Welcome to my weekly Author Spotlight. I’ve asked a bunch of my author friends to answer a set of interview questions, and to share their latest work.
Today: S. A. Hoag is an author, artist, and amateur astronomer (“I just look at the stars, I can’t tell you their names.”). Born in the middle of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, she has lived in a number of cities, in a number of states, and is off on another adventure when not writing or creating other art. Science Fiction has always been her first interest in reading and writing. Many other genres sneak into the novels and that’s all right with her.
Thanks so much, S. A., for joining me!
J. Scott Coatsworth: How would you describe your writing style/genre?
S. A. Hoag: Oh, I’m 90% a panster. When I start a new project, I know one (or more) main characters, the basic premise of the story line, and how it all ends. I go from there. Subplots are added, more characters, worldbuilding, all the stuff, but it starts pretty basic.
My genre is science fiction. The series is post-apocalyptic (The WIldblood). The upcoming one is humans stranded on an alien world (Tau Scorpii). The one on deck had a touch of fantasy elements; humans and aliens fighting over control of an ancient world with advance technology (The Diablo Gates).
JSC: What do you do when you get writer’s block?
SAH: I start work on another book, or I go read. Both seem to help get ideas moving again.
JSC: Name the book you like most among all you’ve written, and tell us why.
SAH: That would be Backlash: Prequel to The Wildblood. I had this book planned out and in my opinion 250k was too much for one book. It turned into the trilogy. All throughout, the characters are talking about this event that happened before. In the lull between books 1 and 2, i wrote out that thing and thought, geez, that’s not another book, but a pretty good novella. It sets the stage for everything, and I love how it came together.
JSC: What does success mean to you?
Finishing a draft. Any draft. When they sell, that’s a bonus.
JSC: How did you choose the topic for your upcoming book, Tau Scorpii?
SAH: The idea happened a few years back when I was on social media, seeing all these book covers of big, brawny men saving some poor helpless girl. Yes, this wasn’t that long ago. I thought, I need to write a story about a woman who’s not a soldier (or warrior or whatever), out minding her own business and ends up saving the big, tough man by accident. I put them on another world and as soon as I had that first scene, it cascaded into a real plot.
JSC: Who did your cover, and what was the design process like?
SAH: Amalia Chiricea is my cover artist for the two new ones. She’s also done some character art for the series. She’s fantastic to work with. She asks about the book and characters and if you have any ideas what you’d like to see. Then she makes an absolutely beautiful cover from all that.
JSC: What was the weirdest thing you had to Google for your story?
SAH: How to make ice in the desert. Oh, and what would make sand black.
JSC: What other artistic pursuits (if any) do you indulge in apart from writing?
SAH: I paint; acrylics, water colors, inks, mixed media. I like most of them. I’ve also done some lapidary work, and when it’s cold, I crochet.
JSC: Which of your own characters would you Kill? Fuck? Marry? And why?
SAH: This is a fun question. Has anyone answered it before?
JSC: Yes, and I always love to see what authors say.
SAH: Ah well, here I go. Kill? Easy, Vance (The Wildblood series). He’s a sneaky sort that causes a lot of problems. Fuck? Hmmmm. Aiden (Tau Scorpii). This one is scary. Don’t ask him too many questions. He won’t answer, and if he does, you won’t like the answer. Yes, a bad boy. Call me basic. Marry? Harlan (The Wildblood series). He’s sacrificed a lot for others. That’s what he does.
JSC: Star Trek or Star Wars? Why?
SAH: Star Trek, because I grew up on reruns of the original series.
JSC: What are you working on now, and what’s coming out next? Tell us about it!
SAH: Right now I’m trying to finish Tau Scorpii. It’s been on the back burner too long. Even with moving, I will get it finished and release this year. The Wildblood novella I put out-of-print will also be getting a makeover and sent back out in the world.
Tau Scorpii has aliens (humans are the aliens, this is a different world!). Of course conflict because humans like to do that. The fun part? They have lost technology. They haven’t developed gunpowder or electricity because they can’t find the right minerals, and water is their most precious resource. The parts of Sedna they are stranded on is desert. What they think they know is only guessing. And then – the weather starts to change.
I’m pretty rough on characters.
And now for S.A. Hoag’s book: The Wildblood Books 1-3:
World War Last pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. In the space of ten hours, civilization was gone.
Cut off from the chaos of a pandemic mutated by nuclear war, a group of survivors gathered in a secluded mountain valley. Those that lived through the winter founded The Vista.
But this isn’t about the survivors, it’s about the first generation after. Twenty years later, children of The Vista have become guardians of their secluded valley. A dark secret, that a few of them are different, something of urban legend, draws them together to protect their home. Venturing out into the world will be more dangerous than anything they’ve faced.
Failure is not an option.
Loyalty has a price. So does revenge. Someone has to pay.
Universal Buy Link | Amazon
Excerpt
Shan got a 9mm in hand, ready to pass off the Uzi, wanting to be sick again. Dizzy, too. Concussion, she figured, swearing to herself.
“Let’s see how long it takes for them to run.” The voice was unmistakable, with his faded southern drawl. Hunter carried an AK-47. “You’re hurt,” he noted the blood on her jacket.
“Steering wheel attacked me,” Shan said. He was in no hurry, taking aim and firing. She decided she was comfortable, watching their backs, sitting in the dirt. “Wade was right behind me.”
“This is the only place hit,” he told her. “He was on the air. You should’ve taken cover.”
“I got recon. Now you know where they are.”
“We’d have found them.”
“Sure,” Shan scoffed. “We don’t want them to run, we want to keep them from telling anyone else we’re here.” There were sirens, close now.
“Here comes the cavalry.” He grinned, firing, aware of protocol.
“What cavalry?” she asked.
“Never mind,” Hunter told her. It would take too long to explain. “They’re running south,” he reported on his headset. “I picked one off way out in the field.”
“I hit nothing but dirt,” Shan said, annoyed, standing, unsteady. “Are we clear?”
“Not even close. You know better than that, Capt. Allen. Just because I don’t see anyone doesn’t mean they aren’t out there.”
“I’m going to my car, ten feet away. Cover me, would you pretty please, if you’re not too busy?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I am not your mother, don’t call me ‘ma’am’, ever, Lt.” Shan tried to walk away and discovered she couldn’t. She wondered if a concussion would keep her out of Sweeps. Two weeks away, but Deirdre might not care. Team Three wouldn’t go without her, and it would cancel their plans for the summer, their plans for Cody. “I’ll be resting right here for a bit first,” she said.
Chris came over with a towel in hand and concern on his face. “They called for an ambulance.”
“They always do on a Code Nine. Hold this,” he directed Shan, towel to forehead. “Stay with her,” Hunter told Chris. “We are not clear. Keep your eyes open.” Then he went in search of his partner.
“Is Bella okay?” Shan asked, handing him the Uzi. “That’s one tough old man,” Chris said.
“Remember it.” She wanted to close her eyes, to catch a few moments of rest, and tried to get moving again. Not the best idea she’d had. Standing was tentative. “Find out what’s going on. Find out where Wade is.”
“Why?”
She got to her car. “He’s in charge. I need a medic,” Shan said, attempting to sound casual about it. Lying down on the hood, her first thought was how warm it felt and how nice it would be to sleep for a bit. “Don’t ask, just do.”
That scared him. “Who’s medical?” Chris asked out loud. The place was a disaster area, with more people showing up by the minute.
Mac, Shannon knew, but he was thirty miles away. Hunter, then. She’d seen it in his files and that was about all it said, which was weird. Later, she’d have to find out why.
“What’s up?” Hunter asked, making his way back.
Pleased when she was right, Shan told him, “Getting shaky and cold. Tired. Loopy.”
“Loopy?” He took her pulse against her neck, moving the towel to look at the cut over her eye. “This isn’t from glass?”
“I told you, steering wheel, first blast.”
A worry line creased his forehead. “Officer Taylor, tell Capt. Quinlen to have the ambulance come on in.” He rummaged around in the first aid kit from her car for a moment.
“Shit,” Shan said as he leaned over and looked into her eyes.
“Relax Captain, it’s a precaution.” He stared, close for a few moments, flashing a penlight on. “Mild, even if you have a concussion. Wade would kill me if I didn’t send you in. Literally.” Hunter swabbed and taped a square of gauze on her forehead. Infection was a thing in a world with few antibiotics.
“Bit of an exaggeration,” Shan said, knowing Wade would send her in if he didn’t.
“Sniper,” someone called.
“Damned, but I’m popular today,” Hunter drawled, pretending to be bored. “We’ll have to dance later.” Parr was there too. “Keep her awake, keep her talking to you,” he told them. “Capt. Allen, as a medic, I’m ordering you not to fall asleep.”