Hello everyone!

Today we have GregCarrico the writer of Children of the Plague with us.

Warm regards. Welcome to an official interview from TheCRYPTIC_. It's our honor to interact with an inspiring writer like you. We hope that you'll have a great time.

1) First of all, when did you decide to join Wattpad and why did you decide to stay?

I joined in 2012 after after another author in my writer's group mentioned it to me. She said it was "Facebook for writers". I did everything wrong at first, mainly just posting samples and giving links for readers to buy the whole story, but that was before I really understood what Wattpad is about.

I decided to stay after posting a sample chapter of Children of the Plague. It got a lot of attention and positive feedback, and that was when I started to understand what Wattpad was about. Then someone from Wattpad HQ contacted me and asked if they could feature the whole novel. I was already committed to staying, but that was such a positive experience, I really fell in love with it.

2) What is the one piece of work that you are extremely proud of and why?

I am very proud of Children of the Plague, of course. It has opened a lot doors for me professionally, including the chance to be one of the Wattpad Stars, but I am probably proudest of my shorter works, particularly one called Undone. Undone was an excuse for me to indulge my love of Victorian (and Edwardian) England and especially the language of the period . Dickensian English is pure magic to me, and while I don't pretend to have the writing chops to replicate that style, Undone is my attempt to pay it homage. It was an entirely selfish story in that I wrote it for an audience of one: me. I hoped other readers might find some enjoyment in it, but I didn't expect much to come of it. I was surprised and honored that so many readers got behind it in the TNT Horror contest, and was quite pleased that it was a top 35 finalists.

3) Why did you decide to write in the genres you do?

Fantasy is my first love as a reader. The first novel I read was The Hobbit, quickly followed by everything else Tolkien had written. I dove into the Shannara novels, Dragonlance, David Eddings, Raymond Feist, and everything else I could get my hands on. I wrote some truly awful fantasy stories, and decided that I needed to get more writing practice by writing outside my comfort zone. I enjoyed reading science fiction and horror, but I was intimidated by the idea of writing in those genres, so that was what I did. I wrote 2 short stories: a horror called Finding Home and a Post Apoc sci-fi called Killing Tiffany Hudson. While I still toy with the idea of writing an epic fantasy, I have come to feel like dark science fiction and horror are my home.

4) What compels you to pick your pen and write? What inspires you or keep you motivated?

I read a quote by a famous writer whose name I don't recall, and I think of it when I have the time, but not the inclination to write. It is something like: "I can only write when I feel inspired to write. So I make sure to be inspired every morning at 8:00."
I probably screwed that up, but that's the gist of it.

5) If there was one thing you wanted to say to a new aspiring writer. What would it be?

Just one? I have 3, so how about if I number them all as 1?
1. Finish what you start. Writing THE END one time is better than having 1000 unfinished stories.
1. Read a lot. Write more.
1. Your first draft is SUPPOSED to be full of errors. just keep writing, fix them later.

6) Why did you decide to be a writer/story-teller?

I ran out of published Dungeons and Dragons modules, so I had to start making my own.

7) If you were alone is an island and were allowed to choose three users from Wattpad to stay with you. Who would it be and why?

Well, I can't think of any Wattpad users I'd want to punish that severely, but for purely selfish reasons, I'd say ShaunAllan because then we'd finally have time to collaborate on a story. I'd want to have KellyAnneBlount there, because she is simultaneously a lot of fun and very organized. She has her shit together, and you want someone like that in a survival situation. Finally, gosh... How can I pick one? tamoja, Tharron Forquer, Alex (Non-fiction and Fallzswimmer), Any of the Gavins (Heatherington, and the Orangutan)... Arron Levitz from Wattpad HQ is a fun guy. I think keeping him away from a more urban environment would be cruel to him, though.

8) Do you have any pet peeves?

Not really... Wait, Yes!! Slow drivers in the passing lane... Get the #&*$ out of my way!!!!

9) And lastly, do you prefer sweet or salty?

Um, Both! Salty followed by sweet, please and thank you.

It has been a pleasure talking to you.

Cover:

Blurb:

In the darkest corners of lower Manhattan, a battle like no other rages. The city is home to a hidden group of survivors of the nanite plague, and a brother and sister born to defend their race. With a touch that can destroy nanites, Lanni, sister of Alex, is their last chance. Can she save her brother? Can she protect mankind's only hope? Or will she be responsible for the destruction of the last humans on earth? It's going to be another long day.......

Killing Tiffany Hudson was just the beginning, but there is so much more to the story surrounding Diane and Crane's meeting in post-apocalyptic Manhattan. Children of the Plague tells the story of the survivors in the city, including Diane and some new characters you'll want to meet.