Intimate Interviews

What The *&%! Moments with Shimaira

Hello Darklings,

Today we sit down with a bold author who stories will have your jaws dropping, and minds titillated. Welcome to WattpadAfterDark, Shimaira.

We'd love to get to know you better. Can you tell us more about yourself? 

Hi, I'm Shimaira (she/they) and I write dark fiction often inspired by my dreams and nightmares. I'm queer, autistic, have PTSD and for my breadjob I work in a lab where I help develop vaccines.

What made you take up the pen and start writing? 

Back in highschool I had friends who read and wrote fanfics, and I wanted in on the fun. I also realised that writing was a good way to help me deal with my various mental health issues and help me process trauma.

What inspires you as an author? 

My dreams and nightmares 💃 I have really vivid dreams and I have multiple short stories that are inspired by or even full retellings of dreams. My published novel got a whole new ending for the second edition after I dreamt a much better ending for it, and my current wip includes multiple dreams and nightmares featuring the same character.

What inspired you to write your first steamy scene? Could you tell us more about that experience? Was it a slow buildup to a not-so-innocent kiss, or did your characters jump right into the action?

I was actually challenged to write a steamy scene by one of my friends. I used characters of an existing novel that were in a relationship and decided to just write what they would be up to together. I decided it would be fun to write the FMC seeing her boyfriend in his full demon form for the first time and how sexy time would go if there was also a very long and flexible tail involved 😏 because of the setting and relationship, that scene escalated quickly 😂

Was writing "after dark" material something that occurred naturally to you, or was it a craft that you practiced till you perfected? 

Sometimes I get stuck on accuracy and need to do research, and sometimes it's just really difficult to get an answer (eg would the highly trained horses belonging to the Golden Horde trust/obey strangers?) or a recent example of my current horror wip had to do with losing a nail, how long it take to heal/regrow, and how long it hurts/remains sensitive.

 
When it comes to spicy scenes, I find it challenging to keep the various scenes interesting. To me, and it might be my asexuality speaking, I fear it gets repetitive/boring quite quickly. I found it helps to add some diversity in sex acts/positions or kink into the mix.

What is one thing about writing that no one told you about, or what is one piece of advice you would like to share with other writers especially when it comes to writing AfterDark material?

Be aware that you can't please everyone. Especially with spicy scenes, tastes vary! Some people like refering to body parts as bud, petals, member, etc. while other people prefer terms like cunt, pussy, cock, etc. Some people wants all the details — sounds, smells, info on sizes and all the fluids — while others prefer more room for their own imagination to fill in the blanks.
Just write what you like and what is comfortable for you, and readers will follow ♡

What's the most scandalous thing you've ever written?

I suppose it would be a scene in a medieval dungeon involving 4 people (2 men, 2 women) where it starts with one of the men being chained up and the other playing with him (there is blood involved cos "vampires"), the women tease the chained man, then the two women start fooling around with one another, basically giving the men a show. After the men start having sex (and yes, there is lube) basically giving the women a show of their own, they eventually also join for a full foursome.

This scene in question is in my published novel MY LORD. There is a version posted on wattpad but this specific scene is only in the published book.

Do you have a favorite novel from the titles you've written and why is it your chosen one?

I only have 1 novel published and the rest of my completed novels I consider drafts as they need editing or even rewriting, but my dark fantasy MILLENNIUM is closest to my heart despite getting a full rewrite. I started that book when I was 15 (version 1, version 2 started when I was 17) and it took me a decade to finish (140k words!). Those characters are just so dear to me and I can't wait to get back to the new version of that story 💜 it was available on wattpad, completed, for 3-4 years before I read it back, cringed at the plotholes and poor character development, and decided to redo the entire novel.
~this would be that story mentioned earlier with the demon sex scene involving a long tail 😝

Are you a panster, or plotter, or both? How does that work for you?

Both. I started as a pantser but now I try to work out characters and lore and at least get some major plotlines figured out before I start writing. Going in fully pantsing is fun but I've noticed that, for me, I end up with character's not acting logically and/or plotholes.

Is there a dirty secret or salacious tryst about one of your characters that only you know but are willing to share? 

In MY LORD, Lord Deminas, when younger and before he became lord, used to fool around (third base) with the servant Winnie and while he only did it for fun, she desired a romantic relationship. His lack of reciprocating her feelings/desires had a devastating effect on her and she kept chasing him until he became Lord, at which point he made it clear that what she wanted was not going to happen. She didn't accept this and...it led to her getting punished by losing her tongue 🙈 (this book is a spicy gothic horror after all! Haha)

Do you have any writing projects you're currently working on? Any future titles your readers should look forward to?

I'm currently working on publishing THEY CALL HIM LUCIUS, editing and rewriting parts and also adding several new scenes (thank you, recent nightmares).
That new version of MILLENNIUM is still a wip, and I was also working on editing/rewriting the novel I co-wrote called IN SICKNESS AND IN HELL, the new title being NIGHTMARE STALKER.
The sequel to Lucius is on hold and a sequel for My Lord is also somewhere in the future.

If you were a character in your story, who would you be and why? 

Haha a lot of my characters have bits of me in them, but if I were to choose, I'd rather be Meya as she has a decently happy ending plus she gets to live forever with her lovers. (I also just don't want to suffer like many of my other characters do. Being a horror writer doesn't leave many "safe" character options haha)

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year to write a book that took place in that same setting, where would you choose and why?  

Well, guess I'd take an Eastern European castle then to write My Lord's sequel 🏰

Do you have a favourite author? (On or off Wattpad)

C. M. Rosens ( CelticRose) is the author of one of my all-time fav books THE CROWS. I've lost count how often I've listened to the audiobook version of that eldritch gothic horror novel.

Do you have any hobbies? 

Aside from writing, I crochet and I love to game (pc). I don't get as much time to read these days, but I listen to audiobooks and horror story podcasts during commutes and chores.

If you could, what is one thing you would tell your younger self today? 

Things get better, a whole lot better ♡

Before we wrap it up, do you have any message for your readers and possible future readers?

I love comments and talking to my readers, so please don't hesitate leaving any comments on my stories or reaching out to me on Wattpad or on any of my social media (I'm most active on bluesky).

Got anything to add? 

You can visit my website for more information on my published works, my various socials, and to sign up for my newsletter.