Dreaming Beyond Olokun
Online Interview
When did you first start writing?
I started writing when I was about ten years old to cope with bullying and feeling like an outsider, I was odd and not treated well. Dealing with anxiety has made things more difficult and I often include characters with mental and physical disabilities in my stories. Writing is my way of getting through life.
Where did you grow up and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Canada and was adopted, but this only added to the bullying and emotional abuse I dealt with everyday. Writing was a good way to vent my feelings and I’ve been writing ever since, it’s taken years to find my style but the effort has been worth it.
What do you love most about writing?
Being able to tell stories and live in a world where my dreams, hopes, and fantasies come to life. I’ve always lived in a fantasy world even as a child, I found it hard to connect with the real world growing up so I started to create my own and love the magic of storytelling.
Who are your favourite authors? (Fiction/Non-Fiction)
Stephen King, Isaac Asimov, Stephen Hawking, Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall, Anne Rice, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
I may have left out a few.
What do you want people to know before they read your work?
I write stories with explicit erotic scenes, but I don’t center my story around sex. As an author and someone who has read many types of books – erotic and not – I realized a long time ago what kind of stories I wanted to share with people. The unique ones, the ones driven by fantasy, science fiction, or the paranormal with the ability to connect to realism. Real, raw, and rare is how I like to keep it. I write based on life experiences, emotion/empathy, and personal struggles. So just because my stories include erotica, they are by no means trashy.
What's your process and how do you plan out your stories?
My process is quite different from that of other authors, but every writer is different and has their own process. For me, I cannot simply plan out every event or chapter, I see the story as it unfolds in my mind and it comes to life on the pages. I’m a vivid daydreamer with the ability to see, hear, and feel every fantasy, and daydream in my head.
What are some common themes in your writing?
Some popular themes include but are not limited to:
- Mental Health Issues
- Empathy
- Emotion
- Trauma
- Anthropology
- Science vs. Nature
- LGTBQ+
- Polyamorous (And Non-Polyamorous) Relationships
These are just some of the more common themes, but there are more!
How do you approach cover design?
I’ve seen so many cover designs in my lifetime and the sad part is, lots of them – especially romance and erotica – often share tiring similarities. So when thinking about my own cover art, I strive for originality and try to give the readers an ounce of mystery, something fresh, and astonishing scenery to capture attention. Everyone has their own ideas, but uniqueness can make a cover pop.
How many more stories or books are you planning?
I cannot say, but what I know is that I’m not stopping. I’ve already completed and published three short novels, a trilogy, and a standalone with another nearly done. Don't worry, there's more on the way. It takes a tremendous amount of effort, especially on my own, not to mention devotion. As I’ve said before, it’s all worth it!
What do your fans mean to you?
I’m always aiming to please readers of many demographics, but I am by no means writing for anyone in particular. I write my stories the way they are meant to play out and make them come alive. Some will love them, some won’t, but that hasn’t stopped me.
I try to include something for everyone!
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Life isn’t easy when you’re low income but it doesn’t prevent me from persevering. Having anxiety makes it hard for me to work, but it has also given me the time and freedom I need to write. Knowing that I’m waking up with a purpose everyday is what keeps me going and motivates me not to quit no matter what anyone tells me.
Inspirational Message To Dreamers:
Don’t ever give up on your dreams. I once had someone tell me that “love and hopes and dreams don’t pay the bills,” and although there’s truth behind those words, I never let anything stop me. Some people ONLY get out of bed because they have something to strive for and without it, they feel like they have nothing. Don’t let go of that hope or dream, it will keep you going and eventually, it will come true.
Thank you!
Quill C. Elska