What’s the book’s first line?

The first time I experienced real, life-threatening danger was in the seventh grade.

What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.

The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island is about four middle school boys who get stranded on a desolate lake island in the middle of Texas during the summer of 1986. It is Lord of the Flies meets The Body by Stephen King. A gripping suspense story with adventure and danger, tinged with humorous banter between the four friends, the middle schoolers face certain death without adults to protect them from the unrelenting natural elements, as well as the wild creatures that lurk in the wilderness around the lake. With a backpack filled with money and marijuana they stole from a merciless high school gang leader, it’s only a matter of time before the high schoolers come looking for them, too.

What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?

I was inspired after listening to an audiobook of Lord of the Flies narrated by William Golding. In it, he explains that the boys in his story represent scaled-down society, and I thought that very strange because the boys in his story are all white boys from a private school in England, which is the farthest thing from real society as we know it. Where are all the different races and creeds and genders and everybody else in this scaled-down society? Also, the boys I knew when I was 12 or 13 wouldn’t have done what the boys in Lord of the Flies did to each other. The boys I knew would have helped and supported each other.

So, after ruminating about this for quite some time, I decided to write my response to Lord of the Flies, which actually was William Golding’s response to The Coral Island by R. M. Ballantyne, an adventure novel from 1858. I felt the boys in my story should be of different races and backgrounds, and they should care for each other just as the friends I had did when I was 12 or 13.

What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?

The main reason someone should read my novel is to be transported to a time in the 1980s when kids weren’t monitored by technology and they could have their own adventures without being under the watchful eyes of their parents. And if readers are familiar with Lord of the Flies, then they can ruminate about the fate of those boys in that story and the fate of the friends in my story and decide for themselves which story has the more honest and accurate portrayal of adolescence.

What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character?  Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?

The main character, William Flynn, is adventurous and mischievous, but also has a tender heart. He deeply cares for his friends, although he makes some impetuous decisions in the story which put his friends in a very dangerous situation. I would say William reminds me of several fictional characters, like an amalgam of Gordie from The Body, Peter Parker from The Amazing Spider-Man, and so many others. To be honest, he also has a bit of my 13-year old self, too, in his DNA.

What other books have you written?

To Squeeze a Prairie Dog: An American Novel, Sammie & Budgie, Boys: Stories about Bullies, Jobs, and Other Unpleasant Rites of Passage from Boyhood to Manhood (the IndieReader Discovery Awards winner in 2018 for Short Stories), The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, Modicum and Mr. Grieves.

Originally appeared at IndieReader.com on 3/22/2021.

Originally posted by the NFReads.com website on October 09, 2019

Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!

My name is Scott Semegran and I’m an award-winning writer of (mostly) humorous literary fiction. I am also a published cartoonist, but I prefer writing fiction these days. Here is a list of my books:

To Squeeze a Prairie Dog: An American Novel

Simon Adventures Boxed Set

Sammie & Budgie (Simon Adventures Book 3)

Boys: Stories about Bullies, Jobs, and Other Unpleasant Rites of Passage from Boyhood to Manhood

The Spectacular Simon Burchwood (Simon Adventures Book 2)

The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood (Simon Adventures Book 1)

Modicum: Stories, Musings, and Cartoons

Mr. Grieves

What is/are the real-life story(ies) behind your book(s)?

Many of my stories are set in Texas (my home state) and are inspired by true-life events, although fictionalized. I find great satisfaction in writing stories set in Texas.

What inspires/inspired your creativity?

My creativity is inspired by my consumption of other works of art i.e. music, film, literature, comics, art, etc. Also, my time with friends and family is a great form of inspiration for me.

Originally posted by the Jane Davis, Author website on May 28, 2019

I’m delighted to welcome Scott Semegran to Virtual Book Club, my author interview series which gives authors the opportunity to pitch their books to your book club, be it virtual or real.  

Scott is an award-winning writer of humorous fiction with a dose of heart. BlueInk Review described him best as “a gifted writer, with a wry sense of humour.” His latest book is a comic sendup of state government—an entertaining slice-of-life story that’s humorous yet uplifting at the same time—titled To Squeeze a Prairie Dog: An American Novel. His previous novel, Sammie & Budgie, was the first place winner for Fiction in the 2018 Texas Authors Book Awards. His book BOYS was the 2018 IndieReader Discovery Awards winner for Short Stories. His other books include The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, Modicum, and Mr. Grieves. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, four kids, two cats, and a dog. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English.

Q: Welcome Scott. Please can you start by telling us how you came to be a writer.

A: I was inspired to write after studying literature at the University of Texas in Austin. It seemed, after I graduated, to be the logical thing for me to do after spending four years dissecting and analysing great works of literature. With an English degree, my parents assumed I would teach. I didn’t want to teach; I wanted to write. So, I started writing literally the week after graduating from college. That was over twenty-five years ago. Early on, I dabbled in all kinds of writing: poetry, short stories, screenplays, novels, even comic strips, hundreds of which have been published in newspapers. But I mostly now write novels and short stories. That’s what I enjoy the most as well as what I have been recognised for. I won three book awards in 2018.

Q: Not a bad year! Raymond Carver said, “I like to give myself enough time between books to become a different kind of writer.” How much of a gap do you leave between writing projects and why? What do you do between writing projects?

A: It seems to me when looking back at my book release dates (and this isn’t a scientific observation by any means) that I wait at least a year or so between writing projects. I feel I put so much creative energy into each book that I need time to fill up that well of inspiration again. And I would change Carver’s quote from “a different kind of writer” to “a better writer.” When I’m not writing, I focus on two things: promoting my books (which uses a very different part of my brain and is not my favourite part of being a writer) and consuming as much literature and other forms of art as possible. This consuming of literature and art is where I become a better writer. Since completing To Squeeze a Prairie Dog, I have read voraciously, particularly other indie writers. Discovering other indie writers that were very talented was quite illuminating to me. I even wrote an article for Medium.com about my discovery of other self-published authors. Anyway, when I’m not writing, I read books, watch movies, listen to music, watch TV shows, go to museums, anything that inspires me. And hang out with my wife, kids, family, and friends. That’s important to me, too.

Q: Let’s talk about To Squeeze a Prairie Dog. At what point in writing the book did you come up with its title?

A: To Squeeze a Prairie Dog had a few variations of this title before I started writing the novel. I knew without a doubt that I wanted the title of the book to be an idiom. I felt it would be more memorable that way, but I wasn’t quite sure what the exact phrasing of the idiom would be. I had six or seven variations before I settled on this title about halfway through writing this book. I’m pleased with it.

Award-winning author Scott Semegran sits down for an Austin Liti Limits interview to talk about what drives his creative spirit.

For more from Austin Liti Limits, please visit their website or subscribe to their channels on Vimeo and YouTube.

Originally posted on NewInBooks on February 12, 2019

What can you tell us about your new release To Squeeze a Prairie Dog?

To Squeeze a Prairie Dog is about a young man from a small town who joins a data entry unit of a state government agency. His unit becomes his makeshift, dysfunctional family and their lives are revealed to the reader. When his supervisor accidentally discovers a technological solution (after a drunken lunch outing) which could save the State of Texas millions of dollars, the crotchety governor and a curious reporter enter their lives and threaten to ruin everything. It’s a satirical look at working-class folks colliding with political ambition and the power of friendship. I wanted to write a novel that was quirky without being snarky and also uplifting without being saccharine. It was a huge challenge for me. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I was inspired to write after studying literature in college. It seemed, after I graduated, to be the logical thing for me to do after spending four years dissecting and analyzing great works of literature. With an English degree, my parents assumed I would teach. I didn’t want to teach; I wanted to write. So, I started writing literally the week after graduating from college. That was over twenty-five years ago. I have published five novels, two fiction compilations, a compilation of comic strips, short stories in literary journals, and hundreds of comic strips in newspapers.

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

Aargh! I’ve read a lot of books, so that is a tough one. Here’s a list in no order of importance with a sixth-place runner-up. 1) Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry 2) The Road by Cormac McCarthy 3) Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon 4) South of No North by Charles Bukowski 5) Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut 6) Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

Originally posted on Amy's Bookshelf Reviews on February 4, 2019

Q: In three words, describe yourself.

A: Award-winning Writer / Cartoonist

Q: How many books have you written? How many of those are published?

A: I have written eight books. Seven of them are currently published: To Squeeze a Prairie Dog, Sammie & Budgie, BOYS, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, Modicum, and Mr. Grieves. One is out of print.

Q: Do you have an upcoming release? If yes, tell me the title and impending release date.

A: To Squeeze a Prairie Dog: An American Novel was released yesterday, February 1, 2019.

Originally posted by Anthony Avina's Blog on October 5, 2018

This interview discusses To Squeeze a Prairie Dog: An American Novel by Scott Semegran, which Anthony Avina gave a rating of 10/10 for his book review.

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I began writing in earnest literally the day after graduating college with a degree in English way back in 1993. Over the years, I have published poetry, short stories, comic strips, and novels. Novels and short stories are what I have kept at the longest and find the most joy in writing and publishing these days.

2) What inspired you to write your book?

Oh, man. That’s a loaded question. I have a few answers: 1) To be honest, I wrote this story for my wife. Having written quite a bit before that didn’t particularly tickle her fancy, I set out—as a challenge to myself—to create a story that would inspire and affect her deeply. She said I accomplished that so I consider it a success. 2) I wanted to write a novel that was endearing but not saccharine and quirky but not snarky. That was a huge challenge! 3) I wanted to explore the power of friendship amongst a group of people with very different backgrounds and personalities. I felt the current state of the U.S. needed that.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

That camaraderie amongst kind-hearted friends wins the day over evil intentions. I truly believe that.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I have mostly written literary fiction, usually with elements of humor or satire. That’s my jam. I’ve been inspired by Kurt Vonnegut, Tom Robbins, Charles Bukowski, Michael Chabon, and the like. I hope to have a lasting legacy like these authors.

Originally posted by IndieReader.com on January 30, 2018

BOYS received a 5 star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.

Following find an interview with author Scott Semegran.

What is the name of the book and when was it published?

BOYS by Scott Semegran. It was published June 27, 2015.

What’s the book’s first line? 

“The little boy sat on the floor in his room surrounded by his toys–Micronauts action figures, Hot Wheels race cars, Star Wars action figures and vehicles, Evel Knievel doll and motor cycle, Shogun Warriors in various sizes, and a pile of Legos intermixed from various sets.”

What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”. 

BOYS is about three young, male characters growing up in central Texas during the 1980s and 1990s: a third-grader, a high-schooler, and a recent college graduate. All struggle with finding love and acceptance, either because their family life is unfulfilling or they are trying to navigate through life on their own for the first time. They long for friendship and companionship and ultimately find it in unlikely places. I put as much humor and raw emotion as I could into each story, allowing the love these characters have for their friends to shine through the darkness that life throws their way.

What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event? 

BOYS is a compilation of a short story, a novelette, and a novella. It didn’t start as a single project. After completing all three at the beginning of 2015, I saw the thematic thread through all three stories, although it was not intentional. They were intended for different purposes i.e. literary journals, magazines, or a book of some kind. It seemed to me that they would make great companion pieces to each other in one book so I hired a graphic designer for the cover and a couple of editors for the manuscript. As for inspiration, all three stories were inspired by my nostalgia for growing up in Texas. Although BOYS is not autobiographical, it was written with a loving nod to the friendships and connections I made as a boy and a young man growing up in central Texas.

Originally posted by ManyBooks on January 3, 2018

When Scott Semegran isn't drawing cartoons, brewing beer, cooking, whistling or bending metal, he enjoys writing books. Evidently readers also enjoy reading them - Semegran is a Kindle bestselling author. As our Author of the Day, Semegran tells us about his latest book, Sammie & Budgie, talks about his characters and explains why humor is excellent subterfuge for finding the truth.

Please give us a short introduction to what Sammie & Budgie is about.

Sammie & Budgie is the third book in the Simon Adventures series. The first book, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, delves into Simon's obsession with becoming a famous writer. The second, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, dives into the aftermath of a failed writing career and divorce. Sammie & Budgie explores Simon's relationship with his children, particularly Sammie, who he discovers can see the future. I wanted to examine a realistic response to a single parent's discovery of this type of paranormal dilemma. When Sammie foretells that his grandfather is in some kind of trouble, it propels the family on a road trip to visit the prickly patriarch.

You are also a cartoonist - how much different was writing a book from creating comic strips?

Well, the inspiration comes from the same place but the mechanics and structure are obviously very different. The comic strips I created had weekly deadlines for newspapers and each one usually had a humorous premise to workaround or conclude with. Then there was the cartooning part. Writing a novel takes months and months of rough drafts and edits and rewrites and more edits. But Sammie & Budgie is an illustrated novel, so I was able to use both of my creative tool boxes to create this book. I illustrated the chapter title pages and gave my daughter and co-illustrator, Mia Ryan Semegran, art direction for Sammie's cartoons.

Which character in this book did you find the most challenging to create?

Sammie was, by far, the most challenging to execute. I wanted him to be cute and funny but also inquisitive and melancholy. His power to see the future overwhelms him and he has so many questions. He's embarrassed and ashamed by it, too.