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 SuVida777, the author of Rhodoreef.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Tell us a bit about yourself!

I'm a nerdy couch potato from the central hills of Sri Lanka! I worked in animation/advertising for some years, but drifted away from corporate life to pursue my own creative journey as an indie artist, author and animator. I mostly write YA sci-fi with sporadic forays into fantasy and horror.

My stories come with immersive worlds and heroines who tend to be nerdy, whimsical and rebellious. I love delving into the mind-boggling possibilities of science and technology, as well as exploring social/eco themes that could do with a spotlight. So underneath the fun and fluff, there's always something for the nerds and thinkers.

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

After the story idea has lodged itself in my brain, I take time to visualize the world, characters and scenes. It's a lot of fun! Then I do pre-production work like plotting, designing and researching before I actually start writing. The story takes shape according to the character journey and the themes I want to explore. I might do additional detailing along the way.

Personally, I think planning early is important when it comes to any creative production. Even big companies do that--sometimes it takes months and years. In animation, we do mood boards and storyboards.

What are some things that influenced your story?

The ocean is a largely unexplored wonderland—it's space right here on Earth! I've been fascinated with it for a very long time.

When my fun illustration of Ariel won first in the Rewind the Classics contest last year, I thought of writing a retelling of The Little Mermaid. I envisioned a mer-city in the Indian Ocean, and I decided to explore themes of climate change and sustainability.

It was insanely fun and challenging to create an underwater metropolis that is realistic—complete with its own tech, history, clothing, food, politics and society. I had to research geology, marine biology, the alien world of the deep seas, ocean biomes, plastic pollution, commercial fishing and the impact of climate change on the oceans.

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

Dea Rhodoreef is smart, whimsical and rebellious—my heroines tend to have this in common. She's also a pastel goth mermaid looking forward to a political career in order to forge a better future for her people.

There is no specific source of inspiration for Dea. She took shape in my mind when I imagined this story.

What were some challenges you experienced while writing the story?

Rhodoreef was challenging on multiple levels.

I had to learn about marine biology, ocean biomes, plastic pollution, marine life trade, commercial fishing and last but not least, climate change with relation to the oceans. When it came to worldbuilding, I had to create underwater tech, society, politics and even a marine-based food system! But it was an insanely fun and eye-opening experience!

The protagonist's journey also proved to be a challenge—there are some intense scenes in Rhodoreef.

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

The emotions I want to evoke would be awe and wonder about the oceans. After all, that is what I experience the more I learn about it. Underneath the sugarcoating of fun and adventure, Rhodoreef is an examination of humanity's relationship with the ocean, the gravity of climate change and the pressing need for conservation.

I hope this story inspires hope and also impress upon the reader how powerful small actions can be. As Dea Rhodoreef shows us with her journey, we have the power to change the tide of the future—if we choose to act.

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

First of all, I would panic! Then I would go about finding answers. My first novel Komoreby contains just such a scenario—the protagonist wakes up in a parallel universe.

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?

I'd love to pilot a submersible to the deep-sea abyssal plains and use a mechwalker with a brain-machine interface! The latter is practically telekinesis!

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 trippy question. I'll just answer in the PoV of my characters. It would be the latter, because under the fun and fluff, my ships are slowburning red dwarf stars with deep gravity wells.

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

Hm, probably a Makara (Sri Lankan dragon). It's going to feature in my new dark fantasy ghost story.

What is your favorite Asian myth? Why?

The Black Prince (from Sri Lankan folklore). At least, my version of it.

Yep, it's the ghost story I just mentioned. My new novel is a re-imagining of the Black Prince, set in a South Asian gothpunk city.

✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, SuVida777! We wish you the best of luck in your writing endeavors.

Until the next chapter, fellow disciples!