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 Kim_Knights, the author of The Crown Prince's Bodyguard and Maybe, It's You.

To read some of Kim's stories, check out the links in the in-line comments here ➟➜

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Tell us a bit about yourself!

Hi there! I'm a working adult in the day and an author at night. I have loved reading ever since I was a kid and never imagined myself writing my own stories until some time ago. I'm a Kpop lover and a fan of Korean dramas! I love stretching and have even started attending yoga classes recently.

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

I don't plot my stories in great detail because they always turn out differently from what I initially planned. I usually write a 1-page summary of how the story might flow and then get straight into drafting the chapters. I'm the post-as-you-write author. Once my chapters are ready, I'll post them for my readers to read and gather their feedback.

What are some things that influenced your story?

When I can't find the book/movie/drama that I want to read/watch, I'll end up writing it myself. The characters that I write about are also a reflection of who I want to be.

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

Hwang Eun-bi from 'Maybe, It's You'. She's funny, witty and unafraid. I often struggle with low self-esteem since young and am always wondering how people are judging me as a person, especially when I'm living in a society that's quick to criticise others.

I wrote Eun-bi's persona as a reminder to myself to always be confident and love myself better. Flaws are what make a person a human.

What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

Because I have a day job and family commitments, I don't have all the time in the world to write my story. This can get frustrating, especially during the times when I'm excited about ideas that have just appeared in my head and I'm eager to write them down before I forget.

I get writer's blocks too. Sometimes, I'm stuck at a scene in the story and have to take a step back to rest my mind for a couple of days, or maybe weeks.

There was a time where I was writing two stories at once and it was challenging. I had to make sure I was organised and stay on top of my game to finish them. 

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

Always be true to yourself.

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

Panic first and try to slap myself awake. Once I regained my bearings, I would go searching for clues on my whereabouts. I would search for people and pretend that I had a concussion that involved a loss of memory while praying that they would help me (because who would believe me if I said that I came from a different world?) From there, I would gather information and try to adapt into their 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?

Healing powers! I want to save the world from illnesses like the ongoing coronavirus.

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?

Probably one lifetime of never finding love. This means that in the next lifetime, I will be able to meet that person, which is a lot quicker than the second option haha.

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

Phoenix! I would love to fly and see the world from above!

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

Probably the Moon Goddess that's believed to be the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival with a history dating back to 3,000 years ago. This occasion is hugely celebrated by Southeast Asian people every year. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese calendar month.

On this day, families would unite, savour mooncakes and light lanterns. I have fond memories of this occasion ever since I was a kid. I love mooncakes so much and because we only get to taste it once a year, it makes the day even more special.

There are several versions of how the Moon Goddess came to be and here's one of them:

"In the ancient past, there was a hero named Hou Yi who was excellent at archery. His wife was Chang'e. One year, the ten suns rose in the sky together, causing great disaster to the people. Yi shot down nine of the suns and left only one to provide light. An immortal admired Yi and sent him the elixir of immortality. Yi did not want to leave Chang'e and be immortal without her, so he let Chang'e keep the elixir.

However, Peng Meng, one of his apprentices, knew this secret. So, on the fifteenth of August in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, when Yi went hunting, Peng Meng broke into Yi's house and forced Chang'e to give the elixir to him. Chang'e refused to do so. Instead, she swallowed it and flew into the sky. Since she loved her husband and hoped to live nearby, she chose the moon for her residence.

When Yi came back and learned what had happened, he felt so sad that he displayed the fruits and cakes Chang'e liked in the yard and gave sacrifices to his wife. People soon learned about these activities, and since they also were sympathetic to Chang'e they participated in these sacrifices with Yi." — extracted from Wikipedia

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

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!