Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Auckland, New Zealand. I’m a big baseball fan. Rugby league, too, and cricket. I’m a foodie, though I’m more about flavor than presentation. A steak and cheese pie on a cold day is just the best. If you don’t know what that is, it’s basically pieces of roast beef along with melted cheese and thick gravy, all encased in fluffy pastry and served nice and hot. Meat pies are an art form here in New Zealand.
I’ve loved reading since I was a little kid. Curling up in bed on a rainy night, book in hand, well, nothing much beats that, down to this day. Writing followed on naturally from that love of reading. I’ve been writing stories for so long I don’t remember *not* writing!
While I’ve written a lot of stories – and had some short fiction published here and there – I’ve only recently started publishing my novel-length work. The series I’ve just finished – the first two books of which are out and available to read – is four books long.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book I’m featuring here at Awesome Gang is the first book in my Jazz Healy, Reunion Series. It’s entitled Miltan Epsilon.
I got the inspiration for this book, and in turn the entire series, from a single word short story prompt. The word was ‘cracked’ and from that I wrote a story about a certain Jazz Healy and her efforts to steal a valuable artifact from a planet. I enjoyed writing the story, and liked the character, and got to thinking more about her and her background, and suddenly found myself with a four-book series on my hands!
Recently I reread that short story and was amused to see how similar yet different the Jazz Healy of the short story is to the Jazz Healy of the series. There was also a nemesis in the short story that I planned on her clashing pistols with through the series but in fact he never gets a mention and I’d completely forgotten about him until I read the short again!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
None that I can think of offhand. I do have trouble focusing, so need to turn the internet off if I want to get any writing done.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The first scifi book I read was by Arthur C. Clarke. It blew my mind, and set me up for a lifelong love of science fiction.
I also really enjoy a lot of C.J. Cherryh’s work. Her worldbuilding and character creation is just amazing.
Timothy Zahn is another author that comes to mind. I love the way he constructs his stories.
And while he didn’t write scifi, I just love Louis L’Amour’s style. Reading his books is like high-octane fuel for my creative tank. They just make me want to write.
Oh, and Carl Barks and Don Rosa, the greatest comic writers of all time!
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing the first book in a new series featuring an ex-spy, sometimes private eye/bounty hunter by the name of Lincoln Reilly. The working title of the book is Spider’s Hub, the nickname of a space-station that used to be the glittering jewel in humanity’s galactic crown. However, advances in technology have pushed Spider’s Hub into the background so its powers-that-be have turned to a lot of morally and ethically dubious activities to remain relevant. Lincoln goes there in search of a potentially missing heiress but soon finds himself tangled up in all sorts of other trouble!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I like Twitter. Buy Me a Coffee (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/scmae) has a ton of potential, too. I’m still learning the whole promo shebang, though.
I have heard time and time again that the best promotion is a good book, so trying to do that is my biggest marketing focus, I guess.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Read. Read lots. And not only fiction (history is a must), and definitely not only fiction in the genre you want to write. Reading is the best way to learn how to tell stories, in my opinion.
Then write. And write. And write some more. Writing is a skill, learned over time. The more you write the better you will get.
Critique the work of others. Personally, I’ve found this to be the best way to up-skill my writing. When looking at the writing of others I have objectivity I don’t have when examining my own work. In turn, I can then apply the advice I give to my own writing.
Finally, don’t give up. There are many writers out there with the potential to be great who gave up because things weren’t happening as fast as they wanted, or they didn’t like feedback they received, or they just got overwhelmed. If you need a break, take a break. But don’t give up. Don’t ever give up!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Good writers are great readers.
What are you reading now?
I’ve got a pile of Louis L’Amour books on my shelf. I’ve read them all before but I keep on reading them again!
Also working my way through Ancestral Machines in the Humanity’s Fire series by Michael Cobley.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing?
There are too many ideas and not enough time!
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?
Maybe Swiss Family Robinson & Robinson Crusoe – I might find some survival tips in there!
And just about anything from my Louis L’Amour collection and my Don Rosa and Carl Barks’ collections.
Oh, and Treasure Island. That’s still my all-time favorite book!
Author Websites and Profiles
S.C. Mae Website
S.C. Mae Amazon Profile
S.C. Mae’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account