Hannah Nelson, author of The Last She

Q: Hello Hannah, how are you today?

I'm doing awesome! :) Enjoying a bit of the winter sunshine. 

Also I don't have a really cool book trailer, so I just put a picture of me and my husband above! Its us at the Yule Ball (yes, the Harry Potter Yule Bale, because our school is AWESOME).

Q: Right. Thank you for joining us and sharing a little more about yourself with the Wattpad universe. First off, shall we talk about you and writing? When did you first start writing?

I started writing on Wattpad about 6 months ago, but I can't remember a time when I didn't write or invent stories.... When I was little I remember my dad telling bedtime stories to my sister and I. I loved the way he told stories from the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, but also how he would change them, or even make up his own stories. I think that is where I fell in love with storytelling. My little sister loved horses, so my dad changed the story so that Bilbo Baggins always had a trusty pony named Apple. When we saw the movie a few years ago she was like, "Where's Apple?" She hadn't even realized he added the pony to the story all those year ago. ;)

I have tons of journals and notebooks from when I was little and in grade school.... some of them are hilarious. So I've always loved writing, I only recently worked up the courage to share with the world.

Q: What are your writer's best practices – doing character profiles, maps, visualization, tai chi, anything?

Ha! Maybe I should start some of those! I sometimes storyboard, but (for better or worse) I keep most of the story in my head. Usually there are a few scenes that stand out to me, and that I feel inspired about. I write these out with as much detail as I can and then later work around putting them together into a story. The most influential process in story planning for me is talking about the story with my husband and little sister. I owe them so much! We talk through the characters, and the plot and what could happen. Being able to share my story with others (before it's even written!) is amazingly helpful.

Q: When and in what setting do you write best?

Hmmm, I wish I knew.... I write in whatever time I can find, wherever I can. If I'm at home my super obnoxious cat refuses to sit anywhere but on my lap (or on my keyboard). So I guess I write with him a lot, mostly because he won't let me do anything else.

Also, because my husband is getting his PhD, he works crazy hours. I like to write to fill the time I'm at home and he is gone, because it keeps me from being lonely. Also, I suppose that throughout the day I am often thinking about my story, and something will come to me that I have to write down immediately and come back to when I have the time.

Q: Is there anything in particular you find difficult to write about?

Yes.... I am very aware that my friends and family read my work.... I have a scene coming up that I found difficult to write, because of the violent nature of what happens...But I won't say more.

I also find it difficult to write about religious matters or God. I am a Christian, but that doesn't mean my characters are.... So that is sometimes difficult. I aspire to be more like Francine Rivers. She wrote an amazing trilogy called The Mark of the Lion, and behind the adventure and romance, all her characters are struggling to find or understand God, and many of them hate or don't believe in God. I wish I had more courage to write about this struggle because I think that, whatever your beliefs are,this is something that all humans deal with at some point. Is there a God? And if so, does he care? I want my characters to ask these questions, but sometimes I am afraid at the response I will get from readers. We live in a very secular world, and I think many people don't like God or religion to be in books, but I disagree. I think it makes the world more real.

Q: What piece of advice has been most helpful to you since you started?

A quote by Kate Dicamillo, one of my favorite authors. She said "Believe in yourself- there is no right or wrong way to tell a story. This is one reason that writing is so wonderful and terrifying: you have to find your own way. Be kind to yourself. Listen to other people. And then strike out on your own."

I am my own worst critic, so I try to remember what she said and be kind to myself. Also to just enjoy the process. Even if I never get published or am able to write for a living, I so enjoy writing and sharing my work with others.

Q: What do you enjoy more – writing or having written?

Writing. Having written means that I have shared the work with others, and I am the world's worst people pleasers. Despite the fact I've been sharing my work for awhile, I am still afraid of the comments people leave on my book.

Q: What genre would you write in, if it wasn't sci-fi?

That's a funny question, because really I don't consider myself a sci-fi writer (please don't kick me out of Sci-Kick!) I enjoy writing Sci-Fi, but The Last She was just the first book I decided to share on wattpad. Though most of my works fall under the young adult genre, I enjoy writing in fantasy, adventure, romance, chick lit, and really whatever pops into my head. I particularly enjoy fairytale retellings.... I would like to branch out on wattpad into other genres.

Q: That's cool! And what about reading? What three genres do you read the most?

I love young adult novels, particularly dystopian stories (Red Rising anyone?). I also love historical fiction and fantasy... but really I will read anything.... except for horror and mystery, I am the biggest chicken you will ever meet!

Q: Is there anything you can think of that you would love to read, only it hasn't been written yet?

The next Harry Potter series! Please, oh please, J.K. Rowling....

Q: What book could not put down under any circumstances?

Daughter of the Forest, by Juliet Marillier.... or really anything by her. Her works are hauntingly beautiful, and they pull you in and don't let you out. She is one of my favorite authors.

Q: And, I know the readers would really appreciate this, tell us what inspired you to write your book on Wattpad?

I was walking through a Cabellas in Boise, and thought, this would be a really cool place to live in an end-of-the-world scenario.  I also had a dream about a girl, trying to make it in a world where their were only men, and the idea intrigued me. The Last She sort of evolved from there. 

I have always wanted to be an author, I just finally decided that I would never become one if I didn't take a chance and actually try, thus I started putting my book on Wattpad. To be honest I never expected people to actually like it! I thought I would get a few pity reads from my family and that would be it. 

Q: Can you describe it in three words (and don't be modest!)?

1. The

2. Last

3. She

BOOM

Q: Which character is the total fan favorite? Why do you think that is?

Probably Kaden..... I think it's because he is wild, impulsive, handsome, and really, truly loves Ara, but also respects her enough to let her make her own decisions. He also goes through a lot, maybe the worst of any of the characters.

Q: Talking about fans, can you quote the one comment on your book, which you will never forget? Please include *SPOILER* if it contains major revelations from the storyline

HAHA! YES! It's not deep or a spoiler, I just found it hilarious. I had one reader who rewrote one of my sentences in the comments. It originally read, '"I imagine you have many questions," said Gabriel, "but first," Gabreil gestured to Ralph who immediately left the ring of light...'

They rewrote it in the comments as this, '"I imagine you have many questions," Gabriel said, "but first," Gabriel took out a phone and held it up, "let me take a selfie," 😂😂

Touché , @Viltvit, touché....

Q: What is your favorite thing about being active on Wattpad?

I love having people respond to my story, especially when they tell me that they couldn't stop reading. I also love (as weird as it sounds) that the people who read it are strangers. It's hard to trust your mom when she says it's wonderful, (hey! you said the same thing about my macaroni creations as a kid!), but the people reading my book have no other motivation than that they want to! That is so awesome! I love Wattpad for that.

Q: If you had to mention just one Undiscovered Gem of a story or writer on Wattpad, who would it be and why?

My aunt Stacy (@StacBook) just recently started writing on Wattpad, and I have really enjoyed reading her book Finding Adam. She is a really amazing storyteller, I'm excited to see where her book goes.

Q. Is coming up with a title a difficult task?

I love coming up with titles, because I love solving creative problems. Though truth be told, my husband came up with the title The Last She, so I can't take credit there.

Q. What has been your favorite part of any of your projects to write?

I love writing the end of works, because there is a sense of accomplishment there. I have been planning the ending of The Last She almost from the very beginning, so I am excited for readers to see it. It was also very fun to write.

Q. Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Boise, Idaho! (feel free to look it up on a map, no judgement) I grew up going to National Parks instead of amusement parks, and part of my appreciation for nature comes from all the white-water rafting trips, skiing, hiking, and camping I did with my family as a child.

Also, here's a sneaky fact for those of you still reading. Boise is the city that I imagined The Last She taking place in. I never name it specifically because I didn't want to be tied down to specifics, but it is the city I always imagine the characters in.

Q. How old are you? (I added this question because people ask me often for some reason).  

I am 23. 

Q. Did you ever feel like writing just wasn't for you and wanted to stop?

No, I have always loved writing. However I often become discouraged about trying to share my writing and get published. It is a very long process and sometimes I feel like giving up.

Q. What was your hardest chapter to write and why?

I can't tell! It's still coming up!

Q. How can you start a story well so that it pulls the reader in and keeps them hooked till the end?

Well if I knew that I would probably be a millionaire by now! I'm not sure. I don't think there is any one right way to tell a story. So I suppose you have to find your own way (sorry to sound like Yoda... find your own way you must... ;)

Q. What is one thing about writing nobody told you?

It is sometimes very lonely. Also it takes A LOT of time and energy. But it's worth it.

Q. Is there anything you wish you could go back in your story and change?

Only about a million things! In my opinion writing is rewriting, and I already have an second draft of The Last She (off of Wattpad) that is much improved from the first. I'm betting most people don't realize I am using their feedback and comments to make it a better story!

Q. Have you considered publishing paper copies of your books?

Yes! It is a long-term goal of mine. But I have a lot of work to do before then.

Q. How do you start your stories? Do they end up turning out different than what you had originally expected and had in store for them?

I always try to give my characters room to grow and change. They also sometimes surprise me and the plot takes a different turn than I first imagined. I rewrite often and sometimes find that what worked in my mind, doesn't translate to paper.

Q. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

I just started watching The Bachelor. Though my favorite TV show right now is Galavant.

Q: And to finish off, I am going to ask you two more personal questions, but don't worry, I won't dig too deep.
1. If you had to get up and do one of these three things right now, which would you go for?
a. Bungee jumping
b. Singing in front of a thousand people
c. Running a marathon

BUNGEE JUMPING!! I tried to talk a friend into bungee jumping when we were in Thailand, but she said no because it only cost 20 bucks.... Prolly not the best idea in hindsight, haha. But my husband bungee jumped in New Zealand and I have always wanted too.

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Q. If you had to live one year without one of the three things below, which would you pick?
a. Chocolate
b. Ice-Cream
c. Coffee

Easy, coffee! I hardly ever drink it, so that would be easy.... I think I would rather die than give up chocolate and ice-cream.... Is that even possible, aren't they the top of the food pyramid?

That was fun!
Thanks for being with us and sharing your amazing stories with the world!