We are all a bit sad after the events on the previous chapter. Pixel (a.k.a pixelmum), the author of chapter 15 will bring the crew back into the light. But which light?

Before we read more about it, let's meet with Pixel!

Dear Pixel
We are glad to have you on board for this SciFi Relay adventure.
And we want to thank you for spending this moment with us for this interview.

Tell us a bit about yourself, your journey as a writer and your foray into the Orange part of the web (a.k.a. Wattpad)

I'm a physicist and I started writing during COVID lockdown 2020. I thought that serialising a book would force me to finish it, and it worked! I also joined Wattpad because I'm queer and I couldn't find diverse stories I liked in traditional publishing. I also like the idea of authors cutting out publishers and sharing stories directly with readers.

1, 2, 3... Tell us about ONE story you would have wanted to write, TWO authors you admire, who inspire you.... THREE characters who often come into your mind when you start a new story...

I'm experimenting with a few genes, and I eventually want to write a fantasy novel but I don't have the time to dedicate to a big expansive worldbuild. One day!

Too many authors to mention, but I grew up in UK so read a lot of British dystopian novels which all have sci fi elements. At the moment the traditionally published books I'm reading are by Olivia Butler, and Anthony Doerr.

I usually start a story with a plot and then work on character details later as vehicles to execute the plot, so nothing springs to mind when I start a new story.

What made you want to participate in the relay?

I love the Wattpad community! It's easily the best thing about the platform. Meeting other writers and learning from them has always been my reason for joining Wattpad so applying for this relay was so exciting!

How did you find the experience?

Amazing! As well as a collaborative creative exercise, it's been huge fun just seeing everyone's imaginations run wild!

What challenged you the most in this venture? Something that maybe brought you out of your writer's comfort zone?

The main challenge has been keeping a story immersive and engaging despite being written by 21 people! We've all had to check our story plots, character motivations and descriptive writing with everyone else, and it's been really easy because of the organisers' guidance and experience.

Something we are most curious about... How about you give us a little teaser of your part in this story? A sentence or two that will keep us on our toes and impatiently wait reading your chapter?

My chapter deals with the fallout of a dramatic and devastating blow to the characters. It's the darkness before the dawn.

And while we are feeling the tease, as we consider the Science Fiction genre, we are all expecting wondrous worlds and weird alien species... Can you tell us about one element you brought to the Relay, one element you created for this story? It may be an alien race, a location in space, or maybe a special technology... Tell us about this special character, object, environment or settings you built up for your part in the story. What was your inspiration for it?

Too many spoilers if I get into details, but I did enjoy designing the pretty location for my chapter - a gas giant planet with a beautiful ring system, very much like our Saturn. The rings have a special meaning by the end of my chapter.

And just to make it even more understandable. This little part of yourself you added to make the story even greater, can you give us a definition as if it was an entry in The Great Dictionary of Science Fiction?

Ngaro: hydrogen giant planet orbiting a twin brown dwarf system, and home to various dive bars, dubious hotels and a rather excellent spaceship repair workshop

The sights on a gas giant planet promise to be grandiose. One way to find and discover it, read Chapter 15.
Enjoy!