Welcome to Bookends, Stefanie Suzaya!

Tell us a bit about your writing process. Where do you write, and how often? 

I usually write at home, where I am comfortable. Sometimes if I am free on the weekends and have some extra cash to spare, I’ll head to the nearby coffee shop and write. For me, writing comes in spurts. I can write up to several thousand words a day, and enter slumps on other days, so there’s no fixed schedule!

Do you have any writing rituals? (e.g. burning a candle if you’re having trouble getting started at the computer or writing longhand first if you’re feeling uninspired.)

I must have an iced drink next to me when I write! Iced drinks help me think, and they make me calm. Often, I have my favorite books next to me so I can flip through them, read several paragraphs, then get back to writing. Reading my favorite authors’ works give me that extra boost of inspiration when needed.

What do you love about writing Fantasy?  

I love writing Fantasy because of the endless possibilities. I can spin worlds, cultures, and languages by my own rules, and I get to decide what goes and what dies. It’s a bit like being an omnipotent being in the sky.

Why did you choose the genre you’ve chosen? 

I don’t think it’s me who did the choosing. Fantasy just came naturally to me. Growing up, I read A LOT of Fantasy books, from MG to Adult, and that genre speaks to me.

What is the hardest part about writing Fantasy?

Personally, factual accuracy and representation is the hardest. One can simply write about swinging a sword or shooting an arrow, but there are real life aspects and physics that need to be examined before putting it into a story.

Do you get inspiration from any TV shows or movies? If so, which ones?

Oh yes, all the time! Any movie or show I watch can give me great inspiration. Outfit and battle ideas mostly from Wuxia television series, while characters and plot ideas can come from anywhere. Supernatural influenced me to write realistic characters and sibling relationships.

If money were no object, what would be your dream writing location?

A private house somewhere amidst the mountains with AC and the fastest wifi in the world. Oh, and with tons and tons of diet Mountain Dew next to me.

Do you belong to any writing organizations?

Nope, not yet!