Wolf’s Hyde follows a sheriff investigating several murders that don’t appear to have been committed by a human. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I wanted to write a “different” story that gave nods to all my favorite tales in the genre. The movie The Usual Suspects is one of my favorite movies, and I wanted to create something that had that level of twists and turns. It was also very important for me to write a fast-paced book. I wanted to draw non-readers in. So, from the first page, it launches the reader into the fire and keeps them there until the end. If I can give them nightmares while still wanting to keep reading, then I have done my job… Hopefully.

How much and what kind of research went into the elements of folklore in your book?

Weeks that turned into Months. Burning my eyes out from internet searches and making sure I wasn’t going too far to be disrespectful of the Navajo culture. From the historical points to the folklore, I dug deep and wide, looking for anything I could pull ideas and inspiration from but was still broad enough that I could make it my own. I have Native American heritage that goes back through my family tree, so it is something that I have been drawn to since I was a kid.

What is it that draws you to write horror stories?

Being born in the late 70s, all we had in the 80s and early 90s growing up were paperback books. We didn’t have thousands of movies out as we do now that you can watch from the comfort of your bed to your toilet. If you were a horror fan, you read. That’s what we did. Horror has always been something that not only I was drawn to but my family as well. Saturday afternoon Thriller Features, Twilight Zone, and Tales from The Darkside were constantly on our TV while growing up. There is just something about being scared that draws me in for more. It’s like a roller coaster rush to me.

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

Currently, I am wrapping up a novella titled “Sexbomb.” It is a story that takes place in the late 1970s Las Vegas. Where we find the famous singers Tom Jones and Billie Preston are vampire hunters. It’s a mixture of Fear and Loathing meets Fright Night. Lots of dark humor. I am shooting for the spring of 2025 for the release.

But have no fear. I have already started two follow-up books to “Wolf’s Hyde.” There is much, much more to come from Tanaka and Norman. As well as other characters from the book. I didn’t intend to make a series out of this story but as it came to the end I was like… yes… this needs to be a series. Even I wanted more.

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