The Bootcamp Mentors are proud to present a spotlight interview with KimberlyWesley , author of Sister Sister. Check out this writer's works and give them a shout out in the comments.
BCM: What prompted you to start writing on Wattpad and what is one thing you find valuable about the platform?
KimberlyWesley: I've been writing since forever. Mainly for myself. But I started to take it seriously in 2020 and attended a virtual writing conference. One of the workshops was on Wattpad. The five panelists were Wattpad Stars and the way they talked about their work I downloaded the app later that day. I read several books before I was even brave enough to start posting myself.
The one thing I find valuable on Wattpad is the feedback from my readers. I can tell if I am going the right direction if the comments are flowing, my book gets saved to reading lists, and they are begging for the next chapter. Authors don't get that with traditional publishing.
BCM: What motivated you to become a Bootcamp Mentor and what have you found most valuable about this Wattpad community program?
KimberlyWesley: I'm always looking to help others. I have been helping others discover Wattpad since I first downloaded it. Once my first book "blew up" I was often asked for tips. I am always sharing things that work on my social media accounts. When I saw that I could be a Bootcamp Mentor, I thought this was the perfect place to continue to help others become better.
The BCM is so much more than the Mentorship program, that is what I have learned. It's genuinely a community with writers helping other writers. There are so many tips shared that have helped me.
BCM: Tell us one thing about your writing process that you've incorporated into your mentoring?
KimberlyWesley: As a pantser, I write the story as my characters tell it to me, and most times I have no idea what will happen next. I once ended a chapter with a hint there was a big secret being hidden. I had no clue! It took days of tossing and turning, what could it be. I write the next chapter, dropped the bomb, and it worked so well for the overall story. This was not planned. Readers ate it up. So basically, shock yourself with your writing. Don't write predictable things, write the opposite of the norm..
BCM: What is the username of your 2024 mentee and the title of their story? If you had to describe your mentee's story in three words, what would they be?
KimberlyWesley: cassandrejanvier 's Take One More Step.
In three words; romantic, compelling, relatable. A sweet love story between two very relatable characters, who have gone through traumatic things that sometimes push them away from others. But through it all, the two had great chemistry so their love story is very compelling.
BCM: Can you share with us anything about the story you're currently working on?
KimberlyWesley: The story? How about five? Whenever I get asked this question I never know what to say because I am always working on multiple stories. But, I will talk about my books in the Sister Circle series. It is a four-part series about Black sorority life in college. Each book represents a new group of ladies pledging into a fictional sorority. As a 29-year member of my sorority, and a past Advisor to my collegiate chapter, these stories are based on my experience and my sorority sisters around me. I am currently writing book three which posts every Monday, Sister Sister, where I dig a bit deeper into Black Greek life (Divine Nine) and the relationship between sisters.
BCM: Share two Wattpad story recommendations.
KimberlyWesley: Heartbreak n' Heels by RoseTee3 and The Story of Us by AWryneckWrites .
Thank you, KimberlyWesley. We wish you all the best in your writing endeavors.
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Boot Camp Mentor and Mentee Spotlight Interviews
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