Were you ever actually in Korea, or did you research all this information?
I was in the army and stationed in Korea from December of 1975 through August of 1977.  I returned to Korea for short visits on two occasions.

Are there really "pillow girls?"
The unfortunate system was very much as described.  Interestingly, it's the key factor that makes Young and Jason's story so uniquely remarkable.  They were representative of the very few who were able to cross cultural and racial barriers and actually have what we would think of as a "normal" relationship.

Are the Korean drivers really as "aggressive" as depicted?
Ah, God love 'em . . .  Korean Drivers.  Yes, absolutely--and the Rocket has the scars to prove it!

Are the aviation scenes accurate?
Well, the helicopter scenes are.  As is the description of the Army flight-following procedures, and the Seoul prohibited area--Papa-73--at least as they existed in 1977/78.  The KAL jetliner scenes are materially correct.  I've piloted airline simulators--like the A-300 Airbus--and tried to combine that experience with my aviation background to capture the essence of flying in the big jets.  We've all flown as passengers, so, for that aspect of accuracy, you're the best judge.

How much of this story is true?
I frequently hear this question, and, it's a tough one to answer.  This novel--like any good story--is, as Kristofferson  wrote, "partly truth and partly fiction."  How much is truth?  Well, a good magician never tells his secrets;  I'm compelled to invoke the same principle.  I can tell you  several of the novel's characters are composites of people I knew--Spiderwoman is a good example, as are my favorites, The Lizards.  Other characters are very close to real people who touched my life...the very dear, and sadly now deceased, Hugh, fits this category.

The places--for the most part--actually exist as described, though the Korea of today is vastly, vastly different from the Korea of 1978.  However, the 8th Army Garrison at Yongsan, Dragon Valley, the Folk Village, Kimpo, Cheju-do, Nam San Tower, Itaewon, the Seoul City Zoo, all live on to this day.  You can "Google" any of these for pictures.  One notable exception are the warrior monuments in "Young's picture" at the Han River Gap.  The Gap is certainly there, but not the monuments.  Some places, like The Statue night club, once very much brick and mortar, have, I understand, passed into history.

After HEARTS success, why did you switch to an adventure/suspense novel, Betrayal?
I want to write different kinds of stories, with different kinds of settings and characters.  I think it's a challenge and infinitely interesting.  So, after doing a contemporary love story, I wanted to write anything but that.  While Betrayal has romance in it, and TWO sets of lovers, at it's center, it's an adventure/suspense story with elements of historical fiction.

Betrayal has a unique structure.  Why?
Well, again, I want to be different.  I want to challenge the limits of my writing skill.  Betrayal began as a novel set totally in modern times.  As I wrote the first few chapters, however, I recognized that an effective story-telling technique would be to actually show the reader the 1869 couple as they struggled through their challenges.  I could write flashbacks that parallel the main story action, but, not disclose the surprises.  Seemed like a great thing to try.  I believe it worked.  Although in full honesty, I had one literary agent suggest that I should break the story into three individual books.  Clearly, she didn't understand what I wanted to do.  I kept the book as one work...and lost the chance at agent representation.  I guess time will tell who was right.

How about research for Betrayal? How accurate are the books details?
Lots of reading  and internet research about frontier life and U.S. Army and Native American battles, as well as several visits to the Yakima Nation Museum.  So, that detail is as accurate as I can make it.  I made several visits a Washington State park that was a former Army fort, and is preserved as such.  Much about the mythical Fort Sherman is drawn from those visits, my notes, and photos.  In terms of the helicopter scenes.  I was a troop-carrying helicopter pilot in Viet Nam.  Those scenes were researched firsthand over the course of 12 months during 1970.  And, though it's years later, they're not readily forgotten.  So, yes, they're highly accurate and detailed.  As I told a friend, "Those combat helicopter scenes are fiction...but they're not fantasy."  Lastly, I'm an avid hiker and have spent many, many pleasant days in the Cascade Mountains.  Again, first hand information. 

Do you do appearances, speaking engagements, or book signings?  If so, how can you be reached?
Oh, you bet, happy to do any of the above--at no cost of course--for your club, group, activity, or store.  The simplest way to contact me is right here on my web site through this link.    I normally respond within 24 hours---if I'm not fly fishing. :>)

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