It was an inteview by email and I don’t know what interviewer som from Fresh Words looks like. Neither of them look like me.

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What initially drew you to writing short stories rather than novels or other forms of writing?

I probably don’t have a novel in me, would not want to commit to a novel, and I can write a short story in a day.  I have published story collections “Vernonia Trilogy”, and “Weird Science”.  The 33 episodes of “smart car” (2015 -) could make up a short book.  My late sister Alex Matthews wrote a series of novels, so I think that lets the rest of the family off the hook.

How do you typically approach crafting a compelling character in such a limited space?

Short answer is I don’t.  I look at characters as Alfred Hitchcock saw actors – their role is to tell my story.  If the story is compelling, I’m happy.  The reader gets what the reader needs to follow the story.  If the character needs to be huge, he may be described as a six plus footer (excuse American measures).

Can you walk us through your creative process from the initial idea to the final draft of a story? 

An example – I read that Stephen King gets his plots from a plot store in New York State.  The story I wrote “My Kind Of Town” imagined where Stephen King really got ideas for his stories.  “Christine” could have come from an interaction with an intelligent car that he saw in his hometown.

After writing, I do some editing; show it to my live-in editor Sharon, and/or my collaborator Bill Tope.  We are mutual gamma readers (a couple of levels below Alpha).  I may do some rewriting.  Because I like stories to be reprinted, I frequently revise them on subsequent submissions. 

What do you consider the biggest challenge in writing short fiction, and how do you overcome it?

Once I get a plot, the rest is usually easy.  As I write this, I have no idea about my next fiction, don’t know where it will arise, and don’t have a method to find one.    I’m not particularly concerned beyond that.

Are there any particular authors or stories that have significantly influenced your style or subject matter?

I’m not a big reader currently.  Most of what I read is anthologies I’m in.  At various times in my life, I read lots of science fiction, mysteries, and biology/anthropology/cultural books.  Local author Cheryl Strayed and mega-seller Stephen King have inspired me.

How do you decide what gets included in a story and what gets left out, especially when dealing with complex emotions or ideas?

I do a lot of exposition, which of course get criticized, but it seems an economical way to explain things.  I’ve based some of the interactions on things I’ve experienced.  The story about a man (based on me, but it is fiction) who poisoned a group that had wronged him, for example.  “Interview” is about an interview with “god” and contains some ideas of mine.

Other than changes to fit the word limits from publishers, I don’t throw much out.

Do you write with a specific audience in mind, or do you focus more on personal expression?

My joke is that I write for an audience that wants stories by a mathematician rather than a writer.  Obviously, a crime story needs a crime.  A (non-Hallmark) romance story needs a romance.  I write in all of the usual genres, so I observe those requirements.  Other than that, I don’t and probably couldn’t accurately judge the audience.

What advice would you give to aspiring short story writers who are trying to find their voice?

The usual and correct advice is to read a lot.  I think one should learn “the rules” – limit adverbs and exposition but be willing to break them.

Note – I was not asked about my favorite color or song or a lot of other possible writer questions. This is about the fifth author interview I’ve done. Odd considering my insignificance.