Story Feature: The Moonlight Cafe - Isaac by rebeccarightnow

Genre: Romance

Story Rating: Mature

Story Blurb: Failed writer Isaac Billingsley manages the Moonlight Café, a small-town haven for artists and misfits. When a breakup leaves him single on Valentine's Day just before his first couples' therapy session, August, an actor/musician and café regular, offers to play the part of his boyfriend to help Isaac heal. But is it just roleplay, or will their little game become the real deal?

What gave you the inspiration for your story?

✰ Working in food service as a manager for 10 years while being an aspiring writer, just like the main character.

Did you plot or pants your way through your story?

✰ Plot.

How does writing energize you?

✰ Writing and storytelling are my way of making sense of the world. If an issue or idea or experience won't leave me alone, I force a fictional character to deal with it in my place. I can only live one life, but through writing I can explore many other possibilities.

What are your writing habits? (Or what does your writing space look like?)

✰ I have very few defined writing habits, but I do have an office now! I finally moved into a two bedroom apartment and now I have an office that overlooks a mountain range. It's very inspiring.

What part of your story was the most enjoyable to write and what was the most challenging?

✰ I loved writing the banter between Isaac and August as they got to know each other. Conflict coming out through dialogue is so much fun. I also really loved writing the excerpts of August's historical romance novels!

What does literary success look like to you?

✰ I'm trying to get away from hardcore defining myself by external accomplishments. After my second book on submission with my agent didn't sell, I came to Wattpad to just reach readers. That's the goal I try to keep in focus.

What is your favorite trope to read and write?

✰ Fake dating has got to be my favourite.

If you have to describe your writing self in three words, what would they be?

✰ Determined, dreaming, learning.

What's your favorite story on Wattpad?

✰ FOLLOW ME BACK by @adam_and_jane!

Why is it important to have diverse voices raised in both our literature and on Wattpad?

✰ Stories are the best way we have to communicate the human experience. The greater the diversity of stories we have, the better chance we have of understanding each other.

Is there something that you're working on right now that you're comfortable sharing with our community as a promotion?

✰ I'm currently writing the second Moonlight Café story, Florence, which is serializing on Wattpad and Yonder now.