Hello, Wattpaders!

We are pleased to highlight an interview we completed with AmdzTora_123, the Grand Winner of the Six Realms of API Fantasy for November 2024. Hear more about her and her winning entry, "Eternal Winds: Trials of a Fantasy Deity." If you'd like to read this story, we encourage you to check it out.

* * *

Logline:

Shao Shuren, an immortal-in-training with a destiny tied to cosmic balance, must master ancient wisdom and powerful magic to protect the realms from chaos. As she battles destructive forces and navigates a forbidden romance with Hishahira, her greatest challenge lies in uniting the divine and mortal worlds before both collapses into disorder.

Blurb:

Shao Shuren, an immortal-in-training, embarks on dangerous quests to seek wisdom and protect the realms. After defeating the chaos embodiment Hundun, she gains insights from the legendary diviner Ilkay Sanjarzai and master's the Spell of Biomimetic Creation. Alongside her secret lover, Hishahira, Shao unites martial arts leaders to defeat a destructive djinn. Choosing to gain more wisdom on Earth, she helps Hishahira transform into a human, leading to a clandestine romance. Eventually, Shao discovers the ultimate cosmic secret and, with Hishahira, connects the divine and mortal realms as the Jade Guardian of the Heavenly Interface, guiding humans and maintaining balance.

About the Author:

Amanda Tora, the pen name of Gratia Beo, was born on July 8, 1999, in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. She began her writing journey on Wattpad in 2023, exploring a variety of genres such as fantasy, horror, paranormal, drama, and everyday life, often switching between English and Indonesian. Though still a novice writer, Amanda expresses her creativity through short stories, poetry, and heartfelt narratives. When she's not writing, she enjoys diving into novels, fanfics on AO3, manga, and manhwa, as well as engaging in hobbies like simulation games, knitting, embroidery, and music. Currently, she balances her passion for storytelling with her studies as an undergraduate accounting student.

Interview:

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

Before I write my story I make a question to myself whether this story that I am going to write will be enjoyable or not. Of course, I always make an outline of my writings except for poetry, because usually the poems I write just flow. I wrote an outline of the story karana:

1. I am the type of person who has a lot of imagination and must be recorded before it is lost.

2. I don't want my story to have plot holes.

3. Sometimes an outline will help me to create the next chapter if I'm struggling with the story.

2. What are some things that influenced your story?

I'm not the type of person who has to look outside for something to write about. I'm the type that comes from watching movies, reading other people's stories, and also fantasizing. These things have helped me in creating my writing so far.

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

From this story, the Chinese drama 'The Untamed' which is more precisely the character Wei Ying inspired Shao Shuren.

4. What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

Because I don't know much about Chinese culture, I am sometimes confused about how to write about it and convey it, especially the martial art scene. I have to think carefully about writing it because I am afraid that the reader will not understand what I wrote.

5. What message do you hope to convey to your readers with your story?

With my writing, I would like to convey to writers that if you want to participate in a competition event, don't think about winning or losing first, but the enjoyment and process of writing. I also want to remind you that being consistent in writing is very necessary because with our commitment we can develop our writings even better.

6. If you had the choice to transmigrate into another time or place, where would you like to go?

I honestly don't know. I've never thought of time traveling. If I go to the past to change, I'm afraid the past will change, and if I want to go to the future, I want my future to be full of surprises. So far, my life is fine, although there are many ups and downs, but I appreciate the life I have lived until now.

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

For some reason I always like characters who use swords, always looking at them with awe and wonder. If possible, I would like to learn to use a sword, maybe 'Kendo' or 'Fencing'.

8. 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?

When I think of love I don't think of couples, I always think of family or friends. I would do anything to save love, because in the end even though I never think about getting married or having a partner, I will always be by the side of my family and friends who love me for who I am.

9. What is your favorite creature from Asian or Pacific Islander mythology or folklore? Why?

Because I am from Indonesia, I prefer 'Nyi Roro Kidul' because she is a very, very famous legend in Indonesia, especially in the south seacoast, even in one of the hotels in a special room made for Nyi Roro Kidul herself. There are many versions of Nyi Roro Kidul herself but she is the queen of the south coast and has a myth that Nyi Roro Kidul has a spiritual connection with the King of Mataram or Yogyakarta, specifically with the Sultan, where she is considered the patron queen of the kingdom.

10. What is your favorite Asian or Pacific Islander myth? Why?

I chose Chinese Mythology - Folk Tales #2: The Butterfly Lovers. Because it depicts true love that transcends social boundaries, culture, and even death, making it relevant throughout the ages. The tragic story between Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo touches on deep emotions of sincerity, sacrifice, and freedom, making it a universal symbol of enduring love. Their transformation into butterflies at the end of the story gives a message of hope and immortality, inspiring various art forms such as opera, movies, and classical music. Its popularity endures because the story is not only romantic, but also criticizes social norms that limit individual happiness, making it relevant to many generations.

* * *

Thank you AmdzTora_123 for giving us the opportunity to interview you and chat more about your book!

We'll see you all in the next interview.