Local Author Spotlight: Kevin Hwang in Austin, Texas
Local author Kevin Hwang talks with us about the inspiration for and favorite parts of writing his medical thriller, The Regression Strain. Kevin’s book is available for purchase on our Bookshop site here.
AS: Can you start by introducing yourself and telling us about your background?
KH: “I'm an internal medicine physician and professor at McGovern Medical School in Houston, which means I treat patients, work on academic medicine projects, and teach the next generation of doctors. Back at Rice University, I couldn’t choose between science and writing, so I majored in Biochemistry and English-a combination that set the foundation for writing medical thrillers much, much later. I dabbled in short stories and eventually published a few. My first was “Details” in The First Line, and I still have that $5 check framed. Then “Match Hopes” appeared in The Other Side of the Doorbell anthology. Along the way, I continued to publish research papers.”
AS: Tell us about your book, The Regression Strain. What was the initial inspiration for it?
KH: “The doctor-on-a-cruise-ship idea took shape before the pandemic reached US shores. It took me about seven years to write the novel, including editing, rewriting, and long spans away from writing when life and work took priority. There was a lot of heartache and joy in that process. The grueling years of residency influenced Dr. Peter Palma's backstory. I could not help but draw on the memories of bone-deep exhaustion, self-doubt, and the burden of responsibility in caring for sick patients.
The Regression Strain follows Dr. Peter Palma, a Houston physician haunted by his brother's death, who takes a job on a transatlantic cruise hoping for a fresh start. Instead, he faces a nightmare where passengers and crew start acting in bizarre and increasingly violent ways. They lose control of their impulses, and that makes for a very disturbing and terrifying journey. There’s nowhere to escape when you’re halfway between Copenhagen and New York.
The book recently won first place in the 2025 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in the Thriller category, the Gold Medal in the 2025 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest in the General Thriller category, and Medical Thriller of the Year from the 2025 BestThrillers Book Awards contest.”
AS: Do you have any favorite moments from your novel-or writing it-that you can share with us?
KH: “One of my favorite parts is the very first scene, when Peter boards the ship having forgotten both his stethoscope and his antidepressant medication. That was just about the worst way he could have started his gig. Soon after that, he attends the obligatory assembly drill. He looks out at thousands of passengers packed on deck and realizes how many people are under his care.
I also enjoyed writing scenes where Peter and his sister Natalia use AI to analyze patterns in the medical records, looking for clues. Peter gets help from a wise pastor and treats an anxious patient who wonders how far the authorities will go to keep the world safe. Those were fun to write.”
AS: What is next for you in your writing career?
KH: “I’m working on another story featuring Peter and other characters from The Regression Strain. It’s set in Texas. I can’t reveal further details because the project is still embryonic.”
AS: How can readers support local authors like you?
KH: “If you enjoyed a book, recommend it to friends who might like it. Leave a thoughtful and supportive review somewhere. Just a few sentences would mean the world. Reviews don't just help other readers discover the book-they signal to the arcane algos that a book is worth recommending, which makes a difference for independent authors.
Consider signing up for the author’s newsletter. Mine is at KevinHwang.com and I share updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and thoughts on other books I'm reading.
Finally, check out independent bookstores like Lioness Books! They're the ones who hand-sell books, champion local authors, and build reading communities.”
Lioness Books supports local authors. Uplifting local authors is crucial to not only the growth and strength of the greater literary community, but free expression and democracy. Ordering from independent booksellers helps us move away from monopolies like Amazon and keeps our economy local.
