Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been crafting stories in all kinds of formats and media. It started very early with short stories, then transitioned into screenplays and creative concepts for brands. I run Little Lights Studio—a film production company focused on emotional brand communication and authentic brand films. Now, with the release of my first novel, I’m humbly starting to call myself an author.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Helena Flinn & the Secrets of the Night”?
A2. I’ve always loved the process of worldbuilding, creating characters, and writing the story. Actually, the biggest challenge wasn’t in the writing itself, but in finding a writing workflow that worked for me. As a producer and director, my life wasn’t as “plannable” as I would have liked, and between work and family, there never seemed to be time to write. Only when I made writing a regular habit on my workday—even if it was just thirty minutes a day—did I finally find a rhythm that worked for me.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. The first “proper book” I remember reading was The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, and I just couldn’t put it down. I loved being able to completely immerse myself in a different world, and that’s when my love for fantasy was born. I adore books like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Arlo Finch, or basically any fantasy story with incredible worldbuilding and a touch of magic.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. Austria may be a small country, but it’s incredibly beautiful. I live just outside of Vienna, which means I get the best of both worlds—countryside and city-life. Vienna is an amazing city, large enough to offer everything you could need, but also small enough to create a cozy atmosphere without being overwhelming. It felt so fitting to set the story here.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Helena Flinn & the Secrets of the Night’?
A5. It all began with a short story I wrote—I had this idea that it would be fascinating if dreams were actually created by goblins who live deep underground. When John August shared his journey of writing a middle-grade fantasy trilogy on his podcast, I began to revisit that short story and think about how it could become a full-fledged novel. So it started with that fantastical element, and then Helena Flinn, my protagonist, was developed as someone who stumbles into this hidden realm.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Helena Flinn & the Secrets of the Night’?
A6. It took me a lot longer than I’d like to admit. Altogether, I worked on the book for about five years, with long, unfortunate breaks in between. One crucial thing I learned was how important it is for me to build a consistent writing habit, even if it’s just short sessions, as long as they are regular. I hope to finish the second book of the trilogy within a year now.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. The main and most reliable place to get Helena Flinn & the Secrets of the Night right now is Amazon. It should also be listed on other online shops, but since this is my first self-publishing endeavor, I’m still figuring everything out properly. For now, Amazon is the best bet, but very soon, it’ll be available more widely.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Helena Flinn & the Secrets of the Night’?
A8. The first thing I did was research book covers of middle-grade fantasy books and collect the ones I loved. Then, I took time to find illustrators worldwide who worked in styles that resonated with the story and my taste. I was incredibly lucky to find Marianna Correia (@todamarela)—her style was perfect, and we had such a wonderful collaboration to bring this cover to life.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. I’m a big believer in outlining. I love having a bird’s-eye view of the story and structuring the key plot points in advance. But it’s important to strike a balance: if the outline is too detailed, there’s a risk of overplanning, which can make the writing feel stifled. So I keep it loose enough to keep the writing fresh and imaginative, with room for discovery and spontaneous turns. I outline the major milestones but remain open to letting the story take unexpected directions.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. While writing Helena Flinn, I surrounded myself with stories and books I loved, and that were in the same vein as what I was creating. I listened to podcasts, researched middle-grade story structures, and tried to absorb as much knowledge as possible. I was familiar with screenplays and short stories, but a novel is something else entirely. I wouldn’t say I have a single source of advice, but I loved the Scriptnotes podcast by John August & Craig Mazin and the Launch podcast by John August about the making of the Arlo Finch trilogy. Ultimately, I think there are two key pieces of advice:
Find a workflow that allows regular writing sessions in your life. Don’t wait for “a full day of writing” that might never come or come too irregularly. Integrate writing into your daily life.
Keep the joy of writing alive. Writing is hard when you sit down at a blank page without a plan. It becomes fun when you carry the story with you throughout your day—when you think about what comes next, what excites you about the next chapter, or what fascinating element you want to include. Keep the love for storytelling present, and writing becomes an adventure rather than a chore.
Sassy Reviews 