The Stunted Man follows an aging stuntman battling addiction and his personal demons who takes a dangerous job while searching for redemption. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration for The Stunted Man came from personal experience. I have been a stunt performer in Hollywood for many years. Before that, a circus acrobat and contemporary dancer. So, as a performing artist, I have always held a wary eye on the approaching doom that is middle age. Darren Aronofski’s film “The Wrestler” really strummed my heart strings, and I developed an itch to contribute to that conversation. My work as Nicolas Cage’s movement coach on the film “Renfield,” which we shot in New Orleans, provided a rich experience that lent itself to a spooky, colorful setting for a story. The makeup effects, fake blood and fight choreography felt evocative in a visual way. I wanted to bring readers into the secret society of an elite Hollywood stunt team. Eventually, the novel announced itself, wearing all black and a mischievous grin, clutching a shot-list, and I began writing.

Lex is battling life on all fronts and looking for one last chance to realize his dreams. Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?

Surprisingly, yes. But because the novel is a tragedy, Lex’s goals are achieved by the reader, not the character himself. For me, facing Lex’s fears was a profound experience, and I am satisfied with what ultimately unraveled, plot-wise.

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

Certainly themes of middle age—specifically for athletes and performing artists—and how they relate to mental disorders such as addiction, depression, and Borderline Personality Disorder were braided into the story. These themes seemed to harmonize with the “Frankenstein” motif: the sensation of loneliness, feeling dejected and hideous, pulling one’s self together, and watching the world drift away into the dark distance.

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

I have started working on a prequel to The Stunted Man. There were many traumatic events that drove Lex toward his unstable mental condition, some of which were mentioned in the first book. But a glamorous life on the road with the circus can have damaging effects. So, what actually happened to him? What caused his fragility? What did he see? And most importantly . . . how much fun was it?

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