My interview with the amazing leigh_. Known by me for her story Friendship For Dummies and her recently started short story The Baby Project. She was a very lovely person to interview and I'd like to say a big thank you to her for allowing me to interview her!
How did you find out about Wattpad?
I came across the app on my phone a couple of years ago and I started reading some of the stories on there. Eventually, I made my own account, but it was still a long time before I posted anything. In July last year I posted the first chapter of Serenity Falls, and I’m so glad I did.
Where did you get your inspiration for Friendship for Dummies?
I really don’t know. I swear I don’t get inspired like normal people, haha. I guess I’ve always had a bit of a thing for childhood best friend stories so I put a spin on the usual plot and came up with FFD. I came very close not to going through with the idea because I thought it was cliché and I’d be criticized on that. But I wanted to write it because it sounded fun, and I don’t think it’s cliché now.
What’s your favourite book?
Oh, this is easy! The Hunger Games, definitely. I’m kind of ashamed to say I’d never really heard of it before the film, but it is easily my favourite now. Apart from that, though, I really like Sarah Dessen’s books.
Favourite fictional character?
Peeta from THG! He is so cute and perfect and... yeah. I want my own. Enough said.
Connor has a very big personality change throughout Friendship for Dummies, is the character based on anyone you know?
Nope, he’s completely fictional. As is everything about that story. None of the characters are based on people I know, and all the events I just made up. I very rarely take inspiration from real life because, well... my life’s really not that interesting haha. A story about myself would be very boring.
The Baby Project made me laugh very much when I’ve been reading it, where did you come up with the idea?
It came to me a couple of weeks ago in the middle of the night. I don’t really know why I didn’t think of it sooner, as there is a similar thing in my school. It kind of got me thinking about how I could change it up – being in “couples”, and having it for a week instead of overnight – and make it into a story. And as I said before, I’m a sucker for the whole “best friend” thing, so that’s where the two characters came from. But it’s by no means original. I’m sure other people have written similar stories and I’m not saying I have copyright on the idea because I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the first to think of it.
Have you ever actually taken part in a baby project?
No, I haven’t. I’m kind of glad about that actually, because I’m not that great with kids, haha. They do have baby simulators in my school but it’s only for Child Development, which I don’t take. My best friend had to look after one, though, and when it cried it was literally the most annoying thing ever.
What’s your most embarrassing moment?
Oh God, I have way too many. Some of them are so embarrassing I refuse to post them on the internet. But I will say that I trip... like, a lot.
Coolest thing that’s ever happened to you?
Um, I don’t actually know! Damn, I sound so boring right now. Although I would say having this amount of fans on Wattpad is pretty cool :-)
Who is your favourite author?
Probably Sarah Dessen. Recently I’ve become addicted to her books and every one of them is amazing. If I could write teen fiction like her, my life would be complete (almost). She is a genius.
Team Edward or Team Jacob or Team Vampires Suck?
Team Vampires Suck. I really don’t like Twilight – it’s overrated. I read the first book but I never got into it.
It says on your profile that your British (me too!) a question I get asked a lot is if I like tea, mainly by Americans, do you like tea? (If not, your proving A LOT of Americans/Canadians wrong!)
Nope, I don’t like tea. I feel so un-British but it’s true, lol.
Are there any upcoming stories by you that we should look out for?
At the minute, I’m only working on FFD and The Baby Project. FFD is very close to finishing though, so after the epilogue, I’ll be doing some crazy editing. And then maybe start something new. But at the minute I don’t have anything planned.
Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Just thank you so much, lol. I feel so cheesy but you are all amazing. I never expected to get such attention on FFD and TBP when I put them up. And obviously, if you’re reading this, you’re a loyal enough fan to read a whole interview by me, so I love you even more. That’s all :-)
