1. How long have you been writing and who influenced you?
I began writing in high school and I haven't stopped since. I could name several authors who have influenced me, but I think E L James has been the most influential. Just like her, I’ve also written fan fiction stories for years, and her success has inspired me to try my luck as well and turn some of those stories into novels.
2. What's your biggest challenge as a writer?
The biggest challenge is to create characters that are believable and that people can identify themselves with, write stories that have a little bit of everything (love, drama, humor, passion, intrigue, suspense) to capture readers’ interest.
3. What inspires your stories most often?
Anything can inspire me – songs, movies, a line in a book, a chat with a friend, a walk in the park with my dog. I think of stories all the time and try to come up with twists and turns.
4. What comes first, plot or characters?
Characters always come first. After I get an idea about what I want the characters to be like, then I think about the story and how I could bring those two together. So first I try to develop the characters and their backgrounds, then work on the story.
5. Pantser, plotter, or hybrid?
I never sit down and plot. I don’t have an outline when I start a new story. I have an idea on how I want it to begin, certain events that should take place, and a vague ending, but I never know what’s going to happen next. I get ideas as I write. Sometimes I have several options on how to continue and when that happens, I usually take a breather and detach myself from it for a while, thinking about how the story could develop depending on the path I choose. That said, I am definitely a pantser.
6. What does your writing day look like?
I usually go back and read the last few paragraphs I wrote the other day to help me get back into the story. Also, at the end of a writing day, I often leave notes in the manuscript on events I want to write the next day. I have a notebook where I jot down ideas when I’m not able to write. Sometimes whole conversations pop up into my head and I need to write them down while they’re fresh in my mind.
7. Are there other genres you’d like to try to write in?
I am a romantic at heart and I’ve always enjoyed reading a good romantic story. But I’m also interested in paranormal romance. I live in Transylvania, and I grew up with the legends and myths about supernatural creatures, which I’ve always found intriguing. Furthermore, I would like to try my hand at mystery or suspense some time in the future.