Get to know the writer:
1. What is your novel about?
Cache a Predator is a thriller about a father who wants custody of his five year old daughter, but the judge grants his ex-wife, an addict, custody instead.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Thriller, mystery, suspense
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
Heart-wrenching
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
Home Alone – I used to watch it with my children when they were younger. Now I watch it with my grandchildren. It’s so fun.
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the
most times in your life?)
I love and appreciate most music except heavy metal. I don’t have one song that I sing more than others. When I was little I learned how to play a large organ and then transitioned to the piano. I’m not very good, but I love playing classical music. My youngest daughter took Suzuki piano. I used to enjoy playing all those songs with her.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
No, but I tend to lean toward middle grade and YA fiction. One of my favorite books was Wonder, by R. J. Palacio. However, I probably read just as much nonfiction, if not more. Recently I’ve been reading Chasing the Scream, by Johann Hari, because addiction is a universal problem, and I wanted to learn how I could help addicts. I also love to read leadership books, so I can better coach myself, my grandkids, and other writers.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
Years ago, my brother was worried he was going to lose his son in a divorce custody battle. He felt frustrated, and I felt bad for him. It didn’t end up that way, but it made me think about how many times good dads get a bum deal. When I began plotting the novel in my head, I thought, who is the bad guy? Whom do most people loathe the most? Pedophiles, right? I wanted to bring awareness to addiction and show what geocaching is, too. People thought I made up the geocaching game, because they’d never heard of it before they read the book. This book is hidden in geocaching sites all over the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. My initial intention was for each book, one planted in each state, was for each book to travel to all 50 states, but geocachers have placed it in sites all over the world as they traveled. It’s amazing to watch how many thousands of miles some books have traveled.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would
that be?
We just saw The Greatest Showman. I’d love to have dinner with Hugh Jackman. I’d have a list of questions to ask him.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
I’m a leadership coach, speaker and John Maxwell trainer. I love being a part of a positive team of people who want to serve others and light up the world. When I’m not writing or coaching, I’m playing pickleball. I’m crazy about the sport. To improve my game, I’ve started weight lifting. I feel stronger than I ever have, but so far it hasn’t improved my game. Darn.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
People have told me that the book would make a good movie. I want to learn how to write screen plays. That’s on my bucket list. When I write, I visualize things happening on a stage, so I thought it would be interesting to hear a part of the story told by actors.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Find a tribe of successful writers who you want to emulate. Ask them to mentor you. Join their circle. You’ll learn so much faster. Study what works for them.
Before I was published, a young woman (Kelly) asked me to write her memoir because she wasn’t physically able. (She’s a quadriplegic.) I pitched her story to a literary agent who told me not to waste my time writing her book. He said it would never sell. At that time, I didn’t know how to self-publish. But his challenge prompted me to make friends with writers/authors online who were willing to help. I learned the industry, published five books that became best-sellers and award-winning, and then went back to Kelly and said, “Let’s write your book now. We don’t need anyone to help. I know how to do this.”
Her book sells better than any of my other books, and it’s optioned for a movie. (Fractured Not Broken) Don’t ever let someone tell you it can’t be done. Find a way to write the story God intended you to write, and surround yourself with others who will show you how.
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Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com
Director: Kierston Drier
Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne
Editor: John Johnson
Camera Operator: Mary Cox
Novel Writing Festival 