Ask the Author: Edward Hochsmann
Answered Questions (8)
Edward Hochsmann
There are a few indies out there, but the only major novel I am aware of where the Coast Guard is more than a walk on is Clancy's Clear and Present Danger. As to why, I can only speculate it is because the Coast Guard is generally bad at the PR game and has not created a "hunger" for stories like the other services have. I don't know how long you've been out, but I can tell you the Coast Guard of the '80s and '90s was stingy as hell when it came to medals, etc. and had an almost pathological dislike for publicity. Without a persistent, well-run public affairs campaign, the only folks who even think about the Coast Guard are the ones who live on the coasts. I guess you and I have to just keep hammering away at this. ;)
Edward Hochsmann
Thanks Sharon! I'd be happy to do a book review swap. My novel Engage at Dawn: First Contact is VERY soft scifi, more of a tight team facing a challenge book. The scifi elements are more of a catalyst to the story than the principal feature. If you are still interested and would like to discuss further, please let me know.
Edward Hochsmann
Thanks Sharon! I'd be happy to do a book review swap. My novel Engage at Dawn: First Contact is VERY soft scifi, more of a tight team facing a challenge book. The scifi elements are more of a catalyst to the story than the principal feature. If you are still interested and would like to discuss further, please let me know.
Edward Hochsmann
If I'm butting my head against an intellectual issue without result, I distract my conscious mind from the problem (e.g., do something fun and interesting) and let my subconscious have a go at it. One thing that helped a lot is that I did not approach the story linearly. I had an idea of the basic plot, of course, but I wrote the climax first, then the paths to and from afterward. The evolution of the two paths evolved the climax, but not much. Likewise, I could jump to points in the story I was ready to write and let the harder sections ferment a bit.
Edward Hochsmann
I'm too new to give you a valid answer to that question. Ask me again a year from now.
Edward Hochsmann
1. Write to your customers. For example, jargonistic dialog might be more true to life regarding how your characters might talk, but hard-to-read is almost never enjoyable-to-read.
2. Avoid unforced errors: buy editing software (I use BOTH ProWritingAid and Grammarly) and employ a professional editor in your genre. There is no money better spent.
2. Avoid unforced errors: buy editing software (I use BOTH ProWritingAid and Grammarly) and employ a professional editor in your genre. There is no money better spent.
Edward Hochsmann
Mainly delivering the first book to market, but I'm working through finalizing the plot of the sequel in my head.
Edward Hochsmann
A lot of people commented on my analysis work that I could make anything interesting and relevant. I decided to try and see if that would translate to storytelling. We'll see. ;)
Edward Hochsmann
Great question. Always been interested in soft sci-fi, particularly everyman stories. One day the thought popped into my head - what if one day a group of unsuspecting Coast Guard people suddenly got "dropped in it." I mean hurricanes and drug smugglers are one thing, but aliens? It almost wrote itself.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more