Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Kevin Hwang
Book Title: The Regression Strain
Released: 05/26/25
Genre: Medical Thriller
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “The Regression Strain”?
Hwang: The doctor-on-a-cruise idea emerged shortly before the pandemic reached American shores. I was fascinated by these floating cities, with thousands of people in a closed environment in the middle of the ocean. When the pandemic hit, I shelved the book because I was swamped with work and I thought nobody would want to read about an outbreak. Maybe I was right. I eventually came back to it after fits and starts. Over seven years of intermittent writing, I worked through major changes in the nature of the antagonist force, while fine-tuning the personality of the protagonist, Dr. Peter Palma.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Hwang: Peter Palma just sounded like a simple, memorable name. If you say it aloud, it obviously sounds like the name of a certain friendly neighborhood superhero. Not that I was trying to make that association overtly, but I’m a huge fan of the Toby Maguire and Tom Holland film versions of that guy, so I guess something may have come out through my subconscious. Agus is the name of a real crew member on a cruise we took. Apparently, it’s very common name in Indonesia, a country known for contributing heavily to the ranks of cruise ship staff.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Hwang: For a long time, I fought the common advice to “write what you know” but then I realized it wasn’t such a bad idea to write a medical thriller, given my background as a physician. For The Regression Strain, I still needed to decide on a setting though. I didn’t want to set it in a standard hospital or medical office. The grueling years of residency influenced Dr. Peter Palma’s backstory in that I drew on memories of deep exhaustion, self-doubt, and the responsibility of caring for sick patients. Working with my editor, Lisa Poisso, helped me understand the elements of well-placed turning points and character development.
The book has won some awards this year, starting with Gold Medal in the general thriller category in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Award Contest. It also won first place in the thriller category in the Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards and Medical Thriller of the Year in the BestThrillers contest.
If “The Regression Strain” were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Hwang: Great question! For Peter Palma, Matt Damon in his Jason Bourne era. He’s not very imposing, physically, but he’s gritty and relentless. David Harbour would make a good security chief Harrington. For Mandy, I’m still thinking about that one.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Hwang: The only way to generate new ideas or evaluate what I’ve written in a new light is to step away from the computer. That might mean taking a quick walk, or setting aside the manuscript for few days. I can’t force the process though.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Hwang: Commit to the long game. Quality matters more than speed. Don’t rush your story just to publish quickly. Find a good editor to challenge and nudge you. Trust your unique expertise and experience. Whatever your background, you have authentic knowledge that can make your story distinctive. Read widely in your genre and also outside of it
What is your favorite book, genre, and/or author?
Hwang: I used to favor fantasy, sci-fi, and the occasional Lawrence Block mystery. Now I mostly read thrillers. I just finished Daniel Silva’s The Collector, and I believe I’m a fan. Michael Crichton, Dennis Lehane, Alex Berenson, Lee Child, and Elmore Leonard have done me well.
What are you working on next?
Hwang: I’m in the early draft phase for a second novel featuring Peter Palma, but this one’s set in Texas.
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Want to learn more about The Regression Strain and Kevin Hwang?
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
review