Interviewer: mikaelkrownmk
She started writing at a very young age with loads of imagination and creativity to give. Please welcome yet another amazing Fantasy author who goes by the name valentina7writer as she answers a few questions today.
What's your name and tell us a little about yourself?
My name’s Valentina and I am from Greece. I am currently in my final year of University, studying Food Technology while spending my free time writing stories that range from LGBTQ+ coming of age to fantasy.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing my first book back in 2011 when I was eleven, but recently I found some old short stories that I wrote at the start of elementary. They are cringy, but perhaps my first pieces of creative writing. So, it has been a little over a decade.
How do you deal with writer's block?
I try to find the root of it. If it stems from burnout, I take a break and focus on self-care and other creative activities that will give me back my urge to write. If I get writer’s block because I am stuck at a scene or a chapter, I go back and rewrite it; the second time around it will be better. If it is just a lack of motivation, I ride it out. I know my characters will be there whenever I go back to them.
Did anything in your book happen to you in real life?
To be honest, no and I am glad because I would not want to go through what I put my characters through.
Is there a book that is featured in our reading list that is your favorite?
While I have saved quite the number of featured books in my library, I haven’t really had the time to read and pick a favorite from all of them just yet.
Define Fantasy in your own words?
The way I see Fantasy is as power. Power to create worlds so magical and unreal and breathtaking that become believable even if they are not. Power to give breath to creatures and characters and emotions. Power to create wars and history. Power to eliminate racism, homophobia, and sexism. And power to give life to a story that will provide an escape for those who need it.
What's your favorite Fantasy book on Wattpad?
Picking a favorite is just impossible. There are way too many Fantasy books that I love on Wattpad.
What Fantasy sub-genre is easier for you to write?
Urban Fantasy has been really easy to write as of late. I haven’t shared any of my works in that sub-genre yet but working with folklore and the supernatural in “our world” has been just as fun as building a world with or without magic from scratch.
Who's your favorite Fantasy author?
My current favorite Fantasy author has got to be Patricia Briggs, I am positively in love with her writing style.
Favorite movie?
Train To Busan.
Hobbies?
My hobbies include writing, reading, drawing, playing the piano, journaling, and photography, though lately, I haven’t had much free time to spend on them.
Favorite actor?
I haven’t thought about who my favorite actor is for a long time, but at the top of my head I’d have to say Song Kang after watching his performance in “Nevertheless”.
How would your friends describe you?
Imaginative, passionate, supportive, and slightly chaotic have for sure been words that my friends have used to describe me.
What's the tallest building you've been to the top in?
The tallest building I’ve been to the top in must be the Fernsehturm Stuttgart located in Stuttgart, Germany, the city I was born in.
What was the first book you read on Wattpad?
The first Wattpad book I read was actually “Why You Shouldn’t Lend A Bad Boy Your Clothes” by Philline Harms, which introduced me to Philline and her awesome writing.
Is your glass half-full or half-empty?
My glass is almost always half-empty. I’d much rather brace myself for failure and get pleasantly surprised than get excited only to be let down.
What makes you laugh the most?
Definitely the people I am closest to.
Spring or Summer?
Spring. I do not enjoy Summer and heat, it drains all my motivation and drive, leaving me unable to do anything creative.
Halloween or Christmas?
It has got to be Christmas for me. My family and I don’t follow religious traditions, so Christmas is more about food and spending quality time together than anything else, and at the end of the day as much of an introvert as I am nothing beats that.
Can you tell us what you're currently writing?
I am currently working on two different books, both in the Low Fantasy and Urban Fantasy sub-genres. One of them contains elements of European folklore while the other focuses more on Japanese folklore, though both of them are still in need of plenty of writing and editing.
And there you have it. valentina7writer has spoken. Thanks for your time. Catch us next time as we bring on another amazing Fantasy author. Till then, have a magical week ahead.