Name of Author: Katrina Katrina_Crane

Title of Book: Purgatory

Favorite Authors: Stephen King, J.R.R. Tolkien, and so many others I can't possibly list them all.

Bio: Hello, Wattpad world! My name is Katrina and I love all things paranormal and spooky. My obsession with the paranormal more than likely stems from the fact I was born on a Friday the 13th on a full moon, but it could also just be the fact I read too many R.L. Stine books as a kid. My own stories are often a mixture of horror and dark comedy: an unfortunate consequence of my warped sense of humor. I am unrepentantly awkward and I am a caffeine dependent being.

Purgatory

https://www.wattpad.com/story/11544191-purgatory-part-one-of-the-purgatory-series

Can you explain what your book is all about?

The plot of Purgatory is what would happen if a person realistically ever had the misfortune of becoming a monster. Most paranormal stories I've seen have heroes and heroines who seem to adjust to the supernatural world rather quickly and with little to no internal struggle. In Purgatory, my main character Thea is a flawed, quite eccentric person whose worst fears are realized all at once and she is forced to face them or face the possibility of a fate worse than death. Her attempts at coping with her situation are at times hilarious and also heartbreaking.

Who is your target audience - and why?

My target audience is rather broad. The story is probably suitable for anyone over 13, as it isn't all that graphically violent or mature. However, according to Wattpad's demographics charts I've found the story is most popular among women between 18 and 25.

What is 'paranormal' about your story?

My story is set in purgatory, which in my series is the afterlife for all paranormal monsters. Throughout the book multiple types of monsters are introduced including vampires, shapeshifters, goblins, and werewolves.

Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones - and why?

I think there is a little bit of everything in this book. Occasionally there will be comedy, action, romance, and even some mystery. It's kind of a rollercoaster of different emotions and themes throughout.

Tell us about your writing process - how do you get from story idea to a Wattpad published story?

I have dozens of ideas for stories in a file on my computer just waiting to be written. I love brainstorming ideas and I think I'm up to 24 unwritten ideas at the moment. After I come up with an idea I jot everything down in a word file and then begin research. I look up any and all things that are relevant to my plot and save anything that inspires me. Once I feel I have the story idea fleshed out enough, I start writing and just let the words flow.

Did you encounter any challenges when writing, if so - how did you overcome them?

Oh, yes. Purgatory is a three part series at the moment, and I've encountered problems with the third book due to errors I made in the first. My side characters weren't a big enough part of the series and one of the relationships didn't seem as meaningful as I wanted. I'm in the process of fixing the problems now. I'm editing part one to add more chapters that include the side characters and explain their motivations a bit more.

You often hear that 'writing well' is the baseline for success. What does that mean for you?

Writing well to me means a lot of hard work and dedication. I think if you want to write well you should put a lot of thought into your work and take the time to make sure it is the best it can be. Personally, I believe the only way to write well is to constantly strive to improve and grow in your craft.