Punk Rock Awards Winner in Historical Fiction

Writing Portion

1 What is your main focus, when you're writing your story?

Storytelling and characterization. I want my story and characters to be compelling and layered.

2 What is a good piece of writing advice?

Write what you want to read. If you're looking for a book that you can't find, write it.

3 Do you believe Wattpad has helped you become a better writer?

Absolutely! I've been editing and revising a lot of my older work and it's gratifying to see how much I've progressed and improved (even if I have to read things that make me cringe now).

4 What would you suggest is a good way for a newcomer to begin their Wattpad journey?

(should they begin posting their stories once they join or get a feel for Wattpad at first)

Connecting with other authors is a great way to begin your journey. I've had my account for years, but only started posting my work relatively recently. It's important to engage with the community and uplift other writers.

5 Is there an author that inspired you? (on or off Wattpad)

George R. R. Martin is and will forever be my inspiration.

6 Describe your general writing routine:

It starts off with daydreaming and a lot of caffeinated beverages.

7 What type of genre do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy fantasy the most, but I also love historical and sci-fi too!

8 What type of genre do you enjoy writing?

Ahh, fantasy, historical, and sci-fi.

9 If you could rate your first every story from 1 to 5, what would you rate it and why would you give the story that rating?

My first actual story I ever wrote was called "Mike and Sophie," when I was eight. I'd give it a 1 for a compelling plot, but 5 for creativity since I was eight.

10 Do you have future stories planned?

I have a completed book called A Realm of Magic and Mayhem! I'm hoping to get a bootcamp mentor with that one. Realm follows a teenage girl who is whisked away to a new land alongside her best friend. It has elves, magic, mythology, and a secret government organization. It's the first book of a trilogy l'm working on. I may have already started on the first chapter of the second book...

I'm currently editing my atrocious Dramione fanfic to make it more palatable and not something I'm embarrassed by.

I'm also working on A Ballad of Inferno and Ruin. It's a dystopian tale that features war and eventually, a genetically modified virus that turns people into zombies. My main character, Emma, is a teenage mother that goes through a pretty intense tragedy.

My ONC is on hiatus for now, but it's also sci-fi and involves a virus too. Oh, and denisovans.

I also have other projects on standby too, but they won't be out for a while so I can finish these.

             Author Portion

1 What is a song you enjoy? Who is the artist?

Rhiannon by Stevie Nicks!

2 What is your favorite holiday and why?

Halloween. I love to dress up and the overall spooky atmosphere. Granted, I'm big into all things spooky year round, but Halloween provides an excuse and no one can make fun of me for it lol.

3 When did you join Wattpad?

About eight years ago!

4 Do you share your writing outside Wattpad?

I share it with my fiancé and some family members. I occasionally post on Inkitt, but I'm not very active on there. Substack is a new platform I'm kind of experimenting with.

5 What is the best way to handle a bully?

Ignore them. Let them fester. Maybe cast a spell on them sending them to the abyss.

6 What is the best strategy to build your writing skill?

Keep writing! Practice makes perfect. Also, some people disagree, but reading.

7 What is your favorite snack?

Chips and guac, or queso. Depends on my mood, to be honest.

8 How would you celebrate a publishing deal?

Scream, cry, and throw up. Repeat. Once the shock is over, I would probably call everyone important to me. Then, maybe go to a steakhouse and say, "if it ain't mooin,' I ain't chewin.'"

9 What is your favorite aspect of Wattpad?

The book club I'm in and the engagement. I love getting comments and knowing that people like my work. It's what pushes me to keep going even when I think I suck.

10 What's your favorite story?

This may come as a shock, but the A Song of Ice and Fire series.

story promotion

 title: Poseidon's Revenge

genre: Historical Fiction

status: Ongoing

summary:

Temperance Elizabeth Creed was once the Governor's daughter in Port Royal, at the mouth of Kingston Harbour, in Jamaica. That is, until her life was changed forever by tragedy and circumstance.

After the brutal murder of her father by the British Royal Navy for failing to uphold order when a merchant ship came under attack by the French, she finds herself ostracized by proper society, along with her mother.

Destitute and without a home, Temperance's mother becomes increasingly more hostile and forces Temperance into unthinkable circumstances. Running away, she and the son of her fencing instructor find possible salvation on Poseidon's Revenge, a pirate ship captained by one Alistair Douglas.

As Temperance unearths secrets in the world of piracy, she gradually unveils the real reason why her father was murdered. It was initially thought the attack by the French was to undermine Britain's control of the port.

But that wasn't the truth. Her father knew and so did the Crown.

Excerpt:

"Do I disappoint you consistently, Father?" I asked him, hiding my tears, so afraid of what would come out after the incident with Benjamin.

"No, no. You are strong and spirited unlike many women and even men alike. People seek to tame you instead of understanding and appreciating you for who you are, I believe." Father wrapped an arm around me, and I leaned into him.

"I think you're the only person in this world who understands me, Father, and loves me despite it." Tears trickled down my cheeks and unto his shirt.

What should readers expect from your story?

Pirates, trauma, found family, mythology, and romance.

What should readers take away from your story?

I hope my readers will see that humans and how we behave are not black or white, that most of us operate in shades of grey. But! I also hope that they enjoy the story in general too. Family isn't always what it's supposed to be and sometimes home is where you make it. Ah, didn't mean to quote Joe Dirt there. That's embarrassing.

How could the story draw in potential readers?

I think that even with her faults, Temperance is relatable. She's resourceful, brave, and she loves with all she has. So, I hope that she will serve as a protagonist that will draw people to her.

What was something you enjoyed writing for your story?

I really enjoyed writing the siren scene and various fighting scenes, especially when Temperance makes a man a eunuch lolol.

What is something you struggled writing for your story?

Trying to maintain enough historical language with modern readability has been really difficult and it's something I struggle with. That's also why it takes forever to update sometimes. Some chapters come easier to me than others, but I promise I work very hard to make this a story worth reading. (: