Interview with Kevin Hwang, Author of The Regression Strain

What have you been reading lately?

I just finished Daniel Silva’s The Collector after picking it up from a local bookstore. The dialogue is super-crisp and befitting of the erudite, cosmopolitan circles in which the main character moves. He’s an art restorer and a former spy chief. The story takes him through the Amalfi coast, Paris, Belgium, Israel, and Moscow. I enjoyed it immensely.

Before that, I was on a novella-reading kick. I started with What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, a gothic horror based on “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe. I also read Boy of Heaven by Morris Hoffman, a contemplative magic realism piece, and The Great Ice Cream War of Summer 2016 by John A. Brock, which is a sweet story about a couple fighting to save their ice cream shop. I finished with Different Seasons by Stephen King, which includes the novellas that became Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption. I would apply the “book is better than the movie” distinction to the former but not the latter.

What first sparked the idea for the book, and how did it evolve from that initial moment of inspiration?

The doctor-on-a-cruise-ship idea landed shortly before the pandemic reached US shores. I was fascinated by the medical challenges of these floating cities, with thousands of people in a closed environment in the middle of the ocean. When the pandemic hit, I shelved the story because I was swamped with work and convinced nobody would want to read about an outbreak. But I eventually came back to it. Over seven years of on-and-off writing, the nature of the antagonist force took shape, and that allowed me to figure out how Dr. Peter Palma would respond to the threat.

Can you describe your writing routine—where, when, and how you tend to write best?

On a computer, exclusively. Despite the romantic image, I cannot write in a leather-bound journal with a fancy pen. I grab time in the mornings and weekends. Writing at night is hit or miss, and mostly dependent on my energy.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? In other words, do you plan your stories before writing them?

I work on the major turning points and character arcs until I feel good about the story. Then I start writing scenes, and I might discover that some parts aren’t working, so I’ll return to plotting. Then back to writing, followed by more plotting, and more writing. It’s quite chaotic. I wish I could craft a full outline and build the story smoothly from there. Maybe someday.

Was there a particular part that proved especially challenging to write?

The pacing for the first and last chapters was hard to nail down because I wanted to provide just the right amount of detail to serve the story’s needs at those points. The scenes where Peter treats patients while fighting his own symptoms were also tricky. I needed to show his deteriorating mental state while keeping readers oriented enough to follow the investigation.

Which authors, books, or artistic influences (literary or otherwise) have shaped your voice the most?

Growing up, I mostly read fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, as well as mysteries by Lawrence Block. Then came thrillers from Alex Berenson, Dennis Lehane, Michael Crichton, and Lee Child, to name a few. Elmore Leonard’s capers have usually treated me well. Stephen King also. A Separate Peace, Heart of Darkness, and Lord of the Flies are some of my favorite classics.

What do you most hope readers feel or think about after finishing the book?

I hope readers will be entertained and a little bit surprised, be it by the ending, the characters, or something else that they didn’t expect. If readers close the book feeling like they’ve been on a harrowing journey with someone who dug way down deep, I’ll be satisfied.

What advice would you give to other aspiring indie writers?

Finish the first draft and see it as a step along the way, even if you end up scrapping most of it. The process of writing a full-length book will be educational in more ways than you’d expect. Get feedback from readers you trust, not just friends who’ll be nice. Find an experienced editor who will challenge and support you along the way, because your story deserves it. Don’t chase trends. I wrote a medical thriller when they weren’t hot because I had the story in me and I drew on my background as a physician. Offer your true voice. That’s what readers will connect with.

Anything else you want to add?

I’m working on another Peter Palma story set in Texas. If you enjoyed The Regression Strain, I would very much appreciate a review on Amazon or Goodreads—those reviews help other readers discover the book. Lastly, I’m thrilled that you all at Bookshelfie chose The Regression Strain as the Best Adventure novel in your inaugural competition. Recognition like this means a lot to me.

You can check out The Regression Strain here!