S.S. Segran Interview Published on: 10, Aug 2018
Where do you live? Were you brought up in the same place?
I was born in Malaysia and grew up there for six years until my parents decided to move to Canada. We lived in Quebec for just a little over four years, but it honestly felt like ten and I have no idea why. I cherish the memory of my time there dearly, as that was where I met my very first best friend, got my first dog (a gorgeous Labrador named Maia whom I miss dearly), and I met an amazing couple who sort of took up the position of unofficial godparents. As of now, though, I’ve been living in British Columbia for the past twelve years, minus the one when I lived in Israel after graduating high school (which was probably the greatest year of my life thus far!).
Where did you go to college and what was your major?Since graduating high school I’ve been focused on solidifying my writing career. Once I’ve wrapped up the Aegis League Series, which will be next year, I’ll be looking into universities.
You are really fond of dogs. Do you have any pets yourself?At the moment, I don’t have any pets - though I really wish I did. If not a dog, then perhaps a Maine Coon!
What is your favorite setting to enjoy your favorite popcorn?Don’t be fooled into thinking that popcorn can only be enjoyed while watching a movie. It’s just as good when you’re reading a book, binge-watching videos on YouTube, or when you’re craving an unhealthy but delicious snack at two in the morning.
Tell us about your non-profit organization. What inspired you to start it?The non-profit is also called the Aegis League. In the story, the League is a group of men and women of all ages who are trying to help the world in any way they can. Similarly, the non- profit was created to inspire people, especially youth, do discover and nurture their potential by providing micro-loans to help them start up their business. Through that, they are able to help others and give back to their community.
Which was your favorite comic book while you were growing up?I loved - LOVED - Garfield and Calvin and Hobbes, and I still do. Archie came in at a close second. These past few years, though, I’ve found myself diving into the world of DC Comics. My forte in particular is the Dark Knight. Ask me anything about Batman and the Batfamily! Or don’t, unless you want to be stuck listening to me gush and prattle on until dawn.
Which is the video game you are best at?I’m not sure which video games I’m best at, but I will say that I love the ones with storylines and quests. I’ve been a fan of Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed for ages, but I’m also quite fond of hunting zombies in Call of Duty and slaying dragons in Skyrim (or, you know, just wandering around until I run into a giant and he punts me halfway across the map).
You really enjoy skydiving. How many times have you experienced it? Which one do you recollect as the best one?I’ve only gone skydiving once! It was near Vegas, and right after that my parents and I headed to a restaurant to have lunch and watch the final World Cup match between Brazil and Germany. I’d love to jump again - there’s nothing quite like falling above the beautiful desert landscape with the wind whipping past your face as you get a bird’s eye view of everything. It was incredibly Zen and peaceful. All your worries and troubles just melt away.
When and how did you start writing? Who or what inspired you to write your first book?I began writing at a very young age, though if memory serves they were mostly poems. About birds. It was around the age of seven when I really started writing. The motivation behind it was… well… I didn’t want the stories I was reading to come to an end. So instead of closing the novel, I’d open a notebook and create a whole new story for the characters to dive into. The idea of the Aegis League Series came about when I was maybe twelve or thirteen. All I wanted at the time was to tell a story about what would happen if my friends and I were separated from our parents during a trip, and what adventures we would go on. It wasn’t until a year or two later when I revised the story and turned it into what Aegis Rising is today.
You have been an amazon bestselling author. How does that achievement make you feel?It’s incredible. As an independent author who doesn’t have the resources of a big publishing house, milestones such as these are treasured and used as a launching pad to work harder. I want to give readers the best stories I possibly can to keep being worthy of their precious time and support.
‘Aegis Rising’ has three books as of now. How many more are planned in the series?The series is a pentalogy, so there are two books left in the pipeline: Aegis Desolation and Aegis Reckoning.
What inspired you to write the ‘Aegis Chronicles’?The Aegis League Series has a growing cast of characters whom I love to death, but I don’t always get the opportunity to delve into their past and give the readers their backstories. With the Aegis Chronicles, these characters get to have their little moment at the protagonist, and that way the readers can learn more about them and see them in a different situation apart from the main storyline.
Which character from either of the series do you personally relate the most to?I think I find a bit of myself in most of the characters, particularly the five protagonists. I’m not hedging, I promise! If you were to pick out any character of your choosing, I could give you at least one or two ways in which I feel connected to him or her.
Which is the next book you are working on? When can the readers expect to read it?I’m about halfway done Aegis Desolation, the fourth book in the Aegis League Series, but I’ve taken a short break. I’m planning to release it either later this year or in early 2019. At the moment I’m working on a Chronicle, which should be good to go at the end of the summer, along with three other short stories.
