Sarah, After Dark: Before we get too deep in the questions. We'd like to know a little bit about who you are in your days off of wattpad specifically and writing generally? You can tell us anything you comfortable with. ^^

Sarah Royal: I have a full time job that does not relate to English literature or writing. I write for fun as a way of releasing the pressure of working life. Having said that I love my day job a lot. I do writing on the side as a hobby. I think some of the scenes in my books at times are inspired by characters I have met, but not the names. I use name websites for finding names. But character personalities are inspired by real people at times and some events in book resemble similarities to what I have seen and even experienced. One day I might publish a bonus chapter telling people about which parts of my book are inspired by what events or people minus the crime elements. Off wattpad, I am a non risk taker leading a quiet life. I love shopping and food. If people check my Instagram they can tell, but I am very private due to my day job dealing with so many people. I just don't want to disclose my hobby so openly to people I work with.

Sarah, After Dark: Anyway, I believe that the interviewer before me already asked you about what inspired you to write A Mob Boss's First Love. So, I won't make your fans bored by the same question agan and again. Instead I'm curious about how did you find the 'I want to write' moment? And why that particular moment made you want to write?

Sarah Royal: I found the moment in 2013 to write on wattpad after reading so many books to read. When I was young I loved descriptive writing. I wasn't great at it, I loved it. I had a diary and enjoyed describing everything that had happened at the end of each day. I think I recommend everyone in school to write a diary. It's a good literacy exercise. I don't read the diaries. I discarded them. So yeah, I always loved writing. So when I ran out of books to read, I started writing my first book, Her Heart His Obsession on wattpad. I just had the scenes of the book in my mind. I don't know if I can call them day dreams. Maybe they were. So why the moment made me write was because there were simply no more books to read for me as I scrolled through search engine of wattpad. I had read most of them in genres that interested me. I was looking for a book mysterious and about magic. So, I wrote my first book which has a villain called Dante in a world ruled by wizards and witches.

Sarah, After Dark: Anyway, can you tell us a bit about how did you discover wattpad?

Sarah Royal: I bought a smartphone that allowed me to download apps. I started discovering ebooks on iBooks app. After a while I decided searching for other apps that allowed reading books for free. So I searched in App Store the phrase 'free ebooks'. Then I discovered wattpad. I am very surprised I never came across wattpad website using web searches, but I guess better late than never. I found wattpad in 2012.

Sarah, After Dark: A Mob Boss's First Love is a story that has set in the past. And sometimes it made me curious how did you find those references for all the information you have in the book? I mean, is there any historical reference you take in order to support your writing? Would you like to share it with us?

Sarah Royal: I have tried to make the books I write as fiction as possible with no historical reference. I think that's an area to develop for my future books. I need to do more research if I want to write more seriously, but as I mentioned, I am writing as a hobby. So, no research. I write about criminals and try my best to stay away from historical facts. And make it pure fiction. I even changed some characters names because they are related to some historical figures. I have seen Godfather movies, but I would like to think my books are not similar to Godfather elements. I write PG13 books and I try to keep a teen fiction feel to the books. My books are not teen fiction, but targeted at young adults and teens too as well as adults. I also choose 1950s to start my book because I wanted to write about a generation and always had aim to have a sequel to show present day and the next generation.

Sarah, After Dark: Another one. There is something that always got me hooked with your fabulous Mob Boss series. One of the question is how did you come out to such a mind-blowing plot?

SPOILER ALERT: For those who don't like spoiler and don't read A Mob Boss's Heirs yet, please skip this one QA –Question and Answer–!

I still remember in A Mob Boss's Heir, how you got me shocked of decade the moment that story just unravel that Vincenzo was just protecting Letizia when I personally think she didn't deserve the protection after what she did to Vienna. Vienna, out of people? I couldn't believe it. Part of me is glad that it means Vincenzo wasn't into Letizia, but another part of me also sad that people didn't realize how much Vincenzo values his blood even before himself. Sorry, I got too attach to Vincenzo. And I honestly never love a single character like I did with Vincenzo Rosario. Behind his coldness, he has a gold that called heart. ^^

Sarah Royal: Thanks so much for the compliments. I am always lost for words and left speechless when people read my work and compliment. I feel very grateful.

I come up with it by accident. I just had the original plot of a mob boss's first love in my mind and then it carried on. I think the serialised story telling on Wattpad helps authors a lot. This model is great. I have been updating every weekend mostly for the past four years on my books and ideas come.

Vincenzo is meant to be a mixture of Adele and Francesco. He does have a heart. He is very traditional and like his father loves his woman but also is not the most friendly to non family members. Family matters to him. So he has a bond with siblings, parents and cousins. He also looks at one of his rivals like a brother.

I think I never plotted for the twist from the beginning of the book. When I reached near the end it was hard to see the couple together so I had to sink the ship as I felt a sinking feeling in my heart as I pressed publish. I hesitated doing it. It was hard. But it had to be done.

I think readers also wanted this change. If most readers didn't agree I wouldn't have done it I think. I even rooted for the ship that I sank. It was hard to change allegiance.

If it wasn't for reader comments there was no way I would have written so many chapters. Feedback was positive and kept going. So readers are the reason the book got to where it got.

I think some authors on Wattpad don't use the user feedback effectively. Yes. It is author who decides but it's good to hear feedback. I have stopped reading certain books and can't bring myself to re-read even though I love certain books after authors input some certain non engaging elements involving unlovable characters and unlovable plot when readers non stop point it out not to take the story in that direction. Readers can point out the theme that they enjoy and author can embrace it.

For instance I split the sequel to a mob bosses Heirs. In my mind these books were about Vincenzo rosario but readers in A Mob Boss's Heir  told me they like Tristan O'Neil too. So I split the sequel into two meaning I will be showing the life of two favourite characters in parallel instead of focusing on one. Readers didn't ask me to delete a scene or anything I couldn't do. They wanted extended scenes. Now if an author writes offline and then publishes their work they do miss out on this advantage of Wattpad. We get to write and post. We can use comments live. I totally think if someone is happy to post their work on Wattpad they should write and post rather than finish writing and post weekly. This way the rigid plot would become flexible.

So, the answer to question is how do I come up with plot is it happens over time. On weekly basis I just sit down and write with no plotting in prior. I write for fun so I don't have character maps. But some professionals do plot. It's all by accident for me.

Sarah, After Dark: While we're on the topic, I'm dying to ask a question that I'm sure many people have wondered when they read your books. Is there any special scene(s) that you love the most in A Mob Boss's First Love? If there is, why is it special to you?

Sarah Royal: Thanks so much for the question. I wish I knew what the favourite scenes of readers are so I would write more of them.

For me the chapter called chaotic mess A Mob Boss's Heirs was special. It was the chapter that I introduced Tristan O'Neil character in detail and it's my favourite because I felt like I managed to describe his character how I wanted it to look. Teenage drama scenes are special to me. I love writing about teenage life. It's simple, honest, innocent and pure.

Sarah, After Dark: Yes, I agree. Teenage is simple, honest, innocent and pure.

Now we've talked about the scene you love the most. It makes me asking myself, is there any one or two scenes that you want to write the most in A Mob Boss's First Love, but you can't find yourself writing it for one or two reasons that it may make readers worry?

Sarah Royal: Thanks a lot. This is another question that's very interesting.

There is plenty scenes I want to write but can't because I can't bring myself to... I find that readers may get upset with certain plots... breaking up couples and love triangles for instance is something I like to incorporate but haven't managed to bring many.

But I also can't write certain scenes due to shortage of time I have for writing. So my advice to authors is if you have time and inspiration then write. Don't wait. Sometimes I see some authors say we need this many votes before we publish next update. Bad idea. If they can write they should because inspiration goes soon at times.

Sarah, After Dark: I know that feeling. I often lose the idea the moment I think I can remember it if I get it on hold. When in reality I can't. So, yeah I agree with you.

Anyway, why are you go immediately to the fourth installment of this series before you even finish the third installment? Because I'm really curious here about the epilogue of the third installment.

Sarah Royal: I think I finished with the main plot of the third installment. I don't see if there is any more key plot details to add. I think partly it is some push from readers too. Some readers are impatient and want to read the conclusion and action that comes with later years. I feel like if I continue the third book I will be enjoying writing the extra scenes but perhaps readers won't enjoy reading it much, but very fair point. Ideally I should finish my books before I move on. My aim was to update A Mob Boss's Family and A Mob Boss's Heirs at the same time as other books but I don't have much time to write so I have to only choose one book to update per week. My working schedule has become very packed and I have less time to write. I am hoping to finish the books soon. They are marked complete because I feel the main plot is over and only deleted or bonus scenes are left.

Sarah, After Dark: Aahhh. I get it now. Thanks for clearing up my curiosity.. ^^

Is there any some scene(s) that you regret to publish? And why you regret publish it? If it there's not. Then, is there any some scene(s) that you regret not to publish it? If it there is, then is there by any chance you will publish it? Either as bonus scene or an actual scene that support the plot.

Sarah Royal: I regret publishing the final chapters of A Mob Boss's First Love in the way I did. I think Francesco was way too harsh to Adele. I felt bad for doing it and have thought of unpublished it and rewriting it. But I have been busy...

There is plenty deleted scenes. If I get the chance I will polish them and will publish them... These are really good questions. I wish fans could answer these questions for me too. I would love to know what scenes they regret reading. So readers can answer this question more accurately. Thank you for all these thoughtful questions. I have never been asked these questions and would be considering thinking about them later too.

Sarah, After Dark: Thank you.. ^^ Another question, do you hide any secrets in A Mob Boss's First Love that only a few people will find?

Sarah Royal: Thanks for the question. That's a good question for sure. I wish there were secrets. Not really. I think the only point that no one has ever pointed out is Francesco's mother's name and Adele's mother's name. The women are both called Maria. If someone reads a mob boss's first and love and also to the end of mob boss family they can tell. But no one has ever mentioned it. Parents are minor characters but that's something Adele and Francesco have in common.

However there are some names in the book that are after certain people. I do use name websites and keep my character names away from historical figures but there are a few exceptions where I named characters after people... I am a football fan and some of the character names are after football (soccer) players ... I told maybe two fans about it... I can reveal one of them now. Francesco is named after Francesco Totti who played for AS Roma which is a team based in Rome. We see in A Mob Boss's Heir that Rome is special to Francesco's son, Vincenzo.

Also I do name some characters after readers. By accident I may stumble across names on Facebook or Wattpad. Then I love the names and use them. It rarely happens but it's possible. Normally for naming people I just scroll through names websites but some names just have the pull.

Adele's middle name is Amanda. Adele Amanda Lombardi. Well, Amanda is taken from acheairs name. Also Arturo's daughters name Amethyst is also from her circle of friends I spotted on twitter. I just fell in love with the names. They began in A and used them. It's quick decision.

But apart from some of the names being of some significance that I can only tell, I can't think of other secrets that I have put in there.

Also O'Neil's character image and voice in my mind resembles Justine Hartley in Smallville season 6. He played green arrow who is a bad boy billionaire but fights crime at night. When I write his scenes i think of his scenes at times.

Sarah, After Dark: Finally, I know what your secret is. If you know what I mean. xD

Is there any character that resembles you the most? If there's.. who and why? Is it because the personality or something deeper than that?

Sarah Royal: Yeah. Your questions encouraged me to reveal some secrets. That's good journalism.

I would say the obvious resemblance is the fact that my characters don't swear and make conversations with use of no profanities. I don't swear either and don't tolerate it. I cringe when I hear swear words or read them in books. Also I would say my belief in loyal couples and family values is observed at times. I wouldn't think I am similar to any characters in anyway apart from some of their beliefs. Some characters are opposite of me. However some experiences that characters have had may be resembling events I have seen or experienced. Some of the character scenes has actually happened minus the crimes.

Sarah, After Dark: Thanks for the vote of confidence. That's very kind of you. ^^

Can you tell us how did you come out with so many chapters especially in the third installment? Have you ever plan this from the start? Or is it just happened?

Sarah Royal: Credit is due. These questions are really good and I have never been asked them. It makes me think.

It just happened. I updated one chapter each weekend and this weekly update schedule made chapters pile up. However the reason the book is longer than expected is popularity of some side characters. The book was meant to be just about Francesco and his family. Others were side characters but since some side characters became popular. So I read extended and deleted scenes in addition.

Sarah, After Dark: Wow. That's very thoughtful and grateful of you to act based on readers' request. I can tell by this, how much your readers' feedbacks mean to you. Talking about readers and feedbacks get me curious, if you get a chance to shout out right now. Who are those readers can be? You can mention them as many as you want. Why those readers' feedbacks mean so much to you?

Sarah Royal: This is a very difficult question. I am grateful to every reader who has clicked on my books in the past 4 years. My book A Mob Boss's First Love only got 1 million reads after 4 years of me updating non stop on weekly and at times on daily basis. I am grateful to every reader who gave my work a chance.

If I was to name everyone who's feedback I am grateful for, I am sure I will miss out a few names by accident. So I am not able to attempt to mention everyone. I normally thank people individually when I can.

But if I was to thank around a dozen people I would firstly thank fiery_marisya who was my first ever reader who commented on my first ever book on wattpad when my book had wattpad default cover with a picture of a castle. She discussed my characters with me and I still don't think I have been able to express how grateful I have been to her. After 4 years my book Her Heart His Obsession is published. I am so thankful to her for all the support for being first person to give my work achance.

Secondly I thank my cover makers. Every single one of them. winchestered_  and shanteena were first ones to offer me and covers and without them I don't think most of my current readers would have found my books. Other multimedia creators who's work I am currently using and I am grateful to are optimistic_tears , abirossa2 , sarahikari_ska . I love every single cover, banner and trailer.

As for feedback. I would say I have been very lucky in receiving kind and generous feedback from every reader who has stayed with my books in my series. Every single comment has been making my heart beat very fast. It doesn't mater if someone posted a few heart emojis or they posted a paragraph. I actually read every single comment even if I dont get the time to reply... So thank you to all commentators. Every single one has value.

Sarah, After Dark: I'm happy to help you in multimedia department. ^^

What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Sarah Royal: I know. You are amazing and helping everyone all the time in every way you can.

I think I have been lucky to make friends early on when I joined. Three years ago when I still was quite new to writing on Wattpad, I joined Facebook to participate in annual story fair ran by Malice_Authors . They arranged a wonderful Facebook party where everyone was welcome. From that point onwards I made friends with Wattpad authors on Facebook as I met so many people at the party. The following year after that the party happened again where also I met more people. Sadly due to time constraints and availability the party didn't happen this year in September. So I would say every Wattpad author I have made friends with on Facebook has been very helpful. I learn a lot from their posts, author pages, work they share as well as opportunities. It's not just Facebook and on twitter as well as Instagram I slowly interacted with Wattpad authors over time which has been quite educational and useful. So I say networking with all Wattpad authors has taught me a lot. They never hold back in supporting.

I can't really name any individual authors because I look upto everyone I know and I am in touch with. They have all taught me so much in different ways.

Sarah, After Dark: Nodding vaguely. ^^ By the way, the last but not least, this is probably the most random question I've asked. As an author, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? xD

Sarah Royal: A witch. I love magic in books.

I think my current avatar does have a witch theme to it. I chose it because of its fantasy look.

Sarah, After Dark: I just realized it's a witch. It doesn't seem like a witch.. xD

And that's wrap! Thanks so much for your enthusiasm. We have a good time interviewing you.