Jeff WALLER

I guess I'm one of those people that is from the school of hard knocks. Hard times, bad jobs, and bad luck early on seemed to be the roadmap for my life. I've been a lot of places and done a lot of things trying to find direction. But, the times they are a'changing!

Writing, as a career, was never a consideration for me. Now, it has become the only consideration. I can't picture myself doing anything else. I write about the things that I dream about! I will not write garbage that I would not read aloud to my mother. If I find myself obsessing on a concept, the only way for me to deal with it is to write it. But if it isn't an obsession, I leave it alone.

I think I read somewhere that anyone considering the irrational notion of writing a book should pick the topic that he or she cannot find in the bookstores. Then, psychotherapy should be strongly considered.

It has got to be a passion. If not, then on the days when you "would really rather be golfing", that's where you'll be and the book will never be done. If it is a passion, then the story will almost write itself and the hard work will be a pleasure.

The satisfaction that comes from completing a work and doing it well is unlike any other. I would liken it to jumping out of an airplane without a parachute, and then discovering suddenly that you can fly!