From Readers to Writers

Interview-15: Star Wars || Rise of Ren, by SapphireAlena

SEQUEL TO _Star Wars: The New Jedi Order_ 

Eleven years have passed since The Battle of Endor, and ten since The Battle of Jakku. With the discovery of _The Journal of the Whills_, an ancient book that records the early days of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker has rewritten the Jedi Code and eliminated some of the more recent additions to the Order's traditions, including excising the non-attachment clause. 

Luke and Naluma find that the Jedi Code isn't the only thing that has changed. With the addition of Ben Solo to the Jedi Academy, what was once relative peace and tranquility on their hidden planet in Wild Space has now become a bastion for the darkside. 

Meanwhile, the First Order bites off chunks of the New Republic, one system at a time, as Supreme Leader Snoke plans his ultimate take-over to liquidate the entire Jedi Order. 

This story picks up 18 hours after the end of _The New Jedi Order_.

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1. {Selcouth questions} Were you always an avid reader or writer?

{Alena answers} Reading comprehension did not click for me until Spring Break during sixth grade (way back in 1980). Ever since then, I have been a bookworm. I even read books in line at Disneyland.

As for writing, I started when I was 14 after I saw Return of the Jedi in the cinema. That started my love for the fandom and introduced me to my best friend in high school who was also a fan. She and I started writing stories a few days later. We continued writing until we were 26.Then we went our separate ways as life took us in different directions. That was the mid-90's, also known as the "dark times" of the Star Wars fandom, because we only had just started getting the EU books and George had announced he wasn't going to do the rest of movies. After the prequels came out, I was done with the fandom. It just didn't entice me anymore. I was also done with writing.However, The Force Awakens changed it all. I read the book and listened to the soundtrack over and over. There were so many clues. I had to figure them out. The only way I could was to write a story. I started on December 26, 2015. First draft was done by January 8, 2016. I think I'm done now, except for minor errors that I still haven't caught yet.

Also, I'm writing again, and not just fanfiction, as you can see.

  2. {Selcouth questions} How did you get the idea for your book-Star Wars || Rise of Ren? 

 {Alena answers} It was a book club writing challenge back in November 2016. We were supposed to write the best story with a plot twist. I had never written a plot twist like this, so it was truly a challenge. I ended up analyzing how to do that correctly.

  3. {Selcouth questions} Is the theme or protagonist, of your book, related to you or your life? 

 {Alena answers} No. None of the characters are based on people I know. They are all fresh constructs.

  4. {Selcouth questions} Who inspires you to write? 

 {Alena answers} Lucasfilm/Star Wars. My friend from high school. My sister.

  5. {Selcouth questions} In the near future, do you have plans to take your writing, to a new level? 

 {Alena answers} Yes. I am working on the structure of an original fic that would fall under "New Adult." Have no idea when I'll write the first chapter, though. I'm really busy with everything else right now.

  6. {Selcouth questions} How does it feel, to be the winner of The Spice Awards? 

 {Alena answers} I LOVE IT! Thank you so very much for all the love.

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Thank you Alena, for taking time, out of your schedule, in order to answer this interview.