Do you have a favorite character? Why?
Millard Bradbury. He’s the lovable old curmudgeon that popped into my head when I wasn’t even looking for him.  Millard reminds me of my dad in some ways, but Dad is nicer.  Since his wife’s death, Mr. Bradbury’s life has come down to a daily ritual of reading the paper, working the crossword puzzle, and maintaining his perfect lawn.  That is, until the invasion of that confounded mole – and then the Walkers, the new family across the street.  One critic compared Millard to the uncles in "Second Hand Lions" – grumpy on the outside but soft and vulnerable inside.  My heart goes out to him because I know he’s the same guy who once flew an F-86 fighter plane, who hiked and fished, danced with his wife, but now finds himself trapped in an aging body with seemingly no more missions or dances in his fading future.

How much research did "Autumn Blue" take?
Thanks to my son, much of the research was accomplished long before this story was birthed. I’d had plenty of real-life experience with the local sheriff and the juvenile justice system. Still, I attended juvenile court in another county, exploring and comparing procedures, learning that in one county a person on house arrest might be monitored with an electronic ankle bracelet, while in another the voice recognition phone system (such as the one to which Ty was subject) was employed.  I studied the habits of moles and trapping methods and via the Internet other questions that surfaced were a breeze.

Is this a series?
No.

What is your favorite verse from the Bible?
I treasure every word, but today I’ll claim two as my favorites:  Luke 10:27. “… Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,’ and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Matthew 6:10.  "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  One is a commandment; one a prayer. They both speak of total submission.  It’s not about me; it’s about Him. If I ever feel that my yoke is not easy, the burden not light - I know that I need only to meditate on these simple words. They pretty much cover it all.

Do you prefer to write contemporary fiction?
Contemporary I know; history was the class I skipped too often or during which I distracted myself and others with a hidden squirt gun. (No one ever suspected it was sweet, innocent little me.) I’m old enough now that I could write about my childhood in the '60s and that might be considered historical by some. But during a trip to Alaska last summer I became intrigued by stories of the gold rush era and bought books and videos just in case a novel sneaks into my head.  I also toy with writing a story set in the Depression years, but from the perspective of a boy (my father) who lead a full, creative childhood almost oblivious to the tumultuous world beyond.