Hello, fellow disciples! We've been searching far and wide for individuals who have cultivated for a long time. This month, we bring you an interview with Elvira_Kamgut, the author of The Aftermath which is the Asian Mythology & Folklore All-Star of The Immortals' Conquest 2022.

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Tell us a bit about yourself!

I joined Wattpad a little over two years ago, first as a reader and then as a writer. I have way too many projects and contests I want to participate in. But I try to make it work every month.

What is your writing process? Do you outline everything or write as things come to mind? Why?

Usually, I have two to four scenes in my mind that are important to the story. Then I write a short outline that connects the scenes and has a beginning and end.

What are some things that influenced your story?

There is quite large universe in my mind, with way too many characters in it. The Aftermath described some of the historical happenings that I now had time to write about.

Tell us about the main character of one of your stories. What inspired their creation?

I really enjoy it when reading a book and I don't immediately know who the main character is. Usually, it is the one who tells the story, or through whose eyes you see it.In The Aftermath, the narrator is Xuě Lù. He tells the story through his eyes, and though there are a few moments when someone else takes over the role he is the main character.

I didn't really have a plan with him, more a person that existed in the world wanting to try their best at making it a better place.

What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

The word count.

I have come to the conclusion that I'm far better at writing flash fiction than longer stories, though I did complete the ONC. I barely hit the wordcount for the Immortals' conquest.

What message do you hope your story will tell your readers?

That, sometimes, the heroes fail. Not every quest will end with celebrations, the only victims are the opponents. Though it is very important and one of fiction's main functions is to portray happy endings, sometimes it won't happen at this moment. In this book.

But you still need to keep the hope that even if next time there still won't be a happy ending, in the end, you will succeed. Maybe because your goals have changed or because you have. But you can keep hoping regardless of where you are now.

If you woke up in a time or place that was very different from reality, what would you do?

Scream.

No seriously, I would probably die within a week, no survival instincts here. But in the unlikely event that it happens and everything will turn out alright, I would just continue living. With other people around me and different things to do.

If there was something you could learn (i.e., some spell, some martial arts, etc.) like the main character in your book, what would it be?

To understand the made-up language that is being used. Like I made it, doesn't mean I understand anything of it.

Would you rather go through a lifetime of never finding love or be willing to go through several lifetimes of hardships just to save your love? Why?

I don't know. Maybe it is different if you have fallen in love, but I wouldn't care which one it is. One lifetime seems like more than enough time on earth, though.

What is your favorite creature from Asian mythology or folklore? Why?

I don't have any, that is more to do with the fact that I don't know that much about Asian mythology and folklore. Not that I have one from a different background either.

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

Honestly same answer as the creature, I know even less about Asian myths than about their creatures. Don't think I have a favourite myth anyway.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Elvira_Kamgut! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!