Tell us a little about yourself and The Apple Seed and The Dark.

I was a precocious child who often became a source of amusement to peers and teachers. Little did anybody know the pure light of life was pouring into my mind all the time through the wonders of observation and thought. My writing is a very personal reflection on the imperative of love’s authority in our shared lives and on the real, personal matters of heart which we face in our solitude.

How did you choose the genre of your title?

When taking writing classes, we hear we have two choices: nonfiction or fiction. But, if we write poetry, we can harness metaphor about anything; we can examine and express something really true through imagery, and I think that is just magical. Illustration with words alone is what I have done in The Apple Seed and The Dark. Symbolism is our universal basic language of passing on meaning, as we tend to tell stories within other stories. These pictures should be able to transcend genre and reach any age group, allowing the story to be vividly internalized by the reader. The book is, in its way, intentionally genre nonconforming, because even though it is fictional, the story holds abundant potential for personal applications including psychotherapeutic, inspirational, and philosophical meanings while appealing to all ages. It can be read in so many contexts because it identifies with many themes.

What was your editing process like?

Editing was purifying. I worked with a professional editor who recommended I cut half the story’s length, stating that no child would have the attention span or interest in it. I took an intense critical look and reaffirmed my commitment to each point; the story is slightly longer now, and it says more clearly what it was always meant to say. We should leave clues for young minds to take up the mysteries of life with eagerness. We should have unlimited expectations for the unique minds of our children, as well as for ourselves. I am delighted to say that when the first little boy to ever read the story by himself gave his remarks, they were stunningly insightful and ended with, “I wish it was longer!”

How did you develop your characters?

As the narrative unfolds, each character has an impact on our protagonist; this is because in our own lives, we experience a large spectrum of varied dynamics with others. The setting of his natural environment allows us to consider different developmental influences. He has been given a childlike faith. He understands the operations of his own will, attitude, and disposition. Eventually, as everything is illuminated for him and the reader together, when the sum of the experiences and choices pour in, it is to encourage the reader personally. It was my desire to convey that transcendent message of encouragement, which singlehandedly drove the character development throughout the book.

Portions of this Q&A were edited for clarity.