Interviewing: growingupinsane
Interviewed by: Ella_Wisteria

Introduction:

growingupinsane is the winner in the Mystery/thriller + Adventure Category and she/he has won this place with her/his book Belladonna. II Mio Peccato.

Now, let's know a little about this author. Please read below to know about her.

Interviewing growingupinsane

Personal Questions:

1. What is your name or nickname or pen name?

Answer:  Laiba.

2. What is your nationality?

Answer:  Pakistani.

3. How old are you?

Answer:  20.

4. Are you a reader or a writer?

Answer:  Both.

5. What are your hobbies?

Answer:  Reading, writing, sketching, learning new languages/cultures, chess etc.

6. Any fun fact that you would like to share?

Answer:  My book, Belladonna, is greatly inspired from Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshades). Yes, it's inspired from a plant. Even the Italian theme was chosen upon the fact that ‘belladonna’ is an Italian word meaning ‘my lady.’ And the MC is named ‘Donna’ for the same reason. All just because I liked the word ‘Belladonna’.

7. What is or are your favourite movies or show?

Answer:  I'm not a fan of those. But I like the movie ‘Leap Year.’ As for the show, I really like the Turkish drama ‘Aisha Gul.’ And if cartoons count, then it's ‘Doraemon.’

8. What is or are your favourite food?

Answer: Totally depends on my mood, ranging from all the junk food to anything involving chocolate, coffee and apple flavor.

9. What makes you smile when you feel sad?

Answer:  My family, my friends, and every moment I've live, loved, and treasured. And my dreams, of course, that give me hope.

10. How many languages do you speak and what are they?

Answer: Finely 3, that are Pashto, Urdu and English. And a very little of French. Currently I'm learning Persian.

Professional Questions:

1. How often you are in Wattpad?

Answer:  Most of the time when I don't have college. Depends upon my schedule and exams. I'm not available much during my working days.

2. What started you on the path of writing?

Answer:  My interest for reading, greatly.

3. When did you first realize that you wanted to start writing? How and why?

Answer:  Multiple times during my school years. My family and friends pushed me until I took the step and published my first book on Wattpad. Although that was my poetry I had shared originally on various occasions, I soon developed an interest for writing stories too.

4. When did you write your first book and how old were you that time?

Answer:  About 4 years before when I was probably 17. Although I used to write way before that.

5. What are some of your favourite authors on Wattpad?

Answer: Freesia Lockheart as in crossroad and Emma Snow as in Dreaming_Love

6. How long have you been writing?

Answer:  Since I was about 12, for 8 years now.

7. Do you only write in Wattpad? Or is there any other website you write? If yes, then which other website do you write on?

Answer:  No, for now it only Wattpad for me.

8. What do you love most about writing?

Answer:  The fact that it brings your imaginations to life, and the lives that we get to live through the characters. It can be our escape from reality many times.

9. What keeps you motivated for your writing?

Answer:  My readers, and their comments. And the simple fact that I enjoy it.

10. How many books have you written? Out of all your books, which book do you think is the most successful?

Answer: Three uptil now. Out of them, ‘Destiny’ was my first one and still unrefined. But since poetry is really my thing, and the fact that my current novel too has earned multiple achievements, I'm confident in both ‘celare’ and ‘Belladonna’.

11. Are any of your characters based on people you know? If yes, would you like to mention some of the characters and how you related to them to your story.

Answer:  No, all my characters are a work of fiction and do not relate to anyone in real life. Although I've bits of myself in the MC of ‘Destiny.’

12. Who inspires you in writing?

Answer:  Anything that touches my emotions makes me write poetry. And anything that touches my imaginations makes me write novels. But my grandfather, Kamil, is my biggest and dearest muse. And of course, all the Wattpad writers.

13. What do your fans mean to you?

Answer:  My motivation, my success, my second family.

14. What advise would you give to new writers?

Answer:  It takes time to grow, but you must always learn all along the way. We can still never be perfect, but to be a beautiful imperfection you have to be patient. Have faith in yourself, don't give up on your dreams, and welcome and learn from constructive criticism. Ask for help wherever you need it. As I already said, you must keep on learning to be better and better.

15. What do you plan to do in future with your writing?

Answer:  Simple, I hope to be good enough to become a published writer.