Hello, fellow disciples! We've been searching far and wide for individuals who have cultivated for a long time. This month, we bring to you an interview with huntress2021, the author of The Villain's Apprentice Book 1 and 2.

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Tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm a firm believer of putting cereals in a bowl first before pouring milk. Depending on the alignment of the moon and the stars, I sometimes aggressively twerk whenever I hear anything that produces sound.

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

It's a combination of both. I sometimes write an outline for future chapters, but there are instances that I don't follow the outline if something more interesting suddenly comes to mind.

What are some things that influenced your story?

Almost everything and everyone influenced my story. But some of the biggest influences would be the Asian folktales that I read and the dramas that I watched.

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

In my story entitled The Villain's Apprentice, the 'villain', named Meili, is one of the main characters who is quite complex. She has an unfortunate past, and that drove her to make some bad decisions. But with the right people by her side, she was able to redeem herself.

There is a growing number of anti-heroes in movies and dramas alike, and those got me interested in those types of characters who are in the gray area. They are constantly swinging between good and bad, and that's quite enjoyable to write.

What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

There are some scenes that are difficult to write especially in the fantasy genre such as the fight scenes that involved some special skills or supernatural powers. The creation of the fantasy world is also something I struggled with.

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

There is a Japanese proverb that I like - "The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists". We should learn to adapt to the circumstances around us. There are a lot of situations that might be unfavorable to us and instead of being rigid, we should learn to compromise or to bend so as not to break, and then bounce back. This is something that I wished to convey to the readers as I build my characters.

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

It really depends on what world I would be transmigrated in. But I'd probably try to act inconspicuous and act like I'm from that time and place until I get more information about that world.

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?

Probably teleportation. It's a very convenient spell/power.

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?

I'd rather go through a lifetime without finding love. I can just focus on myself instead.

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

 I like the wolf deities in Japanese mythology as they are depicted to be the guardians and protector of good people.

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

The myths about the eight immortals interest me because of how they are portrayed.

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, huntress2021! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!