This month's Spotlighted Author is laurendoubleu along with her book Turning Tides!

Cover Credit - MoranaInDesign

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Author Bio

Born and raised in Hawaii, Lauren has always enjoyed writing, but it wasn't until later in life that she decided to focus on documenting the characters and worlds of her daydreams. With her background in engineering, these stories tend to include hints of science, and she always loves to have representation for her fellow members in the LGBTQ+ community. Aside from writing, she also enjoys petting cats, photography, and trying out new foods.

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Book Description

When Malia set out to sea, she expected to make a life-changing discovery; instead, she received a life-ending doom.But death isn't her end, and she's granted another chance by the very ocean that she died in. That's according to Beatrice, a thousand-year-old water spirit that shows her the ways of their kind. After all, Malia isn't the first to be reborn, and countless souls lost at sea still live underwater, tasked with saving mortals from the same fate. It's a tough job, but if Malia does it right, she can win back her life on land.However, vengeful souls lurk in the waters, determined to destroy the mortals above them. These ghouls were the ones that killed Malia, but if she wants to return to the surface, she'll have to face them in a fight for her mortal life or eternal death.

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Favorite Quote

"I'll pay my debt to the ocean — all of it," Beatrice said, her voice burning with a passion warmer than the sand beneath Malia's feet. "I'll work to earn my life back on land, and as soon as I do..." She took a deep breath, one that she didn't need — not yet. "I'll find you. I'll find you again, I promise."

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Interview

1. What made you start writing on Wattpad? What is the most memorable moment you have encountered here? 

After I completed my first novel, I was looking for a way to share it with people that might enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Wattpad seemed like the perfect way to give unknown writers like me a chance to be seen by a like-minded audience, and since then, I've never looked back!

My most memorable moment is still ongoing! Last year, I found a wonderful group of people within the Wattpad community and made amazing friends. Not only did I get the chance to swap ideas with fellow writers and readers, but I was welcomed into a group that supports each other through our struggles and applauds one another for our successes. Without them, Turning Tides probably wouldn't exist, at least not in the same capacity. 

2. What is your experience with writing the Urban Fantasy genre so far? Why did you pick writing in this genre? 

Before Turning Tides, the closest I have gotten to writing urban fantasy is with my first novel, Triple Point, and its focus on militarized superhumans. Their "magic" is based on physics, chemistry, and biology, and I feel it leans more towards sci-fi than fantasy.

With Turning Tides, I tried to jump more into the realm of fantasy than ever before, and it was fun to branch out! Still, I couldn't resist including bits of physics in the plot, especially since I have always been fascinated by the idea that magic is a form of advanced science.

I decided to give fantasy a try after being encouraged by my friend, fantasy author Aptionia. While sci-fi was my comfort zone, this story was a chance to try something new, and I'm glad I did! I also felt it was a fitting genre for the character growth in Turning Tides since throughout the story, the main character is reminded about the magic of science she initially fell in love with.

3. What do you like most in your story Turning Tides? 

I love the character growth! The main character, Malia, starts off as a workaholic who is very hard on herself and her abilities, which is something I strongly relate to. She's lost sight of her passion for science, and is instead fueled by her need to succeed for other people instead of her own happiness. Her main reason for wanting to return to land is to continue her work and make other people proud, not because she has dreams of her own.

Underwater, she meets Beatrice, a water spirit that is very jaded towards humans and sees no point in associating with them more than necessary. She doesn't understand Malia's desire to return to land, nor does she have strong ambitions after a millennium under the sea.Throughout the story, these two women help each other change... But I shouldn't spoil it! I just hope people enjoy the story as much as I do. 

4. Turning Tides is a Sapphic Romance story. What does it mean to you to portray and write these stories? 

I include sapphic romance in my stories to create the representation I'd like to see in other media. While books, TV shows, movies, and other forms of storytelling are slowly including more positive representations of the LGBTQ+ community, as a member of the group myself, I want to do my part to help. I started writing because I struggled to find the stories I wanted to read, and I hope to continue sharing my ideas as long as I have stories to tell.

On one hand, there is some pressure to give my community the proper representation we deserve, especially since there aren't many sapphic romance stories compared to ones featuring other relationships. On the other hand, I love the chance to show the world the beauty of the LGBTQ+ community, and how the genders and sexualities of characters don't change the magic of romance; love is love.

5. What makes a good and intriguing Magical Romance story like yours? 

What's considered a good and intriguing story may differ from person to person, and I don't think there's a specific formula to follow or requirements a story must have to be entertaining. At the very least, I think a writer needs to be passionate about their work to create an enjoyable story, regardless of genre.

Instead, I can say why I think people enjoy Turning Tides. While the story involves a fantasy environment, the characters are realistic, and maybe even relatable for some readers. For example, Malia struggles to adjust to a new world just as readers might after experiencing a dramatic life change. Then there's Beatrice who is jaded about people just as readers might be if they're hurt by the world around them. There is magic in this story, but it's mixed with realism that readers can feel for themselves. And as these two women overcome their obstacles and grow closer, the readers can feel that too. 

6. What was your writing routine while writing Turning Tides? 

For most of my works, I am more of a plotter, and my process for Turning Tides definitely reflected that! After I came up with a general idea for the story, I wrote a brief summary of the entire plot. Then, I fleshed out the characters, including their personalities and backstories, as well as the lore of the underwater world and the magic behind it. A couple days later, I began plotting out the chapters with each being a stepping stone for the plot and character development. Then, I dove right in (pun intended)!

Along the way, I would jot down any dialogue I would want to happen at some point, and I belatedly added one chapter to fill in a gap in Malia's character growth, but this story was a very linear process for me. Overall, it took me about twenty days to complete my first rough draft!

7. Turning Tides was your ONC Entry. Why did you decide to enter this contest? What do contests on Wattpad do for you? 

Before ONC began, I had never entered a writing competition with a set time limit, and I only tried a couple user-run awards on Wattpad that judged previously written stories. Going into it, I was very stressed about the prospect of being uninspired, especially since I normally feel pressured by deadlines. It was thanks to the encouragement from other members of the Wattpad community, along with the appeal of camaraderie, that solidified my decision to join. While Turning Tides did not end up passing the first round, it was a great experience to learn from, and I'm grateful I managed to write something I'm proud of!I haven't entered many contests in general, but I see them as a way to challenge my creativity, whether it be against the clock or other writers. Contests with prompts, like ONC, are a great way to spark inspiration; it's also fun to write alongside friends and to see what everyone else comes up with!

8. Do you have a message for your readers and supporters or any future readers? 

To my current readers and friends, thank you so much for every read, vote, and comment you've left on my stories. Thank you for joining me on the adventures of my mind, and for the countless discussions we've had, whether related to writing or otherwise. While I mainly write for my own enjoyment, I'm always honored when someone says my work has a positive impact on them, and knowing that makes me even prouder of my contribution to the community. I am very thankful I continued to write until today because that allowed me to meet and befriend all of you!

To my future readers and friends, I can't wait to meet you! I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoyed writing them, and please don't be afraid to reach out to chat!

Thanks so much to all of you, the AstaniaCommunity, and to CitifiedFantasy for this opportunity! I am so grateful for your support and friendship!