Blooming Author Thomas Drinkard!

Welcome to the latest edition of Blooming Authors. We are delighted to share with you the voice of Thomas Drinkard!

What is your ultimate writing goal?
To tell stories so fascinating that many readers will be anxious for sequels.  If I achieve that goal, all else will follow.

Why do you write?
Because I have always loved telling stories.  In my first-grade report card, Mrs. Patterson wrote, "Thomas entertains the other children with his stories."

Have you worked to achieve your voice or is it just a natural style for you?
I haven't consciously worked to achieve my voice.  I have tried to make sure that I always seek improvement.

Who are your favorite authors and why do you like them?
Too many to count.  I learned many things from John D. McDonald, Robert B. Parker and James Lee Burke. I learned much about dialogue from the first two and how powerful scenes can be developed from prose that flows like poetry from Burke.

What most attracts you to the life of a writer?
I can walk down the hall from my bedroom to my office; boot up the word processor and enter a different world.


If you couldn't be a writer but knew you were guaranteed success at a different career, what would you choose?
The choice: a writer.

If you had to describe your writing in one word, what would that word be?
Unpredictable.

What's the best writing advice you've ever gotten?
"If you can write five *good* pages in a day, that's all you need." From my friend, the late Anne Carroll George.

Thomas Rowe Drinkard, also known as Tom, was born and reared in the Deep South—Alabama. He graduated from the University of North Alabama with a degree in English.  At graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and went on active duty eight days later. Within two years, he volunteered and was accepted into the Special Forces (Green Berets) after Airborne and Special Forces school, he’d found a home. With a few other assignments in between, he spent ten years with the fabled unit. He was unhappy with the Army’s plans for his future, left active duty and moved into the reserves.  He is now a Major, retired reserves. After the Army, he found his way into teaching and writing in the securities licensing preparation business.  His textbooks, articles and CE courses are in use today. His poetry can be found in a number of literary magazines, including Negative Capability, Cotton Boll/Atlanta review and a several others. Piety and Murder published by LazyDay Publishing is his first piece of long fiction to be published. Thomas is currently working on a prequel. 

Author site: http://www.thomasdrinkardwrites.com/
Blog: http://www.brinson1.wordpress.com

Twitter: @thomasDrinkard
Facebook: Thomas Drinkard