First time doing a double interview! First up is Madinah_Writes, the author of My Mr Perfect Imperfect and Meeting The Church Girl. Check out our interview below!

Legend: 

Q: The interviewer (me)

A: The interviewee (Madinah_Writes)

Q: Greetings! I'm from Author Insights, and I'm here to conduct my interview. Please reply when you are ready.P.S. Any nickname you want me to refer to you as?

A: Wow, thank you. Call me Madinah.

Q: Hi Madinah, I hope you won't mind, but could you tell me and the reader a bit about yourself. Can be as personal as you wish, or just your books.

A: I love unicorns and rainbows. I love thunder and storm. I write my own books and create my own characters! I love witches and fairy tales! I'm a writer!!! I'm Madinah but you can simply call me 'Madi'. I read, write and love designing a lot. Ever since elementary school... Although, I'm more of a writer, I love art, generally; drawing, painting, making sketches and designing. I have lots of other amazing talents and experiences buh, let's not go into that.I started updating my works on wattpad in 2016. My former account got blocked due updated version of the app, but you can still check them out on Amana-Deena. It's kind of weird though, I find my recent books better, out of which are My Mr Perfect Imperfect, The Witch's Irresistible Love, Meeting The Church Girl, and lots more. I write all genres except fan fiction, and LGBTQ. My bio and profile could lead to adventures you least expect on wattpad.

Q: Most people's recent books are better, we would have received feedback and improved by then. 

So My Mr Perfect Imperfect is one of your more recent works. Would you mind giving a brief blurb on what this story is about?

A: My Mr Perfect Imperfect isn't my most recent story. It's been completed since last year November.

The book My Mr Perfect Imperfect was completed within 5 months in 2021. It's a romance novel spiced with with CEO /Mafia tales. The main reason for writing it was for Watty awards, 2021 but it has equally gained a lot of reads on other reading apps as well. Going for gardening outside the school compound; Sapphire Blac, an elementary school teacher, saves a strange old man from the hands of death. Not knowing he is her fairy godfather. Being grateful, He repaid her with something unique; his spoilt and rude grandson, Jade Alejandro. The 32-year-old CEO of Bird Hotel. Charming, but with his clumsy nature, no one dares relate to him. Jade is the definition of bad luck, but... Would Sapphire be able to handle the short-tempered CEO? Would he be a blessing or a curse to our Sapphire? Read to confirm what drama unfolds next between the kind-hearted, elementary teacher and the bossy CEO...

Meeting The Church Girl is y most recent novel and it's ongoing. I started it on the 4th of November for the nanorimo writing contest.

About 'Meeting The Church Girl'. It's been 6 years of fantasizing to participate in the NaNoWriMo challenge. Truth is, it's never done unless it's done. I plan to push my self to write at least, 50,000 words before the month runs out. Although, I've updated 35,000 words already. 

Story Description:Jack Ryder, Asher Slade and Denim King. Three charming men with dark secrets comes across Rosemary Anton. The only girl who knows their secret and won't spill it.

***

Rosemary, an innocent banker meets her old school bullies (The three musketeers), significantly the dangerous charming, mafia leader, Denim King. 

Rosemary, who goes with the name Mary, lives a normal life with her best friend, Kimberly. As a bride's maid in an old friend's wedding, Rosemary meets the three musketeers and they immediately recognizes her from ten years ago and wants to connect. As a devoted Christian and a church girl, Rosemary avoids the three of them knowing they were nothing but, lucifer, Satan and the devil. 

 She puts a rule that anyone who wants to be with her must be a dedicated member of her church. Denim joins her church but Rosemary still finds herself hating him more. What happens when Denim decides to let go of her and marry her best friend, Kimberly? Will Rosemary hide behind her church girl reputation or come back for Denim, snatching him away from her friend by all cost? What consequences will be made between these two? It all started with meeting the church girl.  

Q: Oh, sorry, I meant that My Mr Imperfect was one of the more recent works after your account got blocked in 2016. 

I'll talk about Meeting The Church Girl later, let's focus on My Mr Imperfect. That is one exciting description you have there. How many chapters does it have?

A: Yes. I had to make the profile interesting so I wrote my first ever CEO romance novel (My Mr Perfect Imperfect) which has 130 chapters and contains over 200k words.

Q: Wow, that is very long! To write such a long novel you would need a really powerful motivation. What's yours?

A: My readers are my motivation. Though, it depends on how attached I am to the characters, how interesting they are and how more I can relate with them. I had sleepless nights then, though I barely got 30 reads in the first month of frequent updates.There is no authentic motivation then to just write it if you want it written.

Q: Totally agree with the last line. 

You said that you barely got 30 reads in the first month of frequent updates, but now it has 31K reads. How did you gain so many reads?

A: Patience, patience, patience. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. As a writer, you have to be patient. That goes with loads of determination and hard work. I had to share the story with other writing apps. Wattpad alone isn't enough. It was for Wattys2021 but I knew I had little or no chance at winning the challenge so I shared the story with Goodnovel, BabelNovel, Moboreader, Inkitt and what have you. I got a lot of rejections as well. That's the usual, but the more people have in contact with your work, the more in improves.

 Again, I would advise writers to use short, catchy titles and write a story description even through its hard to write one. Of course, writers should follow other writers and read their works. Acknowledge follow. Respond to comments and suggestions on your work. Ask for advise even though you already have a direction.

Apart from the book cover, what catches the reader's attention at first glance is the story description. It's like, you have just a minute to lure a random stranger to read your book. What do you think would make them click on that add button?

So sorry for the delay and long reply.

Q: Oh, no it's okay.I definitely agree with you on patience. And your strategies, wow, that's quite clever. Am I right to assume that the books on still on other platforms?

A: Yes, feel free to check them out. ❤️❤️❤️

Q: Hear that y'all who are reading this? Check out their books and their accounts :) 

Okay, let's focus on your other book, Meeting The Church Girl. Some stakes you have for that story. Sounds very original too, what inspired you to write this story?

A: So, I easily generate story ideas. It could be from days dreams, nightmares, tough situations etc. I usually put them down and when I'm through with writing a story, I pick another idea to work on.

Long ago, when I was a kid. I remember watching this movie where a good girl ended up being bad and the bad girl ended up saving the good girls life from AIDS. It happened that their sisters and they had to work together and love each other despite what people think.

Life is unpredictable. Destiny has its own plans and our is just what it is... Wishes. At times, the worst things are actually the best things that can happen to us. We just take some time to realize it. This happens in reality and I've decided to write a story about it. "Meeting The Church Girl".

As girls, sometimes, we wish to live a better life. Our reality is just too dark that we only get a faint glance of light in it. But that doesn't mean we are bad. And some people would ask, why do bad things happen to good people? Well, we are humans after all. No one is perfect, be you a nun or prostitute. We just try our best and make good use of opportunity when it comes.

So what inspired me? Everything! I knew I had to write the story eventually, so I made it for NaNoWriMo 2022. 

Q: Very wise words!

How long is this book exactly?

A: I have updated 50,000 words already but the book is still ongoing. I might update a couple more chapters till the end.

Q: I see.You seem to prefer to write long novels compared to novellas or short stories. Why so?

A: I feel readers prefer longer stories. They're more relatable. I also write short stories, poetry and other genres, though. It depends on what the readers want.

Q: I've never heard of an author who caters to their readers' likes and dislikes. That's very flexible of you! 

Let's talk about your writing journey. What was the first story you ever wrote, irl and on Wattpad (if you remember)?

A: Thanks so much for the lovely compliment. Sure, I had written a couple of books before I joined wattpad. The first story I ever wrote on wattpad was 'Bound To Be Mine'. It didn't get reads and recognition as expected. Then, I literally begged readers to read, joined book clubs and added tons of books and accounts hoping they'll check mine in return but hardly did I get any read or follow. And sometimes, I get insulted for being ambitious. after 3 years of completing the 60k words novel Although, some chapters deleted during and after completing the novel, it took me a whole year to write the novel.

The story was about a young teenager, Anabella Andrews, who lived with her evil stepmother, and step sister, kaylle Andrews. After sacrificing so much, they still treated her with so much darkness, hate and despite. In 'Bound To Be Mine', the hope for a brighter future is hung by a thread on Anabella's family. It pains a lot when the people you considered family are the Antagonists in your life story. This was written from live experiences I had with my stepmother but I got a lot of compliments saying it's a Cinderella story. I took it down in 2019 and sold it as an exclusive novel on Goodnovel. It barely had 5k reads. I planned a sequel for the 60k words novel and got a couple of comments from 'married women'. That's because unlike, Bound To Be Mine, that was young adult. The sequel, Cost Of Love was marriage novel (on managing marriage, building a family, heartbreak, parenting teenagers, and divorce). Why I took the story down was that, I got discouraged along the way. My wattpad account got blocked due to the application's update. I tried my all to retrieve the account but it was futile. So, I created this account in 2019 and started afresh.

Q: That part about the people you considered family are the antagonists actually hits hard.

So how did it go? How did you writing evolve? How did you find ways to improve your stories?

A: By reading other stories and writing frequently. I feel my writing skills improved over the years. There are tons of people who find it difficult to get read or write a book. Writing for me is a dream come true, I hope to publish in hardcopies soon. Wattpad is like an eye opener for me and I'm grateful.

Q: So what about now? Do you have anyone you would like to thank? Have you hit any personal goals you set?

A: Yes, I will like to thank special gems like YewandeJoseph, Jkaloko, PriscillaYiadom, Hchamilton, RebeccaSky, HabbyJokes and lots more.

My personal goals are; to have one or any of my works produced as a movie or a hardcopy. In the nearest future, I see myself as a professional writer and movie producer. Presently, I work as a journalist, so I see myself wrapped up in writing and production set. It's so fun!

Q: It does sound very fun. 

I have two more questions for you: 

1. What makes your writing unique such that people should read your books 

And 

2. What's one piece of advice you'd like to give any aspiring new authors? 

A: Every writer has a unique style of writing. I don't really know of there's anything so 'genuine' about my works. I just feel experiences should be shared instead of caging it in our hearts. 

My advice to aspiring authors is to never stop writing. A book isn't called a book if it's uncompleted. You can start with short stories and build your way to the top from there. There would be disappointments, yes! Discouragements are natural, but the strength you have to pick up your pen is what makes you a passionate writer. Write the stories you love.

Q: That line is really unique.So that wraps up my interview with Madinah_Writes ! Thank you for your time! I shall upload this to my computer in a couple of days when I get home.

A: Thanks so much, dearest. It was an honour to be interviewed. Good luck with everything. ❤️❤️❤️

Q: It's my pleasure :) and thank you

~~End~~

So that was my interview with Madinah_Writes! Do give them a follow and check out their works! I hope you enjoyed reading the insights of one author and learned something new!