Hello, folks! Meet our third awesome AAPI writer, Pixelmum (pixelmum), the author of the space adventure, Verdant Ink!
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The Alliance's top galactic terraformer, Pelin Demir, uses state-of-the-art biotech to transform barren rocky planets into lush habitable ecosystems. Seeking escape from a dying Earth and a tragic past, Pelin has devoted a decade to serving the Alliance in the seemingly-endless galactic turf war between post-Earth humans and powerful warrior lifeforms, the Karinja.
Pelin's life of quiet order is thrown into chaos when her Alliance leaders inexplicably force her to train Midori, a surly rookie navigator. When a terraforming mission spirals into a catastrophic Karinja ambush, Pelin discovers the dazzling secret that Midori, and the generals of the Alliance, are desperate to keep hidden.
Forced to navigate deep space, draconian Alliance protocols, and her own turbulent past, Pelin charts a galactic course to protect Midori at all costs from the Karinja assassins hunting her, and from the sinister Alliance generals aiming to use her as a weapon of war. Yet Pelin can't seem to protect herself from her growing feelings towards her abrasive protégé. As the conflict for galactic control reaches a climax, Pelin struggles to keep Midori, and her own heart, safe.
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AUTHOR BIO: I write sci fi, action and mystery novels featuring twisted plots and diverse queer heroes with big character arcs getting things done.
1. Hi Pixelmum! We're delighted to have you here today. Let's start. Can you tell us something surprising about yourself?
I am a fan of exotic pets and have kept mantises, snakes, exotic fish, tarantulas, and an axolotl. I currently have a dog and a pond full of tadpoles.
2. How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and how has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I'm Indian and have studied and worked in USA (AZ and CA). I live in UK and my Asian heritage and culture has made my story characters diverse and world-traveling.
3. How did you come up with the idea for your story? And what are your inspirations for the world you have created?
I joined a prompt contest with the prompt "You are a world planner, creating life on new planets, but your latest creation has met with a hiccup". I never actually entered the contest but it gave me a shiny new novella. The story has parallels with historical colonialism and the Alliance is based on historical totalitarian regimes.
4. If you could be a character in your story, who would it be and why?
I'd be the General, because with great power comes great responsibility, and I'm very responsible (I think)!
5. Does your family have any traditions that are important to you? Feel free to share your at least one experience here!
We celebrate the Big Indian festivals like Holi and Diwali, and love mixing our traditions with western ones like Easter and Christmas. You can never have too many parties!
6. If you could introduce something from your culture to someone else, what would it be and why? It can be a tradition/custom, food, music, or anything else that comes to mind!
The raakhi. This is like a friendship bracelet for siblings. Once a year in August siblings tie them on each other's wrists to strengthen their sibling bond. It's a lovely tradition since you can use it with cousins and close friends too. It's also a good way to "friend zone" someone in a kind way - use a raakhi to say that you love them like a sibling!
7. What are your favorite books? Both on and outside Wattpad?
I love literary fiction and genre fiction, especially those with diverse and queer voices. My favourite on Wattpad is Wicked Waters by C.M. Taylor which has everything: incredible writing, memorable characters and queer panic.
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Thank you very much for joining with us today, Pixelmum. And all of you reading, we hope you found that inspirational! Give her stories some love!
