Fantasy Authors Interview

Meet Tory

We've got another awesome Fantasy author for you today. Hailing from Philippines, please welcome, xxsoteria, and let's hear what they've got to say.

What is your country of origin?

Philippines

What other languages aside from English can you speak fluently?

Tagalog/Filipino

Are you writing under a pseudonym? Is there a story as to how and why you came up with it? Please tell us about it!

Yeps. 'Soteria' comes from the Greek goddess of safety and salvation but I actually discovered this name from my favorite book series. The name itself is already taken so I added 'xx' along the way as it reminds of the early 2010s that uses these letters for their usernames.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? Why do you want to be a writer?

I don't have a clear memory when I first wanted to write. It feels like it is so far from the past that I've been writing since forever. And as common as it sounds, the reason I want to write is to share the world I dream of.

Please tell us about your story/ies on Wattpad so that readers could find them.

Well, this may be quite long but here goes.

Princess Thief is my first story written here in wattpad. It draws inspiration from several fairytales since it is written during my highschool days. Back then, I had a long hiatus and this is the same story that brought me back into writing again. Early this year, I published a sequel/prequel, Mortal Goddess, since I'm currently addicted to reincarnation and villains.

There's also a series I'm working on, Tales of Elith, which I'm the proudest of. It revolves in a central plot but what I like about this is the fact that it's divided into four sub-series, with seven books each, that tells the point of view of every race involved.

I also have a story that focuses on several protagonists and it's honestly my favorite. It's angel vs demon trope but what if there is a greater force than that?

And then we have Glad To Be Of Service. It's a dark-comedy fantasy featuring modern and classic feared creatures and where they go after they have completed their 'roles'.

For you, what is the importance of having a process in writing? Do you have a process? If so, please tell us about it. If not, why?

It keeps everything organized, making it easier to come up with a concrete story. I usually write down anything that comes to mind and list it under what genre, topic or circumstance it may apply. When I want ideas or want to start a story, I just go to that file. I start with a single sentence then end up combining several ideas by the end. After that, I do my outlining and having plot structure really helps. Then I begin with lots of researching for my characters and worlds. It also helps me to do some graphics to visualize then just write, write, and write. And most importantly, I always reread every chapter in case I miss out some error before I push that publish button.

How do you come up with the plot of your stories?

It's mostly a culmination of several ideas I gathered over time.

Share some interesting facts about the magic system you have developed in your stories.

In Princess Thief, I have this idea where those who only have second names can have magic. In order to fully utilize it, they must say "My name is ___". It's reminiscent for all those magical transformation I watched, to be honest.

Also a fun fact in Tales of Elith's subseries, The Emperor's Lineage of Elith. Every time an Enchanter/Emperor's Lineage cast a spell, the first circle that appears is the Sigil, which is like their signature. The symbols on the magic circle that appears on the book cover is actually the jumbled letters of the name of the main character.

Out of all the genres, why fantasy?

In fantasy, imagination is the limit after all. It allows me to free my mind, creating something intangible with no restrictions where I can escape the boundaries of reality.

What do you think is the most alluring subgenre of fantasy?

It's Urban Fantasy for me. Just thinking what if those magical creatures really exists? What if you bumped into a stranger and turns out they are not just human? That's some excitement I wish to have.

How do you manage criticism?

As long as it is worded properly and not personally attacking me, I'm all good.

What are some tips you can share to help new and old fantasy writers alike?

Outlining always helps. For fantasy writers, there can be so much going on and keeping tracks of these will be more beneficial than you think. I once started out a pantser but overtime, I realize how difficult it was, especially if you want to give your story more depth by doing foreshadowing or referring to scenes in the past.

Share some sneak peek on your future projects.

I have several ongoing stories and I'm planning to finish them first. But next year, I'm already scheduling to publish the first book from another sub series of the Tales of Elith which is the The Godly Beasts of Elith.

Share your favorite songs to listen to while writing.

I tend to listen to foreign songs like Mao Buyi, Spyair, Centimillemental, Blackpink, Bigbang, etc. so I won't get distracted with english words because sometimes I unconsciously write what I hear instead of what it's supposed to be.

Share interesting titles of media (drama, TV Shows, graphic novels, webtoons etc.) that everyone should try watching/reading.

If you haven't heard of Lore Olympus, I surely recommend it if you're into webtoons and mythology.

Share some beautiful words in your native language and their meaning.

'Hiraya' can translate to 'imagination' and may also mean the fruit of ones hopes, dreams, and aspiration. It's easy to pronounce and have a lovely meaning because it can be used as "Hiraya Manawari", an old Tagalog greeting that wishes someone to reach their dreams.

And there you have it. We hope you enjoyed this interview with xxstoeria. To check out their works visit these links:

Princess Thief
Mortal Goddess
Tales of Elith
The Devil's Heir
Glad To Be Of Service

Catch us next time as we bring on another amazing Fantasy author. Till then, have a magical week ahead.