Interview With Author, Thomas Hay

Hi Everyone,

Please welcome guest author and fellow retired TWAer, Tom Hay. 

Bio: 

Thomas L. Hay was raised in Clinton, Mo.  He retired from TWA/American Airlines. When he is not golfing or fishing, he likes spending time with his family and friends. He currently resides in Lake Waukomis, Mo., with his lovely wife Karen, hyperactive squirrels, irritating geese and cranky old catfish.

Q.  What made you decide to write a book?

A.  I got bored with retirement. Just kidding. Most of my life I had dreamt to be an Author. I never could find the time to fulfill that dream during my day job. But after I retired, time was no longer an excuse. A subject or plot became my obstacle. To get me motivated, my wife suggested I write my memoir. “After all,” she said, “you have had an intriguing life.” Just in case you’re wondering, I didn’t keep any secrets from her. She is the only one, other than myself, that knows it all.

The more I thought about it the more it made sense. Now days, seems everyone is writing their memoir. Why not me? When I pass, they will turn to ashes and evaporate with me. Writing them down would guarantee that I could live forever and my descendant’s would have a history book to learn where their idiocy came from. Behold, “The Comeback Kid, The Memoirs of Thomas L. Hay” was born.

Q.  Tom, has your own life influenced your novels?  And if so, how?

A.  Well, since it was my memoir, I would imagine so. My memoirs did inspire the idea for my second book, “An Abduction Revelation: The Comeback Kid Returns.”  After publishing my memoir, it occurred to me that I could have mysterious phenomenon buried in my subconscious. Shortly after our divorce, my first wife claimed that we had been abducted (by aliens) during our marriage. She divorced me because her spirit had persuaded her to become a vegetarian, fast, and abstain from sexual activity. This melted her memory blocks instilled by the aliens and exposed some traumatic experiences. At the time I didn’t believe her. I just assumed she had a fertile imagination. I was just trying to get my feet back on the ground after the devastating divorce. I used her alleged abductions as the plot for my second book. It has my readers wondering, “Is this story real or Tom’s imagination gone wild?” I have been told that it is a very thought provoking story. The second book may appear to be a sequel, but it is not. I wrote both books to stand alone.

Q.  What's the hardest part of a novel to write:  Beginning, middle and/or end?  Why?

A. In the case of my original memoir, the whole book. I suppose the hardest part for me was to go back and remember everything that had occurred during those 60 some odd years. At this age, the mind tends to wander and lose track of time. I think that is called ‘senior moments’. I started writing in a big notebook. After fifty pages, with arrows and after thoughts scribbled everywhere, I had a complete mess on my hands. My wife again came to my rescue. “It would be much simpler if you would join the twentieth century Tom, and get a computer.”  Reluctantly, I submitted to the idea that she was probably right. But then the computer and I started having issues right from the start. We finally came to an agreement that I needed to take a class to iron out some of those issues. We still have a few now and then, but they can usually be resolved.

To jog my memory, I would think of songs I’ve heard during my life. A certain song can remind one of a person, a place, or a time of life event. For example:  “Well, since my baby left me, I found a new place to dwell. It’s down at the end of lonely street, its Heartbreak Hotel,” which reminded me of my first divorce. In both books, I quoted words from the songs that I used to describe the events that happened. It was a perfect fit and one that you don’t see often in a book.

Once I got my life events recorded, then came the big decision as what to reveal. I spent many months contemplating that one.

 The entire progress was both an invigorating whirlwind of self-enlightenment and an intense emotional journey. I wanted to capture my personality in the book, so I used a rollicked conversational writing style. I told my story, rather than writing it. I must have done a decent job, because most of my book reviews indicate the reader really enjoyed that style of writing.

Q.  What has surprised you the most about being a published author?

A. The amount of work it takes to promote your book. It would help if I could think of something (within the law) that would make me famous and get my name recognized. There are around 10,000 different books published each month. That’s a lot of competition.

Yes, it's a lot of competition, but not everyone out there is a good writer.  It's like having a second job when you have to promote your work.  Not only that blog, social media, websites, etc. 

Q.   Do you have a favorite author?

A.   The author’s who write memoirs, especially America’s war heroes.

Here are a few fun questions:

Q.  What did you want to be when you grew up at the ages of 6, 13 and 24?

A. At 6, a professional baseball player. At 13, a professional baseball player. At 24, a professional baseball player. At 40 (I’ve thrown that one in), wishing I was a retired professional baseball player.

Q.  What is your favorite color?

A. Red, always has been and always will be. It is the color of my favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s also the color of the blood that keeps my heart beating.

Q.  If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. In the future. I would like to go back home someday. Although I was raised in Clinton, Mo., it’s not where I am from. I can’t reveal where home is, as it would be a spoiler for those who would like to read my second book.  

Q.  Do you have a bucket list of things you would like to do?

A.  1. Make the New York Times Best Sellers list. 2. I would like to follow the Cardinals one season to visit every major league baseball stadium in America. 3. Finish the third book in “The Comeback Kid” trilogy. 4. Die with a smile on my face. :)

 Now, we know a bit about the man behind the book; we're ready for a blurb and a excerpt of your story. 

 

 

 

 

BLURB:

“While visiting Stonehenge, I felt that tingling sensation again. It was the same feeling I had while visiting the Pyramids and the same as the night of my freak auto accident.”

You can find plenty more in a five-part series I wrote: “Who are the Abductors - The Search for an Answer.” The series is blurbs and excerpts from both books and on my website: www.thomaslhay.com  

  Both books are also available in paperback or eBook on www.Amazon.com and www.Smashwords.com (PS - Smashwords has the latest and best edition of both books,  available in all eBook formats)

For those who live locally, Sun Fresh, in Platte Woods, has paperback copies of both books.

Thanks, Sandy, for having me on your blog site. If or when I do an author interview on my site, you will be my first guest.  

Thanks for being here, Tom.  We've enjoyed getting to know you better.  Everyone, have a great week, and I'll see you again next weekend.

Sandra K. Marshall, author at Eirelander Publishing

http://www.eirelander-publishing.com