Do You Know Indigo? Won the Beginner's Luck Award in Watty's 2014

Title : Do You Know Indigo

Author : Bekah Eva

Summary : "Do You Know Indigo? Regretfully I do."

Christine Evans tried to kill herself. She doesn't remember why. On the anniversary of her suicide attempt an invisible, indigo eyed boy appears, bringing with him clues to her past. But in trying to discover the motives for her attempted suicide, Christine soon finds herself involved in a dark game between the creature they call Red and the Indigo Boy who claims to have saved her from death itself. "But who is this Indigo Boy, you may ask? Well why don't I tell you?"

Genre : Paranormal

Interview of the Author :

When did you first considered writing and what inspired you into writing?

Call me cliché but I’ve wanted to be a writer since before I can remember. From a young age I was always writing something, though it wasn’t until the age of thirteen that I actually complete a story. I suppose this came from a genuine love of reading and being read to. Authors like Roald Dahl, J.K Rowling, Enid Blyton and C.S Lewis taught me that we can be capable of magic without the need for wand or spells by simply using words and that, as a child, was inspiring beyond comprehension.

Who or What had been the biggest inspiration behind 'Do You a Know Indigo?"

It was, in the beginning, a culmination of being a Phantom Of The Opera fan girl and being disappointed with Bella Swan as Twilight’s leading heroine. I was enthralled by the pain and humanistic qualities in Phantom and wanted to create characters with similar emotional complexity. As for Twilight, it was a case of being proactive when I closed the book and found myself dissatisfied. I wanted to write a book in the hope I could create something reader’s would close and not question as to whether or not it had been worth reading.

If you look at the series as a whole, I cannot tell a lie in that a lot of the emotional turmoil was an exaggeration of my own. I assure you, I was not suicidal but depression played a significant role in my teenage years and a lot of that emotion ended up in the books. I don’t want people to be afraid about speaking out about mental health issues and if my book helps someone be more vocal in their struggles then it has all been worth it.

Is it a planned plot or you just let idea drive you into writing?

With “Do You Know Indigo?” I pretty much flew by the seat of my pants. I wrote whatever the heck I wanted and that was fine – therapeutic even – but boy did I regret it when editing it and planning/writing the follow ups. As most people who write series’ know, there is a lot of pressure on making sure continuity is top notch, which is made difficult when you’ve been lazy and had no consideration for what the heck you were doing.

These days I do a bit of both, creating a chapter plan but by no means sticking to it. I don’t like being constricted by my past self and what they thought was right when my present self has experienced life that little bit more and knows how to make things better.

What message are you trying to convey to your audience through this book?

Metal health in NOT a taboo subject. Depression comes in many forms and to not talk about it only makes things worse. You are not any less human or any less wonderful because of the demons in your mind – you are not them. Find someone you trust and TALK to them. Just don’t stay silent when there are a thousand people out there willing to listen. We are all humans, beautifully flawed, different and wonderful regardless of what may be going on inside of our miraculous minds.

Who is your favorite character in the story and why? What exactly he or she is up to in the story?

Holy guacamole, it feels like you are asking me to choose between my children…I don’t think I could specifically pick a character as they are in “Do You Know Indigo?” because I know their characters from book one to four. So for that reason, I’m going to say Nate but not for reasons I can disclose. Mwahaha.

So, you reached your goal, I presume. What are your future plans for the book now?

Edit like crazy I think. As I have said, I have already written all four books in the series so I think it will be a case of sharpening up the second one and checking continuity in the third and fourth. Who knows, there might be a sequel coming to Wattpad later this year… I’m just over the moon about being chosen for the Beginner’s Award so I think, for now, I’m just going to try and enjoy that.

What's next on your desk?

“Humble” is the book I am currently writing in bits and pieces. However, there is a five book series in my head that is dying to be planned but that is a project that will take months to conceptualise so it’s on the back burner for now!

What are your other works and what are you currently writing?

“Humble” is my newest story and honestly it has been the most bizarre experience I’ve had in my writing career (for the want of a better word). I started writing “Do You Know Indigo” when I was thirteen and continued the series until I was nineteen and so to completely divorce myself from Christine and Kieran after six years was tough. I felt like I was being adulterous…naughty, I know! However, it is a very different story with characters with different complexities to get my head around. I just hope the readers like it!

Do you ever get writers block? How do you tackle it?

All. The. Time. If you know a writer who doesn’t I want whatever they’re having. I think people who get writer’s block are people who genuinely care about what they are writing – you wouldn’t get your mind in such a mess if you didn’t. You want to know where to go next without haphazardly throwing words at a page.

What I do is leave it and come back to it later. The problem with this is that you might never go back and that’s fine – that’s a brave thing to do. I like my writing to feel as natural as possible and something I enjoy but the moment I feel as though I am forcing it for the sake of a word count I stop. Writing a story should come from the heart and soul, not make the brain hurt.

So yes, my advice is stop and go and live life a little because every new experience colours your writing that little bit more.

How has been the reviews and comments to your book 'Do You Know Indigo' has been like?

Insane. Honestly, every time someone comments or votes or reviews I can’t process that they are talking about my book. I think this might be because I kept Kieran and Christine to myself for so long so to have others becoming as attached to them is a little strange. Everyone has been just so positive and this may sound wacky but I am looking forward to having a constructively negative review because those are the ones that help your writing grow and Heaven knows I have a lot of growing to do!

If you had been an original author of a book, what would it have been and why?

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman because that book changed my life and if I could have such a profound effect on others as this book has had on me then I would die happy.

Which social network worked best for you? What else do you do for promoting your books?

I am absolutely awful with technology so I tend to keep it to a bare minimum. I know I should do more and really get myself out there but creating all these sites and maintaining them takes time away from doing what a love which is writing and talking to readers.

Who designed your book cover? How was the entire process like?

My cover designer is @MagmaKepner.

This woman is a God send, an absolute God send and I am so glad I have this opportunity to make her known by publically thanking her.

During the creative process I was bossy and indecisive and so clear about what I wanted and she absolutely nailed it with patience and love. She has designed all of my fiction covers and I don’t think I would consider going to anyone else because she knows exactly how to give me that warm and fuzzy feeling inside. She is wonderful, simply wonderful. So thank you Magma!

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

Honestly, I want readers to know they can send me a message any time. I like talking to people on Wattpad and hope they find me approachable because I love just being a part of this Wattpad family.

Otherwise these are all the links you really need!

Twitter: @BekahEva

Book Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/DoYouKnowIndigo?notif_t=page_new_likes

Your message to readers/followers.

Just thank you for being you.

I don’t know how the Beginner’s Luck Award was selected or how on Earth I got it for certain. However, what is do know is there was no chance of me getting it without you. Without your comments and votes and reads Indigo Boy would be nothing more than an ink blot on the screen without meaning or purpose. And yet, with your passion and imagination you have breathed life into my story and made it your own. I will never know how to thank you all enough and I hope that I can continue to do you proud and make all your hard work worthwhile.

So please, never feel afraid to message me because at the end of the day we are all lovers of Christine story and although I wrote it, it is you that brings it colour.

Hope you enjoyed reading her interview :)