This month we got the opportunity to talk to akeila_agramunn author of Rise Of The New Olympians

Get to know the start of her writing journey as an ESL author, some good mythology book recommendations, and much more. Don't forget to catch a glimpse of her story 'Rise Of The New Olympians' right here!

Rise of the New Olympians tells the tale of four individuals gifted with powers from the Olympian gods. The protagonist, Amelia, is a Chosen of Hera and, along with her new friends, she gets into a mission to retrieve the Olympian Artifacts, powerful items that used to be owned by the Olympians, all the while learning how to use her unfamiliar powers.

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0.

Tell us something about the language(s) you're fluent in.

I speak five languages, more or less. Three of them are native to the Philippines, which are Filipino, Bisaya and Meranao. I also know Arabic thanks to my brief time in the Middle East, though I'm more inclined to understand it written-wise than when used in conversation. I understand a teeny bit of Spanish but don't consider it as a language I'm fluent in. But most of the time, I am most comfortable using English among these languages.

1.

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

The community. Time and time again, I am in awe of how very supportive writers and readers in this platform can be. While I can't deny that there will always be trolls lurking around, the positivity of everyone else outshines this. I love how readers comment on inlines with funny conversations and reactions between chapters. I especially love how Discord servers kept the community alive even when the forums are no more. One such server that I'm talking about is from the DreamlandCommunity , which I happen to be a part of.  They're a fun community that hosts cool book clubs and other activities that encourage the discovery of hidden gems. If this sounds good to you, don't hesitate to join us!

2.

Your book is about the new generation of olympians and revolves around Greek mythology,  what was the inspiration behind it?

A pretty obvious inspiration to me was Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. When I started reading the series, I fell in love with the mythology that I scratched the initial idea of the book and poured the inspiration I got into it. Rise of the New Olympians is what it is now thanks to this.

3.

In your opinion, how to brush up on English vocabulary and writing?

Reading and speaking English have helped me a lot when I wanted to be fluent with the language. Doing so for years has made me familiar with the grammar rules, syntax, definition of words, etc., and eventually, it felt more natural for me to speak and write it that I often prefer English over my mother tongue Filipino. Watching English shows has helped a bit, but sometimes these are sprinkled with slang and informal English conversation that it's not really reliable. Reading texts of all kinds, like textbooks, articles, and novels (my favorite!), mostly did the heavy lifting. Read anything you can get your hands on! Even reading the back of a carton juice box does the trick!

4.

Your work reflects mythological aspects in a creative way. Do you have any favorite Mythological story? Wattpad one or published one?

I loved the Jotun Chronicles by ELatimer when I first read it. It's also one of the first books I've ever read in Wattpad. It incorporates Norse mythology in the modern era so well that the other realms outside Midgard/Earth feel so real. Rick Riordan's books are also one of my favorites. They encompass the popular mythologies like Greek, Egyptian and Norse myths in an action-y, lighthearted way.

5.

What languages would you like to learn/master besides English? Why?

While I'd like dip my toes on Spanish and some other European languages someday, I'd love to master my Arabic because as a practicing Muslim, it's important for me to understand our holy book Qur'an since it's written in pure Arabic.

6.

What countries would you like to travel to in the future?

All of them, honestly! I'm the type of person that can get bored if I stay in one place for too long. But if I were to pick favorites, I'd like to visit the countries neighboring the Philippines like Singapore and Indonesia one day. And I'd also love to go back to Saudi Arabia and explore more of its places and culture. I've always seen it as my second homeland since I spent half of my childhood there.

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That's all folks!

Thank you for chatting with us Akeila! We wish you all the best for your future works!

Until then happy reading!