Welcome to our interview for this month! We are with this talented author, BellOfSilence, who penned the story, The Grimm Dossier.

What was the most difficult part of writing your story? What was the easiest?

To be honest, the hardest part of writing the story was not the plot or the planning. The hardest part was actually keeping it going. I already had the story in my head and finally 'just' had to write it down - but time was the problem. I set my mind on submitting the story to the Wattys2022 at all costs. But since it didn't come to my attention until June, time was short. There were many moments when I was on the verge of giving up. The deadline was getting closer and closer and I put everything else on the background : hobbies & leisure. I often asked myself if it was worth the stress. Or if I shouldn't just take part next year and write the story in peace? Some evenings were really hard. But I just didn't want to give up and thanks to the support of my friends and boyfriend I didn't in the end. And for that I am incredibly grateful today!

The easiest part of the story for me was the characters, especially Kyle Crowford. Kyle builds on a pen and paper character I played myself for many years. So it was easy to define weaknesses and strengths, even though the Kyle in the book stands out in various ways. It was great fun to put Benjamin Archer at his side and they both still have some secrets to uncover and adventures ahead.

What do you think are your story's strengths? Why should people read it?

It's always hard for me to praise my own story to the skies. So... If a reader wants to experience a suspenseful mystery story in a Victorian flair, likes mysteries and occult themes as well as paranormal beings, who likes a little creepiness, multi-layered characters that are not all revealed in the first book and twists - then I recommend The Grimm Dossier. If you want to get involved with the mixture of dark fantasy and Victorian flair, you will definitely enjoy it!

When you write, what comes first? The plot or the characters?

For me, the plot comes first. The plot can challenge, influence and change characters. A well-written plot should always affect the characters. Good characters will emerge if the characters can prove themselves in the plot. I always create the plot first and then think about which characters would make it more interesting. What situations would particularly challenge characters with trait XY? Circumstances make characters more interesting and strong.

How would you describe your main protagonist(s) in one word and why?

Magnificent - He's fancy as [redacted], quick-witted like a sly fox, never at a loss for words, and charming, clever and articulate. Kyle knows how to make an entrance. His confidence borders on arrogance... and the worst thing is: he is aware of it :D

What drew you to Dark Fantasy? What about this genre attracted you the most?

Dark Fantasy, for me, plays on people's fears and trepidation of the unknown in the mists. It has a sinister flair that makes your pulse race higher and you wonder what might be hiding in an old mansion or the dense forest. Serious, dark themes with the mix of fantasy and thrills is a wonderful blend. You can't be sure if something terrible might happen to the heroes or what might be lurking around the next corner.

What other genres interest you other than Dark Fantasy? Do you write in them too? If so, tell us more about those works.

In addition to Dark Fantasy, I write Historical Fantasy, fables and sagas, and fairy tales (though often with a dark or macabre twist).

For example, my stories 'The Queen of Arrows' and 'A Ballad of Heroes' are in the historical fantasy genre. The Queen of Arrows is a prequel to the stories of Robin Hood from the point of view of Maid Marian as the protagonist.

A Ballad of Heroes is a reinterpretation of the Arthurian myth with a slightly feminine twist. In the genre of fairy tales and legends, you can find under my Scary Tales series re-interpretations of fairy tales or legends in which the basic framework remains the same. Still, the stories are given a dark, perhaps even bloody, context.

If you like this kind of twisted fairy tale retelling, you might also enjoy my latest project, in which I replace the fairy tale world with a dark steampunk setting. Look forward to several short stories in the world of Grimmhold.

Tell us about your process in building dark fantasy scenes and worlds.

At this point I must confess - I hate worldbuilding. It is a long process for me to create a world that is coherent for me. I have friends and experienced writers in my circle who question such constructs and take them apart ,which helps me to make these worlds more realistic, but always makes the construction very tedious. But through conversations with those acquaintances, functioning environments and worlds emerge in which I let my stories take place.

In general, I always think carefully about which worldbuilding I need for my story and where the points of contact are. What I don't necessarily need, I usually don't develop. In general, I often start with flora and fauna, then the social and political structures. It is always important to me that there are sources of conflict.

What interesting things have you learned throughout your journey as a writer?

What I learned... well, above all, to deal with criticism and to develop further with it. Criticism is important and helpful and Wattpad is a wonderful community to identify any weaknesses. BUT you should also learn that you can never please everyone. The Grimm file was rated very poorly in a small award at the very beginning. I was totally downhearted! In the end, this story, of all things, won the German Wattys. Not every criticism has to be implemented and you shouldn't start dropping your hobby if there is a lack of votes or reads. It's important to write the stories you enjoy and not give up just because someone else doesn't like it. It's important to support each other and help each other, which is possible right here. That can take us forward together as writers! Anyone can be a critic - but you should always have respect for the works. Creating something is not easy and always a great achievement.

Have you ever come across a book which deeply inspired you to start writing? If yes, tell us something about it.

To be honest, no particular book got me into writing. I discovered my passion for writing when I wrote my first essay at school, and from then on my poor teachers were forced to specify a maximum number of pages in essays so that I wouldn't torture them with stories that went on forever. Eventually, I started writing role-plays in forums - and it's still like that until today.

What advice would you give a writer trying to write Dark Fantasy for the first time?

I would give the same advice as with any other genre: I would advise maybe reading a few stories in that genre to get a feel for it. I always get myself in the mood for writing with additional music and images that fit the theme. Flair is very important in Dark Fantasy and dark themes in general. Therefore, you should think about how you want to evoke it. Feelings and thoughts should not help as much as impressions... and not only hearing or seeing, also feeling or smelling! Put yourself in the situations, close your eyes and imagine it.... and then write. That way, the reader will surely see and feel what you imagine!

Is there going to be any further series of this book? If yes, give a little teaser about it.

There is much much more to come with the story of Kyle and Ben! The Grimm File was practically a prequel to the big main adventure that awaits them. Part 2 has already started and is titled 'The Whitby File - the Death Train of Kings Cross'.

What is it about?

A young girl sees a walking dead in the open streets of Whitby. A train full of corpses crashes into Kings Cross Station. In a mental institution, a gruesome nightmare becomes horrible reality.
All this should perhaps have been a warning to Kyle and his partner Benjamin of the Order of Seekers. But Kyle is a mage with an too big ego and Dr. Archer owns a loaded revolver. So what could possibly go wrong?

Is there another story in the works that you would like to share with the readers?

The next project that gets my attention is, of course, for Wattys 2023. It will be another paranormal mystery story set in the same world as The Grimm Dossier - but with different main characters carrying the plot: DEEP WATERS - The Charybdis Dossier.

Alistair Blake and Alice Clayton have been members of the Order for some time and need a new assignment. Alice has brought back more than a few ancient relics from Egypt, and Alistair urgently needs to go underground after a failed case.

The agents' latest assignment comes just in time: on an island in the middle of the Celtic Sea, local people are disappearing, and the marine fauna seems to be going completely crazy.
This could perhaps still be a coincidence - had not a resident occultist recently purchased an ancient grimoire at auction.

When the two seekers set off for St. Agnes, they have no idea what horrors are hidden in the idyllic village. But sometimes, the calm waters are especially deep and dark.

What are the goals you'd like to accomplish in the future whether in Wattpad or outside it?

As far as Wattpad is concerned, I would like to join the ranks of the Creators. Winning the English Wattys would be wonderful * laughs *. Outside of Wattpad, I would like to publish my work online and finally as a physical book. Even though digital publications are in no way inferior nowadays, this is simply a dream I would like to fulfill. Besides, my family has been wanting a copy of my book on their shelf for ages :)

Thank you so much, BellOfSilence, for being with us and agreeing to our interview. Check out their works below to support them.

The Whitby Dossier
Deep Waters: The Charybdis Dossier
The Nameless King
Rotten to the Core
Lost Boys of London
Queen of Arrows
A Ballad of Heroes
When Stars Fall
The Winter Thief

That's it for this session. Have a fantastic week ahead and see you for our next interview!