What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
The inspiration for this book came from a deeply personal moment involving my family, and a chance encounter with a Vietnam veteran. Growing up, I was told never to ask my great uncle about his experiences in the Vietnam War. Years later, I met a Vietnam veteran at an event who shared a story from combat that left me in tears. Afterward, he told me something that stuck with me: people like my great uncle need to talk about what they went through. That moment forced me to reflect on my own experiences. While I would never compare working in the food industry to serving in combat, I realized I had been carrying my own version of unspoken experiences after seven years in a demanding and often brutal industry. This book is my way of finally telling that story.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
Easy. Hotel California by The Eagles.
That song can be interpreted in many ways. At least for me, it’s about never being able to escape an unpleasant environment.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I like reading nonfiction, particularly biographies.
You can learn from the legends in history.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
As of April 2026, I don’t have anything on my TBR pile. It’s hard to market a book while also working on developing my second book. I’m going to keep that second book a secret, so stick around my Amazon profile to see what I have in store!
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
I had a stint in fine dining under a chef I call “Chef X.”
It was a highly disciplined environment where you had to be on your game throughout the entire shift.
12+ hours
Crazy coworkers
5 minutes to eat and then back to work
If I had to live my life all over again, I would easily go back to Chef X’s restaurant.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
No, I don’t have any quirky writing habits.
I split my work into marketing and writing phases. As of now, I’m mostly working on marketing my first book.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
Positivity
Positivity
Positivity
I had to repeat that because it’s applicable in every industry. I’ll be honest, this project was a lot harder than I anticipated. There were times I wanted to quit, but I had to accept every win that I earned.
For example, on March 30th, I hit #1 in three categories for my book after a promotional campaign. I was seriously excited that all my hard work paid off.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
You can still succeed in modern-day America. Nobody is keeping you down.
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