Valley Fliers follows a young man who loves remote control aviation but a newcomer threatens to ruin everything with a possible terrorist act. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

I live in the San Fernando Valley suburb of Los Angeles and there is a remote-control (rc) miniature airfield not far from me. I would ride my bicycle past this airfield and watch very talented rc pilots engage in riveting dogfights and aerobatics. I spoke with some of the pilots and it inspired me to tell a story set around an airfield like this one.

Jay Smalley feels like an authentic character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?

I am always interested in the underdog and people who see things that others miss to a point where they are ridiculed because their views are different — I am also a big fan of Hitchcock and the film “Rear Window.” There is a little bit of that Jimmy Stewart character in Jay.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I wanted to explore themes of privacy – and how drones can invade privacy. I also wanted to touch on how drone warfare has changed the proverbial battlefield of yore. But also the theme of growing up and taking it upon yourself to save the day if needed.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am working on a book that partners an LAPD cop with an insect expert from the US Department of Fish and Wildlife as they investigate a suspicious death.

I hope to have it available at the end of this year or early next year.

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