Hello, fellow disciples! We've been searching far and wide for individuals who have cultivated for a long time. This month, we bring you an interview with adelineday the author of The Tour Guide.

•✦──────✧✦✧──────✦•

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I have been on Wattpad since 2017, but I didn't publish my first story here until late in 2019. 

What is your writing process? Do you outline everything or write as things come to mind? Why?

I have a rough storyline in mind when I start writing, but I plan the finer details as I go. I think of my stories as character-driven, since much of what happens is a result of them reacting to a given situation or problem, and this occasionally takes the plot in a different direction from what I intended at the start. 

What are some things that influenced your story?

My main influences for this story have been Japanese mythology, Jdramas, and the manga and anime I consumed while growing up. 

Tell us about the main character of one of your stories. What inspired their creation?

Kumiko is a kitsune living in 1980s Japan who misses her late husband and brings him back to life to ease her loneliness. She was inspired by the fox wives who appear in various old Japanese stories. 

What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

The research, hands down. I want to portray the time period and nuances of Japanese culture as accurately as possible.

What message do you hope your story will tell your readers?

There aren't any deep messages I intend to impart with my story, but I will say that it drives home how dangerous it can be when humans interact with the supernatural. Haha. 

If you woke up in a time or place that was very different from reality, what would you do?

I would panic at first, much like a certain character in my story. But, after calming down, my goal would be to learn as much as possible about my surroundings. 

If there was something you could learn (i.e., some spell, some martial arts, etc.) like the main character in your book, what would it be?

The ability to manipulate pressure points while fighting an opponent. It's something that the main character Kumiko does a couple of times despite being out of practice. 

Would you rather go through a lifetime of never finding love or be willing to go through several lifetimes of hardships just to save your love? Why?

That's a tricky question. On one hand, never being able to find love would make for a lonely existence. On the other, enduring many lifetimes of hardship for love sounds like it would be a nightmare. I guess the ideal situation would be something in between. 

What is your favorite creature from Asian mythology or folklore? Why?

Fox spirits in general. There's so much about them that I find cool, and real-life foxes can be quite cute if you ignore their flaws. 

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

It would have to be either The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (a Japanese myth), or Journey to the West, which despite being a novel, serves as a good introduction to Chinese mythology.

•✦──────✧✦✧──────✦•

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, adelineday! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!