Question One: What inspired you to create They Can't Know and Living Monsters

A: They Can't Know: I made a dramatic texting story and let ideas flow. I separated the story between three characters (Daria, Liam, and Penelope). Later, I divided it into eight chapters.

Living Monsters: The characters are based off the actual Sims, but I changed them up quite a bit I would say.

Question Two: What was the purpose of the story?

A: The message for Living Monsters that I already tried to convey was that it doesn't matter if a person is book smart or attractive or rich in a cruel world. Maybe it comes down to who can protect the ones around them no matter the cost.

Question Three: Is there anything interesting about the development of the story?

A: (Spoilers)

More character development, I'd say that's more intriguing.

Lana thinks that Penny doesn't make an effort to understand her point of view and her lost connection to her birth mother. She thinks her decisive nature is why Bianca might be still alive and why Lana, Penny, and Aarav haven't gotten infected.

Question Four: In terms of the characters, how were you able to find personalities for them? Also, did any outside influences affect the characters in terms of personality?

A: They were based off of archetypes that I had in my brain from the start, particularly the main ones. Ideas about the characters' occupations and pre-apocalypic life came to mind after a while. That's all I think.

Question Five: How do you personally feel about the book and is there anything you wish more people knew about.

A: It's been a bit of a challenge to write because personally, I can't identify with any of the characters. I intentionally made it that way in order to grasp a clear picture in my mind of the characters based on their actions and emotions.

How they are in the heat of a tense moment constrasting to in a moment of relaxation, like vehicles, fascinates me. It's like they can say what they really feel once they find their way out of tough situations.

Question Six: What was it about the Sims game that drove you to create the series?

A: The franchise has an abundance of traits, unique and iconic characters, and immerse worlds. I did not steal those worlds and describe them in detail, however there's some fragments of setting already in my novel and also more coming up.

Question Seven: Any fun facts about the story, it's characters, and early thoughts?

A: Penny was constantly being left alone in her small mansion by her workaholic parents, and her mother was unwilling to have more kids, so she adopted a daughter her age. They were distant, but had no real hostility towards each other in their early years. They didn't come from the same background, so maybe that was why.

Final Question: Any real life author or writer that you've looked up to?

A: I love Lisa Graff. She's amazing at putting herself in the shoes of boys that were the same age as me at the time that I read some of her books, and she has recurring themes of friendship and growth, which I love.

Extra Information: I speak Russian and I am of Russian, Polish, German, and Irish ancestry.

It is done, enjoy this interview because FloatingMagpie is next!