In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we are highlighting stories written by Asian and Pacific Islander authors. Today's interview is with SuVida777, whose story is featured in the Wattpad Creators Program. 

About the Author: Su Vida is an artist, animator, author and a sci-fi nerd from the central hills of Sri Lanka. She holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia and worked in animation/advertising for several years. During the pandemic, she drifted away from corporate life to pursue her own creative journey. She loves everything quirky, and her stories are all speculative fiction—sci-fi, fantasy and horror. They come with smart heroines, big worldbuilding, Asian-ness, real science, slowburn romance, ace rep, eco themes and anime/gaming/fairytale elements.When she's not drawing, animating, volunteering or crafting stories, she usually geeks out over anime, video games and funky science.

About 'Black Avatare': The Great Haunting was just a historical plague. The alluring demon Black Prince wasn't real—it was the disease that drove the unfortunate maidens to take their lives. Cityfolk with sense know that. Binara knows better. After all, she's a spunky teen who aspires to become the city's best ghosthunter. History is now repeating itself with increasing incidents of missing girls and hauntings. It's time to fight back before darkness takes over her home. What better way than to set a trap for none other than the Black Prince? Black Avatare is a re-imagining of the Black Prince from Sri Lankan folklore. In a nutshell, it's a dark sci-fi fantasy ghost story set in a tropical gothpunk city. The world is based on Sri Lankan ghost lore and the Kandyan Kingdom. Might bring to mind: Mediator, Tim Burton, Alice Madness Returns, Supernatural, Bleach & Stranger Things.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself! 

I'm a nerdy couch potato from the central hills of Sri Lanka! I write YA sci-fi, fantasy and horror. It's hard to pick, but I gravitate towards sci-fi the most. My stories come with immersive worlds and heroines who tend to be nerdy, whimsical and rebellious. I love delving into the mind-boggling possibilities of science and technology, as well as exploring social/eco themes that could do with a spotlight. So underneath the fun and fluff, there's always something for the nerds and thinkers.

2. How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and how has your heritage shaped the person you are today? 

Asia is where I've lived all my life. I'm very Asian in many ways, which is probably why I relate more to characters in anime/Kdramas than Western media. Did I mention I eat a lot of rice? Every day.

3. Does your family have any traditions that are important to you? Feel free to share at least one experience here! 

Tradition can be both good and bad. One tradition that's cool is food and sharing! Sri Lankans make a gazillion types of traditional food on different occasions. Almost all of this is sustainable and plant-based—what the world is trying to shift to now! There's also the tradition of sharing with your family and neighbors, so many people grow food and share (it's organic)!

4. If you could introduce something from your culture to someone else, what would it be and why? It can be a tradition/custom, food, music, or anything else that comes to mind!

I'd definitely introduce coconut rotis and jackfruit curry. So delicious! Also seeni sambol buns and pani pol pancakes. There's just too much food to choose. 

5. What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you? 

There aren't many diverse voices in media, so it's great that the work of Asians and Pacific Islanders are getting recognized.

6. How do your experiences as an AAPI author shape your stories? Do you take inspiration from your culture to tell your story? You may talk about 1-2 stories here. 

Oh, yes. Everything I write contains Asian protagonists, society, art, places and elements. My novel Rhodoreef is an Asian sci-fi retelling of The Little Mermaid set in the near-future Indian Ocean. It was insanely fun and challenging to create an underwater metropolis that is realistic—complete with its own tech, history, clothing, food, politics and society based on Sri Lanka. I had to research geology, marine biology, the alien world of the deep seas, ocean biomes, plastic pollution, commercial fishing and the impact of climate change on the oceans. I have also used many Sinhalese words and phrases in the story.The newest novel I'm writing is Black Avatare—a re-imagining of the Black Prince from Sri Lankan folklore. It's set in a tropical gothpunk city inspired by the Kingdom of Kandy, which existed in Sri Lanka before colonialism. This is a dark sci-fi fantasy ghost story with Sri Lankan clothing, places, society, art, architecture, food, animals and more.

7. What is your favorite myth or legend? Why? 

The Black Prince (from Sri Lankan folklore)—at least, my version of it. Yep, it's the ghost story I just mentioned. Ghost lore here is massive and nothing short of fascinating. My novel Black Avatare contains many myths and legends from Sri Lanka, because it's hard for me to settle on one.

8. If you could have the same powers as a creature and/or deity from mythology or legends, what would it be? Why? 

I'd want the powers of a makara. Makaras are strong, and they probably have water powers (they're often said to be sea creatures).

9. What is your advice for other writers who want to use mythology in their story?

Have fun learning about the many myths out there! Then you can weave them into your story in creative ways!

That's it for the month, it was fun getting to know about SuVida777. You can check her stories featured in our reading list as well as her other works. If you're interested in learning more about other AAPI authors, check out Myth & Legend's AAPIHM reading list here.

Until next time!