Interview with Mecyll Gaspary
Published 2023-04-08.
What do your fans mean to you?
Every reader who discovers one of my novels means as much to me as producing stories does. In reality, I am grateful that that individual discovered my work, and I will be much more pleased if that person gives me positive comments after reading the book.
In real life, I don't speak much, whether it's in my original language (Filipino) or the language I've learned (English and German). Writing is my preferred method of sharing ideas, thoughts, and stories because all I have to do is pass the book or eBook to the recipient, and they will read my message without being interrupted or disregarded.
What are you working on next?
I've been working on a nonfiction book that will help budding novelists and writers in general sharpen their writing abilities and grow in order to identify their writing voice, style, and opportunities that match their interests and preferences.
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
I was only four years old at the time when I received a birthday gift from my mother. It was a collection of children's books with hardcovers about dolphins. I enjoyed reading them to such an extent that I read them at least five times. Looking back as an adult, that childhood experience had left a mark on me in such a way that it shaped my aspirations---my most authentic goal---now as a self-published author.
How do you approach cover design?
The cover design is the first thing that readers see on the shelf. Think of it as a marketing material. The better your book cover is, the more people might be interested in looking at it and then reading the content. Given the approach, it doesn't mean you only use graphic/design elements for the sake of/just because without considering the story's theme. It must match the content.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
"13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher, "House of Furies" by Madeleine Roux, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, "Dark Lover" by J.L. Ward, and "50 Shades of Grey (Book #1)" by E.L. James.
Why? Regardless of the format or genre the book belongs to, I love reading the author's power in their words. I admired their writing styles so much that I wanted to apply them in my own works, too.
What do you read for pleasure?
Novels
What is your e-reading device of choice?
It depends on where I got the book. For instance, if I downloaded it on Smashwords, it goes directly to my DropBox. So, after downloading it on my mobile device, I use my pre-installed application to access it. On the other hand, if the eBook came from platforms like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, or Google Play, I read them on their respective platforms after purchase/download.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Sharing free chapters across platforms, such as on Substack, Wattpad, and my website.
Describe your desk
Haha! It's not as pleasing or glamourous as it sounds. My working desk is a clutter---filled with notes in various sizes, A6 size notebooks, post-it notes on my display screen and elsewhere in front of me (reminders of what I need to remember during the writing process, etc.), pens, markers, my coffee cup, and a lot more things scattered on my desk.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
For most of my life, I grew up in the Southern part of the Philippines, on the island of Mindanao. Despite the shared culture as a nation and the rapidly growing economy, the beliefs and customs in my region are more traditional and conservative than in other areas of the country. Given that, my view on life and the world would be much influenced and shown in my works.
In writing, it's not surprising that I tackle the topics most people in my region are interested in, such as religion, spirituality, shame, family, marriage, transactional vs. true love, distorted views on sex, LGBT, morality, and others related to them.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing in a non-written form as early as four. I remember I don't do well in siestas as other kids do (sleeping at 1 to 3 pm) because I tend to play around with my toys and create stories in my mind. I did that daily, and I enjoyed doing it a lot.
At 12, I began writing stories by hand because we didn't have a PC or a laptop then. But I had a spare notebook to write on and write as many words as I could. While doing it as a hobby, I also wrote scripts for stage plays in high school and screenplays for short films in college.
It wasn't until 2014 that my sister told me about Wattpad, where I'm currently active at.
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