ACE AWARD SUPREME - INTERVIEWS

Third Place in Vampire Werewolf, B2

What do you, as the writer of your works, like about your book (placed) the most?

I like the chemistry between the group of protagonists the most. :) They meet each other as strangers from different corners of the dying world they're struggling to survive in. Necessity forces them together, but a realization that they're all not so different keeps them together. Their evolving friendship has been a joy to write and I'm excited to see where they all end up as the series progresses. They're not perfect characters, of course. They bicker and fight and hurt each other, but then they apologize and actually make an effort to do better next time. By the end of "Rise", it's clear that their shared experiences on their long journey has made them into a family.

What inspired you to write your book (placed)?

So the story for The Red Sun Rapture series has been one that I've been working on in my head since I was in middle school over a decade ago. Sigh. I blame anime for the creation of Red Sun Rapture. :( I never really planned on writing it, it was just a fun daydream to return to every once in a while. The story and characters have changed drastically from their original versions over time (thank goodness!) but it's still very dear to my heart. (If you pick up any InuYasha or Wolf's Rain vibes from "RIse", you can blame middle school HKelle for that.)

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

So far, I have completed "Rise", the first book of the Red Sun Rapture Series. "Marvela Mystic" is the second book I have completed, which is a shorter and more light-hearted story about a kitten who becomes a witch. In progress, I have the second book of the RSR series, "Zenith", and a book called, "In the Night, a Smile", which is a werewolf/romance/vigilante story. I hope to have both of these books completed before the end of 2020!

What inspired/inspires you to write?

The thought of people falling in love with my characters and story as I have keeps me writing. Every time I publish a new chapter, it makes me happy to share my stories. :) So to my readers, I just want to say thank you! <3 You guys inspire me.

What was the first thing that drove you to start writing?

Well, initially "Rise" and The Red Sun Rapture series were intended to be a graphic novel series, not a book trilogy. Then I sat down and did the math and realized that that would involve me illustrating literally thousands of comic pages (screams internally). That would be a project that I could never finish and the Red Sun Rapture story meant too much to me to never finish it. So! I decided to try my hand at writing it as a book and three months later "Rise" was done!

Do you get writer's block frequently? If so, what do you do to combat it?

Absolutely! I'm suffering from writer's block right this second. 🙃 Usually, my writer's block consists of a lack of motivation to start writing rather than a lack of inspiration. Whenever I run out of steam, I take it as a sign to take a break from writing. So I close out Google Docs, tuck away my laptop, and focus on other hobbies or chores. While I do them, I listen to music that helps inspire me. Bands like Starset, Ghost, Lord Huron, Hollow Coves, Of Monsters and Men, and Florence and the Machine are HUGE sources of inspiration fuel for Red Sun Rapture. Other times, I'll draw or paint. Sometimes I draw something related to my story. Sometimes I don't. I don't try to force myself to write. The motivation always comes back on its own in time. Even though I like to push myself to finish a book as quickly as I can, I always like to remind myself that even when I fall behind on my writing schedule, the story will be done eventually. Slow progress is still progress.