Q & A

Hey guys!

A few weeks ago I asked on Instagram what you guys wanted to see on my blog, and Q&A was the most voted for answer! I'm adding all of the questions (and my answers to them) to this post! Feel free to add questions in the comments section! I'll probably pop into this post time to time to add more questions I've received as well!

Thanks to everyone who asked a question on Instagram! To ensure you don't miss out on polls like this, or any giveaways/exclusives, please be sure to follow me there if you're not already! My handle is @TempestChani :)

Who are some of your favorite characters you have written?

Spencer from the Underworld saga and Trystan from the Xenith trilogy are two my fav's. Spencer was one of my first heroine's so she'll always hold a special meaning to me, and Trystan practically wrote himself so it was always a lot of fun whenever he'd pop into a scene.

We know prince is Zane, but what's the name for a princess in Kint?

The name for princess in Kint is Zania. Believe it or not, I originally played with the idea of Trystan having a sibling, but pretty quickly he made it clear he didn't want to share the royal spotlight so I had to nix that.

Was it difficult keeping up with one storyline long enough to create a series?

I'm going to assume this question is about the Xenith trilogy, to which the answer is no. But that's because there are a lot of people there to help keep me motivated, like my editor etc. There's also a fair amount of time between books, because there are so many rounds of edits and things like extra scenes and stuff that needs to be taken care off, so it's easier not to get burned out with breaks in between where I can work on other projects. For some of my other series however, like the Underworld Saga, the answer is a little different. For that one, it's definitely been difficult over the years because it's changed hands so many times. It's a lot harder to stay motivated and stay in the story with it constantly flip flopping back and forth between traditionally and self published. So, really, it depends on the project. I think you just have to find ways to keep yourself motivated and keep yourself engaged and caring for the characters. If a longer series isn't something you think you can do, I suggest start with a stand alone. A lot of the time I begin a book thinking it'll be a stand alone and halfway through I realize it's actually just book one in a longer series, and that also helps to motivate me to stick with it, since I get curious what will happen in that next book--and then the next!

How did you convince yourself your writing could be good enough to publish?

I don't think there's ever a moment where you think, "Yes, I'm great at this and I'll be published for sure and everyone will love my writing!". I still have moments where I hate my writing, to the point I have to distract myself by doing something else or end up wallowing in despair about how "I'm not good enough". We all have moments of doubt, especially when you're trying to break out in a field where you have to put yourself out there. For me, I knew this was something I wanted to do, and I even went to school for it, so I had to take that extra step otherwise...what was the point? Dreams don't become a reality unless you actually try and achieve them. Taking risks and putting yourself out there is scary, but also the only way to accomplish anything. Plus, I should mention, I was rejected a lot before the first book in the Xenith trilogy was selected for publication. I even had a few instances where I got really close to being signed, and then at the last minute it just didn't work. There's going to be a lot of disappointment and rejection, but just take all of that with a grain of salt, learn from the things they tell you in their rejection letters (remember too, if they take the time to actually explain why they rejected you, that's a sign they did like your writing, it just really wasn't a fit for them), and try again. I will probably never feel good enough, and it still freaks me out when people I know bring up my writing and ask me questions (I have a best friend I've told point blank not to read my books since he isn't a reader a anyway). Writing is what I love though, and knowing that there are at least a few people out there who get to read my stories and enjoy them, and maybe even take something away from them, makes it worth it.

Who is your bias wrecker?

Since I've only posted about BTS and BT21 on my Insta feed, I'll assume you mean in BTS (I am a fan of other groups, but BTS is my #1). In that case, my bias wrecker is blonde Jin. Sometimes. Other times, it's Namjoon talking to crabs on beaches. And other times it's Taehyung. I feel like they all have moments where they become my bias wrecker because I'm just such a huge fan, lol.

Do you plan your characters before writing or does it come together as you go?

There isn't much I plan before writing, to be honest. I have a basic plot idea, for example, "This will be about aliens", and then I decide on two main characters--typically the male and female leads. Even then, I don't know much about them aside from their names (I spend a bit of time beforehand picking out their names, but just those two). I had Delaney's name and Ruckus's name before I sat down and actually started writing the first draft of Amid Stars and Darkness. If you've read it, you know Mariana is a character introduced, by name, before Ruckus is, but I didn't even know about her until she wrote herself into the scene as soon as I started typing. That's typically how I like to work. I like for the first draft to just happen and "write itself" basically, and then anything that needs to be added or corrected or connected can be done in the second draft. This way, it's exciting for me in the same way it would be for a reader, because I'm getting to know and discover these characters in much the same fashion.

Do you have any go-to music or activates when you're low on inspiration when writing?

I've got an obsession with kdramas, so I watch a LOT of them, especially when I'm not feeling very inspired to write. I also listen to a lot of music. I like many different artists and many different genres, and it depends on how I feel exactly in that moment, so there's no ONE song or group that I always listen to for inspiration. I also like to read books in the genre I'm writing if I've hit a wall. That typically helps get me excited about the subject again. If none of that works, I'll take my dog outside to play a bit in the backyard and get fresh air and a bit of sunlight. Sometimes bad moods are really just because I've been cooped up too long writing and I'm just not aware of it. If I'm feeling particularly hopeless that day, I might even head over to Goodreads and read some of the nicer reviews of my past works. That helps pick me up a little, at least so that I don't feel like the task of writing that next chapter is "impossible".

What is the main trait of the guy who "wins" the girl in your books?

Without giving too much away, just in case, I like guys (or girls) who understand that loving someone is trusting them and trusting that they can make the right choices for themselves. I hate noble idiocy. I like characters--and people--that understand that we make our own choices and we have the right to do so. If there's a problem, or they disagree, I want them to communicate. If you can't communicate, you shouldn't be in a relationship anyway, so I'm always rolling my eyes at characters who make decisions for the female lead. To sum it up without the rant, the main trait of the guy who "wins" the girl in my books is the one who treats her like a person capable of making her own decisions.

Is the Underground the same as the Underworld?

I'm glad some of you asked this, because it seemed like there was some confusion surrounding this. The Underworld from Greek mythology and one of the main settings in my Underworld sage, IS a version of hell. The Underground from my upcoming book series, Roses Red, is NOT hell. It's simply another realm where the Unseelie fae originate from. There's a moment in the first book where the main character Arden says it's basically hell for the fae trying to avoid it, but that's not in the literal sense. It is not hell. Or a hell dimension. It's just another realm, where beings who are stronger than us happen to live. So, to be clear, the sacrifice for the Tithe (without giving anything away) would not go to hell.

How do you choose the titles for your books?

Usually it's a group effort with whoever I happen to be working on that book with. The titles for the Xenith trilogy were collaborated with Swoon, for example. I've never been so in love with a title I've come up with on my own that I wasn't open to discussion about them either, so I can't really take credit for any of the titles since (aside from the Underworld saga) I'm not the only one coming up with them. I pitch some ideas and we either tweak them a bit or come up with something better. Titles are so important, so typically if one or more people aren't feeling it the same way you do, that means it's probably not the best fit.

Do you have pets?

I do! I have a cat named Sylar, a dog named Finch, and three beta fish named Bones, Yoonmin, and Haebek (yes. I know I'm a nerd thank you).

What are some of your favorite books?

There are way too many books in the world to be able to narrow that down, but some of my top picks are: Thirteen Reasons Why, Life of Pi, Wuthering Heights, The Road, and the Dream Thieves. They're all by different authors who usually I would list but...you should look them up instead. Or if you've read any of these, let me know what you've thought about them in the comments!

What are some of your favorite TV shows?

For kdramas, W, Are You Human?, Meteor Garden 2018, Man to Man, Bad Guys, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and The Secret Life of My Secretary are some of my favs. If you haven't checked out Love Alarm which just recently released on Netflix though, I recommend! I honestly could list about fifty more but I'll refrain.

For kdramas, W, Are You Human?, Meteor Garen 2018, Man to Man, Bad Guys, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and The Secret Life of My Secretary are some of my favs. If you haven't checked out Love Alarm which just recently released on Netflix though, I recommend! I honestly could list about fifty more but I'll refrain.

What are some of your favorite movies?

Four Brothers, Bubble Boy, and She's the Man are movies I can literally always watch. I also really love the new IT movie, and I'm a fan of the Marvel movies. The DC ones are hit or miss for me, but my fav superhero (not that you asked) is the Flash so... :)

Coffee or tea?

Coffee. Have you seen the Original's? Coffee and I have that "Always and Forever" pact going for us.

How can I get a signed copy of one of your books?

You can always ask me about it through messages on Instagram or PM on Goodreads! I'm thinking of setting something up here, at least for the books that I self publish, but I've had people mail me copies of their book with postage so I can sign it and mail it back to them, and I'm always up for doing that for you! I'm also always willing to send you signed bookplates! If you don't yet own a copy of the book you're looking to buy, you can see if I have the time to go out and get a copy for you. All you have to do then is pay for the book and the shipping from me to you, so it saves you from having to pay shipping twice.

When does Tithe release?

October 31, 2019. So SOON!

Will there be any incentives to buy Tithe?

Yes! We've worked with a couple really popular and fantastic artists--one for a print and another for a bookmark--and I've recently been told we'll also have stickers so make sure you check in frequently in the coming weeks so you don't miss anything! Since I just answered a question about signed books, I'll let you know that people who prove they've purchased the paperback copy of Tithe will also get a signed bookplate sent to them along with their incentive packages!

Do you read manga?

I read everything, manga, comics, fiction, nonfiction, YA fiction, adult fiction...Don't read a lot of middle grade, I'll be honest, but I collect children's books. I'm also not a fan of Westerns.

I love seeing your journal posts? How do you keep up with it? Will you be posting more pictures of your journal to Instagram?

Thank you! I'm not really sure if Ill be posting more photos to Instagram...I do a lot of spreads that I think will be cute in bookphotos but then I never actually include them. I keep up with it by not boxing myself in and letting myself have fun with it. When I'm in the mood to prep pages, I let myself prep three or four in advance, that way when I'm too busy to do it, they're already done for me. I also don't limit myself to a week done on just two pages. I have a lot to-do, and I also use my bullet journal as a JOURNAL, so sometimes I want to write a few sentences about a particular event that day etc. I use a ton of washi and stickers and photocards. You don't have to draw everything out. That always looks great but I don't have time for that either, and I'm also an artist, so...if you're not an artist and you don't have the time it's okay just to use washi and stuff. It's your journal. No one can judge you for creating and prepping it however you like and whatever way works for you.

When will the fourth Underworld book come out?

I know I keep getting asked this and I keep giving tentative answers, I'm so sorry guys! It's just with all the other projects I have that are under contract, it's tough to find the time to definitively say I can release this. I'm HOPING for early 2020 though! Some of the book is written, it's just not finished yet.

*Like mentioned above, if you have more questions feel free to ask them in the comment section below, or ask me on Instagram! I'll move them over here if you do :)