Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m originally from South Korea. I was adopted when I was four months old and raised in the small upstate New York town of Groton, near Ithaca, New York. I went to college at Binghamton University and earned a degree in History.
I have written one book, Black Wolf: A World at War Novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is my first, Black Wolf: A World at War Novel.
I came up with the idea while watching the show Log Horizon, an anime set in a virtual world MMO. I had seen other shows set in a virtual world MMO as well, most notably .//hack sign and Sword Art Online, and I had noticed that the majority of them were set in a swords and sorcery fantasy world. I decided I would try my hand at creating a similar story based in a somewhat futuristic first-person shooter, and the rest is history.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to make things up as I go. I have a basic idea of what I want to write, but at most they’re no more than a set of stops along the way, and I have to invent how the characters get there. Speaking of characters, I also have a tendency to have minor roles develop a life of their own and become much more prominent.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read most of Tom Clancy’s novels when I was a teen, so they have had an influence on my writing. There’s also a good deal of influence from Dan Abnett’s Gaunt’s Ghosts series.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a short story collection set in the World at War universe which tells side stories of secondary characters from Black Wolf. It will also contain parts that will serve as the bridge between Black Wolf and the next novel.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Word of mouth. You can be constantly bombarded by an author trying to sell you their book, but having a friend tell you a book as good versus having an author telling you a book is good makes a world of difference.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You are an AUTHOR, not just a WRITER. Marketing plays a significant role in being an author; I estimate I spend over half my time promoting instead of writing. You can have the greatest book in the world, but if no one reads it, what good is it?
Being an author is hard work. Many times I’ve put in 14 hours a day into writing and promotion. At the same time, it’s also extremely rewarding.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Seven times down, eight times up. It was a slogan that my karate sensei had tattooed to his arm, and it stuck with me. No matter how many times or how hard you fall, get back up and keep fighting.
What are you reading now?
Gah, I don’t have time to read, I have too much writing to do!
In all seriousness, though, I’m, trying to read through A Dance With Dragons, but I keep getting distracted by work/life/shiny objects…
What’s next for you as a writer?
A lot of writing. There’s a lot of ground I can cover in the World at War series, and I think I’ve only scratched the surface.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The complete Lord of the Rings
A Canticle for Leibowitz
Survival Skills for Dummies (does that even exist?)
Author Websites and Profiles
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