The Author Interviews, Round 3: #3: S. A. Hoag

It was a pleasure to interview authorS. A. Hoagtoday, author of Renegades: Book 2 of The Wildblood as part of my Author Interviews series.Where do you get your ideas from?A stray idea, a bit from a song, something I remember from childhood – any of these can grow into a story.Why do you write?I enjoy sharing the worlds I create. I write because it’s part of me. I have to put those ideas down on paper.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Anything goes. Zombies, aliens, an unseen force. The possibilities are endless.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I realize not everyone has the same tastes and likes.What do you find difficult about writing?Finding the time I need to write is difficult.Do you ever outsource your work?No.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Traditional publishing was a stagnating mess when I first started marketing. I don’t know how things are now. Indie publishing gives anyone the freedom to try.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I jot down ideas all the time, dozen of them. When I have the opportunity to start a new project, I read through them until one pops. From there, I add a (really) rough outline of what the story is about. I make bios for the main characters. Then I do preliminary research on anything I need to know immediately. From there, I just plop my characters down in a situation and let them go. That’s the fun part. If I get stuck, I start another one. Once a draft is finished, I let it set briefly before I get to the re-writes. There can be 3 of these, or more. Editing, of course. The final draft I get to and pick over every word, every scene to see if I approve.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing, even if it’s half an hour in the middle of the night. Don’t let Real Life stop you.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?12 months ago was a really bad time. I’d reather not do that again. 12 years ago, I’d say the same thing as I said in the previous question – keep writing. Don’t give up.I was also able to gain some insight into this author's reading habits.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?An interesting plot, and characters I can sypathize or relate to.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover/Title/ Author / Price /Description/ Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsWho is your favourite author and why?I don’t have just one favorite, and I find new authors all the time.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Yes, every week.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If I enjoy a book, I usually leave a review.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes I do! For less than the price of a cup of coffee, I can be entertained by a good book for several days. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?Yes, to see other books they might have.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?Ask me. Or if I’m already a fan.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Certainly.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If it entertains me, I’ll recommend it. If I finish a book, it’s one I’ll recommend. I’m good at picking out ones I’ll like. I try to expand my horizons, but I seem to be firmly stuck in science fictionThanks to S. A. Hoag for this interview. We wish you all the best with your work. To support this author, please visit their website, social media or purchase a copy of their book/s.