Meet C.T. Moshage
Join us in welcoming new crew member C.T. Moshage to our science-fiction deck. His debut novel November’s Dawn introduces a world where the human population has ruined the planet and a small select group now lives in an ark that walks along the bottom of the ocean. This series will be perfect for fans of YA dystopian.
Author Bio
C.T. Moshage is a Chicago-based author of science fiction & fantasy. His debut Young Adult science fiction novel, November’s Dawn, will be released in spring 2024 and is the start of a planned trilogy.
Chris didn’t start writing seriously until after college, but when he finally did, he eagerly embraced it and hasn’t turned away since. When he’s not immersed in reading or writing, two vital elements of his life as an author, Chris enjoys playing tennis, exploring the many worlds of video games, and navigating the skies flying drones, even if his aerial footage is mostly appreciated by himself.
Asked and Answered
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
For years I never thought too much about it. I always liked the idea of being able to create, but I didn’t think I had the right “stuff” to be able to actually write a book. It wasn’t until the pandemic, when one of the big trends was finding ways to better yourself while stuck at home, that I decided I was going to try it.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I don’t often feel the need to write every day. A lot of writers say you need to in order to be successful but I’ve found I’d much rather take my time with a project or idea. I also firmly believe that just because you may not have actually written any words that day, that doesn’t mean you weren’t working towards your goals. Time spent thinking about a story is just as valuable to me as words on a page.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
My hobby right now is drone flying.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
No. The biggest struggle I had was deciding on what variation of my own name to use.
What do you hope readers get from your books?
That they’ve been able to see and experience a world they never thought of before. If a reader thinks about my stories or how my writing made them feel months later, that is a win for me.
If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?
When I first started writing, I hated hearing established writers say that their first manuscript or writing product wasn’t good. Because at the time, my first manuscript was all I had. And naturally I thought there wasn’t any way that my book was bad. Spoiler alert: it was and that’s okay.
I think that comes from a fear, particularly when a writer might first be trying out the craft or be very tied to one particular story, that they won’t be able to write another story. Or that they’ll never be able to come up with something else that’s even half as good. But that’s just an internal fear I imagine many of us have. There will always be more stories to craft.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
No. The biggest struggle I had was deciding on what variation of my own name to use.
What do you hope readers get from your books?
That they’ve been able to see and experience a world they never thought of before. If a reader thinks about my stories or how my writing made them feel months later, that is a win for me.
If you could tell your younger writer self anything, what would it be?
When I first started writing, I hated hearing established writers say that their first manuscript or writing product wasn’t good. Because at the time, my first manuscript was all I had. And naturally I thought there wasn’t any way that my book was bad. Spoiler alert: it was and that’s okay.
I think that comes from a fear, particularly when a writer might first be trying out the craft or be tied to one particular story, that they won’t be able to write another story. Or that they’ll never be able to come up with something else that’s even half as good. But that’s just an internal fear I imagine many of us have. There will always be more stories to craft.
How do you select the names of your characters?
I toss and turn thinking about it until the point in the story I get to that character, and I choose whatever feels right in that moment.
What was your hardest scene to write?
The beginnings of stories are what I struggle most with and what I need to spend the most time revising.
Do you Google yourself?
At this point in my writing career, my Google search results don’t change often. One day, I’m sure I’ll check more often.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
I think that self-doubt can be a struggle. One day I think the work I’ve done is literary gold, the next I might feel it’s all worth deleting. The important part is never delete anything, revisit it later.
Does your family support your career as a writer?
In an emotional or supportive sense, absolutely, and I’m very thankful for that. In a financial sense, I spend my days as a HR manager.
A Glimpse at November’s Dawn
What inspired you to write this story?
I used to drive a lot for my day job and that naturally left a lot of time for thinking. One day, and I can still remember exactly where I was on the road, I had the thought. What if the world got flooded and instead of a traditional floating ark, humanity built a vessel that walked along the bottom of the ocean? I’ve also always been fascinated with massive man-made structures and constructs. So the idea of a walking ark was very cool for me.
Are there any specific themes you want readers to take from the story?
The nature and duality of duty were something I thought a lot about while writing many of the characters in November’s Dawn. I think many people too often think that a particular issue or thing going on in the world or in their life is black and white when there are so many different layers and motivations involved. A few characters in November’s Dawn struggle with finding the right path for themselves and start to question beliefs they’ve had their entire lives. And some characters may seem evil, but from a different perspective, it may be a completely different story. So the theme would be to keep an open mind when reading and considering the stakes.
If there was an actress who could portray your main character better than anyone else, who would it be?
Sadie Sink would make a great Josie Owens. Particularly with her performance of Max on Stranger Things.
What is something you want readers to know going into November’s Dawn?
The ocean is a big place. Even more so when it covers the whole world. You never know what might be lurking in the depths.
Welcome, Chris!
If you want to follow Chris and his adventures, make sure to check out his website. The first in the November Dawn’s Chronicles releases in April. We’ll see you then!