ACE AWARD SUPREME - INTERVIEWS

Third Place in Romance, B1

2. What inspired you to write your book (placed)?

2. I've always loved the Victorian era and had dreamed of writing a story set in the era for some time. Emma: A Victorian Maid, was definitely a big inspiration, as well as Downton Abbey, even though that was more 20th century than 19th century. However, I think my story had more in common with Fingersmith, a romance set in the Victorian era, and Gosford Park, a murder mystery also about a noble's house and mysterious maids and valets, set in 20th century England.

3. How many books have you written, including the ones you have not completed?

3. I've only published two finished books here on Wattpad, but I've written a lot of books and unpublished them. Some are close to completion and under revision, others not. Most are fantasy or historical fiction.

4. What inspired/inspires you to write?

4. Reading and watching movies inspires me to write, as well as feeling sad, happy, and angry. I loved writing sad scenes while listening to sad music-it really sets the mood.

8. How long have you been writing?

8. I've been writing since l was in high school. My high school English classes didn't have any creative writing involved, and I finally got my phone and privacy, so I got Wattpad and began writing there and in the notes section of my phone, later Google Docs.

9. Does your writing reflect your own thoughts intimately, or are you detached to some extent?

9. My writing definitely reflect my own thoughts. While I wouldn't say I relate to an orphan who works as a maid in a house full of creepy men, I did not find it difficult at all to write her inner thoughts.

11. Do you have any thoughts, any comments you wish to say upon winning in the Ace Awards?

11. I want to thank the judges for reading my work and also giving me the honor of third place. This was a really fun contest and I even made a new friend who's a fellow writer and won fourth place for romance.

14. What would you like to say to your readers as a token of appreciation for reading your book?

14. I want to say thank you, obviously, and I'd love to hear opinions on how I can improve my writing and what more they'd like, such as more descriptions about certain things, more focus on which characters, and maybe if they'd like more romantic scenes.

15. What is your take on the genres that you have written in (e.g romance, sci-fi, mystery)?

15. Romance really got me because it has so many emotions tied to it, from sadness to happiness. I definitely think romance deserves the love it gets (no pun intended) because there's just so many way it can be written. While there are cliches, like bad boy and good girl or Prince Charmings, each author's own interpretation of it plus subtle differences makes each story different. The endings of each romance stories also give readers different feelings in the end.

16. What do you like the most about writing? Why do you like it?

16. What I like about writing the most is the ways is makes people feel.

17. Are there any books that you've read, that have impacted your writing? If so, how have they influenced your writing?

17. Yes. One of my biggest inspirations is Margaret Miller who wrote The Song of Achilles, fairy tale authors such as the Grimm brothers, Hans Anderson, and Andrew Lang, and Angela Carter, who wrote dark retellings of classic fairy-tales.

18. What, according to you, are the disadvantages of writing (if, according to you, there are any)?

18. Definitely how hard it can be to stay strong and keep writing when you know there's so many people out there with better ideas, who write better, and are such amazing people.

20. What are your hobbies, besides writing? Why are they so?

20. I love drawing. I paint sometimes but my favorite medium is pencil or ink. I was heavily inspired by fairy tale illustrations by Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac.

21. What is the inspiration behind the title of your (placed) book?

21. The House of Beardsley came from the last name of an illustrator I loved, named Aubrey Beardsley. He was a very interesting man. The rivaling house in the story, The House of Clark, came from the name of another illustrator named Harry Clark.

22. Do you find writing to be something you would pursue as a career, or only as a hobby?

22. I would definitely pursue writing as a career, but not currently. I want to settle down for a job that will make stable money and maybe when I'm older and have honed my craft, I wish, like many writers out there, for a chance to get my book published.

25. Give us a small description of yourself!

25. I'm a super sleepy procrastinator who likes fairy tales, writing, reading, and drawing. Also, dogs are cool.

Interviewing flowersforleah.