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A: I’m a product of a small southern town, and I’ve always been intrigued by the dynamics of life in that setting. Growing up in a small town, observing the same people in the same place over time as they interact with each other and spin out their lives, is a study in human nature. My first three novels were set in small towns, but the fourth – Captain Saturday – is set in Raleigh, which I consider a sort of quintessential “New South” city. And the novel I’m working on now, The Governor’s Lady, is set in a southern state capital. I imagine I’ll return to a small town setting at some time in the future. But regardless where I set future stories, my characters will all come from my experience with small-town life.

Q: At the end of Captain Saturday, readers are left wondering what the future will hold for Will and Clarice. Do you ever consider writing sequels for your books or do you say all you want to say about your characters in each novel?

A: I’ve never given much thought to writing sequels. I live elbow-to-elbow with my characters over the time it takes to write about them, and when they tell me that part of their story is over, I’m content to leave them to continue on their journey without me. I don’t tie my stories up in neat packages, because life isn’t that way. I present some possibilities, and let you imagine what happens to the characters after I write “The End.” I think it’s more fun that way.

Q: The Christmas Bus was very well received. Do you have plans to write other books for children or young adults?

A: I loved writing The Christmas Bus – both the book and the play. That particular story, that particular cast of characters, called for writing in a genre I hadn’t tried before. But I knew if my characters and their story were compelling enough, I could pull it off. I just let those folks take over, which is what I do no matter what form the story takes – novel, screenplay, stage play, etc. It’s all storytelling, and all stories are about people. If I happen upon another story that calls for the same form as The Christmas Bus, I’ll tackle it. And I’m always on the lookout for good stories.

Q: You write novels, screenplays, stage plays, and songs – just to name a few. Do you find one form of writing more fulfilling? Do you find it difficult to turn your books into plays or movies?

A: If somebody forced me to choose just one genre, it would be novels. There’s nothing quite like getting inside the heads, hearts and souls of characters and discovering how and why they say, do and think the things they do. But I get great satisfaction from those other forms of storytelling, too. Each has its own advantages and limitations. In a novel, you get to explore the characters’ internals in depth. With a stage or screenplay, you have to find ways to externalize the internals with action and dialogue. Adapting a book into a stage or movie script is like translating into another language. But the characters and the story are the same. It’s just a different way of telling. When I write songs for a stage musical, I look at them as just another storytelling tool. I want each song to illuminate character or advance the plot or both.

Q: Knowing the difficulties that exist for getting published, if you were to give a fledging writer some advice, what would it be?

A: I frequently have folks tell me, “I’ve got a great idea for a novel (or movie).” And my response is, “Then write it.” It’s not easy. Writing is lonely, painful work. It never goes down on the page right the first time. So you write and rewrite and try to dig deep into your characters lives and help them tell their story. When somebody describes a story idea to me, I want to know not what it’s about, but rather who it’s about. If you have a strong central character, present that character honestly, and give the character a dilemma to face, you’ve got the start of a good story. Then you surround your hero with other characters, put them in a particular time and place, and set them loose to confront the dilemma. And then you keep yourself open to surprise and discovery.

Q: What kinds of books do you read for enjoyment?

A: I’m all over the map when it comes to reading. I read a lot of history and biography, but also enjoy strong character-driven fiction that challenges my imagination and makes me think about my own life. There are so many wonderful books from the past I haven’t had a chance to read yet, and so many more being published every day. I’ll never get around to all of them, but it’s fun trying.

Q: Besides writing, what are some of the other passions in your life?

A: Family, friends, and bicycle riding.

Q: Do you miss working in the television news business?

A: Not for a moment. I enjoyed that career for almost 30 years, especially the people I worked with and the viewers I met. But writing is what I want to do when I grow up.

Interview Date: March 2007
Profile and questions compiled by Cassandra H., Mint Hill Branch