He reigns as the newly-crowned sultan of satirical sci-fi, dialing in from his fortress of solitude - also known as an apartment in Highland Park, CA (aka the hipster epicenter of SoCal). At the ripe, wizardly age of 52, Daniel approaches the written word as a cosmic playground, weaving his narratives with the gusto of a space wizard cowboy at a magic rodeo of robots. His debut book, Mr. Taffle’s Pants of Insanity, isn’t just a title. It’s a movement - of pants, mind you - ushering in an era of chuckles and raised eyebrows.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know?
A. Aside from being an author, I’m a secret breakfast cereal mixologist. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried my ‘Fruit Loop Frosted Flakes Fiesta.’ It’s part of a balanced breakfast if you balance it with a jog around the block… or three.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know?
A. Aside from being an author, I’m a secret breakfast cereal mixologist. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried my ‘Fruit Loop Frosted Flakes Fiesta.’ It’s part of a balanced breakfast if you balance it with a jog around the block… or three.
Honestly, I also like to rap and I rap about the book. I recently performed at the very, very, very, very, very famous The Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles. I look forward to more gigs at very, very, very, very, very famous books stores.
Q.2 Are we going to read more from you in the near future? Any new project you’re working on?
A. Oh, you bet your sweet Kindle there’s more coming. Currently, I’m tinkering with a novel where aliens invade Earth, but they’re just here for our artisanal coffees. It’s a cosmic blend of espresso and existentialism. It’s also based on a screenplay that I wrote 17 drafts of.
Q.3 What inspired you to write Mr. Taffle’s Pants of Insanity?
A. Picture a late-night infomercial selling self-aware pants, and you’re halfway there. Then add a fever dream instigated by too much pepperoni pizza, stir in my compulsion to find the humor in the mundane, and voilà : Mr. Taffle was born. It was based on a screenplay I wrote 17 drafts of.
Q.4 What is the most challenging thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Not falling into the trap of thinking all my emotional complexity fits into a fanny pack. It’s about putting on their shoes - heels, flats, or combat boots - and walking their path, experiencing the pebbles and potholes of their fictional lives as my own. And not writing them as if they’re a different species. Spoiler: they’re not. They want what we all want - respect, a good book, and a chocolate that doesn’t add pounds.
Q.5 How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
A. My formula is about as reliable as a submarine with screen doors. I start with a character having a regular day, throw in a rabid squirrel, and watch how they jump. It’s about the high-wire act of narrative construct, with no safety net and a trampoline at the bottom.
Q.6 Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
A. If originality and reader desire had a baby, I’d be the wacky uncle teaching it to question authority and eat dessert first. Originality wins, but it’s always nice when what I write tickles the fancy of those flipping the pages. I like to think I’m concocting the literary equivalent of a mango-chili popsicle; it’s unexpected and a little out there, but once you try it, you’re hooked. I want my readers to crave the flavor I’m serving.
Q.7 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
Q.2 Are we going to read more from you in the near future? Any new project you’re working on?
A. Oh, you bet your sweet Kindle there’s more coming. Currently, I’m tinkering with a novel where aliens invade Earth, but they’re just here for our artisanal coffees. It’s a cosmic blend of espresso and existentialism. It’s also based on a screenplay that I wrote 17 drafts of.
Q.3 What inspired you to write Mr. Taffle’s Pants of Insanity?
A. Picture a late-night infomercial selling self-aware pants, and you’re halfway there. Then add a fever dream instigated by too much pepperoni pizza, stir in my compulsion to find the humor in the mundane, and voilà : Mr. Taffle was born. It was based on a screenplay I wrote 17 drafts of.
Q.4 What is the most challenging thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
A. Not falling into the trap of thinking all my emotional complexity fits into a fanny pack. It’s about putting on their shoes - heels, flats, or combat boots - and walking their path, experiencing the pebbles and potholes of their fictional lives as my own. And not writing them as if they’re a different species. Spoiler: they’re not. They want what we all want - respect, a good book, and a chocolate that doesn’t add pounds.
Q.5 How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set formula?
A. My formula is about as reliable as a submarine with screen doors. I start with a character having a regular day, throw in a rabid squirrel, and watch how they jump. It’s about the high-wire act of narrative construct, with no safety net and a trampoline at the bottom.
Q.6 Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
A. If originality and reader desire had a baby, I’d be the wacky uncle teaching it to question authority and eat dessert first. Originality wins, but it’s always nice when what I write tickles the fancy of those flipping the pages. I like to think I’m concocting the literary equivalent of a mango-chili popsicle; it’s unexpected and a little out there, but once you try it, you’re hooked. I want my readers to crave the flavor I’m serving.
Q.7 How long, on average, does it take you to write a book?
A. Let me put it this way: if my book was wine, it would need a good year or two in the barrel. A smooth vintage ready for sipping under a blanket of stars - or glaring fluorescent lights of a midnight word spree. I write fast but need to let it marinate for months in order to be able to see what’s funny and what’s HILARIOUS.
Q.8 What’s your writing schedule while working?
A. I dance with the muse from late morning to the waning hours of the afternoon. It’s less waltz, more interpretive dance, punctuated by the furious tapping of laptop keys and the occasional coffee spill as I lurch from one eureka moment to the next.
Q.9 What differentiates Sci-Fi from Fantasy?
A. Sci-Fi is what happens when Fantasy picks up a science textbook and ditches its dragon for a drone.
Q.10 Among all the supporting characters in your book, who is dear to you and why?
A. The Mannequin Madam has a special place in my heart, partly because she reminds me of my first crush - statuesque, poised, and indifferent to my existence. She’s like the friend who convinces you to wear a chicken costume to prom -outrageous yet somehow endearing.
Q.11 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing. Tell us about your marketing campaign?
A. Think of a mix between a circus ringmaster and a door-to-door salesman. I unleash my best elevator pitches onto unsuspecting bystanders. My marketing strategy turns every social platform into a stage for my book’s one-man show. So book me in your hometown, and I will make you the best meatloaf you’ve ever had!
Q.12 What, in your view, are the earliest works of science fiction?
A. Homer probably started the trend with a siren who was just a gal with a fishtail and an otherworldly wail. Fast forward, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein gets the engine of moral exploration under the hood of science fiction running. That, or when cavemen drew the first alien abductions on their walls.
Q.13 If your book was made into the movie, whom would you like to play the role of Mr. Taffle?
A. Picture an actor with the expressive elasticity of Robin Williams and the voice of a whiskey-soaked bard. Now you’ve got someone who can wriggle into Mr. Taffle’s stretchy fabric and bring him to technicolor life. I think this answer shows I don’t know any male 19-year-old actors. Not one.
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? How do you select them?
A. I found Patricia Moffet on a back alley of the internet called Reedsy. She’s from Wales, but since I never talked to her, I never got to experience her accent. So she will always sound like a pick-pocket from Oliver to me. Her style had to scream “eccentric genius at play”, which is a challenging brief, but she nailed it with the panache of a peacock on parade.
Q.15 What advice do you give to aspiring writers who want to explore themes related to satire sci-fi in their writing?
A. Don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly. You’re about to take a ride on the genre-blending roller coaster, and the seatbelt is made of ironies and oxymorons. Remember, satire is the spoonful of sugar helping the existential dread go down.
Q.16 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. It’s a mix of dart-throwing at baby name books and eavesdropping in coffee shops. Sometimes, a name just fits like an old pair of jeans - comfortable and familiar, but with room for the character to fill it out and strut their stuff. I listen for names that would sound convincing if shouted during a heated intergalactic council meeting or whispered in the throes of a passionate love affair over a laser cannon.
Q.17 What do you want readers to take away from your books?
A. A bellyache from laughter, a brain itch from the deeper issues, and the sneaking suspicion that their pants might just be sentient beings plotting to attend next year’s Comic-Con without them and that the reality they know is just one stray thought away from utter lunacy.
Q.18 What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
A. Striking the delicate balance between inducing snickers, snorts, and meaningful introspection. There’s a fine line between a literary gag reel and a thought-provoking romp. Also, maintaining a serious face while my characters did things I could only dream of getting away with in real life, like jaywalking without looking both ways.
Q.19 What is your favorite book from other authors and why?
A. Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is my space bible. It’s like a love letter to the absurdity of existence, penned with a perfect blend of snark and cosmic wonder.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. It’s been akin to summoning a magical beast - a hybrid of discipline and chaos. Every word wrangled on the page is another scale on its hide, each finished piece a head of the hydra, nodding in satisfaction at the mayhem we’ve created.
Q.8 What’s your writing schedule while working?
A. I dance with the muse from late morning to the waning hours of the afternoon. It’s less waltz, more interpretive dance, punctuated by the furious tapping of laptop keys and the occasional coffee spill as I lurch from one eureka moment to the next.
Q.9 What differentiates Sci-Fi from Fantasy?
A. Sci-Fi is what happens when Fantasy picks up a science textbook and ditches its dragon for a drone.
Q.10 Among all the supporting characters in your book, who is dear to you and why?
A. The Mannequin Madam has a special place in my heart, partly because she reminds me of my first crush - statuesque, poised, and indifferent to my existence. She’s like the friend who convinces you to wear a chicken costume to prom -outrageous yet somehow endearing.
Q.11 It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing. Tell us about your marketing campaign?
A. Think of a mix between a circus ringmaster and a door-to-door salesman. I unleash my best elevator pitches onto unsuspecting bystanders. My marketing strategy turns every social platform into a stage for my book’s one-man show. So book me in your hometown, and I will make you the best meatloaf you’ve ever had!
Q.12 What, in your view, are the earliest works of science fiction?
A. Homer probably started the trend with a siren who was just a gal with a fishtail and an otherworldly wail. Fast forward, and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein gets the engine of moral exploration under the hood of science fiction running. That, or when cavemen drew the first alien abductions on their walls.
Q.13 If your book was made into the movie, whom would you like to play the role of Mr. Taffle?
A. Picture an actor with the expressive elasticity of Robin Williams and the voice of a whiskey-soaked bard. Now you’ve got someone who can wriggle into Mr. Taffle’s stretchy fabric and bring him to technicolor life. I think this answer shows I don’t know any male 19-year-old actors. Not one.
Q.14 Who designed your book cover? How do you select them?
A. I found Patricia Moffet on a back alley of the internet called Reedsy. She’s from Wales, but since I never talked to her, I never got to experience her accent. So she will always sound like a pick-pocket from Oliver to me. Her style had to scream “eccentric genius at play”, which is a challenging brief, but she nailed it with the panache of a peacock on parade.
Q.15 What advice do you give to aspiring writers who want to explore themes related to satire sci-fi in their writing?
A. Don’t be afraid to let your freak flag fly. You’re about to take a ride on the genre-blending roller coaster, and the seatbelt is made of ironies and oxymorons. Remember, satire is the spoonful of sugar helping the existential dread go down.
Q.16 How do you select the names of your characters?
A. It’s a mix of dart-throwing at baby name books and eavesdropping in coffee shops. Sometimes, a name just fits like an old pair of jeans - comfortable and familiar, but with room for the character to fill it out and strut their stuff. I listen for names that would sound convincing if shouted during a heated intergalactic council meeting or whispered in the throes of a passionate love affair over a laser cannon.
Q.17 What do you want readers to take away from your books?
A. A bellyache from laughter, a brain itch from the deeper issues, and the sneaking suspicion that their pants might just be sentient beings plotting to attend next year’s Comic-Con without them and that the reality they know is just one stray thought away from utter lunacy.
Q.18 What was the most challenging part of writing this book?
A. Striking the delicate balance between inducing snickers, snorts, and meaningful introspection. There’s a fine line between a literary gag reel and a thought-provoking romp. Also, maintaining a serious face while my characters did things I could only dream of getting away with in real life, like jaywalking without looking both ways.
Q.19 What is your favorite book from other authors and why?
A. Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is my space bible. It’s like a love letter to the absurdity of existence, penned with a perfect blend of snark and cosmic wonder.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far?
A. It’s been akin to summoning a magical beast - a hybrid of discipline and chaos. Every word wrangled on the page is another scale on its hide, each finished piece a head of the hydra, nodding in satisfaction at the mayhem we’ve created.
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