Questions and Answers What are you currently working on? Currently, and for the next few months, Milky Way Marmalade. No, not the sequel, prequel or midquel, the original. A mistake an author can make, so I've been warned, is to simply move on to next project once their debut book has been picked up. Books do not sell themselves, no matter how much we dream they do. Thus, I will spend the next few months helping Zumaya to promote Milky Way Marmalade. Spread the word. Put a teasing taste of L'Orange on as many lips as I can. Is there a book or a story you wish you had written? Yes, the dictionary. I figure every other book is contained in it so that would pretty much cover it all. I guess secondly would be the Bible. I am actually considering a Gideon version of Milky Way Marmalade so I can get a copy into every hotel room. Who is your favorite author? I guess, as much as I love Kurt Vonnegut, J.R.R. Tolkien, Douglas Adams and Arthur C. Clarke - I would have to say Dr. Seuss. No other author has influenced my writing as he has. I think any writer's style is already in place by the time they are six. Dr. Seuss taught me the joys of reveling in the great playground of the imagination as well as silly wordplay. What was your first professional sale? It was an option on a screenplay I co-wrote with my cousin David. We went on to direct it together. It was called NO EXIT and starred Vincent Pastore of The Sopranos fame. How did it feel? It felt like I had arrived. It took two years to realize I hadn't. Are you for or against e-books? I am for reading. I could care less if the future of novels is skywriting over the state of Montana. Ebooks are fine by me. Are you a music fan? No. I am a music disciple. Music is religion. It is the closest thing to the sound of the human spirit that exists. And although I appreciate all music- Rock- classic rock- surpasses Classical in its social importance, musical nuances and lyrical profundity. (I love saying that to drive all the "snooty's" crazy!) If God Herself plays an instrument it has to be an electric guitar. SF, Skiffy or scifi? I have been trying to get "sne fion" to be the new standard but nobody listens to me. Why do you like SF? I think at its best (heck, even at its worst) SF delves deepest into the human condition, our past(s) and our future(s) or at least really big bugs. Do you have a scientific background? I do in the sense that I am self taught (although I do have a useless B.S. in computer science). I read more non-fiction than fiction. However, I think the term science has too narrow a definition for my own personal tastes. If you can give one piece of advice to a would be author...? Write. Write. Submit. Submit. Write. Write. Plug Away! Although I do plan on writing a second Marmalade book, I am very excited that book one is soon to be available. I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Many Thanks, Mike! Relevant Links Mike DiCerto Main Bibliography Mike DiCerto's Website Zumaya Publications