I was a chimney sweep—a service technician for forty years. I had a business with two locations and a hearth store when I retired. Chimney sweeps are the multi-tools of the trades. We need to have professional experience ranging from masonry and framing to electronics and physics. The trade is different from other trades in that there is a real feeling of camaraderie internationally.

I’ve been married to the same woman for fifty-five years. We knew each other for five weeks before tying the knot.

I have climbed mountains around the world. The grief from the death of a son and of a grandson inform my writing with the dance of joy and sorrow, though it is not a theme in this particular story.

I’ve wandered in nineteen different countries, traveling by hitchhiking as well as more traditional means—skiing, climbing, exploring, and enjoying the people and their world that I encounter.

I’ve been a drug dealer, a pastor, a mountain and whitewater guide, among the many pursuits of my life. I am most successful in having built a strong family who is not afraid to express their love for each other and to live authentically, without pretence, in the face of a largely masked culture.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

There are a number of traditions across the world expressing luck derived from touching or being blessed by a chimney sweep. It may seem strange in our largely electric world, but in the old days, using fire for light, for food preparation, and for warmth meant that safety and fire prevention were high on a list of community values. The title was easy for me.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Unfortunately, it took five tries for the printer to get it right, so by the time I received an approved copy, some of the excitement had seriously waned. I am excited to throw my story out into the winds with the hope that it entertains and enlightens the lives of the people who catch it.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

A good story well told is one of the most powerful forces on earth. Words are lovely, brutal, astonishing, and they pull us to newly wondrous spaces full of image, ideas, and texture. I would like to be a storyteller.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I shared some of my background in my bio. I am an explorer of the inner and outer worlds. I once lived an entire year on $250, including flying to Maui and back, where I lived for six months. I created chimney technician training in virtual reality. I’ve worked in a steel mill and a lumber mill. I climbed the highest mountain in North America. I delivered my third child under the eyes of a midwife in a cabin in the woods of northern California. Are these professions? I think so.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

I believe I have some things to say. I haven’t found my voice, or perhaps I’ve found several voices. They are all clamoring to get out. Children’s stories, non-fiction, poetry … This is my first published book, not counting some technical manuals and magazine articles written for the chimney sweep trade. It is my portal into more to come. I am happy that it is for children and those who are childlike.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

It would have the drums and rhythms of a storyteller’s craft. Galloping notes and maybe a bit of the instrumental parts of “Black Magic Woman” by Carlos Santana and the long instrumental part in the version of “Time Has Come Today” by The Chambers Brothers. I wouldn’t mind the saxophone solo in John Mayall’s “California” either.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Reading or telling a story to a child is one of the deepest ways to bond. A child sitting curled on the lap of someone who loves them enough to read them a story is my vision.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I just returned from six weeks in Central Asia wandering with a grandson. I blogged a bit about it and I may flesh that out into a narrative. I have a stash of poems, many dealing with the darkest depths of grief that is looking for light. There are three other children’s stories in various stages. I think about painting with oils and acrylics, something from my youth that is knocking on its lid, asking for resurrection. But I love creating outdoor space in my yard, riding my mountain bike, and finding beauty in nature. I wish I had longer days.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere is my first partner in publishing. I don’t have anything to compare it to. I don’t have anything negative to say, nor much that is positive. There was no delightful surprise anywhere in the relationship. That’s not bad—it has been a business transaction. It has been structured; communication has been good. I am a do-it-myself entrepreneurial kind of person. Atmosphere has provided a solid foundation to launch from.

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