You worked as an attorney for more than two decades before retiring to focus on writing and other pursuits. How does your legal background affect your approach to writing fiction?

As corporate counsel for a technology company, I learned to absorb background information on complex subjects, write precisely, and meet tight deadlines. These same skills come in handy as a fiction writer, though I often need to remind myself to restrain my inner lawyer and keep the writing punchy and cinematic. (The mantra, “more Armani black, less Brooks Brothers navy,” helps me in that regard.)

Your website states that you aim to write “thought-provoking thrillers.” What does that mean to you?

I love high-concept hooks, cutting-edge technologies, and plots that encourage readers to think about the future. My first novel, The Champion Maker, looks at genetic engineering in the realm of athletics, and Perpetuity grapples with nanotechnology, AI, life extension, and our seemingly inevitable progression toward transhumanism.

Which authors have influenced you the most?

I admire Dean Koontz, Blake Crouch, and Michael Crichton for how they weave sci-fi ideas and dark conspiracies into our contemporary world. I also appreciate how John Grisham addresses controversial social issues in his novels, and I hope to write a thought-provoking legal thriller someday. I’m also a fan of crime writers like James Ellroy and Michael Connelly, and I try to emulate their tense, spare style.

What are some of your favorite movies?

The Clint Eastwood western Unforgiven is my all-time favorite; it’s a masterclass in how to unfurl a powerful story in a measured, understated way that shows far more than it tells. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Chariots of Fire, A Few Good Men, and The Big Lebowski are other films I have enjoyed rewatching many times.

Do you approach your writing as a pantser or a plotter?

My first novel followed a detailed plot outline, but I decided to give pantsing a try when I wrote Perpetuity. Although writing without an outline can cause extra stress and uncertainty, letting my seven different point-of-view characters influence the story’s direction ultimately made the novel feel richer and more authentic to me.

What is your view on AI and its impact on writers and publishers?

I don’t use generative AI in my writing. In my view, using AI to write your book, in whole or part, is antithetical to the author’s creative role and raises difficult copyright issues. However, I see other authors using AI to boost their efficiency and productivity, and when I review a book by such an author, I easily identify signs of generative AI and point out the weaknesses in the writing, just as I would with any other book. So far, AI-generated writing remains far inferior to the work of a skilled author, but as this gap narrows in the coming years, the publishing industry could face a crisis.

In addition to writing, you enjoy reviewing books. How do you balance the roles of author and reviewer?

Even during the height of a writing project, I’m an avid reader and reviewer of thrillers, sci-fi, literary, and other genres. Reviewing good books helps me understand what makes them engaging and inspires me to become a better writer, so I see these two roles as complementary rather than conflicting.

Your latest thriller, Perpetuity, features a music motif. Who are some of the composers and musicians you admire and how are they incorporated into the novel?

I’ve played classical guitar since I was a young boy, and this musical passion helped me imagine Perpetuity’s guitar-slinging female protagonist. My favorite classical composers are Bach, Tárrega, and Sor. I’m also a huge fan of Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler, and Chapter 35 of Perpetuity pays tribute to Sultans of Swing.

Both of your novels include scenes in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. What draws you to that setting, and how does it contribute to the themes of your thrillers?

I grew up spending summers at my parents’ lake house in the Adirondacks and continue to visit every year. The natural Adirondack environment and simple way of life stand in stark contrast to the urban scenes and emerging technologies in my novels, underscoring my warnings about reckless technological progress.

What project are you working on now?

I’m taking a short break from writing to focus on promoting Perpetuity, which was published on August 7, 2025. My next project might be a sequel, and I’ve already started thinking about how it could resolve the loose ends I intentionally left at the end.