This month, we've got the pleasure of chatting with ivojovi one of the ambassadors and Wattpad Paid author!

Read on to learn more about Jovi's journey as a ESL writer and also, here's a small glimpse into her song-based ballet story - The Last El Bimbo!

Harley Lowell, a ballerina, moved her body gracefully into the soft, sultry music that played in the background. He watched, mesmerized by her grace and beauty whenever she was on stage. Gray Matthews played the guitar, making tunes that complemented the lyrics to a song. As his voice blended beautifully with his music. She watched, enthralled by the song he made for her.They tangled themselves in each other's arms. Their bodies slowly glided through the dance floor. It was the last time, as they believed that one day they would do this again. 

He left. 

She stayed. 

Time was running. Will they have their happy ending?

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0.

Tell us a little bit about yourself! What language(s) are you fluent in? (Introduce yourself to our community here and include any comments about what genre(s) you write in, fun hobbies or interests, and any interesting fun facts!)

Hello, I'm Jovi! A romance writer from the Philippines who is fluent in Bisaya, Tagalog and English. All of my written and published stories are in English. Aside from romance, I'm quite interested in writing mystery/thriller. Outside of Wattpad, I took my passion for baking and made it into a career. I used to be a pastry chef but eventually ventured on my own to have a cake business at home. When I became a mom to a tiny human during the pandemic, I had to take a step back. My life might be on hold right now, but I'm grateful that I still get to write as a Wattpad creator and be connected to the community as an ambassador. 

1.

"The Last El Bimbo" was inspired by a song. What was the special thing from the song that spark the creativity in you? Can you share one favorite line from the song?

The Last El Bimbo is the literal English translation of Ang Huling El Bimbo. What I love about the song is how there's a full narrative between two people in the lyrics. The melancholic tune added to the heavy emotions. "Sa panaginip na lang pala kita maisasayaw" meant that he could only dance with her in his dreams after being separated for years and discovering her whereabouts. Every time I listen to it, my heart would always hurt. It inspired me to write and enhance the story into something I wanted to happen if it were to turn into a book.

2.

Choosing "ballet" as one of the main focuses of the story, did you encounter any difficulties while portraying it in the story? Did you find describing the movements in dancing tough?

I did because I never tried ballet. It was quite difficult to describe how fluid the movements should be. What their inner monologue is while dancing because I know their feet are hurting while doing an en pointe. My cousin did ballet all her life, and it always fascinated me how they interpret their dance into a story on stage.Living beings who have an articulate language and a high-performing abstract brain such as humans have the ability to create new words or set phrases. So, I did the same for these characters and their fictional world, their home.

3.

Do your culture and first language have an influence on the way you write and build the story/character?

There's always a part of it sprinkled throughout my books. It may not be as obvious since most of my story settings are based in the US.

4.

Did being an ESL writer influence your writing process in any way? As in, if you've faced any particular challenges and difficulties related to English grammar and vocabulary?

The challenge sometimes is that I couldn't relay the action, emotion or dialogue properly into words. It's too stiff and lacks fluidity to flow naturally, especially when doing informal conversations.All these need to be learnt in the environment and language in which they are created! Cultural clashes are bound to happen. For example, where I live, it's common to eat snails and rabbits. You can write a story about a character eating those, but whoever reads this story may not share the same reality (and may puke as a result)!

5.

Which words or phrases do you tend to overuse the most?

I'm always having a hard time trying not to overuse the words need, look, know and feel. Pretty sure there are a lot more, but these are the top words I could think of right now. Using synonymous words is always helpful in avoiding being repetitive.

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That's all folks!

Thank you for chatting with us, Jovi! We wish you all the best for your future works!

Until then, happy reading!