“Did you serve in the military?” 
-No, not unless you count when I was 6 years old and my older brother decided he needed to put me through basic training. My brother grew up and became a lieutenant colonel, while I traveled the world as a civilian. I’ve found my niche where I began, taking care of our military and their families via the home front. I am proud of my grandfathers, uncles, and all other family members who served, and I feel the sacred obligation to accurately depict the heart of service and the challenges of war.
“How much of this is real?”
-I know many writers who are more clever than I, and they’re able to construct entirely new world out of their imaginations. That’s not me. I draw from real life: real stories of heroism, real moments of darkness, and real struggles in the ground between the two. But rather than simply retelling fact as fiction, I enjoy working with the great “What if?” Who has the untold story behind the headline? How did circumstances align to bring the best out of flawed individuals?
“How much do you research?”
-As much as I can! Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I’m the author equivalent of a method actor; I immerse myself in the characters’ world as much as possible. The best part is meeting people who exceed my concept of their character.