Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was raised in churches until the last church I attended became radical and cultic. This led me to question my beliefs and the validity of Christianity. The result was my latest novel, Sovereignty.
In 2009 I joined the army under a gap year program in which I enlisted for 12 months as a Rifleman (infantry).
Sovereignty is my second novel, my first is Hunting Taylor Brown (2016)
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Sovereignty was inspired by the events I witnessed and was made a part of during my time in a cultic Christian church. The widespread greed and deception within extreme congregations is unregulated and perverse. I am also interested by the tendency for governments and corporations to become involved in people’s personal lives. Together, these ideas paved the way for a story in which a banker uses religion to gain wealth.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not especially. Although, I believe everyone’s writing habits vary slightly.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
George Orwell (1984, Animal Farm)
Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, Prey)
Agatha Christie (And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express)
What are you working on now?
My third novel (Yet unnamed) which will be release either at the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Social media is effective, however, it’s a lot of work. Any kind of promotion seems to be ‘hit and miss’ depending on the day. I sell the majority of my books through Amazon.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s work, plain and simple. The reason so many people begin writing and give up two chapters in is because they underestimated the frustration and determination required to complete a novel. It’s months of writing, re-writing, and wondering what the Hell happens next.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Write to please one person.”
What are you reading now?
I just finshed Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet) and am considering reading Neverwhere (Gaiman) or The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
What’s next for you as a writer?
I hope to make a living off my writing to a point where I can quit my day job and write full-time. However, if that never happened, I’d still never stop writing.
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 US Army Survival Manual (for obvious reasons)
1984 (George Orwell)
The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
The Lord of the Rings (JRR Tolkien)
Author Websites and Profiles
Rhys Hagan Website
Rhys Hagan Amazon Profile
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