Ho! 🎅Ho! 🎅Ho! 🎅

It's the world's favourite female Santa😝 once again wishing you all an amazing and fruitful New year!💐💐💐

Today in the garden, I have the amazing, the talented, the intelligent, the graphic queen herself, Laentheon!👑

(The crowd goes wild💐)

She is the brain behind all my beautiful covers and her book, "The Seasons of Sissera" is the focus for today.

That title alone is a killer❤, how did you come up with it?

Ara: I fell in love with the word 'Susurration' which means whispering, rustling or murmuring. To me Sissera (a made up name) sounded similar and I wanted to imitate the sound of susurration in my title.

Li: Wow, is it weird if I say, I haven't come across the word 'susurration' before?🤔

Where did you find the word?

Ara: Well, I came across the word while reading "The Tiffany Aching Series" and had to look it up.

Li: Does the true meaning of susurration connect with 'The Seasons of Sissera'?

Ara: The word susurration is apt because a lot of the story revolves around whispers. Soft discussions are where revolutions begin.

Li: Very well said, revolutions do start with soft whispers.

Moving on, what inspired you to write this story?

Ara: I have always been frustrated with fantasy literature because I find it hard to discover a story where I can't predict the entire plot based on the first page.

Li: You are definitely not wrong about that, especially here on Wattpad. Sometimes I don't even go pass the blurb😂

Ara: Yes, it's that frustrating. There is a significant lack of diversity.

I wanted to change that, so the ideas for the story have been in my head for a while.

However, they did not solidify until I decided to sit down one day and draw a map, randomly.

Li: Hmm, the story got pieced together when you drew the map?

Ara: No, the story got pieced after I drew the map.
I planned the world out in detail and once I was finished, I decided, why not combine what I had created with the story ideas in my head. So there you have it, The Seasons of Sissera.

Li: Waoh! You must really have a smart head on your shoulders. I don't think I can come up with the ideas you came up with, even if I swallowed a book😂 I mean elves, gnomes, humans, dwarfs! I can't do it!

Sophie: 😂😂😂😂 You should swallow Green and update more often.

Shut up Sophie🙄

Ara: Honestly, I'm not that smart. The truth is that I simply study, work and think about things more and for longer than most people.

Li: In my dictionary, that qualifies as a genius.

Ara: I am not by a long shot a genius, 😁. Thank you, though😁

Li: And she is so humble, awww😍

Anyway, before I start confessing my love on the show😃, let's talk about the characters.

Starting with the winged-thief, Erudeln, it kind of broke my heart that he couldn't hide the wings and atleast look normal. Why did you decide to give them permanent animalistic and plant features?

Ara: I wanted the elves to be close to nature and different to traditional elves.

Li: Personally, I thought the Elves' features were cool, I just wished it could be temporary or something.

Sophie: It isn't your book, Lilly. What you want doesn't matter🙄

I'm just saying, not imposing😝

Ara: Easy Sophie😁 I'm sure Lilly isn't imposing anything. Actually, having the features be impermanent never occurred to me but I quite like the idea. I might change that.

Sophie: You don't have to do that🙄
Anyway, even I have a question.

Li: Hey! I am the host here! I ask the questions, she answers and you, press the buzzer😏 but. . . go ahead😁

Sophie: (shakes her head then turns to Aralyn)
How did you get the idea of your dragons? Their flames burn in seconds! That was awesome!

Ara: Aww, I'm glad you liked them! I am not far along in my book and so, I haven't introduced the dragons properly yet. Or atleast the readers don't know much about them. The kind you met, Sophie, were Ice dragons so their fire burns like ice.

Li: That's really cool.

Ara: Yes it is. The way ice corrodes surfaces is how the dragon's fire works but sped up.

Sophie: Waoh, are you planning on having other dragons? Like other types?

Ara: Yes, I'm planning on having normal fire dragons as well as some whose fire is electricity.

Li: Electricity? That should be awesome. Where did you get these ideas from?

Ara: The ideas come from my love of chemistry and physics. I decided to twist some of those principles and apply them to fantasy scenarios.

Li: That's why I love Fantasy as a genre, one could always twist and turn so many facts and get away with it.😂

Ara: Very true!

Li: Let's move to Nokkland and Lyren. I really liked their pair. Nokkland is a bit on the shy side and she is like a bully but still sweet. I felt really bad when you separated them😫 couldn't they just journey together?😞

Ara: Oh absolutely not! There is wayyy too much revolving around that. There is a double meaning to everything in my book 😜 Also would you mind not asking about Lyren? I can't talk about her. . .

Li: Oh oh oh😈, you shouldn't have said that because now I am crazy curious,😁. Give me a good reason.
Why shouldn't I talk about Lyren?

Wait. . is there a Lyren in your life?🤔

Ara: Oh dear! *facepalm* Sophie help!

Sophie: Sorry, I can't help you.😏

Li: Is there a Lyren in your life?

Ara: No! There isn't😫 if I tell you anything about Lyren, it'll spoil the book and you must promise not to put it in the interview.

Li: I can't promise that. I get nightmares when I keep secrets, ahahah😑!

Ara: Well, in that case, I'm definitely not telling. 😂

Sophie: Okay, that's enough, leave her alone😒

Li: Sophie you are no fun😪
Okay, I'll let Lyren be.

Ara: Thank you for letting her be in peace,😅

Li: I'm letting Lyren be for now😈, I'll get back at her. How about Curathel and Minael?

First, I think it's totally awesome that they can change genders. Sometimes I wish I could become a boy😞

Ara: I'm glad you appreciate that! And I completely agree, it would be nice to be the other gender for a bit. . . all the other characters are fair game by the way; 😅

Li: Right. So let's talk about Kabira. She has a very sensitive nose. Reading her struggle with the dust reminded me of the intro you had for your graphic shop.😂
I'm guessing, the sneezing is your thing, you just dumped it on Kabira. Am I right? Or Am I right?😂😂

Ara: I don't usually sneeze. Unfortunately😅, I get a running nose, for those who don't know, I am  really allergic to dust like Kabira. However, I felt sneezing would be a lot more comical, which is why I changed the symptom.

Li: Oh yes, it was comical. Especially when she sneezed on that poor guard,😂

Ara: That guard deserved it, 😅

Li: So which is your favourite character? Who do you love writing about the most?

Ara: I love all of them but there are three I like best. I enjoy writing Erudeln, my wayward elf, because I enjoy his sense of humor and the world of elves.

Lyren is intriguing to write for reasons I cannot disclose.

There is another character who hasn't been published yet, the pickpocket, whose story line and character is very fun. He bullies me a lot😂

Li:  Whaat?! Your character bullies you😱?

Ara: Actually, all three of them do.😂

Li: Wait, they bully you, yet you enjoy writing about them, how is that?

Ara: I think I enjoy the characters who seem to be able to live outside of what I create. I'm working on trying to do that for the others as well but I have a limited amount of headspace, LOL.😁

Li: LoL, I'd get you a new memory chip. We need those characters,😂

Ara: I'd probably need a brain memory chip for each character. If only something like that existed- I could switch it out depending on which character I  needed to write.

Li: That would be so cool.😁

Most people have a great story but come up with the worst names for their characters. In your case, you didn't just plan out your world and characters, you came up with really unique names, how did you come up with them?

Ara: Some of them, I have come up with over the years, like Erudeln, Mindel, Cadaren, Lyren and Rothgar.

Li:  How about the others?

Ara: The others came from choosing random letters and rearranging them according to the pattern of the language of that race.

Li: Wait, what? According to their languages? How do you keep track of all that?

Ara: I have loose guidelines for gnomish and dwarfish. Elvish and dragonese are still in progress.😁

Li: Damn! It's like an entire encyclopedia you've created for this story!😱

Ara: I do actually have two whole notebooks worth of scribbles and ideas,😃

Li: 😱 Wait, the two notebooks are just for Sissera or all your book ideas?

Ara: Yes! Two just for Sissera,😂

Li:  Oh my God! Aralyn, you have just taken book planning to another level! Waoh! I wish I could plan my stories this deeply.
We really need to get you a brain chip! And more notebooks😂

Ara: If someone invented brain chips for writers, I can say with upmost certainty that I'd buy a TON OF THEM!!

Li: I should invent them, 😂

Ara: Oh please do!😅😅

Li: Okay, which scene is your favourite?

Ara: So far, I have two scenes that I like the best.
One is the one where, Cadaren runs into Fraen.
The other is one in the chapter you haven't read yet, where Erudeln knocks over Uilia, Maern and their food.

Li: Oh yes, I haven't read that part yet. But Cadaren and Fraen's chapters are almost always funny.

As for me, my favourite scene was where Nokkland was communicating with the dragon and Lyren couldn't understand. I just loved the way you played out that part.

Ara: Really? I'm surprised you liked that scene. I had to try really hard to not make it feel like a summary. But considering you liked it, I would say, I succeeded.

Li: Oh you did succeed.
My next question, it seems all your male characters have a tendency to be bullied by their female friends/companions. Was that intentional?

Ara: Hang on a minute, let me think about that🤔. . . waiiit! I did do that.😱
No, No, it wasn't intentional.

Li:  😏 why did it appear so then?

Ara: I hate toxic masculinity, so I have a tendency to write shy male characters. All the ones I have written are strong in their own right. It just hasn't been shown yet.
I also write very strong female characters, so I think it might seem like bullying inadvertently.

I might have to fix that, LOL. It's not exactly the image I wanted to portray.

Li: 😁 That's how it seemed to me but I loved it. By the way, I actually love your female characters.💕
I hate the way females are portrayed as weak beings in almost every book. It's annoying👿😠😡

Ara: I also find that annoying which is why I avoid writing ones who resemble that stereotype.

Quick Question, you mentioned you loved my female characters, do you hate my male characters?

Li: No, No. I actually, love that they are more real and natural. Let's be sincere, not every male is strong and muscular and protective and all the demi-god features books give them.

My brother is a scaredy cat! When ever there is a commotion, he runs and hides under the bed and he is 18!

Females are not some eggs, that need protecting, I should start a revolution!

Ara: Yes! You should totally start a revolution on that score.

Li: Absolutely! Every book portrays men as unbreakable soldiers!
Let's look at Nokkland for example, he is weak, yet strong in his own way. That's the kind of male characters we want to see.
Not the Greek gods!

Ara: In some ways, I would actually argue that Nokkland is strong. He just doesn't feel the need to show off and he is okay with being weak.😁

Li: I believe you because it takes a really brave guy to speak with an Ice Dragon😅

Ara: It may just be inner strength though, Nokkland is plenty muscly. LOL
Acceptance of one's faults and confidence in one' self, produces a stronger character than any bluster or buffness.

Li: You are right about that.

Okay, fun question, if you were to become one of your characters, who would you be?

Ara: hmmm truth be told, parts of who I am are in all of the characters. That's how I can create them so accurately. If I had to pick one, I would choose Erudeln. I would love to have wings and his story is one I wouldn't mind living or Natalia but you haven't really met her yet.

Li: Ooh I wouldn't want to have wings I can't hide or tuck away. Good luck with that!

I'll rather be Lyren or Minael.😍

Ara: Well you could keep yourself warm and who wouldn't want to channel their inner Maleficent but I digress😋

Lyren? I'd be wary of picking her without knowing her plot line. . .

Li: What do you think is the hardest part when it comes to writing Seasons of Sissera?

Ara: Hardest part? That should be Writer's Block!
I am terrible and I mean TERRIBLE about writing regularly. I just can't do it and for some reason I can only generate a good chapter after six drafts and then one night every two months from midnight to 2AM.

Don't ask me why but that seems to be the only time, I can write.😃

Li: 😅Maybe because you like quiet dark places. 🤔Okay, that came out wrong, but you know what I mean😁

Ara: Quiet dark places?😂 Nooo!
I actually prefer sunny mountain tops. But the serenity of that time slot is great for writing.

Li: So overall, what's that one message you think everyone should get after reading Seasons of Sissera?

Ara: The message that I hope people get after reading is the main reason for the book, which is, learn to accept those who are different and to understand your fear.

Li: Wow, that's such a powerful message. I hope people really get that and not just get it but practice it. We need it in our lives.
We need to learn to accept each other the way we are.

Ara: I feel like a lot of tensions we have today are because people are afraid to accept climate change and those who do not look, act, love or believe in the things they do. Should people learn to understand why they are afraid, they can learn to accept.

Li: Exactly!

Ara: I try my best and try to have those conversations with others. And I mean hey, I'm writing a book about it. But it is not enough . . . I hope someday it will be universal.

Li: I hope so too.
You write about such important matters, why did you choose Fantasy as a genre though?

Ara: I chose Fantasy as a genre because it is often easier to accept hard truths indirectly through a story than any other way. Even people who don't necessarily think the way I do, I hope they will be convinced by the end of the book.

Li: You are right about that. Fantasy just has a way of making new ideas easier to pass across.

So, do you want to give a shout out to anybody?

Ara: Shout out? Definitely to Paintfairy for the amazing cover because even if I make covers, I'm NEVER satisfied when making them for myself😆

Also to DreamlandCommunity for all the helpful feedback and edits which have made me grow a lot as a writer.

I would also like to thank Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, Gail Carson Levine, Phillip Pullman, Leigh Bardugo and Margaret Roberson for inspiring me to write and for showing me that a well-developed unpredictable fantasy book existed.

If you haven't read their works, please consider checking them out!😊

Li: You read right people! Dreamland is an amazing community. If you guys want to really grow as a writer, then you should consider joining one of their clubs.

So, we have come to the end of the show, as a tradition, I need you to recommend a book that you feel should get interviewed.

Ara: That would be "If the Crane Sings" by Pentasmagoric

Li: Okay, I will check it out.

Sophie: You say that at the end of every show but you don't do it🙄

I do check the books out😪

Sophie: But you don't interview them🙄

I have a lot of books lined up and some of the authors are way too busy, but I am working on them😣

Anyway, one more question Aralyn, do you hate Lyren?
(Okay. I'll go now. Take care😂😂)

Ara: No, I love Lyren! I just can't tell you about her. Lilly you promised to let her be😣
She's a MAJOR plot joint.

Sophie: Really, Lilian!🙄

Li: 😂😂😂 that's enough 😂😂😂
I'm just pulling your legs.

Ara: Oh okay, you had me worried there. 😅

Li:  I am just a naughty girl😂😂

Thank you so much for being here, I had so much fun.💕

Ara: Thank you for taking the time to interview me. I really appreciate it and I'm honoured!

Li: You are most welcome💕💕

🦂🦂🦂🦂🦂

We have come to the end of the show. This was one of my longest interviews and I had so much fun with Ara.
I hope you guys enjoy reading not just the interview but the book itself. Below is a sneak peek of what you will be getting into;

🐝🐝

Over three generations of Sisserians, solution after solution is tried to maintain the peace.

When one is finally successful, the leader is assassinated and the world descends into chaos as the usurper attempts to slaughter all other races.

Seven characters are thrown together in a final attempt to keep Sissera from splitting at the seams.
A patch work alliance is made consisting of;

A vagabond destined to be a dead king💀

A wayward elf with a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time🕊

A hot-tempered cupbearer who avoids mirrors at all cost🍺

A bewildered lover attempting to play a game of chess with lives🎲

A librarian turned detective🕵

A mother who will unknowingly pass the fate of the world unto her daughter's shoulders👄

A pickpocket who accidentally pockets something much more valuable than a wallet💣

Together, they represent the last barrier between Sissera and complete blood stained chaos. . .

🐝🐝🐝

This amazing and intriguing book can be found in my public reading list titled, 'Interviewed books' and of course her very own profile.💕

Until next time, stay safe💛💛