1 what inspired the idea of your story? 

I attended a boarding school very like the one my character attends, and while I mostly enjoyed my time there, it was hell on earth for some. It was such a little bubble - really insular. One day it simply struck me that it would be a really creepy place to suddenly be alone: lots of tiny little dorm rooms and hardly anyone around. It just sort of flowed from there.

2 what was something you struggled with for your story ?

I struggled with the central issue of what had happened to the character (which I haven't yet revealed). It's difficult subject matter, and a controversial topic for many. Engaging with it was emotionally difficult for me, for a whole complex of reasons. I had to separate out how I felt about the topic, versus how my character felt. I had to make my peace with the fact that she and I felt differently about the issue. (Sorry I can't be more specific, but I don't want to spoil the ending!)

 3 what has been the overall response to your story from your readers? 

So far, it's been positive. That said, I haven't dealt with some of the more difficult subject matter yet (it's still on-going). Time will tell, I guess!

4 what did you enjoy writing most of your story?

I enjoyed writing something creepy, as it isn't my usual style. I found it was a good way for me to stretch myself as a writer, to experiment with a genre that doesn't sit comfortably in my wheelhouse. It was a challenge - I creeped myself out several times, and had to take breaks!

 5 is your story a stand alone novel or a piece of a series? 

 It's a stand alone. Absolutely for certain. By necessity.

6 what would you like your readers to take away from your story? 

that  contentious, complex subject matter is worth engaging with, and that the things we have difficulty talking about are the things we SHOULD be talking about.

7 what's a piece of advice you would provide to another writer, when it comes to focusing on their story? 

That progress may come in fits and starts, and that any piece that is worth writing usually reveals itself slowly. I am not a patient person by nature, so this is something I've had to learn the hard way. If you try to rush things, you'll get a sloppier, lazier product than you might have ended up with otherwise. Walk away from your work often, and return later - fresh eyes are never a bad thing.

8 does your main character share any similarities to yourself? 

She has a few, but I definitely didn't set out to base her on myself. All of our characters carry pieces of us, but she's not autobiographical in any real sense. I'm not sure if we'd like each other or not, if we met in real life.

9 what's something you believe would draw in new readers? 

If you need new readers for my own work, I think establishing an instantly relatable character is key - if characters fall too far outside a reader's frame of reference, I think it gets risky. In the long run, I think an engaging lead character attracts more readers that actually stay with the story, (as opposed to a flashy cover or title or scenario that may draw a lot of people in initially, but is difficult for a reader to connect with). If the reader is invested in your lead character, they'll stick around to find out what happens to him or her.

10 do you have any future projects?

I'm currently working on a completely different novel outside of Wattpad, which stems from my experience as a cosmetics sales clerk. It's funnier, and lighter than this one, so it's actually helpful for me to be able to jump back and forth between them. The Chickadee Girl is on the darker end of things, after all.