Vintage | Phoenix Interviews (𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃)

SydPanda5

Xérès Éveillé, from CLN, had the pleasure of interviewing the talented author, SydPanda5. She is the author of several books on Wattpad including Rogue in Paris, Rivals in Madrid and several others

Hello SydPanda5, I'm Xérès Éveillé, an interviewer from the Crazy Late Nighters Community. You have been nominated for an interview by Editor_OfGREATBooks! I hope you're as excited about this as we are and that you're willing to give me some of your time! Let me know if you're okay with this and when you're free if you are.

Hehe I'm totally willing! I'm free now!

Great! So, let's start! But first what name would you like to go by and what are your preferred pronouns?

My name is Syd Mari (you can call me Syd), and I go by she/her.

Hey Syd, lovely to meet you! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Sure! I am a graphic designer and author on Wattpad. My completed work is Rogue in Paris, which I intend to enter into the Wattys, and I love to write! I am also a dedicated musician and have been playing piano for about ten years, and the guitar for one.

Wow, you're quite accomplished! Why did you take up writing, Syd?

Well, I've kind of always been a writer. Ever since I was 5, I have been writing stories. I came to Wattpad about two years ago, but then I took a year hiatus and disappeared ... even abandoned writing! But then, I came back due to social distancing for the coronavirus, and wrote an entire book! I was able to find my passion in writing again, and I probably wouldn't have remembered it if it weren't for the corona virus ... I guess something good came out if it.

Thank you Covid - 19! I'm sure your readers must be so glad about this! What inspired you to become a writer, and at such a tender age?

Definitely my love for books, I've always been inspired by the amazing published authors out there, and my dream is to become one of them!

I wonder which amazing author in particular inspired you? And what was your favourite piece of writing by him/her or in general?

Well the author that inspired me to come back to writing, was Ally Carter and her book Series 'I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You'. That book actually also inspired me to write Rogue in Paris; my high – stakes espionage novel!

Seems like I'll have to check her out then! Speaking of Rogue In Paris, I heard that the story won first place for Action in The Library Awards lately. How did that news make you feel? Did it change anything for you?

It did! I'm happy to say that I've been winning a lot of 1st place awards recently, which tells me that my rewriting of Rogue in Paris is definitely not going to waste! I wasn't sure if I was just making it worse or not, but these awards have upped my confidence level in writing and helped me realize that I'm doing the right things for my book!

That's wonderful, and congratulations! Are your characters based on real people?

Yes, actually. My main character, Harper Medley, is based on me with her confident and reckless nature, and her best friend, Amber Talle is actually based on my red-headed best friend too. For the other characters I based them off of what I would want them to be like in the role they play. For example, the main character's lover Beau Antario. I gave him the traits I would want in a boyfriend, such as kindness, humility, humor, and a charming air about him.