Interviewer : HELIXGRO

Interviewee : SuVida777

Interview Questions : Chante_Inge

'23 RGAs Winner - Third Place Overall & First Place in Horror

Let's dive straight into the world of storytelling! Who are you, beyond the name on your profile?

I'm a nerdy couch potato from the central hills of Sri Lanka! I worked in animation/advertising for some years, but during the pandemic, I pursued my own creative journey as an indie artist, author and animator. I write YA sci-fi, fantasy and horror.

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.

Wattpad is a universe of stories waiting to be explored. What drew you to this platform, and how has your journey been so far?

I've been escaping to story worlds from a young age—books, video games, anime and movies! It eventually led me to a career in art and animation. Somewhere along the way, my own stories and characters birthed in my mind—though I never wrote them.

In 2020, I decided that I should sit down and write Komoreby. I searched online about where I can post my work, and Wattpad came on top. I liked the interface, and the community seemed big, so in January 2021, I uploaded 10 chapters at once on Wattpad!

Creativity is a flame that ignites stories. What sparked your passion for writing, and how do you keep that fire burning?

Writing is a unique way to bring your imagination to life—with just words. You create entire worlds and paint pictures. Even after you're long gone, your soul lives on in the stories you create!

Everything I write is YA speculative fiction—sci-fi, fantasy and horror. I love all three genres, though I tend to gravitate towards sci-fi. I love building big worlds, strong protagonists, wholesome ships and funky plots with many threads. I also explore the possibilities of science, futurism and alternate realities. Underneath all the fluff and nerdiness, I explore various social/eco themes. All of these combine to fuel my passion for writing.

Winning the Rose Gold Awards is a remarkable achievement! Could you paint us a picture of the story that captured hearts and minds?

I'm absolutely delighted that my story got into the overall winners! Thanks so much!

BLACK AVATARE is a spooky re-imagining of the Black Prince from Sri Lankan folklore. It's a blend of dark sci-fi fantasy, paranormal romance and supernatural horror. Follow Binara, a teen ghosthunter, as she sets out to defeat the alluring demon Black Prince in order to save her haunted city!

Yep, it's basically a ghost story set in a tropical gothpunk city. Strap in for an anime-esque adventure full of spooks, mystery and slowburn romance. The world is based on Sri Lankan ghost lore, mythology and the Kandyan Kingdom. Might bring to mind: Mediator, Tim Burton, Alice Madness Returns, Supernatural, Bleach & Stranger Things.

Every story has its roots. How did the seed of your award-winning story first sprout in your imagination?

Sri Lanka is an untouched treasure trove of folk tales, history, traditions and mythology, especially when it comes to its rich ghost lore. It has cool locations, animals, a plant-based culinary heritage and even its own martial arts. This is my way of exploring all of that, with the focus on the demon Black Prince, who has the potential to capture the interest of a global audience.

Add into the mix my love of everything goth and some of my favorite shows, movies and video games (Bleach, Tim Burton, Alice Madness Returns, Mediator, Supernatural and Stranger Things), and the result is BLACK AVATARE.

A story is like a road trip; it's not just about the destination but the journey. How long have you been on this writing adventure?

I started BLACK AVATARE in October 2022 when I joined the Creator Program on Wattpad. I'm close to finishing it now, with an estimated word count of 120,000 words. So the total time would be around 1.5 years. I'm very happy with how the novel has turned out, and the story universe is big, with 7 planned books in the series as well as spin-offs.

Characters are the heartbeat of a story. Who is your literary soulmate in your award-winning tale, and what makes them so special?

I relate to Binara's nerdiness. She's curious about the world and uses tech for ghosthunting. And like my other protagonists, Binara is kind of goth (at least darkly inclined). I'm nicer than her though lol.

Chapters and scenes are like brushstrokes on a canvas. Which part of your story holds a special place in your heart, and why?

There are multiple scenes I loved writing, some of which I can't mention because spoilers! One of the most exciting chapters is probably Binara's battle with the Mara demon!

Your story is a gem in the literary landscape. What shines brightest about your tale, making it a must-read for others?

Other than the thrills and chills, BLACK AVATARE immerses you in a very unique setting. I believe it offers something new to the world of dark fantasy. It also has a heartwarming friendship and a slowburn romance. In a time where people are increasingly concerned about living sustainably on the planet, BLACK AVATARE celebrates rich plant-based food, drawing from Sri Lanka's traditional cuisine.

The future is a blank page waiting to be filled. What dreams and aspirations do you have for your story? Will it remain a digital gem, or do you see it on bookshelves one day?

World domination! Millions of copies infiltrating homes and libraries worldwide! Comic, anime, Netflix show and video game!

Accomplishments are like stars in the sky, each one unique and twinkling brightly. Apart from the Rose Gold Awards, what other milestones have you achieved with your story?

I'm super happy that it's won quite a few community awards and got a handful of dedicated readers! That's enough to keep my writer engines running.

A writer's mind is a treasure trove of stories. Are there other tales brewing in your creative cauldron? If so, what can you reveal about them?

Oh, yes. I have to write sequels for my books. Other than that, I do indeed have a big sci-fi story in the works. There's also a fun MG story in the backburner. Can't reveal more than that!

Creativity often blooms from experiences and influences. What life events or authors have shaped your writing style?

My work is influenced by the stories I've loved throughout the years!

My taste in books is diverse. Some of my favorite books/authors include Harry Potter, Animorphs, Sherlock Holmes, The Lord of the Rings, Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, Mediator by Meg Cabot, Nancy Drew, Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook's medical thrillers, Arthur C. Clarke, Stephen Baxter, Alastair Reynolds and Six of Crows.

Don't get me started on the manga/anime! My favorites include Naruto, One Piece, Bleach and Death Note.

Writing is a journey of discovery. What surprising twists or turns has your story taken as you've developed it?

I'm a careful plotter, so I work with a story summary, research and notes first. I tend to aim for a smaller novel, but then it becomes huge, with a big universe. That's how BLACK AVATARE became the first of a planned 7-book series.

Every writer has a unique process. Can you walk us through how you plan and write your stories?

I do extensive research, character design and worldbuilding. Then I daydream, draw the cover art and do the graphics. I might write a few random scenes–some of which are more like filler episodes in anime. Yep, I go all out and have lots of fun! Then I write the story summary and a rough chapter breakdown. I'd also think of story expansion.

After I've got a significant amount planned, I start writing the story. As I go along, I get ideas to expand the world as well as stuff I could incorporate into the story, so I would keep adding to my notes until the word count of the notes document would be 10k minimum. Depending on the pacing, I might tweak my plot outline to speed things up or slow it all down.

I often write chapters on my phone whenever I have time. Then I edit them on my computer. The work I upload for the world to see has been carefully planned and line edited.

The writing community on Wattpad is vibrant and supportive. How has being part of this community influenced your writing journey?

Wattpad is all about social storytelling and getting lots of consumer feedback to improve your work. Read each other's stories and grow together! That's what I've been doing!

Feedback is crucial for growth. How do you handle criticism, and how has it helped you improve your writing?

Criticism could be helpful to improve your craft. After all, we aren't perfect, and we might have gotten a few things wrong. Wattpad enables you to get lots of consumer feedback as well as reviews from your peers. If multiple people point out something that needs to change, then it's best to change it. But instances when criticism feels unfair or spiteful, it's best to ignore it and do your thing.

There were lots of flaws in my writing when I started my first book, KOMOREBY. Feedback from readers and reviewers helped me to identify flaws and fix things. Even now, readers' reactions and feedback help me to improve my writing.

Beyond writing, what other creative outlets do you explore? How do they influence your storytelling?

Lots of gaming—mostly indie games these days! They come with such awesome worlds, character design and stories. I also love binge-watching anime, movies and TV shows. I draw whenever I get the chance—both traditional drawing and digital art. I engage in healthy day-dreaming sometimes—it helps to create and watch stories in your head! Listening to rock/epic music takes everything to a whole other level.

All of these inspire me and my stories!

Themes can add depth to a story. What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your work?

Underneath the fun, my stories deal with various social/eco themes. They also have cool science, so there's a certain amount of science communication. My protagonists are smart, rebellious girls who have a solid moral compass, so they may be decent role models for teens. They also have heartwarming friendships and wholesome romantic bonds. My work is also meant to be uplifting, inspiring hope for a better tomorrow.

The future of storytelling is constantly evolving. How do you see the role of platforms like Wattpad shaping the future of literature?

Digital story platforms like Wattpad have empowered people to share their imagination with a global audience. In an age when so many of us use smartphones, online storytelling has a lot of power to entertain and inspire people.

However, the ugly side of humans keeps surfacing, and we see technology being abused. So depending on policies now and in the future, online story sites might become amazing libraries of boundless imagination or a cesspool of illegal content, predators and porn.

Collaboration can spark new ideas. Have you ever considered collaborating with other writers or artists? If so, what would be your dream collaboration?

I've thought of collaborating with others to create a super cool indie game or 2D animation. I also like the idea of collaborating with like-minded writers for a short story anthology. When it comes to novels though, I prefer to work alone. That's because I have a very specific vision and how my characters should develop. My stories are also set in locations and deal with themes that might not be familiar to other writers.

As a writer, you have the power to create worlds. If you could live in any of the worlds you've created, which one would it be and why?

I'd definitely want to live in Komoreby! It's a fancy eco-city with lots of cool tech.

Writers often draw inspiration from the world around them. Are there any real-life places or experiences that have directly influenced your storytelling?

I've lived in southern Asia all my life, so everything I write is inspired by that. In fact, most of my life has been in Kandy, a city in the central hills of Sri Lanka, so that's the primary inspiration for the world in BLACK AVATARE.

The journey of a writer is filled with highs and lows. Can you share a particularly challenging moment in your writing journey and how you overcame it?

Most of the challenging moments would be when real life gets in the way. Other than that, some scenes can be challenging to write–such as intense battle scenes, story climax, technical details and scenes that are very emotional. I'd say the first chapter is also a lot of work, since you have to put thought into every line and carefully handle the exposition.

Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring writers who are just starting their own storytelling adventures?

Read a gazillion stories, especially that from the genres you write. Connect with other writers, since Wattpad is all about social storytelling and getting lots of consumer feedback to improve your work!

There's no easy way to success, so strap in for an uphill climb. But don't consider it "work". Go all out with the character design, worldbuilding and have lots of fun crafting your tale! Don't follow trends in the pursuit of success if your heart's not in it. Convey your unique voice, because that's the way to attract genuine readers.