Hello fellow Wattpadders! Today we have with us KaraTales, the author of the book, In My Skin.

I am Abhipreeti (_abhipreeti_) and I have interviewed Kara, a.k.a, KaraTales.

Kara is a passionate romance enthusiast who often gets distracted by her 5-year-old Swiss Mountain Dog, Frodo. She loves playing games or watching Asian dramas, mostly Korean or Chinese. With too many ideas swirling inside her head and too little time to write them all down, she channels her creativity into romance novels that can be realistic, fantasy, or paranormal. During the pandemic, she discovered her ability to transform her vivid imagination into compelling stories by listening to her best friend, also a Wattpad author, and joining the ONC2022. She proudly completed her first book, In My Skin, in the summer of 2023 and is currently working on her next book, a paranormal urban fantasy romance novel.

At what age did you realise that you have a special place for writing? Are you currently or do you ever dream of one day being in the writing industry?

>>I've always had a head full of stories and ideas, but it wasn't until my late twenties that I realized I had the ability/talent to bring them to life in writing. Writing a book had always been a dream of mine, but I never put it into practice until my best friend encouraged me to join Wattpad and apply for ONC. Since then, I've fallen in love with the process of creating my own stories and dream that many people will enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Did any story, on or off Wattpad, inspire you ever and help you carve your interest towards writing books?

>>No, to be honest, I haven't been an active reader on the platform until my best friend invited me to join and share my stories on it.

What is the genre(s) in which you mostly write your books? Do you think you are able to create brilliant plots when you write in that specific genre(s)?

>>Romance, for sure. I also enjoy other genres, but having romance, at least as a subplot, is essential for me to really get into a story. For me, the most important part is the relationships and interactions between the main characters. If those are compelling, the overall plot can be less intricate, and I'll still enjoy the book a lot.

What advice would you like to give to authors who are writing in the same genre(s) as yours?

>>This is mostly my personal preference but don't rush the romance. Let the relationship develop naturally and take time to build the tension and chemistry between the characters. Readers love the journey and the build-up, so don't make them get together too quickly. Focus on creating strong, relatable characters and genuine interactions, and the romance will feel more rewarding and impactful.

Do you have any favourite quote or quotes from your book?

>>"His suffering face is the best."

***

"My tire broke down. But I'm fixing it, It's no problem."

His brows rose. "Fixing it yeah? Then why are you yelling at it?"

***

"You always have to have the last word, don't you?" I grumbled and snuggled into the fabric. It was hella comfy. Not that I would admit that out loud.

Killian's gaze was still trained on me but there was a watchfulness to it, tinged with amusement. "And you always have to argue about everything."

"I'm not arguing about everything!"

"See?" he countered, a smile tugging on his lips. "Now you're arguing about arguing."

Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

>>Sitting in a garden drinking coffee with my best friend and looking at my row of books that I finished writing.

Now let us talk about your book. How would you describe your story in five words? Could you please give us a brief summary of what your book is about? What makes your book different from other books in the same genre(s)?

>>Hyper-independent girl meets stubborn guy.

Taylor has eczema and problems setting boundaries. While failing another relationship, she meets Killian. The story is slow-burn as they don't exactly get along well at first but he helps pushing her to speak her mind.

What sets my book apart is the inclusion of a protagonist with eczema. The problems Taylor faces are common physiological and psychological issues that people with eczema deal with, especially in severe cases. Many people don't realize how much a condition like eczema can restrict your life. It's not just about watching what you eat; social interactions can become trigger factors, especially if the condition affects visible areas like the face, neck, or hands.

A tough part of living with a chronic illness is feeling defined by your condition and fearing that your special needs create a burden on others. This often leads to hyper-independence, making it hard to trust someone else with your feelings and problems. Working through that fear requires a patient, kind, and understanding partner who accepts your boundaries and needs. I'm a big fan of relationships where people grow together, where being together makes you stronger instead of adding to your insecurities and problems. It takes a delicate balance of pushing each other without overstepping and a willingness to improve, and I think I was able to establish this dynamic in my story.

Which character or characters of your story do you relate to most? And why?

>>I relate the most to Suz. She's Taylor's best friend and a big support. Just like her, I'm a big K-drama fan and I tend to act similarly around my best friend. I'm also a big horror challenge fan :D

I relate the most to Taylor. Just like her I have eczema and had to be hospitalized before. Most of the negative interactions during her flare-up are based on situations that I have experienced with my condition before.

How did you come up with such a fascinating plot? Were there any inspirations?

>>For two key elements, I drew inspiration from my personal experience. Firstly, dealing with eczema myself, I've been through almost everything and worse. I know exactly how restrictive it can feel to live with this condition and how it makes you want to pull back and isolate yourself during the worst of it. Secondly, I struggle with and therefore understand well, how people-pleasing tendencies can diminish your self-worth and decision-making ability.

The rest of the plot was inspired mostly by stories and interactions I picked up from various sources—books, series, and other media that made me enjoy a story.

How did you discover Wattpad? And what engendered you to begin writing on this platform? What do you like best about this application?

>>My best friend got me to join the platform to start writing. She told me about ONC and encouraged me to give it a try.

When did you start writing on Wattpad? How has your writing journey been ever since then?

>>I started writing during the pandemic in 2022. It started with a fantasy novella and then I switched to my now-finished book In My Skin. I'm currently writing a paranormal (urban fantasy) romance novel titled Spells on Shelves.

What is your writing process and how do you cope when writers' block hits you?

>>My writing process usually starts with a specific scene or interaction idea. From there, I try to plot the overall storyline. If I hit writer's block, I sit down with my best friend for a brainstorming session. These sessions are incredibly helpful, and I usually come away full of new ideas.

Are you a pantser or a plotter? During which time of the day do you usually write?

>>I think I'm sort of in-between. I need the idea and at least some key scenes first. Then I sit down and plan the rough plotline. After that, I go back to random scenes that can be anywhere in the book. Once I have some content, I start writing from the beginning. I usually write in the evenings when it's quiet and I can focus.

What would be your advice to young and budding authors, who are just beginning their journey on Wattpad and are quite new to the writing world?

>>Write what you like to read and find a beta reader—someone who isn't afraid to be honest with you and give critical advice. Lastly, don't take critical feedback to heart. Even published books have plot holes or mistakes. You've got to start somewhere, but the important thing is to start, sit down, and write.

Is there any author(s) on Wattpad whom you look up to as an amazing writer?

>>There are some but if I had to name just one its allrenwrote. Great writing style, planning, story, and world-building.

Could we please have two or more Wattpad story recommendations? What do you like most about these stories?

>>1) Rooming with the Wicked by (paranormal fantasy) allrenwrote.
à I love the most the interactions between the MC and her roommates, especially the ML. They have an enemies-to-lovers type of relationship and their interactions are always entertaining and later on very sweet.

2) Midnight (Novella) - MiniMoxx
à second chance encounter love story. Beautiful setting and great writing.

What would be the three words to describe yourself as an author?

>>Romance-obsessed. Analytical. Spontaneous.

Thank you so much! It was an honour to have you here for the interview conducted by Kalon Community. We wish you lots of success on your writing journey and may you flourish more. Thank you once again!