Do you have any questions about the Author herself? (Aka me)

How did you find Wattpad?

I found this site while looking for ebooks for my kobo. Let's just say that the device has been collecting a lot of dust ever since. ;)

Why did you start writing?

Since I'm on a PC, the create button was always on the top bar and taunting me. I hadn't written anything since graduating college, so I decided on a whim to write a short 30 chapter story about zombies just to say that I did it.

Well, long story short, a new addiction was born and that 'short story' exploded into a 495,000+ word book (that's bigger than the Lord of The Rings trilogy!). From there, I just kept writing and honing my writing abilities.   :)

How do you update your stories so fast?

My life can get pretty hectic, so I only start posting once I have most or all of the book completed. I also write it beforehand mostly to ensure that my idea isn't just 'lightning inspiration' that will disappear halfway through and leave me sitting there with a Mount-Everest-sized writer's block.   :)

I have a dozen plot ideas and a few partially written books that are saved on my computer as they await the return of my inspiration (or a long stretch of dedicated time and attention).

Over the years, my posting pace has decreased, mostly because I can't write as fast as I like to post. With my first book, I uploaded several chapters a day - what had taken me 7 months to write took me less than a month to completely post. 

From there, my posting rate dropped to once a day, then to once a weekday. 

And I know my updates will have to drop to three times a week in the near future. Why? Because it means that I will be actively posting a story for a greater percentage of the year, and that leads to several benefits for an author.

Sorry, but I don't plan on posting the entire book all at once just because it's completed. I tried that twice, and most of my readers didn't even notice me posting the book. It took over a month for those books to get over a hundred reads.

On the bright side, my chapters are usually about 2,000 words. And you know the story will be completed and not just stop halfway like the majority of stories on Wattpad. My posting pace is still very fast compared to most authors - and keep in mind that even the smaller stories took me 4-5 months to write while dedicating most or all of my free time to the story.   ;)

Do you really allow fanfictions?

Yes, I allow fanfictions or spin-offs as long as proper credit is given (Full title of my story and my username) in the summary and/or chapter 1. (It is also wise to categorize such stories as fanfics)

If you want, when you post it, let me know via the inbox and I can add it to my reading list dedicated to such spinoffs.

Please remember that due to copyright/plagiarism rules, there is a difference between merely creating original characters in my worlds versus using my characters, plot, and world. These stories should also be classified in the fanfiction genre.

Do you help edit stories?

Unfortunately, I simply don't have the time to help many people. Because of that, I posted a basic guide - Tips for Writing on Wattpad to address the most common errors I see. It also has tips on where to find additional help.

Here are a few other links for those interested in writing:

Writer's Portal: wattpad.com/writers

Writing Contests: wattpad.com/go/writing-contests

Writer Programs and Opportunities: wattpad.com/writers/opportunities

Did you know that there is an entire Community Forum for readers and writers to talk about almost anything (writing help, random chit chat/games, covers, editing assistance, and places to advertise your story)?  wattpadwriters.com

What are your tips for aspiring writers? 

I have an entire book of basic writing tips on my profile, Tips for Writing on Wattpad. 

In general, I will echo a quote I was once told: Your first million words are practice. 

The people helping me edit have taught me a phenomenal amount, and that learning slowly added up as I learned various things I forget since my highschool days, like dialogue rules.Never give up. 

Life is a journey of learning, and writing is like a staircase of accomplishments.

What other hobbies do you do besides writing? 

My other hobbies include pottery, helping the local church, gardening, myrmecology (study of ants), among a few other things. 

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

I think that's almost a trick question. 

Simply posting the first chapter of my first book was a major milestone. Marking it as complete was a 'high' so intense I can still recall it. Then, I had a few readers volunteer to help me edit it - and that was a humbling experience. 

But the feedback and corrections from my editors helped me learn and grow as a writer. Without them, I'd probably be straggling much further behind.

What was your hardest scene to write? 

The hardest scene I wrote was probably the one where the cougar killed a horse. Dozens of people may have died, but for some reason, that horse managed to find a soft spot in my heart, as well as in the hearts of many of my readers.

How long on average does it take you to write a book? 

My writing time can vary quite widely depending on several factors: how much free time I have (work, family, and other commitments can get quite heavy), how long the book is, if I have problems with writer's block, etc. 

My longest book took 7 months time to write the rough draft - and many more for the editing. 

Which of your books were the most enjoyable to write?

That is a tough question. They were all enjoyable in their own fashion. I think A Different Virus Heartfire still holds the place for my favorite book.

What has influenced you the most as a writer?

I honestly think the Wattpad platform influenced me the most. 

Had I just posted one story - without people stopping by to ask me to write others - I probably would have stopped with just that book. The readers encouraged me, the editors helped me learn, and, later on, Wattpad itself gave me other opportunities to climb higher.

Any other questions?

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Where I live:

I live in a lovely little rural town in northern Alberta (Canada).

Population: roughly 3,000 people right in town, with a total of 7,869 in the county/area (the town county spans 6,124Sq/kilometers)

There are only two traffic lights in my town.

This was taken from the bluff that overlook the town. Yes, that wider street in the middle is main street... (this was taken in September of 2017)

Here is a closer look at main street (taken at noon in March 2019)

Yeah, it's a pretty small town with just the basics. The nearest shopping mall is 135 kilometers away. But I like it. Slower paced and relaxed.

Here are a few of my pets:  Taz, Blaze, and Pep Squeak.

These aren't my pets, but with as much as they hang around my house, it would fool any tourist...

Here is my backyard and garden. Mostly peas, cucumbers, and carrots. A few stands of corn and vines of Spaghetti squash. (My yard ends just past the shed and the power pole - most of my neighbors don't have fences, so it seems much larger than it actually is.)

And since I like sunrises and sunsets, here are a few.