Q&A + Little review

@for-fucks-sake-H

Jamaica me happy, As you held onto me and Blurbs by for-fucks-sake-h

I first started reading her books when a friend recommended them. I started with "Jamaica me Happy" and completely fell in love with her writing. The force of Anna is the description. She goes into so much details that you can clearly set the scene in your mind.

"As you held onto me" is quite different from the first one. It's a much more difficult subject to write about but she did it with so much empathy and compassion that you literally feel like you're going through this with them. It's still on going so I don't know how it will involve but I'm very curious to see what's next.

Q&A

What is the first book that made you cry?

Oh man, definitely "Hide", that was the first story I got attached to and was my sort of gateway to fanfiction in general. 

Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Hm, I'd say it depends what I'm writing. For the most part it energizes me, I get really excited when I get a scene finished. But there are definitely sad/angst scenes that have worn me out.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Omg we're getting deep for this Capricorn lol. Probably that it's not crazy to write stories in your room by yourself, and that feeling of wanting to share them would actually come to fruition.

What's your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Hmmmm. There's a writer on tumblr, harrystylesgotmefuckedup ( yourekillingmestyles ), who I think is super underappreciated. I remember reading her story called Noir and thinking why the F does this not have more feedback? I thought it was phenomenal.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Not many, honestly! When I get an idea for something it usually nags my brain until I get it out lol. Only a couple kinda just fizzled out.

What's the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

I don't know why I'm struggling with this question so much lol I really don't know! Maybe the way they speak and differentiating it from how the mc speaks.

Have you ever edit something out of a book and regretted it afterwards?

No, actually. But I ALMOST did! Right before I posted Jamaica Me Happy 3, I thought about removing the fight scene and just leaving them to be happy. So glad I didn't do that because now the story is what it is!

How do you select the names of your characters?

I only have one story where the mc has a name, and it was honestly hard to choose lol.

Do you read your book comments? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I read every single comment! I haven't been on Wattpad that long so I haven't experienced anything bad yet.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

Little Easter eggs! Yes lol the beach boys song in Jamaica Me Happy 6 was a nod to my girls. Every time I use the word "lethal" I think of my friend who has that word in the title of one of her stories, and she knows that, so that's a little nod to her as well. It makes it fun!

What was your hardest scene to write?

There's a scene in As You Held Onto Me that hasn't been posted yet, and that was the hardest to write but in a cathartic sort of way.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Probably having the time to write line up with feeling creative. Sometimes I'll have time but nothing really happens, and then when I'm feeling creative I'm too busy to write it out.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

A while lol I could write a few hundred words in one sitting but then not touch it for a week.

What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?

Omg, I think the visuals and the way the characters show their emotions in their body language. I want to feel everything.

What comes first, the plot or characters?

Just depends! I've thought of each first sometimes!

Describe your writing space.

Completely silent always lol sometimes at my kitchen table on my computer and other times on my couch, sometimes in the bath on my phone and sometimes in my car on my lunch break. Just depends!

When you're writing an emotionally draining (or sexy, or sad, etc) scene, how do you get in the mood?

I always have to reread the last few paragraphs that I wrote to get myself back into the scene. Sometimes I'll listen to music that I correlate with the scene right before and then just go for it.

When writing a series how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?

I always try to leave off on some sort of cliff hanger, something intriguing that makes them want to come back for more.

What was your favourite part, and your least favourite part, of the publishing journey?

Interacting with people that have read/enjoyed my writing is so special to me. And my least favorite is definitely when I compare myself to other writers.

Do you have a favourite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special.

Harry in As You Held Onto Me. He gives me all the good, supportive, soft husband vibes.

What do you hope your readers take away from your books?

How much the characters love each other. And how much of a boss the mc is lol we love a strong woman around here.

How many plot ideas are just waiting to be written? Can you tell us about one?

I don't really have many floating around at the same time! Right now I have this whole idea of being Harry's realtor so that's what I'm currently working on.

Do you have a favourite quote from any of your books? Or a favourite moment that stands out?

I really loved this paragraph from Jamaica Me Happy 5.

"You wondered if the disarray of your friendship had plagued him the same way it did you, if your time apart proved to feel like a monumental loss. It felt like a slippery slope, the way you were trying to sift through your feelings and get back to a good place with him. And it was hard to try to take things slowly. As much as you rationed that it was the right thing to do - to ease back into your friendship - there was a part of you that simply wanted to jump back in. Pick up where you left off. You couldn't help that your hand twitched at the thought of sliding your fingers together with his. It felt good being around him again. But as you looked at him in your car, sitting there like so many times he had before, platonic and carefree, you quickly realized that it wasn't enough. Your previous feelings that having him in any way would be better than nothing fell away. It wasn't going to be enough. You had him as a lover, you got a glimpse of being on the receiving end of that kind of affection from him. It almost felt like a small bit of torture to wait and see where things fell. And you were scared, because looking at him, watching the way he tilt his head back against the headrest, absorbing the sun's rays, you knew your friendship would never be the same. It couldn't. There would always be this underlying want - this desire."

Share something your readers wouldn't know about you.

I'm genuinely blown away that people enjoy my writing and look forward to things I write. I'll never get over that.