Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. I was born in San Mateo, California in 1996. Growing up, surprisingly, I wasn’t the biggest writer or reader. In fact, It was my worst subject. My mother would put me in extra reading classes in elementary school every year in hopes of getting me interested but it just wasn’t clicking. I only liked sports, especially soccer, which was my passion during childhood. It wasn’t until my mother bought me the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan for Christmas one year before things began to turn. And that created the domino effect for getting me interested in other books and authors.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Light Of The Mortal God”?
A2. One of the challenges I faced was the constant changing in story from when I created the idea of the novel. At first I thought it would just be a simple dystopian science fiction novel. And then more and more as I got into it the path of the story and the depth of the characters kept changing that I had to rewrite it a few times. But once I finally got it right, it is without a doubt my favorite book out of all the stories I’ve written.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. Growing up I was a huge fan of the Percy Jackson novels by Rick Riordan. He created a really compelling character that I related with plus the world building from start to finish was second to none. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is another series that is so immersive and jaw dropping for me. The sheer scope of the story he created is incredible. I’m also an avid manga and comic book reader. Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is something I probably read every other year. I definitely have been influenced by these author’s world building techniques and likeable characters that are full with personality. I think that’s the main ingredient to delivering a compelling novel. Interesting worlds that get more vast and complex, interesting and likeable characters with personality, and an engaging plot that doesn’t stop.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. My favorite spot to visit is probably Los Angeles. I love Disney Land and have been so many times. It’s special just cause of the all stories I grew up with being live and all around you. It’s something to admire that one studio could create so many ingenious stories and to keep going till this day.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Light Of The Mortal God’?
A5. Before writing novels, I was actually writing screenplays. I’m a big film fanatic and so I wrote a few scripts which I would do on my free time after school. One day my mom said why do you only write screenplays and why don’t you write a novel too and just threw that idea out there. I hadn’t thought about it but I actually took a script idea that I was going to write for a screenplay and adapted that idea and that became the basis for my novel ‘’Light Of The Mortal God’’.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Light Of The Mortal God’?
A6. It took me almost 2 years. I had to juggle school and it was hard to stay consistent. But over time I finished and it was such a good feeling.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. Readers can buy it on many different platforms but Amazon is the one I recommend.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Light Of The Mortal God’?
A8. Towards the beginning of the book a tragic event happens that sets the main character, Roy, on a path so terrible from his former life. Roy gets taken from his mother arms and has to live with the convicts on Pluto. But, one day everything changed, he meets a friend. A creature of mystery who’s feared by everyone except Roy, who finds the goodness in him. I wanted to showcase this scene that sticks out which sets up the rest of the story. Light of the Mortal God, without spoiling too much, refers to Roy, from not only his divine past but mainly the light and goodness from his heart that separates him from any immortal God.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. I’m someone that gets bored really easily so I need a lot of interesting things to happen. So that’s one of my techniques is to always have a compelling plot point happening to move the story at a brisk pace. Pacing is key in stories. But not only that, the main thing is the characters. If one makes great characters readers don’t care what happens really. Harry Potter can go on for 7 books and 8 movies because we love the characters so much, they can be doing anything and we’ll still tune in for the next book or movie. That’s my strategy. Great characters with personality and engaging plot ideas.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. To just learn the craft and keep writing. I remember my first screenplay I sent into a big Hollywood contest. I paid for judge feedback and surprisingly the script was in the top 10% of scores. The script was a mess though and not formatted right and I had no idea what I was doing but the judge gave me some great advice that even though you’re talented you need to learn the technical aspects of writing. Being a great writer isn’t just having a great idea but there are rules and you need to understand these rules and grow. So that was a big piece of advice I received.
Buy Light of the Mortal God on Amazon
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