Hello Myth and Legend Lovers,

We seem have found an amazing author for our January edition interview. @BelitAm she is a Watty winning author, her story 'Serpent's Kiss' won Watty 2021 in Horror. So let's have a paranormal conversation with the author about her latest gothic winning work. 

About Author: Belit Am delights in surprising her readers. She writes thrilling mysteries that sparkle with humor, romance, and the occasional fantastical creature. Belit joined Wattpad in 2016. She wrote her first novel on Wattpad, and welcomes new writers to the community as an Outreach Ambassador. Her love for folklore and history shines in her writing. Belit tells stories of Bulgarian samodvia, of Japanese yokai – of outlandish kingdoms and quiet, old-world towns. When not immersed in a book, Belit enjoys travel, good food, and cozy evenings with her family.

Myth stories summary: Belit writes fantasy almost exclusively. Mythological creatures are her favorite subjects, and particularly in their connection with humanity and the human imagination. Belit's most recent complete work, "Serpent's Kiss," explores a kingdom where supernatural creatures live among humans. Her works in progress include "Queen's Shadow," the sequel to "Serpent's Kiss;" as well as a number of short stories and longer novel ideas inspired by folklore.  

Q1. What is the thing you love the most about writing on Wattpad? 

⇉ There are a lot of things I love about writing on Wattpad, but my favorite feature has to be the interaction with readers and other writers. The intricacy of the comment feature – that is, being able to react to individual paragraphs and lines within a novel – makes writing less lonely than it might otherwise feel.

Q2. Tell us more about your story Serpent's Kiss and why did you choose to write about it? 

⇉ I had the idea for "Serpent's Kiss" many, many years ago. It went through a number of large changes – Ira Hale's character in particular. However, the seed of the idea has remained the same: A stranger settles in a vampire household, and proceeds to turn the resident's life upside down. I wanted to write a vampire story that did not follow the usual vampire troupes. I also wanted to create a world in which all of my favorite myths and legends could and do exist. Thus, "Serpent's Kiss" was born.

Q3. Which type of myth/folklore/legend intrigues you the most?

⇉ I enjoy reading all kinds of folklore and mythology, especially stories that are new to me. If I had to pick, I would say that I prefer lore with complex characters. One of my favorite stories is a Bulgarian fairy-tale called, "The Three Brothers and the Golden Apple." It is a kind of an Odyssey; the hero's main objective is to return back home after he is abandoned to an uncertain fate by his jealous elder brothers. He encounters a number of characters along the way, both supernatural and human. Some are good, some are bad, and some couldn't care less about the hero's journey. Characters are presented and judged by their actions, which I love.

Q4. According to you, what makes stories with myth and legend concepts so special? 

⇉ Myths and legends exist to explain the unexplained. They are born out of human imagination, but were once taken as probable if not factual accounts. This makes them part of our shared cultural history – and so much fun to play with!  

Q5. If you have a chance to relive one myth, what would it be? 

 ⇉ The legend of Aladdin, hands down! I won't be wishing to be a princess, or making trouble with any evil sorcerers, but having those three wishes will be lots of fun. 

Q6. Do you have any favourite tv shows or movies related to any myth & legends?

⇉ I am very fond of the lore behind Onymodo, a real historical practice in Japan and China (the latter under a different name) that combines astrology with Taoism and magic. There has been a lot of interest in Onmyodo in Japanese popular culture recently, with a number of anime shows and movies dedicated to the concept. For those interested, I would recommend watching the Onmyoji movies (I and II), which present the character of real-life Onmyoji Abe no Seimei. For more well-known myth and legend remakes, check out BBC's Merlin and Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire (a movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise as vampires. What more can you ask for?). If interested in trying something new, I would invite you to browse the fantasy section in any foreign category, especially Japan/China/Korea. There are a lot of amazing foreign shows that include folklore elements. You may find something new to fall in love with!

Here we conclude our interview, it was fun getting to know about Belit Am. You can read her other works too. Shower your love by reading her stories. 

Until next time!