My ideas are drawn from lore and mythology stories of my childhood, incorporated with my real experience during my travels. I write down the draft, the barebones of my story using word document. Then I go back to it scene by scene (using Fictionary) and start incorporating the emotional highs and lows of the story and the characters, correct elements that I have gotten wrong. I am very big on research, so I find this process enjoyable. Usually, what I find eye-opening on the research can turn into an unplanned twist, or a change in the flow of the story. My revision process always include trope and cliche checks because I loathe them. This works very well with my genre, because I can phrase usual cliches, especially in dialogue, in a new way. I do the revisions a few times, until it is ready for beta readers. Usually, this is on the 4th to 6th draft. More revisions, then a few read outs. Then it's editor time. When it comes back to me, it's final revision. Then off my hands. Cover, lay out approval, then the final read through.

As I have mentioned, my stories are drawn from Philippine lore and mythology. I grew up from these stories of elemental creatures, magical worlds, and moral stories that my grandfather used to tell me. My characters are based on the people I've encountered during my travels — those I found interesting and notable, both those I liked or disliked. I also sit in coffee shops to observe people and use them as pegs for my characters. It is very useful in writing the personality quirks of my characters if I have observed them in others. For my main characters' physical description, I usually peg them on certain personalities I see on television, or from the net.

When I run out of distinct story arcs, or if the characters felt cookie-cutter and I cannot figure out how to make them different, specifically the MC and the antagonist. Sometimes, it is also when I am under a lot of stress from life's realities that I don't feel like writing. I usually take care of this by meditation, or, sleeping.

My years as a sales person protected me from taking negative feedback personally. I actually like seeing negative reviews, especially if it is informative. My brain automatically engages in analytical mode. It helps re-shape the arc, the pacing, the character voice. I really like it. Personal attacks are different, though. Those I ignore. Completely. It's a waste of time and energy. To be honest, I've only encountered them twice.

Pacing. And the emotional arc. I am not an emotional person, so I am always worried that my characters will turn out robotic. My gauge is that when my characters make me laugh, or cry, I know I did well. But the biggest challenge to me is writing the horror elements of the story. Because I don't get scared very easily. It is hard for me to manufacture the fear.

Since I was a child, when I learned how to wield a pencil. Then all throughout elementary and high school. I stopped when I went to university and later on, worked as an entrepreneur. Life took over. Then pandemic hit, with nothing to do, I wrote my first novel. And I have been doing it for the past 2+ years. One thing I learned during these past years is that writing makes my heart sing.

Write the story first. Write the events chronologically if you have no process yet. Then, look at it with a critical eye when you edit. And edit many, many times. It is also important to give the manuscript a rest before each edit process. I usually give a month to 2 months to mine. And during the waiting period, so I don't get tempted, I write the book 2 of the series. Or start another writing project. This keeps my mind off the percolating manuscript.

I'm attracted to interesting personalities in real life, so I try as much as possible to write my characters that way. A person who has no significant struggles to overcome tend to be boring, but I have characters who appear outwardly put together, but inside they are roiling with conflict. I love those. I gravitate towards writing smart characters, as my idea of a strong character is one that is mentally or emotionally strong. Physicality is just the icing on the cake. This applies to male and female, young and old, hero or villain. I prefer a magic system that relies on the strength of character of the hero/villain rather than an inborn magic/chosen one privilege. Most of all, I write them, plot and character based on real life, with a little or a lot of magic into the mix.

For my first series (World of the Viscerebus), I already have written 6 (4 are already published). I love them all, as they all have specific elements in them that I love. I like the conflict in the first book, Rise of the Viscerebus - 1st Chronicle, I love the developing side stories in the second one, Dawn of the Dual Apex - 2nd Chronicle. The Keeper, the only YA in the series is the kind of teenage romance that I wished I had in my youth. Beasts of Prey has the best ending I've ever written, so far. It's my favourite. The other two are still in development, so it can still change. But the 5th book is very dark. And the 6th is very heart wrenching. In my second series, The Katalonan Chronicles, I am particularly proud of the first book, Dark Allies Dark Adversaries. The series is brimming with uncommon magic, unfamiliar creatures, and unchartered realms. It is a true dive into the massive and awesome world of the Philippine Lore. I truly cannot choose a favourite.

For the purpose of this interview, I will choose the book 1 of Dark Allies Dark Adversaries. I co-wrote this with my American friend, who provided the readers point of view, because he is not familiar with the lore. The hardest part is trying not to info dump when I know that the world has never read anything like it before. This was why it was so easy to write book 2 right after we finished book 1.

The desire to tell the world about our lore. And the best way to do is through the character that is the conduit between the ethereal and corporeal world — the Katalonans. And the main character is the POV of the readers, through her eyes, we learn about the intertwined realms, the creatures that inhabits it, and their relationship with the mortal kind. Nature also plays a big part of our belief system, and it is a major part of the series.

The death scene of a major character. I patterned her to a real life person who I admire very much. Having her die felt like the death of the hope in my heart.

My book collection (I'm surrounded by it), and my 64 ounce water jug.

Roald Dahl. I grew up with his books and he was my main inspiration for writing the kind of stories I like to read, and like to tell. It generates a certain kind of terror in one's heart, yet it has a feel good ending.

I don't google myself. I don't think I will find anything interested about me. Most of my public appearance were based on my business career, which, to be honest, I find terribly boring.