The following interview was compiled based on questions submitted by members and followers. We hope you enjoy getting to know one of our critics a little better!

What's your favorite thing about being a critic for the GRA?(@d_s_t_e)

I think it's no secret that I'm a picky reader. I find it very hard to finish books I don't like and find it even harder to remotely start books that don't appeal to my taste. GRA promote variety through its very qualified fanfic recommenders that pick books through a very large pool of fanfiction.

It forces me to read and accept things I wouldn't have otherwise. It encourages me to read things out of my comfort zone. It makes me critique the worse and best of books.

What do you do outside of the GRA?(@Shayminkid123)

I have a pretty busy life, but I find time management to be one of the best skills I possess.

I currently have two jobs. One is a waitress, which fits me since I'm a charismatic person. I'm also self-employed as I own my own small catering business in southeast Florida. I'm working on a future website and setting up social media so I can ship nationally!

I participate in a ton of clubs/activities. I regularly volunteer at soup kitchens in Miami. I'm the current president of my debate club. I'm very active in my school's Model United Nations and DECA programs.

Then, in my spare time separate from schoolwork or work, I dedicate myself to my own health. I play softball, recreational tennis, and a regular at my local gym.

That's just a rundown of the general things.

Do you think you will ever find a book on Wattpad that you would give a perfect score in a review?(@d_s_t_e)

I mean, I can hardly give someone an 8/10 on a review so a 10 seems absurd to me.

Where do you hope to be and doing in a couple of years(2-3)?(@Shayminkid123)

I have a very specific plan to how I want my life to play out career-wise. And I really do hope that it goes out the way I want it to, but I never never guarantee that.

In 2-3 years, I'll definitely be in college for my undergraduate degree. I plan on completely my undergraduate degree in 3 years to head off to law school. That means my summers will be sacrificed.

Will I continue to write? I'm not sure. I hope so.

Which one of your books was most enjoyable to write, and which one of your characters have connected with you the most?(@Shayminkid123)

Everyone pretty much knows Monopoly was the most enjoyable for me. Even if you didn't read it, you could tell by the chapter dumps and the frequency of uploads.

As for characters, there's a small piece of me in every single one of my characters. Most would say with certainty that Blake Hawthorne or Wiktoria are without a doubt my fictional counterparts. While I do think Blake or Wiktoria are the closest personality matches, I don't nearly connect to them as much as Cairo Arlington. People will probably be greatly confused by this pick until they read Part IV and V of Monopoly II.

Do you have a soul?(@Shayminkid123)

No, I don't.

How did you find out the best critiquing style to use?(@Shayminkid123)

I wouldn't necessarily consider it "the best." There's definitely advantages to the way I critique things, but it's definitely not the best.

However, it's the best for my personal style. I started doing critiques because I saw a demand for my hardcore, brutal, overly sarcastic critiquing style. It allows me to be vocal and say things that I truly believe.

If you could become any character in your book, which character would you want to be and why?(@NaivEevee)

Okay, let's rule out every Monopoly character. Whoever wants to be anyone in that book is a masochist.

I really want to be Lex from Velvet Crescent. If I could live a very peaceful life where my only source of stress is eating every three hours on the dot as a friendly Mudkip, I would be very happy. Very happy.

If you could create a slogan for your life, what would it be?(@NaivEevee)

"It isn't cheating unless you're caught." Just kidding.

What is one thing/advice you wished you were told when you were a younger writer?(@NaivEevee)

ONE thing? I'm sorry, but there's just WAY too many things I would say to my younger self.

I'll give you guys some context though.

Back when I was a puny eleven year old, I wrote fanfiction X Reader's on DeviantArt. Yes, I was that cringey child who thought I was cool.

So:

1- Please don't create meaningless 1k word fics strictly for fanservice.

2- Don't use the word "said" seventeen times in a scene.

3- Please expand your vocabulary. You sound like a five year old.

4- Don't describe French kissing if you never actually French kissed or researched French kissing.

What is one unknown fact about you?(@NaivEevee)

Oh jeez. I tell you guys everything.

Hm hm. My family is like super Italian, but I don't like eating tomatoes often?

What is an unusual hobby of yours?(@NaivEevee)

I bullet journal!! Basically, it's super esthetically pleasing planning/journaling that is very satisfying.

Would you rather stop writing romance books or stop writing books that have like...business/economic/political ties to them?(@NaivEevee)

I would totally give up romance books are you kidding me.

You can't take my corporate political dramas away from me.

What is the favorite thing about your trip to Europe this summer?(@NaivEevee)

Clearly, it's the new set of British guys' phone numbers I have.

Just kidding.

I think my favorite place was London. Most people are like "seriously, you go to the U.K. and you like the city better than the greenery?" What can I say? I'm a city kid.

I was there the longest though so that could be a reason why. But I did really like Dublin and Liverpool.

I plan to study abroad in the future and those are really great areas I would love to live in for a semester.

What is something you wish you could do, but for some reason can't?(@NaivEevee)

I can't write books with multiple large locations. Basically, I would suck at adventure.

Nights Without Arceus took place on a single island.

Velvet Crescent took place in a single city.

Monopoly kinda was limited to the workplace and the characters' homes lol.

I just can't for some reason. I don't know why.

Would you rather give up frozen yogurt or all of your protein bars?(@NaivEevee)

I think I started these awful types of questions. I guess I deserve this.

...I would give up frozen yogurt...

And take the sacrifice to switch back to ice cream.

Listen, I'm addicted to Quest bars. Don't judge.

/says while eating quest bar(cookies and cream flavor)

What is the funniest thing you've heard/seen?(@NaivEevee)

Eve's protein bar question.

Would you consider your book Monopoly to be an ideal Fanfic for you?(@NaivEevee)

The genres are definitely ideal. Corporate/Political dramas are basically everything I want in my life.

I don't really like pointing out certain books as my ideal because it's not like I need one billionaire asshat, a corporate lawyer, or other character roles/whatever to meet my ideal.

I mean, throw in some scandal and stuff—bam, you got me hooked.

I'm not too picky, but corporate/political dramas themselves are hard to come by.

And no, those billionaire romance stories don't count. I swear, why is it that EVERY book has the male love interest as the rich guy???? Gasp. Women can make money???

If you could read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?(@NaivEevee)

I would say the dictionary if that includes the Webster dictionary feature on IOS. I swear I can't live without that for obvious reasons.

Is there anything you plan to do with your skill as a digital artist?(@NaivEevee)

Funny you mention this.

I did point out before that I was starting my own website for my catering business. I'm actually making my own logo and not hiring anyone to make the appearance of the website.

I think it's simple things that make my amateur art skills be somewhat useful.

If you could stay an age forever, what would it be and why?(@NaivEevee)

Everyone says 25 for this question, but I disagree.

I would want to be a 5 year old. No stress. All the games of tag and hide n seek. No periods. No cooking. No cleaning. Hopefully I'm potty trained???

Would you rather get rid of Skype or Wattpad?(@NaivEevee)

This isn't really that evil. Skype is obvious.

There such thing called FaceTime and other video chatting stuff.

What is your favorite book from your childhood?(@NaivEevee)

Fourth grade memories are coming back to me.

Warrior Cats is an obvious one. I think I read up until the second generation books until I grew out of them. Are the Percy Jackson books still a thing? Not sure, but they were huge in elementary school for me.

What is something daredevil-ish that you would dare to do if you had the time and resources to do it for reals?(@NaivEevee)

Skydive. 110% certain.

Actually, my father promised me that when I'm 18, we can both do it together.

Compare and contrast your younger self to your present self.(@NaivEevee)

My younger self was honestly so embarrassing. I was a hotshot. Really. I just started trying things, from different sports to art to writing to theater. I thought I was good at everything. Well, I'm not. I realized that much.

Now, I'm kinda this weird blend. I call my brand of narcissism "jokingly narcissistic." It where I crack jokes that lead to narcissism and I don't actually believe they're true. My humor is way more dryer, way more mature—darker definitely.

Other than a crippling injury in middle school that caused me to stop working out, I've always been relatively active. I think I was the last age group that played on the streets as a kid?

Why would you like to see more mature themed Pokémon books? (@glitterandasphalt)

It's kinda selfish of me to want to see more mature books. I want the type of mature that isn't graphic violence or gore.

It only interests me more because I grew up very close to Newark and New York City in an awful area riddled with human trafficking, drugs, and gang activity. I've seen people—even very close friends—ruin their lives.

So I relate to more mature themes so much more than what is currently being explored.

And it isn't just gangs or drugs or anything like that. Just recently, I gained respect for sexual themes as well because of issues in my personal life.

But in the end, I can hope and hope for a Pokémon character or story that I can truly connect with and it will probably never happen. I understand that it's a child's game and I understand that a majority of this community is younger.

What's your favorite Pokémon? (@glitterandasphalt)

Okay, here are some of my favorites:

Froslass

Banette

Mismagius

Scizor

Have you ever considered writing a non-fandom related novel? (@NaivEevee)

I will probably never write general fiction. I'm perfectly satisfied with staying where I am in Pokémon. The world gives me plenty of creative freedom.

Would you rather have Eve or me?(@Shayminkid123)

Totally eve.

I don't like people threatening me with blenders.

What mature television series do you enjoy watching?(@Shayminkid123)

A ton of suspense dramas.

I do have a complete list over in my random book! C: If you watch a show or two, I will gladly chat about it.

I don't really watch a ton of mainstream crime dramas like NCIS. I watched things like House of Cards or West Wing or Billions or anything like that. I'm a HUGE television fan!!!

Could you tell us about the development process of one of your stories? Like, what inspired it, and what unique factors went into the creation of scenes and characters?(@SGmijumaru)

Ooo that's trader's secret, my friend.

Just kidding. There's a method to my madness. Of course, my development process is different depending on the book.

However, there is always one thing that is the same no matter what. It always starts with an idea.

For Velvet Crescent, the idea came from me moving from New Jersey to Florida. You can draw several parallels between Goldenrod City and Hoenn in that case.

For Nights Without Arceus, I wanted to create the most bizarre thing I could manage. As in, creating a battle royale book where everyone just wants to kill each other. I wouldn't recommend it as...it takes a brace soul to tread through the array of grammatical errors.

For Monopoly, it's VERY interesting how I came up with that idea. I was in AP Psychology learning about ink blot tests and how it could measure ones personality based on one's perception of the image. I realized:

I wanted to create the most ambiguous book ever in the Pokémon community. I wanted a cast of characters where the narrator doesn't help you figure out who was important and who you should root for. And then Monopoly was born.

It's up the the reader to determine who is the true hero and villain of Monopoly based on the reader's own morals. Just like politics at its very core, it's up to the people's interpretation.

Does power give you money? Or does money buy you power? Is evil defined by your cause or your methods? Is it worse to think traditionally or radically? And most importantly, can you obtain power through the collection of personal relationships or the lack of personal relationships?

All these questions determine how you look at Monopoly. Your bias determines whether or not one character's actions were unnecessarily ruthless or warranted. And in turn, your bias determines whether Monopoly had a "bad" or "good" ending. It's all a matter of the reader's perception, just like an ink blot test.

I could get more into it, but this answer would be incredibly long.

One thing you wish to cease existing from this world forever and ever? (@NaivEevee)

I could say an answer that's political...but I would like to keep that out of this Q&A.

I would say Legos. Mostly because I did get a logo embedded into my foot when I stepped on a pile of them once. So, I blame childhood trauma.

Following my question from before: If you were stranded on an island, which two Pokémon characters would you NOT want to be stuck with and why? (@avian-skies)

I'm basing this answer off the games since that's what I'm most familiar with.

But if I had to be on an island with Pearl AND Lyra?

Oh boy.

I would jump into the ocean and drown myself.

I'm a person with very strict plans when it comes to stressful situations so spontaneous individuals will definitely drive me insane.

What annoys you more:

1) People won't stop talking even after you kindly asked them to be quiet

2) When someone says something and you ask them to repeat it, but they just brush it off with a "Nevermind"? (@avian-skies)

Definitely the first one. I happen to have a younger brother who does that A LOT. I'm pretty sure anyone with a younger sibling can relate to me now.

The second choice is annoying too though.

What(in your opinion) defines a person as good or bad? (@Shayminkid123)

To be honest, if you just mind your own business, possess the decency to not inflict bigoted opinions onto other people, and aren't affiliated with illegal things, I'll tolerate you.

Keep in mind, I try to only talk to people I consider good and nontoxic for me now. But this is just me and I understand good and bad is subjective.

Being on Wattpad or eating ice cream? (@Azul-Gale)

How about both? Lol

Technically, I eat frozen yogurt so this question doesn't effect me at all lol.

So I'll pick being on Wattpad while eating frozen yogurt.

How long have you gone without ice cream? (@Azul-Gale)

Technically, ever since I switched to frozen yogurt lol

What's your favorite thing to write? (@Azul-Gale)

Dramas. 110%

I wouldn't be myself if I said anything else.

What was your first ship in Hetalia? (@Azul-Gale)

You're asking me to recall something I was into when I was 11 lol

I really don't remember. At all.

Get rid of ice cream or softball? (@Azul-Gale)

Again, this question doesn't affect me because I eat frozen yogurt lol

Coolest item you personally own? (@NaivEevee)

I have a loop of keychains on my car keys that have the countries' flags that I've been to. I find it really satisfying.

Briefly summarize the first story you ever remember writing. (@NaivEevee)

Chances are, it was probably a really cringey romance book. I'm talking the ones that I rant about in my Critic Corner.

So yes, I've been there people.