Client: EclipseNoir123

Interviewed by: Enchanting_Esmie

Hi! As you know, my name is Esmerald. What's your preferred name?

Hi Esmerald! My preferred name is Eclipse Noir

Nice to meet you, Eclipse Noir! I really want to congratulate you again on winning first place in the Sapphire Stories Awards in the Mystery/Thriller/Horror section! When you first entered, did you have confidence that you could win first place?

Thank you so much! To answer your question, No, I did not have any confidence that I could win first place

You're welcome! And I see. On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your story?

That is a very interesting question! I would rate my story a solid 8.

Thanks! I think that's a pretty fair rating. Looking back, would you change anything about your story, "Canvas of Deception" to make you rate it higher than an eight?

Thank you so much! Looking back, I'd probably refine a few areas to strengthen Canvas of Deception. I'd focus on tightening the pacing in certain chapters to maintain suspense, and maybe give more subtle foreshadowing for some of the twists, especially around Ryan and Victoria's characters. I feel like these small adjustments could make the plot flow more naturally and give readers an even deeper sense of connection and intrigue. Overall, I'm really happy with it, but these tweaks could enhance the impact even further.

It's nice to know that you're very humble and still believe in improvement! Let's go ahead and dive into the overall plot of your story, beginning with the characters. From the blurb, we learn that the main character, Victoria Blackwood, is a detective on a mission to find out why victims were brutally murdered. Can you tell us a bit about Victoria's personality?

Thank you! Victoria Blackwood is a complex character and personally my favourite character. On the surface, she's sharp, disciplined, and fully committed to her work as a detective, willing to do whatever it takes to solve these gruesome murders. Beneath that, though, she's deeply haunted by her own unresolved past, which drives her intense need for justice. She's relentless, sometimes to a fault, and struggles to balance her personal life with her dedication to the case. This inner conflict shapes her personality—she's courageous and tenacious but also vulnerable in ways that might surprise readers as they uncover more about her and the darkness that connects her to the crimes.

She sounds like an interesting character! What about Dominic Gray? In the blurb, we learn he uses the blood of the victims as his art muse. Can you share a bit more about him and his character traits?

Dominic Gray is definitely one of the most intriguing characters in Canvas of Deception. He's a brilliant yet deeply disturbed artist who channels his fascination with mortality into his work, using the victims' blood as a dark and twisted muse. Dominic is mysterious, and calculating, and has a detached, almost clinical approach to his art, which makes him hard to read. But beneath this cold exterior, he's haunted by his own demons and a hidden past that he'd rather keep buried. He's the type of character who blurs the line between artist and antagonist, leaving readers constantly questioning his motives and his moral boundaries. It's this duality that makes him so captivating—and dangerous. Further in the story, we see how Dominic gets in touch with his soft side when he starts developing feelings for Victoria and prepares to fight the battle against The Prophecy with Victoria by his side.

Wow! It's really cute to see that Victoria helps him get in touch with his soft side. Does he have a reason for why he uses the victims' blood for his muse?

Yep, in the story it's revealed that the victims are none other than puppets controlled by The Prophecy so in order for Dominic's plan to work, he kills all the people controlled by The Prophecy at the lowest level.

Woah, what a plot twist! What inspired you to write "Canvas of Deception?"

It's quite funny actually! You see I am an artist and I have always had a fascination with detectives and murder mysteries. So, the whole idea was a random thought I got in the shower and that's how I built the entire plot and storyline

That's really cool! Was it hard to put the story into writing?

Not really! Once all the details were worked out, the words flowed on the page itself.

I see! Could never be me lol. Did you do anything specific to help you get all the details worked out?

I wrote down all the details and then just started writing—the story slowly began to fall into place from there. Of course, there were moments where I felt completely stuck, debating what should happen next. When that happened, I'd leave the scene as it was for a few days to let it breathe, and eventually, ideas would start flowing naturally. Giving myself that space made a big difference in working out the details.

That's good. It's always a good idea to take a break when you have writer's block. Are the main characters' personalities inspired by people you know or other characters in movies or shows you've seen?

Not really. I guess you could say Dominic is inspired by some of the books I have read but other than him all the characters are my own imagination.

I see. That's still really cool, though! Who are some authors that you admire?

Jk Rowling, Ana Huany, Rina Kent, and Anna Jenkins Reid

Cool! Moving onto your other hobbies aside from writing. Earlier in the interview, you mentioned that you are an artist. What kind of art do you make?

I don't limit myself to a single art form; instead, I enjoy experimenting with various mediums and pushing my boundaries within each one.

I see. Have you made any graphics before?

No. Not really

Oh, alright! Going back to your winning book, I saw you have a book detailing all the awards it has won. How many awards has it won so far?

I have won 15 awards so far. You can add one more to the count I just received one more result😅

So in total 16.

Okay, lol! Wow, that's a lot! Do you plan on entering 'Canvas of Deception' in any more awards?

There are still a lot of competitions I have applied to that still haven't declared the results so I think I am going to wait for those awards to declare their results before entering into any new competition

I'm sure you'll do very well in the current competitions you've entered and any competitions you enter in the future! :) One last question before this interview concludes. Do you have any advice you'd like to offer to authors who might be scared to enter their book in writing competitions?

Thank you so much! Yes, definitely! My first piece of advice would be to enter competitions not just to win but to embrace the experience. Competitions offer a chance to grow, gain feedback, and connect with other writers, which is invaluable. Sometimes, the process teaches us more about our own writing than we expect, from discovering new strengths to identifying areas for improvement. So, take the leap, have fun with it, and remember that every entry—win or not—is a step forward in your journey as a writer! Remember that every writer starts somewhere, and you don't need to have a 'perfect' story to enter. Often, the courage to put your work out there is more impactful than the outcome itself. So, take the leap, stay open to feedback, and enjoy the process. Win or lose, every competition is a valuable step forward on your writing journey, and you never know what doors it might open!

That's very true and very inspiring advice! Well, our interview has come to an end now. I thank you very much for your time and wish you good luck on any writing competitions you have or will enter! Congratulations once again! ^^

Thank you so much, Esmerald! It has been lovely talking to you, and the interview was amazing! Thank you once again!

You're welcome! It was an honor to interview you. I'm glad I could interview someone so interesting! <3