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Q. You've received several awards for your recent novel, The Fairmounts,
with Mary Whitcombe being the sequel, what inspired you to write them?
A. The Fairmounts was a dream that I had during the pandemic. Writing
the was my mental salvation. It was a very difficult time. I lost a lot
of loved ones. It was difficult for a lot of people. Writing as Harry
was the light for me through all that darkness and a way to honor the
wonderful people that risked sacrificing themselves to care for others.
Q. Had you published anything before The Fairmounts? Did you always want
to be a writer?
A. I published an autobiographical poetry book about love called I Asked
the Wind. I know that I've always been a storyteller. Even the poems are
small distinct stories. I think stories are my art form. I let them take
whatever shape they want. They're an extension of me in many ways. I try
to highlight the beauty in the world. I do believe that life is
beautiful, and people make it ugly. So, I try not to contribute to the
darkness and add to the beauty.
Q. Is there darkness is your books? What would you say is your unifying
themes?
A. I think there are characters that are dark, yes. It's a balance of
dark and light. Light always wins, of course. I write about love,
forgiveness, redemption, and hope. It's how I try to live my life. Do no
harm, and if I can, do good. That's what you find in my books. There are
bad things that may happen, but we are always greater than those bad
things.
Q. Are your characters based on real people or are they entirely
fictional?
A. I think all my characters are various facets of me, to be honest, as
well as real people that I know. They are pieces of people that I sort
of put together and create these fictional beings that feel very real to
people. It's all entirely unconscious by the way. It's not something I
intentionally do. It just happens. I've had people tell me that they
know the characters, or they go out into the world and try to cast them.
Oh, that one looks like a Harry LaCroix, or maybe that one is a John
Fairmount, that sort of thing. It's always amazing to me.
Q. How do you feel about your work being adapted into other forms, such
as movies or TV shows?
A. That would be a dream come true. I think the stories are written in a
very cinematic way. I also think the stories stay with you long after
you put the books down. I'm always open to that possibility, but until
then, I'm going to keep letting my characters tell their stories.
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