Wattpad User Name: @Hazzer123

Author Name: Hayley Anderton

Works:

Silence series (Hunger Games fanfiction) | Stripes | Double Bluff | Homebound | Charlie and Eliza series

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I'm a Creative Writing student who is graduating this summer. I'm moving home to live with my twin sister and my cat, Erik, while I try and complete my third novel this summer!

What genre do you write in? Why are you drawn to the genre?

I like to dabble in every genre, but my favourite is dystopian fiction because I find the prospect of writing about our society exciting, especially when the world as we know it is turned on its head.

What is your most memorable moment on Wattpad?

I won a Watty Award back in 2013 for my story, Silence. It still attracts more readers than all my other books combined, and the book is like a baby to me.

Do you think that writing on a platform such as Wattpad has helped you grow as a writer?

I definitely think it has. It's allowed me to reach other readers and writers who have inspired me and helped me improve. Wattpad has given me a lot, and I love that.

What advice can you give to those that are just starting out on their online writing journey?

Stick with it! Finding readers doesn't happen overnight. Don't expect immediate success - being on Wattpad for the long haul and promoting yourself right will get you noticed eventually!

What books have most influenced your life most?

The Harry Potter series definitely sparked my love for reading. My dad used to read the books to me when I was very young, and I loved being brought into the magical world of Hogwarts. It made me want to be like J.K Rowling, and that's when I began writing my first stories.

Readers can connect with Hayley outside of Wattpad as follows:

Twitter: @handerton96

Instagram: @hayleybayley963

Snapchat: @handerton96

Recipe Name: Vanessa's Chocolate Cupcakes

Is there a special story behind the recipe? If so can you tell us a little about it?

In my latest novel, Homebound, Lori and her love interest, Vanessa, both have an obsession with chocolate. In one of the upcoming chapters, Vanessa enlists Lori to help her prepare for a charity bake sale, and they make chocolate cupcakes together. It's a recipe I've used several times, and the frosting is so delicious that I've never used another recipe since.

Ingredients

100g plain flour

20g cocoa powder

140g caster sugar

1 1/2tsp baking powder

a pinch of salt

40g unsalted butter, at room temperature

120ml whole milk

1 egg

¼tsp vanilla extract

chocolate vermicelli or edible silver balls, to decorate

Chocolate Frosting

300g icing sugar, sifted

100g unsalted butter, at room temperature

40g cocoa powder, sifted

40ml whole milk

Directions - For the cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas Mark 3.

Put the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat on slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.

Whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together in a jug, then slowly pour about half into the flour mixture, beat to combine and turn the mixer up to high speed to get rid of any lumps.

Turn the mixer down to a slower speed and slowly pour in the remaining milk mixture (scrape any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Do not over mix.

Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sponge bounces back when touched. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean. Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

When the cupcakes are cold, spoon the chocolate frosting on top and decorate with chocolate vermicelli or silver balls.

Directions - For the chocolate frosting

Beat the icing sugar, butter and cocoa powder together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.

Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Add the milk to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time. Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

Now I don't know about you, but those cupcakes sound yummy. I am definitely going to try them out.

Make sure you check out Hayley's featured story Charlie and Eliza.

https://www.wattpad.com/story/31147646-charlie-and-eliza-featured