Doreen Petersen asked John Darryl Winston:

It's always fascinated me how authors come up with ideas for their books. How do you come up with yours?

John Darryl Winston Good question, Doreen, and thanks for asking. I guess at the end of the day, I expand on what I see on the big screen. That's what usually does it for me. I have a place in my heart for the origin story. I was never a fan of Superman until I saw the movie with Christopher Reeve and learned the origin of it all. That did it for me. I like a robust tale, like Star Wars, with a flawed hero or heroine that achieves in the end against overwhelming odds, cliche, I know. My stories always start from that vantage point and then the muse takes over.

I contacted a reader, who had written a positive review of IA: Initiate on Goodreads, to thank her and ask her why she chose my book over the countless others out there and she replied. "

"I often read first what I want my twin grandsons to read. I had been hoping to find a "Harry Potter" type book and series where the main character is African American and I believe 'IA: Initiate' fills that. Additionally, I look for "Super Hero" type books for them where the super hero is also African American. My grandsons delight in these characters on TV with European features, white skin and flowing Blond hair who don't look like them."

It was as if the words I had written in the subtle science fiction of IA: Initiate had spoken to her in the exact terms of my intention, and it was as if she had read my mind because that was my exact goal.

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