Today we have @A_C_Douglas , the writer of The Imperial Novice with us. 

Warm regards Amber. Welcome to an official interview from @TheCRYPTIC_ . It's our honor to interact with an inspiring writer like you. We hope that you'll have a great time.

First of all, tell us how you stumbled upon Wattpad and when.

Well, I first stumbled upon Wattpad back in June 2015. I was just weeks away from finishing High School and preparing for my final exams when I noticed one of my friends using the Wattpad mobile app. Curiosity got the better of me, and two months later I officially made an account, though back then I was just a reader who made long, enthusiastic comments.

Wow! So what do you think about THE CRYPTIC's theme? What are your views regarding dark fiction?

I think it's awesome, since THE CRYPTIC is giving the dark side and its loyal members a chance to claim the spotlight - something I think they're seriously in need of, especially considering how their presence is sometimes overlooked by the stories' heroes.

That's also what I love about dark fiction. It doesn't focus on the courageous, handsome knight in shining armour or the kind, beautiful princess. It focuses on the sinister aspects of a story and gives the villain a chance to show that they're more than just an evil laugh combined with a few psychotic tendencies.

What do you like to read? Do you have a favourite genre or any specific likes?

Fantasy is by far one of my favourite genres, since it requires a sense of creativity and relies solely on the imagination. Next to that, I'd have to say Science Fiction.

I personally love any stories which can successfully blend together action, comedy, mystery and maybe the odd touch of romance (hey, even Darth Vader experienced feelings of love before joining the dark side).

What compels you to pick up a pen and scribble down your thoughts? Do you have any inspiration or motivation?

Ooh. That's a tough question. My inspiration often stems from other authors and their works, TV shows, films and, of course, listening to epic instrumental music.

Sometimes my imagination (which consists of four monkeys and only one banana) decides to spit out potential story ideas on random occasions. Whenever that happens, I make it a point to open up a Word document, take notes and then see whether or not I can develop on it.

Being a writer, what's the easiest part of writing and which aspect do you consider the most challenging?

Every time I go to write a new story, I have no idea where it's going to go or what's going to happen. All I have to go by is a short list of one-word ideas and my imagination, which I then use to make a rough first plan. This plan is officially entitled "The Prototype" and literally consists of random but detailed events that might occur in each chapter. I then take The Prototype plan and begin to build on it. I make scene changes, character changes and any adjustments that I feel are necessary. Finally, I polish it up and read through it to see whether it makes sense.

Strangely enough though, that's the easiest part for me. The hardest part is actually bringing the scenes in the plan alive and writing them up. Still, it's possible if you've got the patience and determination to see the story through. Oh, and some epic instrumental soundtracks to keep you going.

What kind of environment do you prefer to write in?

One which guarantees seclusion, but not absolute silence. To achieve this, I usually switch on the TV and/or have some music playing in the background.

What's your first piece of writing, if you can remember? What thoughts does it bring to you when you look back at it?

While I can't remember my first piece of writing, I do recall writing a short story about a man who sought to join the army, much to the shock of his estranged brother, who felt as though he was just running from his own life. I was about ten-years old at the time, but I still wanted to write about the effects of warfare and PTSD.

I haven't looked back at it for years, but it reminds me that I've always held a strong passion for writing and that there's always room for improvement.

Tell us about your growth as an author.

Well, putting my ten-year old, war-obsessed self aside, my growth as an author started in October 2015, when I first got the idea for my debut story, The Imperial Novice. I spent two whole months creating the world of Imperious City - the main setting in which story takes place - before focusing on the development of the actual storyline and its characters.

I finished writing the story and published it on Wattpad in January 2016. It was my first story, and so I was especially eager to see what people thought. However, because I had rushed through without actually checking the story over, its content was filled with obvious grammar mistakes, endless typos and plot holes, which I quickly discovered when I started receiving constructive criticism from other Wattpad users.

That constructive criticism significantly contributed to my growth and development as an aspiring writer. After accepting that the story was flawed and in need of some serious improvement, I decided to re-write it. I finally published the re-written, improved version in August 2016, after which I began to work on the plans for my recently published story, Messenger From The Sky.

Do you have a favorite author or book?

I do, indeed. My favourite author (outside of Wattpad) has to be Anthony Horowitz, an English novelist who specialises in mystery and suspense. His books - most notably the Alex Rider and Power of Five series' - hold special places on my bookshelf.

Besides writing, do you have any hidden talents?

With the exception of graphic designing and drawing (non-professionally, of course), I have a few bizarre talents. I'm slightly psychic (something I inherited from my mother), I can alter the pitch of my voice as a way of impersonating foreign accents and making myself sound as though I'm addicted to helium, and I can sense the presence of tiny spiders in the dark despite being severely short-sighted (a little thing I've dubbed "Spidar").

You're sitting in front of a brand new aspiring writer, what do you say?

Every story starts with a blank page, and all you can do is fill it with your own ink. You will doubt in your own abilities and question your own potential, but it's important that you don't let these two things discourage you. After all, the only enemy in this field is yourself. Just keep writing, read whenever you can, and you'll soon find yourself improving upon your skills. That's a promise!

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Don't be afraid to tell us something funny, we won't tell.

Pssht, you better not tell. This is top secret information, you hear? :3 I spend most of free time writing, listening to epic film/anime OST's and re-watching some of my all-time favourite comedy shows.

Now, the most awaited question of every young reader, do you have any childish habits? Do you like cartoons or chocolates?

I'm not afraid to admit that I have a ton of childish habits. And to answer your second question, I LOVE both cartoons and chocolate. Oh, and anime. I can't forget my precious anime.

Do you prefer sweet or salty?

It's no contest. Sweet wins it for me every single time.

It was nice talking to you. Thanks for your precious time. We really appreciate it and hope you'll prosper leaps and bounds.

COVER

BLURB

Imperious City is governed by magic: a divine gift which serves as the symbol of conquest, reminding the city's people of its contributions to history. But despite what the history books state, the art of magic is still feared and misunderstood to some extent.

Lance D'Angelus possesses a peculiar magical gift, which he believes to be a curse. And like a curse, his powers only serve to bring forth dilemma after dilemma. Forced to adapt to life as a fugitive and labelled a demon child by those who learn of his diabolical talents, Lance quickly discovers the downfalls that come with wielding magical potential.

When a secret society hears of his misfortunes, however, they seek him out and present him with an opportunity that will bring an end to his troubles. But at a price, of course.

Now Lance must help them with their latest task of recovering an ancient relic, a tool capable of resurrecting one of the most dangerous figures in Imperial history...