This is an interview that my publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing conducted recently which I wanted to share with you.

DBP: Thank you for joining us for our next DBP Q&A session. This week, we'll introduce you to Wayne A. Burt, a brand new author with DBP. ​His debut novel, "Catching a Wave to Sycar" just published last month. Wayne, do you ever sit down with your baby months after it's published, read it for pleasure and think, "I could have done that better"? Or...did you read it and think "Oh, this is great! What was it you loved?

WAYNE: For as long as I can remember I have always loved reading what I write--essays in school, letters to friends and family, and thrill of thrills, my first published novel. I'm not , and never have been a perfectionist. I was taught as a child to be happy with myself, and wasn't encouraged to be a reach-for-the-stars achiever. I like writing a good sentence, having a great thought, telling a fun story. It doesn't have to be the best ever. I'm happy to be at the place where I know I'm doing it right. It's taken thirteen years, and lots of direction from my writing team to get here, but now that I am, it's very satisfying.

DBP: Welcome to Monday, and today we want to learn a little more about Wayne A. Burt's writing style. Wayne, are you a full-out plotter? Are you a "lets see what happens" panster? Or do you think you fall somewhere inbetween? Describe your process in coming up with and executing a story idea.

WAYNE: I'm definitely a see-what-happens guy. My first book was about what mattered to me most--teenagers in the midst of family drama finding their own path. I can't tell you how exciting it was when I first discovered the voice of my characters telling me their thoughts and showing me what they would do next. When I started writing the first story, I had a definite place I expected them to go, but the characters refused to go there. They didn't seem fictional, they became real and spoke to me. It was pretty amazing. I've heard this is not unusual for fiction writers.

DBP: It's tell us Tuesday!" (I just made that up) and today we want Wayne A. Burt to tell us: How did you choose the genre you write in? Or did it choose you?" Tell us why you love writing  in whatever genre you consider your favorite. 

WAYNE: The psychological, emotional, and social transformations that take place in the early teen years fascinates me. I wasn't a reader as a child. I was a beach boy and a jock. I discovered young adult novels in my forties. They were what my education and goals in life were all about as a minister to youth--developing character, becoming a whole person, discovering the person you were born to be. Innocent teen romance is also a favorite theme. Recently, I've written a couple of picture books for one of my granddaughters. That was fun too. Writing books that families can laugh together over is a special goal of mine.

DBP: We're half way through the week, and today marks half way through our Q&A with Wayne A. Burt. Here's a fun one: Do you work any reality from your own life into your novels? If so, do you change it to make it more or less dramatic? How and why?

WAYNE: I believe every writer has to write their own reality into their work. Write what you know. Right? The beach and the ocean have always been a big part of my life. It's in all my novels. Of course, my characters are better surfers than I am. It's so much easier imagining it than actually doing it.

What has also been a great source of joy for me is writing teenage romance. I am so much better now on paper than I ever was with high school girls. My nieces told me my characters were so good at flirting. I had to laugh. I didn't have a clue what to say to girl I liked at school. It's a lot easier when the pressure's off. 

DBP: Wayne, of all the books you've written, does one scene in particular stand out? Tell us about it. What book was it in? And why do you remember it so vividly?

WAYNE: The passage that comes to mind is one from Catching a Wave to Sycar. Sophia has been traumatized by the near death of her best friend, and her desire to keep Norie safe has incapacitated her to the point of inaction. She wants the omnipotent Truson to intervene and keep her enemies under control. His arguments for refusing to do so are the most significant words I have ever written.

DBP: TGIF! And while that usually indicates a wrap down of the work week, for us it means we're coming to the end of our week with Wayne A. Burt, but we still have a couple of good questions. Wayne, did you ever write a novel with a message to the readers, or at least, a message you hope your readers garnered from it? What was the book, and what was the message? Why did you want to express it?

WAYNE: I believe young adult novels, by their nature, are written for the purpose of helping young people understand themselves and realize they are not alone in their insecurities and struggles. It's easy to think our faults and weaknesses are unique to ourselves and to feel alone in them. I hope young readers find parts of themselves in my characters and feel less alone.

Catching a Wave to Sycar contains spiritual truths that I have experienced in a very personal way. I wanted to share them. To be more specific would spoil the adventure of reading the book.

DBP: As we close with Wayne A. Burt, our question is about beginnings. Wayne, what made you decide to write with the intent to be published? How old were you?

WAYNE: I started my first novel at age 53. My sister-in-law suggested I write a book because she liked my letters. From the start, I wrote to be accepted by a publisher. It was pretty exciting when I realized how much fun it was. I wanted others to read what I'd written. It only took thirteen years to accomplish my first release. I had story but didn't know the rules. I sent out submissions way before I knew what I was doing. This has been a team effort, and it never would have happened had I not sought help and listened to others. Some of my mentors were a third my age and younger.