When did you consider yourself a writer? I considered myself a writer when I started writing poems, while studying at the University. Since I am a helpless romantic my first poems were an expression of love for a particular coed who was then the object of my affection. The poems seemed to be a natural response to my overwhelming desire to reveal the inner most thoughts and feelings that were begging to be expressed. However, my need to write soon became an obsession. I began to write short stories soon thereafter. Ultimately, my writing served as a catharsis for feelings that smoldered deep within my restless soul. Thus, I decided to write my first novel “Caught In A Hellish Nightmare”, while I helplessly watched my beloved wife die a slow agonizing death from breast cancer. I have gone on to write six additional novels. What book do you wish you’d written? The book I wish I had written is how my mother and father, the children of Italian immigrants growing up during the Great Depression, married young and somehow overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles in their quest to better themselves, raise a family, and live a productive happy life together. Perhaps one day I will find the time to write their story. What surprised you most when you became published? I recall an interview I read once where the interviewer asked the author what it felt like to be an overnight success. In response the author had said that he’d been writing for twenty years, so he didn’t consider himself an overnight success. I couldn’t agree with him more…. How do you deal with criticism/rejection? Like anyone else, I frown on criticism if I think the reason for the criticism is not valid. However, rejection is the bane of every artist, anyone who creates must be confronted with the criticism of those who, for one reason or another, find their work unacceptable. My understanding is that rejection is common place for anyone aspiring to have their work published. Though every writer must strongly believe that he, or she, has something to say that will appeal to the reading public, or they will ultimately fail. Thus, I firmly believe that we must constantly endeavor if we are to succeed. What are your plans for the future? My plans for the future are to endeavor to have my novels made into movies, by doing so I will be able to reach a much larger audience. A number of movie producers and directors have expressed interest in my novels; however, I have yet to sell the movie rights to any of my novels. Hopefully, that will change in the near future