Thomas Hay was raised in Clinton, Mo. during the 50's. Retired from TWA/American Airlines. He currently resides in Lake Waukomas, Mo. with his wife, Karen, along with some hyperactive squirrels, irritating geese and cranky old catfish.

What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book(s), but nobody has? Write it out here, and then answer it. 

How difficult was it to tell your story and share the lessons you've learned in your memoir, "The Comeback Kid?

The process was both an invigorating whirlwind of self-enlightenment and an intense emotional trip. As I typed away on the keyboard, many tears of joy and pain were shed.

How did you make sure that your alien encounters make for a satisfying read?

Because what I wrote were true events my ex-wife described to me that she believed and claimed to have experienced.

 

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine or do you have any weird, funny, or unusual habits while writing and what are they? 

Peace and quiet with a rum and coke to boot...

 

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? 

Not the least. Both my memoir and the story thereafter was in my subconscious and therefore easy to write and I had hardly had to do any research.

 

What is the single most important piece of advice for aspiring authors? 

Don't quite your day job. )

 

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

To start my writing career, I had no idea what to write. My wife lit the candle when she suggested I write my memoirs. "After all", she said, "you have had an intriguing life that makes for an interesting story." So memoir became my genre. And then, along came my next story and I couldn't decide if it was a memoir or sci-fi genre. There is no genre for both, so I decided to go with sci-fi on the revised memoir. After all, most sane people will swear it had to be my imagination.

 

Are you traditional or self-published, and what process did you go through to get your book published? 

Self-published through Createspace and Balboa Press, a Div. of Hay House. Although no relation to Louise Hay of Balboa, I thought having the same surname might work to an advantage.

  

Have you ever changed a title, book cover, or even the content of your book after it was published? What was that process like? 

I changed the original cover of "An Abduction Revelation". Too many reader comments about thinking it was a religious book when it was actually a sci-fi story. The old cover just didn't convey the theme.

 

Do you believe there is value in a review? Do you believe they are under rated, over rated, or don’t matter at all?

I enjoy reading my reviews, be they positive or negative. I've been fortunate to get mostly positive reviews. I just wish more readers would write reviews. My biggest worry about a review is a 'spoiler'.

 

What is the intended audience for you book?

Anyone who appreciates an intriguing and interesting story, unlike anything they have or ever will read.

 

Give us a fun fact about your book(s)?

It's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

If you had the chance to get one message out there to reach readers all over the world, what would that message be?

Are humans the only intelligent beings walking this Earth?

 

Do you find it easier to connect with your readers with the advances in technology we have today like social media? What platform do you prefer, and why? 

I use Twitter and Facebook to reach out to readers. They are simple and fun.

 

What makes a good story, why? 

One that makes you think you have it all figured out and then you discover you weren't even close. Aha...

 

What is the easiest/hardest scene for you to write, why? (Love, action, fight, death, racy, controversial, etc…)

I enjoyed writing the love and romance scenes the most because they brought back such wonderful memories.

 

Have you ever had a book idea or characters come to you in a dream? What did you do about it afterwards? 

All the time. They are the ones you don't know for sure if they are real or fantasies. I discovered if I didn't get up right away and write them down, they would be gone in the morning.

 

Were your characters based off real life people/events or did you make it all up? 

I would like to think that my characters were real life people, although a few might be debatable.

 

What are the most important elements of good writing? According to you, what tools are must-haves for writers?

A computer is a must. When I first started I tried writing my story in a thick notebook. After about fifty pages, with lines drawn here to there, I had a mess on my hands. With the computer not only can you organize things but you have the wonderful 'spell check'.

 

What book(s), author(s), or significant life event(s) have had a positive or negative influence in your life that inspired you to begin writing? 

My ex-wife's claim of alien abductions. She claimed to have discovered our abductions when she learned how to melt the abductors mind blocks. At the time I thought she had to of had a few loose marbles and didn't really believe her. However, after I wrote my memoirs, I got to thinking, "What if she was right?" This inspired me to write my revised memoirs, "The Abduction Chronicles".

 

Do you view writing as a career, labor of love, hobby, creative outlet, therapy, or something else? 

I suppose in my case writing is a creative outlet.

 

Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you send them off to an editor? If you send them off to an editor, who/what have you had the best experience with? 

A good editor, beta reader, and proofreader are worth their weight in gold.

 

What makes your book stand out from the crowd?

Not knowing if my story is reality or a vivid imagination. Keeps the reader thinking they have it figured out and then........Aha

 

What is your most/least favorite part of the writing process, why? 

Marketing. It helps to be rich and famous to get your name known.