I've been a writer for decades, but never an author.  Without a care, I began writing for my own fulfillment.  I've had no formal training.  I just took to writing as an art form, painting pictures with words.  Eventually, my desire to be published grew.

My chosen genres are science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on dark post-apocalyptic subject matter.  I've been told to write about what you know.  When speculating on the future or realms of fantasy, who's to say you're wrong?

My mantra is a simple one.  Changing one vital thing about the world . . . changes the world.  In this way, science fiction is simplified.  Beyond this, I strongly adhere to "shades of gray".  In the worlds I create, black and white don't exist.  There is no one utterly holy or irredeemably evil.  All that exist are motivations and flaws.  Everyone is damaged to some degree.

It's also important to note that I don't shy from depictions of a graphic nature when they apply.  In the heat of the moment, it would seem out of place for a character not to swear.  In the heat of the moment, violence is not repressed.  In the heat of the moment, passions flair.  Emotions are what drive a story.