Interview with Steven F. Freeman, Author of Supertide

What can you tell us about your new release, Supertide?

It’s a breath of fresh air, a disaster thriller that keeps the best elements of the genre and discards the clichés. The pace is strong out of the gate and accelerates as the story progresses. The story is told from the point of view of not only the main character but also from people living (or dying) through the tragedy.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My mom and sister. They’d been “encouraging” (bugging) me to write for years. Once my daughter acquired her driver’s license, my taxi services were no longer needed and my schedule at last accommodated writing. I took a flyer on penning a thriller and discovered I loved it.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Gosh, it’s hard to narrow down, but here’s my list: David Copperfield (Charles Dickens), Kiss the Girls (James Patterson), The Complete Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), The Foundation Series (Isaac Asimov), All Creatures Great and Small (James Herriot)

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask

Assuming I could invite anyone living or dead, I’d interview Charles Dickens. I would ask to what extent his characters were inspired by actual people he knew versus his imagination. His ability to present a cast of believable characters who are easy to love or hate is a hallmark I strive to emulate in my own books.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Unlike the real world, when writing I’m constrained only by my imagination. The best part of writing is creating a story that evokes a strong reaction from the reader, even though the reader knows it’s fiction. Accomplishing that is a thrill.

What is a typical day like for you?

It varies quite a bit. I have a “day job” as a manager at a tech company, so on workdays, I’ll often wrap up and turn immediately to writing. On weekends and holidays, I’ll often settle down to write not long after breakfast. This schedule isn’t inviolate, but by using it, I’ve managed to crank out one or two books a year.

What scene from Supertide was your favorite to write?

Definitely the climax. I don’t want to spoil my own book, but delivering the epic disaster in a disaster novel is a blast to write…the payoff the reader has been expecting.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Definitely: “regret avoidance.” This means giving deep thought to the choices we face today in order to avoid regret later. It’s a theme I’ve weaved into several of my books.

Steven F. Freeman is the author of the new book Supertide.

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