Wilder Fire: Thomas Berenford Chronicles follows a man claiming to own a pest removal business who takes on the role of trying to save this community from the danger that threatens it. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The core character inspiration was my father, Richard Schwartz. On his best day, he was Thomas Berenford. Charming, competent, and conflicted. In terms of genre, inspiration came from swords and sorcery fantasy from my youth mashed with the noir detective novels and movies.

Thomas acts out of a need to protect and rectify the wrongs in the world. What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?

Courage: Something in short supply today.

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

Family bonds and the enduring devotion of the dog.

Where does the story go in the next book, and where do you see it going in the future?

So glad you asked! Coming soon, Berenford will appear in a prequel called Blood Daggers, inspired in part by the likes of The Godfather and The Sopranos. Afterwards, look for another Berenford exploit set in the Wild West. No, he will not don a cowboy hat, but he will ride a horse.

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