Hello dear readers,

It's time for our March Book of the Month interview and I, Glory_feeling2 had the honor to interview a twice featured Wattpad author of stories that include fairytale retellings, romantic comedies, fanfiction and more!

Please join me as I recount my interview with the lovely JEHallows as I (virtually) traveled to the United Kingdom to meet her! 👏

GL: Hello JE, thank you for meeting me here in this cafe. 

(We shook hands at this point.)

GL: I went ahead and bought some Hot tea in a pitcher for us to share along with some cookies. Is that alright with you?

JE: Thank you, my dear! Yes, I'm okay with that. Thank you again.

GL: It is my pleasure! I thought you would like one as it was constantly mentioned in your novel "Rogue Rewritten".

(Just then a handsome young man in 18th-century clothing pulled out an empty chair from a nearby table without asking (alarming the patrons) and sat next to us.)

Samuel Reed: And what about me?

(I was rather astounded ... as I didn't plan on meeting the actual main character of her story.)

JE: I told you not to follow me, Sam! Must you always follow me? Go back to Sarah Jane in Rogue Rewritten 📕. I know you're hungry ... so here have a cookie.

Sam: But ...

JE: No buts about it Sam. Go back to the house this instant! I have an interview with a member of the Wattpad team, who flew from the United States to meet me.

(Sam looked at me, and bowed.)

Sam: It's a pleasure to meet you, my lady. 

(He took my hand, and I blushed.)

JE: Now that we all know each other, I think it's best for you to go now, Sam. Why don't you just keep Sarah Jane company?

Sam: But I'm hungry!!!

JE: I'll buy you some food later. Now go!

(She pointed towards the door, and the poor handsome rogue left. JE also mouthed apologies to all of the patrons in the cafe.)

JE: I'm so sorry about that Glory. Yes, that was Samuel Reed ... the same character I wrote in my story. He was adamant in meeting you, but I didn't want to startle you. Nor bother the other patrons. He's always hungry!

GL: That's quite alright! He's quite charming! You didn't have to send him to your home though, I would have loved to add him to this interview.

JE: I know. But I wouldn't if I were you. He's adorable but quite talkative when provoked.

(I laughed.)

GL: Very well, so let's start with the first question.
Rogue Rewritten was such a humorous and amusing story, what inspired you to write such a novel about a writer and her 18th-century rogue?

JE: Thank you! I was watching a popular period drama on the TV, which was an adaptation of a series of novels. Fans went wild for the hero, falling in love with the character and the actor who played him. The author of the original novels is no longer living and I wondered what he would make of the fuss about a character he created, whether he'd be bemused, angry or if he'd just laugh. This sparked the idea for Rogue Rewritten, about an author who hates her own fictional hero but everyone else adores him.

GL: Wow, that's quite interesting ... given the fact that I just met him too. I hope you don't hate him.

JE: No, I adore the cunning scoundrel, after all, he is one of my lovable characters! He's just quite a troublemaker now that he's trying to adapt to modern society.

GL: I take it that he never forgot where he came from?

JE: Apparently, not. But he really loves Sarah Jane, so he refuses to go back into the "rabbit hole"!

GL: Well, I guess that's what he's here for! 😁
Was there a particular reason why you chose your M.C. author to write about an 18th-century rogue? It seems so romantic, sort of like a time travel sequence when Samuel Reed came to life in her time period.

JE: One of the popular time periods that's featured often in Romance novels is the 18th Century, and it's a period that I'm familiar with and have interest in. I find history fascinating.

GL: You have such an imagination, as I found it to be one of a kind! How long did it take you to finish this story?

JE: Thank you so much. It took 6 months to complete the first draft, and longer to edit the following drafts. There have been 10 drafts since the original and I still plan on making changes to improve the story.

GL: That's great to hear that you are still taking care of your story!

In one of your chapters, your M.C. author and her rogue talked about writing stories about what you know in real life. What do you think about that phrase? Should authors write what they know? Or should it just come from a spur of imagination where 'the characters lead the way'?

JE: It's a phrase I absolutely agree with. If you write about what you know, you are imbuing the story with truth, which means readers can associate with it. 

The way I interpret the phrase, "what you know" doesn't literally mean the everyday domestic situations that you know, it doesn't mean write about school, or your job, or things you have literally seen or done. 

It means to write about the emotions that you know. Happiness, sadness, anger, jealousy, fear etc. You can write fantasy, action, murder mysteries where you have (hopefully) never fought a dragon, wielded a sword or murdered someone, so you don't know what that is like, but you do know about the emotions of your characters; what it's like to face a fear, feel love, feel pressure from family etc. So use those to write your story.

GL: So, did you always want to become a writer? If so, why?

JE: I've wanted to be a writer since I was about 10 years old. I've always loved reading since I first learnt how to, always had a vivid imagination. Reading helps us escape the real world but good stories reflect human nature, so it's both an escape yet something familiar. I want to be able to write my own stories for others to enjoy as much as I love reading. 

GL: What do you think makes a good story and what is your favorite genre to write about?

JE: What makes a good story?... A character overcoming adversity, realising their flaws and trying to better themselves. Mystery and unexpected events that the reader can't predict. 

My favourite genres to write are Dark Fantasy and Gothic Fiction. 

GL: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

JE: I never thought I would write a romantic comedy. I don't read that genre, and as I said earlier, I prefer dark fantasy and gothic fiction. So Rogue Rewritten took me by surprise.

GL: That's quite fascinating! What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

JE: Hmm. I like breaking the rules, breaking grammar rules to create something I hope is evocative.

GL: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

JE: I like to draw ✍️ and paint 🎨, take photographs 📷, play video games 🎮, and of course, I like to read 📙.

GL: Awesome hobbies!

Lastly, what authors ( in Wattpad or not) have inspired you?

JE: Angela Carter has given me the most inspiration. Her work is outstanding. Joanne Harris and Cecelia Ahern have also been really influential. 

GL: So thank you JE for taking out your valuable time with this interview. I'll be delighted to share my delightful experience with you and Samuel Reed. Please tell him I said hello!

JE: I will dear and thank you for interviewing me. And I think I'll take home the remaining cookies with me ... a certain rogue might want it. 😄

(Even though both of us parted, JE recently contacted me. It appears that Samuel Reed was so thrilled to know that I mentioned his name that he wanted me to fly back to the UK and interview him. I thought about it for a while, and since I didn't want to disappoint him, I offered to send him real homemade American 🍪's! )

My BOM review about JE Hallows WP novel can be found by clicking >> ROGUE REWRITTEN<<