Hello peeps! Today, I am thrilled to welcome S.S. Segran, author of the compelling and highly acclaimed Aegis League Series. Check out these awesome covers that seem to be on fire! If you love non-stop action stories, you want to read on, trust me! But who is the sweet Shirin behind this awesome tale? And is it true that she loves to pump the adrenaline every chance she gets in real life too? Stick around and find out!
> Winner of the 2014 READERS’ FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
> Winner of the 2014 PINNACLE BOOK AWARDS
> Winner of the 2015 FEATHERED QUILL ‘BEST DEBUT AUTHOR’ Award
> Recipient of the coveted B.R.A.G. MEDALLION for 2014
> #1 Amazon Kindle BESTSELLER – Teen/YA, Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi
Over a remote northern forest, a small plane carrying five teenage friends flies into a freak storm. Struck by lightning, the aircraft crashes and the passengers find themselves cast into a life-changing adventure.
In a hidden valley, a mysterious people gaze at the stormy sky as a glowing object with fiery wings disappears behind a mountain ridge. The astonishing sight reignites an ancient prophecy foretelling the arrival of five chosen ones destined to become bearers of light against a dark storm gathering on humanity’s horizon.
In a distant city, a secretive organization led by a shadowy figure initiates a sequence of cataclysmic events designed to wreak havoc across the planet, beginning with a remote mining site in northern Canada.
As the three worlds collide, unlikely heroes arise. Armed with powers entrusted to them by the ancient prophecy and the resilience of their life-long bond, the five teens take a stand against a malevolent foe.
> Winner of the 2014 READERS’ FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARDS
> Winner of the 2014 PINNACLE BOOK AWARDS
> Winner of the 2015 FEATHERED QUILL ‘BEST DEBUT AUTHOR’ Award
> Recipient of the coveted B.R.A.G. MEDALLION for 2014
> #1 Amazon Kindle BESTSELLER – Teen/YA, Action-Adventure, Sci-Fi
On a bright July morning in 1948, a B-29 Superfortress flying a top-secret research mission over Nevada crashes into the calm waters of Lake Mead and sinks, remaining lost for half a century.
It has been nearly a year since five friends – Jag, Kody, Mariah, Tegan and Aari – mysteriously reappeared in a small town in Yukon several weeks after their small plane went down in Northern Canada. All were found in good health but with no recollection of what happened to them after the crash.
A baffling contagion is spreading across the bread-basket of North America destroying vital crops. As this dark shadow marches across the globe, widespread famine and riots bring desperate nations to the brink of war.
These seemingly unrelated events set the stage for a battle between the forces of darkness and those destined to become the ‘bearers of light’. From ravaged fields in the Great Plains to clandestine installations around the world, the Aegis League must race against time to save humanity.
Note: Although this is book 2 in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
Hello Shirin, and welcome to my blog!
Thank you for the invitation, Fros, it’s great to be here today!
Tell us, what has inspired you to write the Aegis League Series?
I’ve been surrounded by books for as long as I can remember, so love for these little bundles of magic came naturally to me. I wrote Aegis Rising and later Aegis Incursion as an expression of my literary cravings for adventure and sci-fi stories. Also, by imagining how this journey would be if I had four of my best friends with me, I wrote it as I would like to read it. I wanted to create characters and bring them to life in a manner that would draw the reader in and hopefully fall in love with them and watch over them as the protagonists go through a perilous journey to save humanity.
What was the first thing you ever wrote and how old were you then?
As a preschooler and later in grade school, I would write extensions to novels I’d read because I didn’t want the stories to come to an end. My mom still has a collection of these somewhere secure!
Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?
I love horseback riding, though I have not done that for a while now since writing an action-adventure/sci-fi series apparently devours a good chunk of your time -something I’d discovered earlier but for some strange reason is sinking in only now. I also love drawing, gaming and being with friends; again, sadly malnourished pastimes. But I’m very happy to stay connected with my best friends via the virtual world. Not quite the same, but they do help keep my relationships alive, at least till I return to real world interactions.
Do you see yourself in any of your characters, or do any of them have traits you wish you had?
There’s a bit of me in each of my five protagonists, to a point where they began to appear bland on the initial draft! As my parents would say, this might stem from my incorrigible need for fair distribution. Eventually I had to take conscious action to give them distinctive traits. The Five grow through the series and in book two (Aegis Incursion) readers will find their personalities evolve and crystallize as they take on more responsibilities to save a world that’s sliding further into chaos. While the cohesiveness of the team and the bond amongst the five remain strong, they will be severely tested as the series progresses.
What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I have taken a year off to volunteer and will begin working on Book Three (working title: Aegis Evolution) when I return home to Vancouver at the end of the year. The third installment finds our five young heroes cast into the middle of a storm that threatens to forever change life as we know it—again! They will be driven one step closer to the vortex of this malevolent scheme.
What genres do you read mostly, and what are you reading now?
Though I read from many genres, my staple is action-adventure, sci-fi and some fantasy. I’m also drawn to alternate history as the limitless possibilities of this genre are mind-bending. I love the fact that you’re able to weave incredible stories that push the boundaries of reality while remaining rooted in historical events.
Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
Here’s the little that I can offer aspiring authors from my limited experience: 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, sketches of some of the scenes (even if you can only draw stick figures), and creating storyboards as if it were a movie (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 boards for your ideas and be your advance readers. Join a writers’ group in your community. And, yes… Just start writing!
Sound advice, Shirin! What do you enjoy the most as an indie author that you imagine you wouldn’t if you were traditionally published? If you had a choice would you still go indie?
Being an indie author 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 author. 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 in a timely fashion. If I had a choice, I would remain an indie and explore the potential for a hybrid arrangement with traditional publishers.
I fully agree in all respects. If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Time control, definitely… maybe. May I sneak in invisibility?
And why not? (*laughs*) What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?
My parents, family, friends and most of all recognizing, accepting and connecting with the Source of the universe, i.e. God or any other fancy word one chooses to describe (or not) this primary Source. It is extremely liberating and empowering.
What a lovely answer, Shirin! Have you brought any photographs to show us today?
Yes, just a couple from events and promotions I’ve done, as well as a snapshot from a skydive I did recently.
Oh, wow! I am really impressed! Well, it’s been a blast having you here today, Shirin. Thank you so much for your time!
Thank you too, Fros. It’s been a pleasure.
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. With the publication of Aegis Rising in her senior year of high school, she was surprised by the abundance of time that magically appeared right after graduation. She plans to use this newfound resource to expand the arc of the Aegis Series. Her future plans include studying Cognitive Science at university and helping youths in developing countries realize their potential through her non-profit organization, Aegis League.
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, gaming, drawing, horseback riding and—having recently jumped off a perfectly fine airplane at fifteen thousand feet – perhaps skydiving.
Visit Shirin’s Amazon page
Visit Shirin’s Website
Visit Shirin’s Blog
Other links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aegisnovel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SegranBooks
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/segranbooks
Thank you for the post Effrosyni! I thoroughly enjoyed the interview.
I look forward to staying in touch and reading your wonderful posts.
Happy blogging!
Shirin
Thank you for this wonderful interview, Shirin. Such a pleasure to have you! Best of luck with your awesome series 🙂
Lovely interview, Fros and Shirin.
I love the idea of continuing the story of books you’ve enjoyed, Shirin. All the best with your books.
Mary Smith
I also thought that was lovely, Mary. Thank you for your visit 🙂
Thank you Mary 🙂