Today's interview is with author Oscar Wager II. I was lucky enough to be one of the beta readers when he was ready to have others read it for feedback during his development progress. After publishing, he agreed to an interview regarding his newest book, "The Institute," which is just recently available on Amazon. Don't forget to request your local bookstore to order you a copy, which helps them know that it exists and what sorts of books to order for their stock!
The Interview
Q: Are you an author, poet, illustrator, editor, game writer, game creator, publisher, or fill multiple roles? If you have multiple roles in the publishing community then which ones are they? If you have multiple roles feel free to answer each question with sections for each role. The more complete this is the more we learn about you.
A: I am an author, a poet (although I haven’t written any poetry in a while), and I create my own book covers.
Q: What project of yours do you most want us to know about?
A: My latest novel, "The Institute," released 10/12/2021.
It's about a 12-year-old boy who is put in a mental hospital because of an unfortunate incident that he suffered. While he is there, they thought he could use a lesson in how actions have consequences. Something his parents couldn't seem to teach him.
Q: Do you have a website or websites you are associated with or where your work can be found? If so please post it here.
A: Oscar's newest book can be found on both Amazon and Barnes & Nobels.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Institute-Oscar-Wager-II-ebook/dp/B09J46TSTY
Amazon Author Page (please note that it often takes a few days and an author claim request to link new books to the correct author pages, so it may be a few days before it syncs): https://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Wager-II/e/B005K9AIEY
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-institute-oscar-wager-ii/1140366509
He can be followed on Facebook to stay abreast of his future projects. https://www.facebook.com/oscarwageriiauthor/
Q: What got you interested in writing, illustrating, editing, layout, creating games or whatever other aspect of the publishing industry (either book or gaming publishing)? If you have multiple roles please feel free to tell us about each.
A: I started writing short stories in the third grade. One was actually “published" in the school’s anthology. I heard from a friend that they still used that anthology to show third-graders short stories from past students, ten years later.
I didn't write for a long time after school. I went into the tech field, as a computer programmer. I started to write a little poetry, here and there, and my friends and family loved it. I started writing serial poems for Halloween, in 13 night installments. From there I went to prose and published my first novel in February 2020.
Q: What company or companies are you doing work for or with? Do you freelance? Are you able to support yourself only with your writing or do you have to work other jobs?
A: I am an independent author. I don’t support myself with my writing. My day job is as a caregiver for my wife.
Q: What projects are you currently working on, if you are allowed to speak of them and promote them?
A: My next novel is about alien government conspiracies and cover-ups that may have many believers, skeptics, and a few government agencies up in arms shall we say. It will definitely be a new twist to the old stories.
Q: Do you have any future projects already in mind to take on?
A: I have a few ideas rattling around in my head. Including a couple of follow-up books to my first novel, With Darkness Comes Trouble.
Q: What is or was your favorite project?
A: I think it's my current project, tentatively titled Abducted: The Lies Behind The Truth
Q: Is this career something that you always wanted to do? If not then what did you originally want to do?
A: I wanted to be a computer programmer for as long as I can remember. When I was laid off after almost 20 years, I think it was a blessing for me. It opened my eyes and made me see I could use my creative side.
I don’t think people outside of the tech industry realize how much creativity goes into programming. It can be very cut and dry at times, but some you need to use your imagination to build code.
Q: Do you find it difficult, or find some aspects more difficult than others?
A: When I am writing dialog for a child, I find that difficult. Here is a 53-year-old man trying to think and speak like a 12-year-old. The same thing with my women characters.
Other than that, once the creative juices start flowing, I can sit down and write for a couple of hours no problem, unless my wife needs me.
Q: What is a normal day like for you? Is this your side job or main job?
A: I usually work on my writing at night, after my wife is asleep. That's when I get the most uninterrupted time to myself.
Q: How do you manage to balance this with family and any other work you may have?
A: Since my main job is taking care of my wife, she gets top priority, always. I have taken her down time to allow myself the chance to work on my writing.
Q: If you could be anything in the world besides this, what would it be?
A: Retired football player.
Q: Do you feel that school helped set you up toward following this path in the publishing industry?
A: Yes and no. While it gave me the basics of writing it never encouraged my creativity past elementary school.
Q: If you could go back to school is there anything you wish you had paid more attention to?
A: I was awkward and shy in high school. I might go back and try to be more outgoing. As far as paying more attention to anything, that's a tough one for me.
Q: What advice do you have for your age peers that may also want to take part in the publishing industry and specifically with your area within it?
A: Try. It can’t hurt you. So what's the worst that can happen? You find out you're not good enough. Okay, at least you know. If you don't try you will always wonder what if.
Who knows, you may even succeed.
Q: Did you do your cover by yourself? If it was a cooperative piece who did the art and who did the rest?
A: I did it myself, using free-to-use images.
Q: What is your favorite genre to write? What is your least favorite to write?
A: When I first started, I thought, because I love horror so much, that would be it. Turns out, I like thrillers. Supernatural, psychological, and now government conspiracies. Who knew?
I don’t think I could ever write romance.
