"Gasping for breath, she lashed out against the freezing water in the pitch black of night."

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[Italics are me (the interviewer), and bold is caybailey (the interviewee)]

I N T E R V I E W    T O O K    P L A C E :  A P R I L    2 0 1 8

Before I start the interview, how are you? xx

I'm doing very well today, actually! How are you 😄

I'm great thanks! It seems we may be in opposite timezones so would you like me to send all the questions to you for you to answer or to carry on the way we are doing now? xx

Ah yes, actually I'm on Central European Time so maybe that would be better! Thanks again Xx

Sweet! xx

What inspired you to write your story? xx

When I started writing Journey, I was going through a sort of spiritual life change, and found myself open and questioning a lot of things in life that I had really taken for granted in knowing. I always knew that I wanted to write books and as I stumbled through all of the new knowledge I was garnering, the idea of a girl doing the same — yet in a fictitious format — brought me the plot for the Ice Wall Saga.

(That sounds really inspirational! xx)

What do you want readers to get out of your book? xx

I want readers to be excited and amused by the novel, as much as I want them to open their minds to possibilities they've never thought viable before. I want them to understand that critical thinking is one of our most important tools to achieve what we need to from this life, and I want people to see that anyone can go from seclusion, not knowing the truth, to adventuring out of your comfort zone and opening your mind to the possibility that everything is not quite what it seems.

(That's such an important concept to be mindful of. I'm sure readers can learn a lot from your book! xx)

Where were you and what were you doing when you found out you placed/ TPPA-Approved? xx

I was sitting in my office (aka, my couch) working on Journey when I got notified I was accepted into TPPA. I was also in my office when I realized I had won second place in TPPA, and I was so excited I spilled my tea! 

(Oh, I'm so sorry you spilt your tea! xx)

What does this mean to you? xx

The fact that I could place second among so many amazing candidates shows me that I have the potential to grow into a great author, and it fills my heart with joy to see that so many people have enjoyed reading my novel.

(Awwwwww ❤️❤️❤️)

What are up to at the moment? What do we have to look forward to from you? Do you have anything written-wise for us to look forward to in the future? xx

I am currently completing the final draft of Journey to be sent off to the printing press within the next month or so. It's a very, very exciting time in this household right now! I am also excited to be able to get back to work with my other babies — Gold Souls, StarShift, The Satellite — as I've put any work on other novels on hold to ensure the "voice" of Journey to the Wall is consistent in the entirety of the work. So I'm excited to get back to my other works in progress, as well as begin a few new projects as well! Readers who are interested can find some more information in the "About Me" panel on my author profile.

(Oooo, I'm so pumped for you! I hope everything goes to plan, and that you don't go through many Writer Block moments during the writing stage of your other babies xx)

You filled out the TPPA Form stating you like reading Fantasy the most, so why the interest in writing Science Fiction? xx

Well, we all know that the things we enjoy the most are sometimes not what we have the talent for! I love reading fantasy but could never world-create well enough to sustain them. I love writing Science Fiction because I believe the whispers of truth that can be conveyed in Sci-Fi are easier for readers to open up to than fantastical worlds that they have complete certainty don't exist. I suppose, in a way, I prefer the open-mindedness that Sci-Fi offers readers, and compels them into thinking more out-of-the-box in a practical way in their day-to-day lives.

(That's so true, and makes logical sense! xx)

What made you decide to write the story as a saga? xx

Well, this one is easy! I knew from the start that the amount of information I wanted to get across with the Ice Wall Saga would be too much to squeeze into one book, and I didn't want to feel pressured to fit everything into a neat 70-100k word novel that would jeopardize the authenticity of the story. I also didn't want the pace to feel rushed, as there really is a lot the reader must take in for the whole plot to work.

(Ah, that makes sense! Plus that gives more books for fans to read and obsess about 😉)

In the TPPA form you also stated you've been writing for your entire life, so what made you decide to start releasing your work online on Wattpad? xx

As a stay-at-home mother to a young toddler, it's hard to find time to really achieve what I want to follow my dreams. Wattpad offered a glorious alternative to writing in the dark, where I knew that I probably wouldn't ever complete one novel before quitting as it really is time-consuming and I have so many other things to deal with right now. It kept me motivated and on track, as well as offering me insight into what readers respond best to and what could make my story better. It was also a great treat to hear such positive feedback, and fuelled my resolve to turn my dreams into reality!

(Awww, I think all of us here are thankful for the opportunities Wattpad has offered us, and I'm more than thankful for having Wattpad to allow me to find such good quality novels such as yours xx)

LyndaCoker has a question for you-  when finished, was there something that surprised you about this book? xx

Actually, there was! I was surprised by the relationships that formed between characters and the fact that they all actually came to life for me. I surprised myself by being able to laugh at the story when I went back for the first time after completing it, and that I actually really enjoyed the way things progressed and felt interested to read (write!) more of it!

(I'm so glad to hear that, and I'm sure LyndaCoker is too! xx)

What did you enjoy the most about writing this book? xx

What I enjoyed the most about writing Journey was the way the world came alive under my fingers. It was really great to see my thoughts and ideas manifest into something physical that I could be proud of. Also, it was so fun to play around with personalities and dialects, and humour in literature. Who doesn't love silly Ettie or fun-loving Landon? Even grumpy Yannik came alive in the best way possible. What I will enjoy the very most is holding this book in my hands when it comes back from the printing presses, and knowing that it's really out there for the whole world to hold, feel, and open their hearts too!

(Yes! Nothing beats a paperback book, and your hard work definitely has paid off! Congratulations on getting your story finished and to the printing presses!!! xx)

Thank you so much for sending in your answers, and I hope this interview brings more readers your way! xx ❤️

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[INTERVIEW WAS PUBLISHED: JUNE 2018]

- review yet to be released -