Name of Author: ThoughtsOnPaper (Johanna Lee)
Title of Book: Death's Heart
Favorite Authors: Nick Bantock, Christopher Pike, Sydney Sheldon
Bio: I am a Filipino writer based in Perth, Western Australia. Before writing stories, I wrote poetry at a very young age. When I was 12, after one of my poems was published at a local newspaper, I took writing more seriously and my passion for it kicked in. Later on, I started writing short stories and novelettes. In high school, I would print these stories out, and share them with friends and classmates. Those stories were hardbound, with extra pages at the back to accommodate comments and dedications.
During my university years, I dreamed of being a children's story writer; I still do. Because of this, I thought of building up my portfolio, and considered writing romance stories in the local tongue. After submitting my first manuscript, the Editor-in-Chief of a local publishing company called me. During that "interview", he gave me the formula of romance storytelling. I was told the story was good, but the characters need to be adults, and it must end in marriage, or at least the readers know that the relationship will be heading towards the characters' plan of marrying each other. So, I either had to alter the story to fit the formula, or write a new one entirely. I chose the latter. The new manuscript was accepted for print. So, at 19, I was a published romance author. I had 3 stories, and one pending for print, under that publisher.
Many things happened after that–from a majorly long period of writer's block, attempting to write a story for my old publisher, later one writing it to try to submit it to Harlequin's Blush imprint, to finally deciding to publish it on Wattpad.
Until now, I am thankful that I have discovered Wattpad, because it is through this platform, I have experienced freedom as a writer. I'm not following a formula, or having to be tied down to word counts or number of pages. Now, the goal is publishing stories that I want to write.
Can you explain what your book is all about?
Death, who is the main character of the story, has been claiming the souls of the dying since the birth of humanity like clockwork.
Then there's Asha Strauss who is the typical loner, contented in living a routine as long as she's left in peace. She has this extraordinary beauty, which she has deemed as a curse. When she nearly dies, something awakens.
Now, with secrets buried by several lifetimes begin to surface, a Blessed is out to prevent destiny and fate from happening to save humanity's possible demise.
Who is your target audience - and why?
My target audience comprises of individuals 18 years old and above. Though I have no control over who can access my works, my stories are intended for adults. This is mainly because of the content I have in the story, particularly the language, sexual innuendos, and issues that might not be suitable for the younger age.
What is 'paranormal' about your story?
The story revolves around Death, who is the main character of the story. A powerful outcast, misunderstood and feared by humanity and divine beings. The character walks the earth, not only to act according to what nature has intended, but is trying to discover a part of her existence.
Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones - and why?
Death's Heart is a Romance-Paranormal story. I can't imagine any of my stories not to have an element of romance. I have always been a romance writer. It is a genre I enjoy the most, and I think it is just normal to have the aspect of love in any story because it the most natural. We understand love; we empathize with love simply because it is one of those things that makes us human.
