Hello everyone!

Today we have Strawberry_Cream1928, the writer of Glitches, with us.

Warm regards, Saralee. Welcome to an official interview from @TheCRYPTIC_ . It's our honor to interact with an inspiring writer like you. We hope that you'll have a great time.

First of all, tell us how you stumbled upon Wattpad and when.

Alright, this one's rather embarrassing...my mom created my account as soon as I reached the minimum age requirement. But wait! Allow me to explain. Since I have always been a voracious reader, she told me that giving me an online pathway to millions of stories seemed like a viable alternative to driving me to the library every weekend. Of course, it didn't take me long to discover that there was so much more to Wattpad than just a lot of books!

Wow! So what do you think about THE CRYPTIC's theme? What are your views regarding dark fiction?

I was immediately drawn to The CRYPTIC because I absolutely adore dark fiction! Not so many years ago, I was the strange, quiet little girl who cried at the end of Disney movies because she hated the saccharine endings. When I discovered dark fiction, I was amazed that so much literature existed just for people like me: literature that isn't bound by trite romances and happy endings.

What do you like to read? Do you have a favourite genre or any specific likes?

My favorite genres by far are horror and science fiction, but I'm always willing to have a go at fantasy. I enjoy stories that present evil in creatively varied forms and make heroes of the most unlikely people- something which is most frequently accomplished within these three genres. 

What compels you to pick up a pen and scribble down your thoughts? Do you have any inspiration or motivation?

This is a question that I have always struggled to answer. It's as if every writer has some compelling reason to tell their stories- every writer except for me. Quite honestly, I have no idea how I find motivation to write. I simply feel guilty if I don't. New stories pop into my overly imaginative mind every minute, and some of them just feel too real to only exist in my head. It seems wrong to leave them there, decaying alone in silence, when I can easily give them the shape and form they deserve.

Being a writer, what's the easiest part of writing and which aspect do you consider the most challenging?

The easiest part of writing, to me, is naming my characters. I've usually given first and last names to every main and supporting character in a story before I've even written the first chapter. Names, while commonly referred to as a challenge of the writing process, have always come easily to me. I say the names to myself repeatedly, changing syllables and sometimes just letters until they roll off my tongue. Needless to say, this is my favorite part of what I do. 

However, writing does come with its challenges. For me, that's portraying characters I don't agree with. While I know this is crucial to becoming a well-rounded author, I sometimes get so angry at characters I don't like that my brain willfully refuses to continue to include them in my books. I have to constantly remind myself that they're not real people and that I must allow my characters' personalities to be diverse. 

What kind of environment do you prefer to write in?

I enjoy writing in complete silence, but will sometimes play epic music in the background if it's appropriate for the scene I'm writing. I usually write at my desk, but will write on my bed when I can. 

What's your first piece of writing, if you can remember? What thoughts does it bring to you when you look back at it?

My first piece of writing didn't have a title. I justified this by saying if I titled it, there wouldn't be enough space on the cover to draw a picture. I wrote it when I was around 4 or 5 years old- it consists of two pieces of wide-ruled paper haphazardly stapled together complete with backwards s's and crayon illustrations. Looking back at it, I'm awed by how far I've come, and by how much the world has shaped the way I think and write. 

Tell us about your growth as an author.

I've been writing short stories for several years now, but Glitches was actually my first successful full-length novel. Of course, that Glitches was nothing like the version you see on Wattpad today, and will certainly have nothing in common with the final version that will be published in the near future, but it was a complete book and that was significant enough at the time. Posting Glitches on Wattpad was what truly initiated my growth as an author- the feedback I received allowed me to flesh out my chapters and correct errors I hadn't noticed myself. Sharing my work and being told it was good also boosted my confidence and encouraged me to stretch Glitches out into the five-book series it is today. 

Do you have a favorite author or book?

Like any author, I have a deep appreciation for all books, but my favorite has got to be The Fifth Wave. It's written in one of my favorite genres and has a compelling plot filled with the kind of action and suspense I love. Neither the sequels nor the movie disappointed, adding to my liking for the immensely creative work. 

Besides writing, do you have any hidden talents?

Well, I play six instruments, but that talent isn't exactly "hidden"...Oh, yes! I can braid hair! And I'm not just talking about regular braids or even French braids. You wouldn't be able to tell from the simple hairstyles I prefer for myself, but I can do braids with up to thirty six strands and I'm constantly working on raising that number. I've always been interested in the intricacies of what you can do with something as simple as hair. 

You're sitting in front of a brand new aspiring writer, what do you say?

Write. Don't tell yourself you have writer's block, because then, you will. Keep writing, even if you hate what you write. Just get words down on the page- you can always come back to them later. There is no greater feeling of accomplishment than sitting in front of a screen filled with words you've just written. Don't deny yourself that. Write, and everything else will eventually fall into place. 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Don't be afraid to tell us something funny, we won't tell.

Quite honestly, I don't have free time...but if I did, I would spend my theoretical free time knitting. I know, that's probably the least interesting thing I could say, but watching fabric slowly appear between your needles is oddly satisfying. You should try it sometime. 

Now, the most awaited question of every young reader, do you have any childish habits? Do you like cartoons or chocolates?

I wasn't even childish when I was an actual child! However, I do like chocolate, though it seems a little unfair to limit that to children. 

Do you prefer sweet or salty?

Sweet all the way! I actually don't like salt at all, even in my food- I often ask my mom to cook my meals with no salt. 

It was nice talking to you. Thanks for your precious time. We really appreciate it and hope you'll prosper leaps and bounds.

Thank you for having me!

Your parents don't exist. Your friends don't exist. Your school doesn't exist. Your life doesn't exist. They are all just computer codes, and you're the glitch. You're the reason they were all created. 

 But their life span is short, and soon, all the protection they gave you will be gone. Soon, your life will be in danger. 

...................

In the eyes of everyone around her, Claire Marie King's life is perfect. At age fifteen, she is already a multi-millionaire and is highly acclaimed for her supposed supernatural powers. She has performed impossible feats in shows across the world, brought rain to countries suffering from drought, and cured pathological criminals of their unlawful tendencies. What no one knows is that deep inside, she longs to fit in. 

When a mysterious letter offers her the tantalizing opportunity to do just that, she is sucked into the murky waters of WGO, an underground organization that claims it is the only place she will ever belong. Claire must enlist the help of her skeptical brother and long lost sister to combat WGO's tyrannical President who, for unknown reasons, is out to get her. 

Struggling to survive at WGO, Claire soon discovers that the organization's leader is the least of her problems. The dark secrets of her past and the origins of her powers are resurfacing, and her status can no longer keep her safe. After all, Claire was almost killed ten years before, and the people who did it are ready to finish the job. 

 Follow Claire King on her twisted path to survival in Saralee Arystenn's debut novel, GLITCHES. .....................