Here, we have a Wattys 2020 winner, Gray Azul, also known as gradylicious !

Gray Azul won in the romance category of the Wattys for his story "I Kissed A Girl." Well done, we are all very proud of you! :)

You can find the author at: gradylicious

EP. First of all, congratulations on your Wattys 2020 win! Can you tell us about yourself and your story "I Kissed A Girl" for those who don't know you yet?

GA: Thank you! It is a pleasure to be featured here! Well, I am from the Philippines and I am a college student taking up Bachelor of Elementary Education. My book "I Kissed A Girl" is all about the struggles of being a teenager especially when it comes to loving someone. This book is also about being mindful of who you trust.

EP. Can you tell us about your stories? What do you write about? What other stories have you written on Wattpad?

GA: My stories are mostly about the issues teenagers are facing. I usually write teen-fiction because as a teenager myself, I have my own experiences and I usually mix them with my stories for them to be more realistic and relatable. I have written few Filipino novels (so please bear with my grammar, English is not my first language lol) but I am also interested in writing English novels.

EP: Why did you choose the genre that you write?

GA: I chose to write teen-fiction or YA fiction to feature the life of a typical Filipino teenager. I want my novels to be relatable for foreign audiences but I also want to add certain elements only my Filipino colleagues can relate to.

EP: When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Was there anyone or anything in particular that inspired you to write?

GA: As a child, I was (until now) a big fan of books. It came to the point that I already read every single book in my auntie's mini-library. They were amazed because my peers were fond of playing outside in the pouring rain and there I was, a bookworm hiding around the corner of his auntie's mini-library. My love for books led me to think that I could somehow write too. I guess we all went to that phase.

EP: What books do you like to read? Has any of these books inspired your writing?

GA: I like to read Romance novels especially from Filipino writers like Maxinejiji! Her book or Maxinejiji in particular inspired me in writing seriously. You can check her out on Wattpad!

EP: Where does the inspiration come from when you write the plot and characters?

GA: Call me weird but my story plots were mostly built by a book title. I mean, if you show me a book title I can somehow think of a plot revolving around that. My characters, on the other hand, are always anchored into people I know. I don't know if this makes sense but I like to use my friends as references for my characters. In that way, characterization would be easy.

EP: What project are you working on at the moment?

GA: As of now, I am working on finishing my ongoing novels.

EP: Has being on Wattpad influenced or affected your writing?

GA: Being on Wattpad is an insane experience. I met a lot of fellow writers and made friends with them. Before, I only write on notebooks or any kind of tangible materials used for writing. But after I discovered this platform, I became more positive in dreaming big with regards to my passion.

EP: What low points and high points have you faced as an author? And what kept you motivated with your writing?

GA: Being a writer is indeed hard. You need to work harder than hard, sometimes harder than hardest. Of course, I experienced a lot of downfalls too. There was a time that I didn't want to write ever again. But I keep on thinking to myself that every effort will pay off. And that became true when I found out that I won the Wattys 2020!

EP: What are some of the greatest achievements you have accomplished in your writing career?

GA: As I have said earlier, I won the Wattys 2020! The feeling is still surreal and until now I feel like I'm still on cloud nine. Being recognized for your hard work is very fulfilling! But aside from this milestone, it also melts my heart when someone is learning something from my novel. I guess, all writers will agree with me on that last part.

EP: What is your hope and aspiration as a Wattpad writer? Where would you like to be in a year from now?

GA: As a Wattpad writer, I hope that people learn something from me. I want to be an inspiration for those who are dreaming big in this industry.

EP: Who are your favorite authors of all time?

GA: Maxinejiji and 99+ more lol. Please check her out on Wattpad!

EP: Do you have any advice for aspiring Wattpad writers?

GA: My advice for aspiring writers would be, don't compare yourselves to the most famous author! You have your own brand and your own style. Don't ever think of stopping just because your story is not good enough compared to theirs. They spent years crafting their masterpieces and you should begin crafting yours too right at this moment!

EP: If you could travel in time, where would you go, and why?

GA: If I could travel in time, I would go to my past or my childhood in particular. I will tell my childhood version to continue what he's doing. I will tell him to do the things he wants as long as he isn't hurting anyone, as long as it's beneficial. I will also tell him that he should reward himself for he did a great job!

Thank you @gradylicious for your time with us. You've inspired me to keep writing and I'm sure other writers will agree that you inspire them too!

There you have it! An interview with Wattys Winner Gray Azul. Please join me in congratulating him on his win - very proud of him!

Please check out Gray Azul's Wattpad profile ( gradylicious ), his stories, and don't forget to follow him for updates:

https://truyen247.pro/tac-gia/gradylicious

"I Kissed A Girl" is also found in the official Wattys Philippines Winners list: https://www.wattpad.com/list/996412797-wattys-2020-winners