Today we interview annkreeves , winner of The Sunflower Awards 4.0 in the teen fiction genre. Join us as we learn more about their writing style and inspiration. They actually won two genres, so check out the previous chapter for their interview about their science fiction story!

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What made you decide to write "Heart of Sparrow"? Did you have any sort of inspiration?

I originally wrote this story for the Open Novella Contest on Wattpad in 2021. But the story and world building got too big to stay a novella, so I ended up expanding the concept into a novel, which is still in progress. :) But there were several underlying inspirations. Cassandra Clare's "City of Bones", Anne Rice's "Interview with a Vampire", and works by other urban/ fantasy Black authors such as Tomi Adeyemi's "Children of Blood & Bone" and Tracy Deonn's "Legendborn."

Why did you decide on teen fiction as the genre? What do you like about the genre?

I've always been drawn to the teen fiction genre because of the passion and spirit these sorts of characters get to have without apology. These books also waste no time in getting to the point, giving enough world building without bogging down the read, and having fun/witty dialogue. It's fun to tap into my younger, teenage self as I write too :)

Did you experience any setbacks or obstacles while writing "Heart of Sparrow"? If so, what were they?

Yes, much like my Scifi work "We the Orphans," I'd say research was another setback. Even though most people know how witches and vampires and werewolves work, you still have to spend time making your world believable. I spent a lot of time researching the Yoruba religion and language, especially how it has evolved throughout time in the United States.

What's your favorite quote from "Heart of Sparrow"?

My favorite quote comes from Chapter 1 and I usually get awesome reader responses to it. It is: "Nature has a law regarding the powerful. It begs you to leave them alone. To grow weak in the knees. To cower. ...Still I'm not one to back down when it comes to something I care about."

Who's your favorite character from "Heart of Sparrow" and why?

Aside from Sparrow, I'd have to say Jiya. She's her best friend and doesn't get a lot of screen time but definitely deserves her own spin off one day. :D

How did you feel when you found out you won?

I felt so proud and validated! Winning contests really boosts my self-esteem as a writer!

What's your writing process?

I usually come up with an idea and then create a playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. I try to immerse myself in the story by listening to songs and coming up with glimpses of scenes. Then I outline the novel.

Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to?

I usually listen to music right before I write. My playlist for Sparrow includes a lot of Doja Cat, Beyonce, Cardi B, Dua Lipa, etc. Those kinds of vibes :) I also dig Natasha Blume's "Black Sea" song as inspiration for Sparrow's pull to power, while Selena Gomez's "The Heart Wants What It Wants" has really lent me romantic inspiration between Sparrow and her prime love interest Cairo. ;)

What do you like most about writing on Wattpad?

I love writing on this platform because it helps me to connect with other authors while also giving me crucial feedback for how to make the story better. It's an awesome tool to use before pursuing traditional publishing.

Do you have any writer quirks? If so, what are they?

Haha, one strange writer quirk I have is I love to type the first draft on my laptop but I tend to do all of the heavy editing on my phone and I hate looking at the draft from my laptop after that. It's strange but I just roll with it!

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Thanks again for chatting with us again, annkreeves ! We wish you the best.

Check out their books on their profile and give them some love! :)