INTERVIEW WITH: riyamcyriac

BOOK: Of Suns and Spirits 

Interview Questions :

1. How did you feel when you knew you were announced as a finalist, and then the first-place winner? Describe it to us :)

At first I was excited. Of Suns and Spirits thankfully snags some finalist positions, so I was more anticipating what place it ranked and most of all the readers thoughts. Then I saw the first place thing and lost my mind cause I considered this awards one of the more prestigious ones because it was run by you, and I was up against some hard competition. When I saw the review though, I just melted. It made my day.

2. What is the best writing piece of writing advice you have ever received?

Well, it's not exactly a piece of advice, but a long experience that shaped me. I was a cocky sixth grader when I logged onto Wattpad for the first time. I seriously thought I knew it all and that I was fantastic. I guess this was my first partner reader experience, but they store my story apart, pointing out things that I didn't see and wrecking me confidence in my writing. I was so pissed, but she said that "the only way you'll make it is if you have thick skin". Criticism really burns at first, but because I reached out for it and wanted it, it really improved my writing and kept me humble.

3. What was the proudest moment in your writing journey thus far?

Honestly, just reading where I was even a year ago. I joined Rebel_town and it seriously changed how I write. I was only 16 in the midst of master reviewers and authors, so I took their advice to the heart and really changed. I totally revamped my account, deleting all the trash books and cleaning up my following list, making reading lists, and changing my username to reflect who I am: riyamcyriac.

4. Where do you see yourself in a few years' time?

I see myself as a college student trying to make it in the publishing world.

5. Where or from whom do you get your writing inspiration from?

I notice that when I don't read, I lose my ability to write. So I guess I receive it from there. Also, God gives me some great ideas in church.

6. Who is your favorite Wattpad author and your favorite author outside of Wattpad?

I love ruby_ruins'books here on Wattpad. Outside, I'd have to say Leigh Bardugo

7. How and when did you find Wattpad and begin your writing journey on this platform?

i found Wattpad after wanting to read some fanfic and I write one myself. It gained a lot of attention so I put my original work up hoping some of those readers would like to read my new book. None of them did XD. Ever since then, I've just been trying to write the best of my ability.

8. Who is your most favorite and least favorite character to write and why?

I love to write Kardith, one of the main characters in my book. He's such a complex character that really challenges me to be introspective and step into the shoes of someone in hell and what got them there. I have to write him to be clueless about his sins, which he is, while I know what they are. He's by far my favorite to write.

My lease favorite to write is the Rorbidden Current monsters cause honestly, I'm still thinking about how I want them to act, look, and be. That's for the second draft!

9. If you could exchange lives with one book character from your book, and one character from another author's, who would it be and why?

Definitely not Varona or Kardith, they have it really hard, and Caspian has issues of his own. Honestly, probably Coraine. She's pretty happy and doesn't get a lot of the pain in the book.

10. Which character in your book do you relate the most with?

Hmm this is a good question. I'm privileged, so not really any of them, but all of them a the same time. I think I'd relate to Akuru the most because he matches my social standing more than the others and I've felt loneliness more than hunger and loss I'm sadly more selfish than Kardith, less survivalist than Varona, and more lucky than everyone else, which is what makes Akuru so EHSH DJS

11. How do you get rid of writer's block, if or when you get it?

I force myself to write. I've read many articles about this subject, and I've came to the conclusion that I can't wait for inspiration. I just have to write and write and write nomatter how bad it is until I get out of it. I'll maybe change projects and write a short story for a while. I'll also read a book.

12. Do you think this work encapsulates who you are as a writer now, or have you grown a lot since then?

I'm currently writing my book, so yes. I still have a long way to go.

13. When did you realize that writing was your passion?

Fourth grade when k started my first novel. I realized writing was my only friend, and that if I didn't have it, I'd have exploded of loneliness a long time ago.

14. When did you first start writing?

Fourth grade. I wrote a novel that the teachers read in their clashes. They told me to shout them out when I become famous. I really hope to do that one day. I don't know if it'll happen but I'll chase that dream till the day I die.

15. What advice would you like to give to all the struggling yet aspiring writers out there?

No one wants to read your book at first. No one loves your book at first. No one cares at first but YOU. You can't let that bring you down, you have to keep fighting.

Just keep writing. That's all I can tell you. Don't waste time on worrying about titles or marketing strategies or how everything looks, just write and accept criticism when it's needed. Don't let people walk over you and treat your book like your baby, your lifeline. Just keep writing and one day, someone will want it.

16. What inspired you to write this particular book?

It was honestly a concorion Of years of brainstorming and writing. I sat in church and listened to the preacher talk about life after death and was interested. That's how this plot came to life.

17. What was the writing process like?

I started in January. I have four parts to this book and I outline one part at a time. I don't always follow the outline, it's there to remind me what I wanted to show in that chapter. How I show it didn't matter. I'm more than halfway done with the book.

18. When did you start writing this winning book?

January of this year.

19. Are you planning on professionally publishing your book? If so, when?

I do wish to. I want to get this draft done by the end of June, start the editing process until it takes me, hopefully by October. Then I'll take a break for a month to get fresh eyes and write something new for nanowrimo, jump back into it in December, hopefully get far in the Wattys by then, and then send it off to lot agents and pray.

20. Does every comment, every follow and every vote for your work still surprise you?

It excites me and makes me very happy. Every comment touches my heart.

I want to particularly shout out SheWritesWonderss  purple_heart12 guariraje  Rebel_town undermyskin ESJohnson Simply_Hiraeth jagermeanhunter for being so supportive. Thank you.

Random, fun & personal questions:

21. One fantasy creature you wish existed but sadly doesn't is...?

A dragonnnnn

22. One TV show/movie that you can watch again and again and never get bored is....?

Honestly, I don't watch things that much, but I LOVED narcos.

23. Your favorite thing to do when it is raining/snowing outside?

24. If you had a million dollars won in a lottery, what would you do with it?

Give it to my family and spend it on college XD. The leftover goes to my book.

25. Any guilty pleasures (writing or otherwise)?

Not any I'm willing to expose ;)

Thank you :)