Q: Hey Em, we're so grateful to you for putting these interviews together. They're awesome! We're excited to be the ones to interview you now. How are you?

A: Great! Feeling blessed to be surrounded by all of you. #SciKickFunTime

Q: Alright! Thank you for joining us and sharing a little more about yourself with the Wattpad universe. First off, shall we talk about you and writing? When did you first start writing?

A: I suppose I started about 6 years ago, while at university, but I only wrote the first chapter of The Unsound Theory. I didn't work on it afterwards for about 2 years and then the juices got flowing again after I joined Wattpad and saw other writers on here.

Q: What are your writer's best practices – doing character profiles, maps, visualization, tai chi, anything?

A: Imagination. My head is my hard drive. I just envision a scene until it's crystal clear in my mind; I view it from every angle, and then I write about it.

Q: When and in what setting do you write best?

A: I'm a morning person, so between 9am-12am is best and only in absolute quiet.

Q: Is there anything in particular you find difficult to write about?

A: I actually struggle with scenes of affection, kissing etc. I suppose it's because my book is not a romance novel, so when I started out it was far from my mind and not central to the story at all. Naturally, I ended up weaving romance into the story as it took shape. I would never exclude it from the story, but it's sometimes hard to write those parts.

Q: What piece of advice has been most helpful to you since you started?

A: Write every spare moment you have. I know, I know, I just said above that I need perfect quiet in the morning hours and that's true but at random times I get a sentence or an idea and I always try to jot it down. It's a great piece of advice because once you gather all the small bits, you're no longer staring at an empty page. It is important to capture inspiration wherever and whenever it hits you. Every journey starts with a single step, right?

Q: What do you enjoy more – writing or having written?

A: Having written! I love writing too, but nothing compares to the jitters of just having finished a chapter. I just feel like jumping around and my roommate has no idea why I'm so chipper all of a sudden!

Q: What genre would you write in, if it wasn't sci-fi?

A: I am already writing in other genres, but so far nothing complete enough to start posting on here, especially since I'm trying to finish the Space Academy trilogy first. What I have started though is one fantasy story in two parts and another urban fantasy story for younger audience. So my other genre is definitely fantasy. I have tried to start a story in chic-lit too, but I just ended up adding science fiction elements to it, so that failed J

Q: These things happen! And what about reading? What three genres do you read the most?

A: Fantasy, sci-fi, chic-lit. In that order. I think because my mom and sister are more into Fantasy so that's why I got started in it and really loved it.

Q: Is there anything you can think of that you would love to read, only it hasn't been written yet?

A: I would love to read something in sci-fi, which creates the illusion that the action takes place some years into the future but without stating it explicitly and then at the very end reveals that the plot is based on technologies hidden by the government and actually takes place today. I like a book that would make me go back and search for the tiniest clue that this was true all along and just hiding in plain sight.

If that exists, I will read it!

Q: Who wouldn't! And what book could you not put down under any circumstances?

A: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. It is still my favorite HP book. Something about the three tasks and all the foreign students was so exciting. I giggle until this day just thinking back on it.

Q: And, we know the readers would really appreciate this, tell us what inspired you to write your book on Wattpad?

A: I got the idea when I was at university. I was always in very international classes so I suppose that's why I wanted the Academy to bring together students from different places and backgrounds. I was also in school with extreme over-achievers. Such people aren't necessarily bad or bullies and then can accomplish tremendous things, if they want to, but they have their quirks because of their ambitions. I wanted to show that.

Q: Can you describe it in three words (and don't be modest!)?

A: The Unsound Theory - juicy, unexpected, calculated

(Those of you who have read the end of The Unsound Theory know what I mean by calculated!)

The Truth Hunters – endearing, heart-wrenching, shocking

Q: Which character is the total fan favorite? Why do you think that is?

A: Hands down, it's Heidi. She jumps out with her sense of humor first and then she shows what a fierce friend she is. Also, the arc I have planned for her puts her in a number of situations that make the reader sympathize with her and let her show just how strong she really is.

I remember my sister asked me at the very beginning of the book "Why do you have this Heidi? Yalena already had Jen for a best friend." But I was just snickering, thinking "Just you wait and see. I have big things planned for Heidi."

I dare say that, by design, Heidi and Alec were intended to be the fan favorites.

Q: Talking about fans, can you quote the one comment on your book, which you will never forget? Please include *SPOILER* if it contains major revelations from the storyline.

There is one comment I will never forget, not a chance! It was left on Chapter 23 of The Unsound Theory by an extremely sweet and funny follower xxPaintedFacesxx

"Holy shittalking mushrooms!! *SPOILER* *SPOILER* I'm speechless, but I can say that the Commander definitely isn't going to be happy when they return! This chapter is amaze-balls!"

Q: What is your favorite thing about being active on Wattpad?

A: Reading comments like the above. Talking to other writers. Making Watty friends. Improving my writing. But most of all, Wattpad keeps me going. If my book was a mere draft on my PC, I would still be stuck at chapter 3 probably, feeling overwhelmed by how much more I would have to write to reach my goal. Wattpad's chapter-by-chapter updates and the support I get from Wattpad friends have made me feel like I can do this. Therefore, I send a sincere THANK YOU.

Q: If you had to mention just one Undiscovered Gem of a story or writer on Wattpad, who would it be and why?

A: I will break the rule and mention two, actually.

One is The Duplicate by snickersneebee. It's written in an exciting and fluid way. Top notch New Adult piece of Scifi on one of my favorite subjects ever – clones.

The second is In Flames by bellaandliv. Don't be fooled by the initial Divergent vibe you might get, this book will take you on a wild ride of superpowers and really deep feelings.

Q: How do you work on your writing style and how do you develop it?

A: By reading, reading and reading some more. I believe it is the best way to break up some writing habits that may keep you from developing. Seeing what other authors do with words can only enrich you.

Q: Is coming up with a title a difficult task?

A: It's a sudden inspiration for me. I usually have it from the very start, for my non-published novels at least.

However, I did struggle with The Unsound Theory. It was initially called Space Academy: Freshmen Year. I knew it lacked personality somehow but I kept it until one day I had the certain feeling that I want the title to include the word "theory". That made sure there would be no spoilers. Then I almost immediately decided to add "unsound". I thought it was very mysterious.

Q: What has been your favorite part of any of your projects to write?

A: I love writing cliff-hangers! I always start writing the end of a chapter first, because I am so excited! At first, I was actually struggling a lot with cliff-hangers but once they clicked, they became my absolute favorites.

If we're speaking of The Unsound Theory – the end of chapter 24 was my favorite. Yalena has to make a really difficult decision and I loved writing that struggle.

Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from South-Eastern Europe, a place called the Balkans, which in our languages means 'mountains'.

Q: Did you ever feel like writing just wasn't for you anymore and wanted to stop?

A: I never wanted to stop, but I had almost given up in the year before finding Wattpad. I just felt like completing book was so far away from that first chapter I had written and I felt like I would never be given the chance to share it with the world. Finding Wattpad changed that for me.

Q: What was your hardest chapter to write and why?

A: Waves of Fire in The Truth Hunters was a major struggle for me. It wasn't just action. It was action with flying, conversation with 5-6 people all at once, feelings, suspicions, blame, guilt, fear, swearing, gentle clues for later, dangerous circumstances and what not. I was sweating while writing that.

Q: How can you start a story well so that it pulls the reader in and keeps them hooked till the end?

A: In a nutshell, I believe the most essential thing is to give three things to everyone, from your main character to the villain: something to do, something to love, something to hope for. Then, just for fun, break down one or two of the most basic beliefs they have around the end of the book, literally shake things up. That's my recipe! 

Q: What is one thing about writing nobody told you about?

A: That once you tell a story, finish a scene, lay it all out, your mind is free. I have such vivid imagination that I always have a scene or a speech or motive in my head. Once I put it down in writing, it goes quiet. And the most beautiful thing is that then I get a new scene to think about and a new story to tell. Once you start, you never stop.

Q: Is there anything that you wish you could go back in your story and change? (Example: A character's name)

A: I would like to go back and add some specifics in the location for the Unifier Space Station. I always just make up the names for stars and planets, but I wish that I could go back one day and put in real names and define a plausible location for Unifier. I think that would make the story seem that much more credible.

Q: Have you considered publishing paper copies of your books?

A: If I am given the chance, I would go for it! Although, I owe so much of my progress to Wattpad that I would consider leaving the Space Academy trilogy on here indefinitely (hopefully one day as Featured on Wattpad!) and instead I would publish some of my other stories, currently on the back burner.

I have three ideas for sci-fi stories, which I imagine would take about 5 books in total to tell. So maybe one of those or my Fantasy story (also on the back-burner). Too many ideas, too little time!

Q: How did you start your stories? Did they end up turning out to be different from what you originally expected and had in store for them?

A: Yes, I actually intended the whole series to be more like the start of The Unsound Theory. I had planned a lot more personal drama between all the characters. More fights, more betrayals, more reunions, more forgiveness. I have kept all the major lines of that but from the end of The Unsound Theory, the tone of the story changes. If I may say, sh*t gets real and some things drop out of importance for my characters as they grow up. It was a natural way to continue.

Q: And to finish off, I am going to ask you three more personal questions, but don't worry, I won't dig too deep.

1. If you had to get up and do one of these three things right now, which would you go for?

a. Bungee jumping

b. Singing in front of a thousand people

c. Running a marathon

A: I would never bungee jump and I doubt I could finish the marathon, so I'll sing.

2. If you had to live one year without one of the three things below, which would you pick?

a. Chocolate

b. Ice-Cream

c. Coffee

A: Coffee. I rarely have it anyway. I love the smell, kind of fancy the taste, but really don't do well with caffeine. Even an accidental sip can lead to a sleepless night with me, very unlucky for the friends I keep texting on such occasions. 

3. What is your guilty pleasure TV show?

A: My ultimate guilty pleasure used to be Make it or break it, but now that it's over, the coveted slot is taken by Teen Wolf #PleaseBringBackDerek. Also, Pretty Little Liars has started to feel like a guilty pleasure because of the plot direction in the last seasons.

That was fun!

Thanks for being with us and sharing your amazing stories with the world!