which is the featured novelette in my short story collection “Twisted Tales of Deceit”. But, both Peter and the Headless Horseman took a back seat after reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes once I turned the grade and arrived in middle school (aren’t those years supremely awkward on every level). Such a fascinating book, and considering I was the same age as the main characters, it hit home. I still consider this as one of my all time favorites. The movie was fantastic too.

What is one item you could never live without?

PD: A pen and notebook.

 

FANS, GET EXCITED…. VOLUME 3 IS COMING!

 

About The Rose Series

Alien vampires, genetically mutated humans and dystopian sci-fi thriller vibes? YES PLEASE!
The series blends all of the most addicting genres into a fascinating, original story that successfully delivers an action-packed, creatively creepy and all things wonderfully thrilling.

It starts just after the end of World War III. The people of earth have signed a peace treaty with each other, just in time to battle against Alien Vampires whose war has just begun. But not everything is what it seems.

Shortly after, Sandy Cox awakens to find that not only has she been taken captive by the Alien Vampires, but they have also taken her unborn child. She joins forces with Phil, a rebel freedom fighter who uses his skills in the sacred alien martial art known as The Blades to infiltrate the alien compound in search of Sandy, while Sandy is on a singular mission; to find her stolen baby. 

Soon they find themselves in the depths of a now hollow Earth attempting to complete their missions. Sandy later learns she has powers she never knew existed, Phil travels through time and visits Genesys, and Sanos’ obsession with power makes him reckless and unpredictable. And who exactly is Robyn Winter anyways?

Hunted by aliens and fighting for their lives, The Rose is a gripping tale of suspense, action, and horror that will keep you glued until the very end.

Fans of The Hunger Games, George RR Martin, VE Schwab, Star Wars, and Ancient Aliens will be fascinated by this high-powered, intelligent, edge of your seat dystopian sci-fi action thriller. You can check out our full review of The Rose Volume 1 and Volume 2 here.