About S.S.Segran:
S.S.Segran spent a good chunk of her childhood exploring the enchanted forest of a million tales in the mystical land of books. In her early teens, she began crafting intriguing new worlds and conjuring up characters who came alive with the flick of her wand… err… pen. Charmed by the magical response to her debut novel from readers around the world, she has embarked on a quest to take her cherished fans on a thrilling journey deeper into the Aegis universe. Even as she delves into her creative endeavors, the author intends to continue her work of supporting youths in developing countries realize their potential through her non-profit organization AegisLeague.org.
When not devouring a book or writing one, S.S.Segran can be found standing behind the cauldron of life, stirring a potion made up of chores, parkour, drawing, horseback riding and—having enjoyed jumping off a perfectly fine airplane at fifteen thousand feet – perhaps skydiving.
What inspires you to write?
I love creating unique worlds, environments and characters and then inviting readers to leave their daily routines for an adventure, an experience, a journey where they can get lost for a period of time, exploring, discovering, experiencing this imaginary world and return invigorated.
Tell us about your writing process.
For the first book I used the combination of a basic outline and organic writing for the most part. However, the more complex plot in Book Two meant that I had to utilize different tools such as mind-mapping, storyboarding, timelines, chapter capsules etc. Though it seems very structured, I made a conscious decision to ensure that there was enough room for organic development, especially with the characters.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes! I listen and speak with all five of my main characters when I am writing. They are my best buddies in the Aegis universe! I try to leave them when I take a break from writing but they seem to follow me sometimes, in the real world. Should I seek help? 😉
What advice would you give other writers?
Since I am a new writer myself, the thoughts I am sharing here is probably more suited for an aspiring author:
If you believe you have a story to tell that is compelling and entertaining, get started on it right away! Don’t wait another day. Do some basic research about the genre you’d like to write (look at other books in that category – read some of them) then start with the concept of your story (build a vision for your book), outline the plots and subplots, establish the characters, select the setting and tone, and then start writing and keep writing. What I found helpful is having tools like timelines, character sheets, mind maps, sketching some of the scenes (even if you have to use stick people), and creating storyboards as if it were a film (this will come in handy for some of the more complex scenes). Find a few friends and/or family members who will be happy to act as sounding board for your ideas and be your advance readers. Join a writers’ group in your community. And, yes… start writing!
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I published the Aegis League Series with INKmagination Books, an independent publisher. I think the future for writers as independent author is very exciting. Self-publishing has been a great experience for me for a variety of reasons, chief amongst them is the ability to have control over the creative process. I was told to cut down on a number of characters and make significant changes to the plot by a certain publisher in order to be considered. That was my first experience in dealing with the industry and I guess with me being a young writer, maybe it seemed to them that my work would naturally need some serious help. Don’t get me wrong, I am completely open to ideas and actively work with my advance readers and my editor to bring my readers the best book possible within my ability, but there are certain non-negotiables at the heart of my work that I must remain true to. So, yes, creative control would be one of the key elements that I appreciate in being an indie. The other would be speed and flexibility; to be able to publish your work as and when you see fit, to be able to make changes to content and pricing and having the capability to react to the market as needed.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
It is a very exciting time for writers and readers as the new publishing landscape creates a level playing field for all who are involved, allowing more talent to flourish and more choices for readers. I believe we are just scratching the surface and the future is going to be very interesting to say the least.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: YA, Visionary, Apocalyptic, Action-adventure, Sci-Fi
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
S.S.Segran Home Page Link
Link To S.S.Segran Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
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All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
