1. What inspired you to write Lost in Translation?
I follow a fantastic romance and erotica author on Twitter named Johannes T. Evans, who is trans, gay, and autistic. He writes highly diverse characters, many of which are also neurodivergent and LGBT+. I myself am Autistic, ADHD, and asexual, so I really identify with a lot of those characters. He had a tweet about how he writes characters that are the kind of characters he would want to read, and that stuck with me. I decided to write the kind of story I would want to read, which is how the idea for Lost in Translation was born.
2. Without giving too many spoilers, what was the most challenging scene for you to write so far?
Hmm, that's a hard one. I wouldn't say any particular scene was super challenging at the time of writing it, but because of my ADHD, I sometimes lack the executive function to continue to work on a scene that is giving me trouble. Instead of pushing through, I move on to a different scene and return when the previously challenging scene feels a little more approachable.
I don't think I have ever written anything in order from start to finish, not even my essays in school. As a result, I had the ending of Lost in Translation written before I even hit the halfway point of chapters that were "in order." I have about five or so chapters ahead of where the current story is. I just still haven't gotten through the connecting points to get there yet.
If I had to say, though, I'd say that the earlier chapters were the hardest because I didn't have a super clear idea of what I wanted these characters to be yet. Those chapters had the most revisions. I had to go back and change some things to fit how the characters had evolved or changed throughout the story.
3. If you had to write a spin off story about any of your characters, who would you choose and why?
I actually have a few sequels planned out that focus on various side characters from Lost in Translation already. James and Marcus are definitely up first, though, partially because it just makes sense chronologically but also because James is one of my favorite characters. He's always playful and optimistic, and while some of that is just who he is, it is also part of a facade or mask he uses to protect himself. I am excited to explore his screwed-up family dynamics and how they bring out a different side of him that is only touched upon in Lost in Translation.
4. Werewolf stories often use certain recurring tropes or archetypes (e.g., fated mates and Alphas). What is your favorite part of how you made those familiar tropes your own?
I find the fated mates trope interesting, particularly because of how it affects how authors create tension, since the source of tension in so many romance novels is the "will they, won't they" dynamic. Many werewolf stories focus on the fated mates trope, with characters typically looking forward to finding their mate and immediately becoming smitten with them once they find them.
As I started writing Lost in Translation, I decided the central conflict would play on that theme. I wanted to explore a slightly different approach that considered characters who weren't in a hurry to find their mate for whatever reason. I wanted to look at scenarios like, what if they didn't want a mate at all? What if they didn't care for "Fate" or what it had in store for them? What happens when it isn't a "fairy tale romance" like everyone expects?
5. What is your favorite book you've read recently (either on or off Wattpad) and what do you love about it?
Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans is a fantastic slow-burn, period fantasy romance featuring neurodivergent, queer characters. His writing never fails to have me hooked, but I love this one in particular for its depiction of how someone with ADHD and an autistic person often complement each other. As someone who is both autistic and ADHD and was diagnosed with both as an adult, seeing these traits represented in a positive and desirable light was a significant part of me coming not just to accept but to celebrate these parts of myself. Plus, I'm a huge sucker for a good slow-burn.
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I also love Between the Lines by the Wattpad user Sareyen. It is a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek, queer romance story about a guy who gets sucked into a cheesy love story and falls for all of the same cliches and tropes the original main character did - but with a twist. I won't spoil it, but it is laugh-out-loud funny (especially for anyone like myself, who spends a lot of time reading cheesy/raunchy love stories) without losing any of its romantic charm. It has a perfect blend of humor, angst, and fluff. I highly recommend it to anyone.
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Many thanks to Lackofabetterword for the amazing interview! We hope this interview will have everyone howling for more of her wonderful writing.
