Author Interview – Abigail Hawk @VL

If you could do any job in the world what would you do?
I’m not even being corny when I say “writer”. This is my lifetime goal. If I were a Sim, then I’d have a little locked my Lifetime Achievement.
Other than that, I’d love to be a xenogeologist (which is a made-up word for someone that studies the geology of other planets), a genetic engineer, a pilot, or a volcanologist. I love science.
What are you most passionate about? What gets you fired up?
I am very passionate about equal rights. Nothing gets me more upset than hearing about people being treated badly because of their ethnicity, religion, or sexual preferences. I’m one of those people that does get involved in charities and causes whenever I can, because I believe every person has the right to equal opportunities.
What makes you angry?
Hate speech. You do not use racial slurs around me – even ones directed at Caucasian people – because you will get smacked in the face. You do not try to tell me that your religion makes you better than anyone else. I also get very angry at people to try to hurt or belittle others to feel better about themselves.
What’s your most embarrassing moment of your life?
Getting a big box of paperbacks and hardbacks in, getting totally excited, then opening it up and realising that there’s a typo right there in the foreword. S#$%!
Are you a city slicker or a country lover?
An awkward combination of both. But, for a New Zealander, “city” is a relative term. Our largest city is a million people, which is pretty tiny.
How do you think people perceive writers?
If they’re anything like me, they perceive them as larger-than-life, quiet people, like celebrities. It’s strange to think that other people may see me that way, but that’s still the way I perceive my author idols.
What’s your next project?
Editing The Survivors Book II: Autumn is next on the agenda, along with writing The Survivors Book III: Winter. I also need to finish the three book arch in The Immortelle series, which will cover #3, #4, and #5. All work and no play makes me… happy, strangely.
What would you love to produce in your life?
A book that makes someone feel the way I feel about Gaelyn Gordon’s books. Even though she died more than 15 years ago, I still remember her works vividly, and I still love them – and her. I want to be remembered for my writing long after I’m dead.

What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?

Beta readers! Okay, they’re not really a tool, they’re people – but they’re still amazing. Having a group of beta readers is like having a built in group of fans-slash-editors-slash-critics, who give you personalized advise on how to improve your book before it goes out to the general public.

What are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?