[Madhu, After Dark] Just feel free. We'll start off and just go with the flow!
I would love to more about yourself and how you got into writing novels, particularly you're 'after dark' novels?

[Aria, Featured Author] My name is Aria and I live in the United States with my husband and a pet Russian Dwarf hamster. I'm obsessed with my husband, 'the office', my Macbook and I'm quite simply a cupcake trying to leave her mark on the world lol. Unlike most writers, I didn't find myself wanting to be a writer ever since I was little. Though I was interested in poetry when I was in grade school, I didn't actually start writing until I was thirteen. My first book consisted of a fan fiction about the band Linkin Park because I was seriously OBSESSED with their music during my teenage years. I posted the book on a website called 'Fandomination.net', publishing chapters on it much like people do here on Wattpad. After that, I didn't really feel passionate enough about anything in my life to write a book about it and in turn, it led to a creative lull that lasted over ten years!

I finally picked up writing again about three summers ago. I was recovering from surgery and about to graduate from college. I began writing my novel 'Desideratum', trying madly to develop a plot in my brain that I would feel passionate about expanding on. As I wrote, I really wanted people to feel the sexual tension between my main characters, to feel how much they wanted one another.

Before 'New Adult' books became a thing in the literature world, I felt like my reading options were limited to either Young Adult books or full blown Erotica. I wanted to combine both worlds, to write sexy, romance novels that also contained REAL plots and dealt with real, everyday struggles when it comes to finding love.

I began writing the types of novels that I had always wanted to read myself.

[M] So, if you first started out writing on other sites, how did you come across Wattpad? How was your initial response to it?

[A] After writing on 'Fandomination.net' I completely gave up on writing due to my writer's block. Summer of 2014, I stumbled upon an article on Facebook from Cosmopolitan magazine about Wattpad. The article consisted of Anna Todd and her success with her One Direction fanfiction. The timing could not have been more perfect since I had just completed 'Desideratum' and I didn't want it to just remain unread in my computer. To this day, I honestly feel like it was meant to be.

As soon as I finished scrolling through the article, I created a Wattpad account. I've always been an incredibly shy person. I'm a huge, HUGE introvert who prefers people in small doses and I much rather stay in with my husband watching a movie at any given day of the week. It took a massive amount of courage for me to post my work on the internet for strangers to read, especially because I knew that it wasn't my best. I also knew that I didn't have the skin to endure any negative comments about it but thankfully, that has changed over time. I think that hardest part, at first, was finding a cover that suited my novel and of course, getting people to read it. 'Desideratum' didn't get many reads at first, but because of it, I gained a small following of about fifty readers who were incredibly supportive. I can honestly say that to this day, I've never once asked anyone to read my novels. I've always allowed my work do the talking for me

[M] What were the initial results after you posted your first book on Wattpad? And what was the first book you read?

[A] The first book I ever read on Wattpad was Anna Todd's 'After'. I've never been very fond of the plot, but her book really helped me get a sense of how Wattpad worked by reading other readers' comments about their thoughts on her novel.

'Desideratum' didn't do all that well with readers at first. My cover didn't really help to draw readers in and neither did the plot since it is a bit taboo. It wasn't until I started writing my second novel, 'TORN' that things started taking off for me. I owe it all to for choosing to include my novel in one of her 'Wattpad's Best Romance Books' anthologies; I always think of her when I reach another milestone in my writing.

Soon after, I began receiving comments from people asking me to update 'TORN' and it felt absolutely amazing to not be completely invisible on Wattpad anymore. I started receiving true feedback for my writing and from then on, I became absolutely addicted.

[M] Wow! I'm super glad that you've read that article and that led you to this point! And taboo is secretly one of my guilty pleasure too. I read Desideratum long ago and loved it!

I'm sure the readers, including me, would love to know how you started off writing Torn?

[A] With 'TORN' I literally just got on my computer one day and started writing. I never even experienced writer's block with it although I'm sure it shows since the plot it's incredibly rough! I wanted to create something that would push the boundaries of drama in a romance book and I think I achieved exactly that regardless of the fact that my main character is quite infuriating. I didn't overthink the plot or stress out too much about it. I simply had fun with it which is why I finished it in just a little over six months. A lot of people believe that I created Payton in my image. I actually don't have very much in common with her aside from the fact that when she falls in love, she falls HARD and she's incredibly sensitive. That is where the similarities between us end.

Love triangles are my guilty pleasure. They inspire me because they lead to drama. Drama leads to sadness and I think there is something incredibly beautiful about sadness. I honestly believe that sometimes, you have to allow yourself to be sad so that you can move forward. In my books, hearts get infiltrated, people get hurt, rules get shattered and it makes for an interesting story about the human condition we call love.

[M] I have no idea why, but every time someone mentions 'love triangle', I'm always reminded of Twilight :P *shudders*

Now that you've mentioned that, I wanna know what is/are the things you tend to avoid writing in your books or don't like reading about them?

[A] Lol I learned to stop affiliating love triangles with 'Twilight' long ago! Otherwise I don't think I'd ever be able to write one. My sister always jokes about 'Twilight' because when I was in middle school (around the year 2000) I was also oddly obsessed with vampires and I wanted to write a story about a vampire falling in love with a human. She always tells people about how Stephenie Meyer stole my idea. But she didn't because I never even tried to bring it to life lol. Maybe just once, but I had such bad writer's block that it didn't lead anywhere.

I don't purposely try to avoid anything in my novels. I think a writer can incorporate whatever they want into a book so long as they are able to execute it properly (i.e. a love triangle) and are able to make it theirs.

I personally have failed to properly execute certain elements in my books but I've been fortunate enough to have an amazing following. A following that supports everything that I decide to throw into my novels, even when it wasn't properly thought out! Wattpad should be fun. I don't believe my books here on Wattpad to be the final drafts for my novels so I don't worry too much about it. So long as the readers have a good time and become engrossed in my writing, I feel like I'm doing my job. I write for me and no one else and that includes writing whatever I feel will keep the story moving forward.

[M] I've never been able to write a love triangle because of that and I have a feeling that if you would have written a book like Twilight, it surely would have turned out better than what's already there.
It's nice to know that you are open to most, if not all, varieties, but what is your favourite genre? Did it change from the one you liked in middle school?

[A] No. I've always been interested in writing about romance. I've even tried dipping my toes into the fantasy genre and the only reason it worked for me was because I incorporated romance into it. No matter what I write, it will always include romance because it's what drives me as a writer. I'm an incredibly deep individual who is in love with love itself and that's never going to change.

[M] That's awesome! I love the way you're so driven about what you like to write about and I'm sure that makes things easier for you while writing something new.
Well, they say that curiosity kills the cat, but I wanted to know if you're a full-time writer or it's just a hobby?

[A] Today, I am a full-time writer but it definitely started out as a hobby. I suffer from a chronic condition known as 'Interstitial Cystitis' and writing has provided me with an amazing escape for the past couple of years. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to make a living from my writing in spite of the fact that I am not a published author.

In the past, due to my illness, I was physically unable to work. I felt horrible because my husband was providing for the two of us alone and even though he was doing an incredible job at it, I wanted to help out. Writing for free on Wattpad was time consuming but it definitely paid off. Today, I am part of the new Wattpad Futures program and also write for Radish Fiction, which is where most of my income comes from. My husband and I are living happy and comfortably thanks to my readers and how loyal they've been to my current novel. I've literally ran out of ways to thank them. Because of them, I am now also able to afford a medication that is helping to improve my condition in ways that I never could've imagined after nine years of suffering. I owe it all to them and to my writing.

[M] That is great! Hopefully, you'll get better soon!
What do you think of the after dark community that us ambassadors are running? And did you join any clubs when you first started out?

[A] Thank you! I hope so too!

I didn't join any clubs when I first joined Wattpad and I'm not part of any now. I think communities like Afterdark are an amazing idea! Mainly, due to the fact that books with mature themes don't receive the same amount of exposure as a Young Adult book might, for example, here on Wattpad.

Communities like Afterdark serve as an outlet for mature writers to be able to connect with more readers across Wattpad who may be unaware of how to find books with mature themes but are definitely interested in reading them. It provides writers like me with validation. It makes us feel like our books matter too. It's great!

[M] Well, after catering to authors like you, we feel pretty special too! We're glad that many of the books have been able to find the right recognition they deserve.
Do you see yourself publishing your books anytime soon? And I'm sure many of us would like to know whether you base your characters on real-life people.

[A] I don't feel comfortable pursuing publishing any of my novels without giving them a HUGE overhaul first. I've gotten a couple of offers here and there but none of them have felt like the right choice for me.

I don't think I've ever based any of my characters on real-life people but that doesn't mean that I never will. The only person that I've incorporated into my characters is my husband. Pieces of his personality are integrated into all of my main, male characters and I've definitely included bits and pieces of my own life here and there.

[M] Well, I'm sure you'd do well even if you did get into publishing!
I choose the names of my characters on a whim or if my friend suggests it. But how do you name your characters? And the way you describe them, that's drool-worthy, so how do you imagine them, before writing about them? I could totally use your advice on this!

[A] Thank you!

When it comes to names, I visit baby name websites! Or, if I hear a name that I find interesting on television, I save it on my iPhone for future reference so by the time I start another novel, I've got all of the names of my characters lined up and ready to go. I've been saving names for years now, so that's never been a struggle for me. My characters have a name before I ever even bring them to life.

Honestly, describing the men in my book has got to be about the most challenging thing that I encounter while I'm writing. Even though I don't post photographs, I always choose specific actors for my male leads and go from there. I also use my husband as reference, as well lol. I literally study him. I study the way he speaks, try to break down his scent and his mannerisms and I incorporate that into my writing to the best of my ability.

[M] Ohh!! That's actually a really good idea!! I should probably start following that too!
So, before we wrap up, I wanted to know the one thing you would tell your younger self about writing?

[A] Like anyone who once pursued writing only to be plagued with the dreaded writer's block, I would tell myself TO KEEP AT IT no matter how discouraged I felt. I wish I could've practiced my writing much earlier in life so that I wouldn't find myself slowly improving until my late twenties. If I could travel back in time and advice myself on my writing, I would tell myself exactly that.

Thank you so much!

<3

[M] Thank you so much for taking the time and answering all our questions and hope that you keep writing great books and stay in the peak of your health! :)