Hello, and welcome to a very special series of interviews!
AC Adams and I have put together a little anthology, and it's coming out on November 15, so I'm interviewing some of the authors involved.
Today we have Nat Paga!
DCU or MCU?
- MCU. I would say both, but DC doesn’t have much of a U at this point.
Firefly – gone too soon or overrated?
- People say my story, Ashe&Dez Gals with Grit, is like Firefly with lesbians. But I’ve never seen it, and I’m too embarrassed to find out why at this point.
A book you’re looking forward to release (by someone else)?
- The next book in Lila Gwynn’s Olympia the Bounty Hunter series.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
- Too early to tell. When I was little, I used to set up cities with my pokemon figures where I had them act out complex, GoT-style stories. It’s much less crazy to just write them down.
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
- In third grade, I drew a picture book about a desert lynx that could control the weather.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
- Cooking, playing video games (currently spooking my way through Fatal Frame 5), and drowning myself in sweat doing hot yoga.
What does your family think of your writing?
- My family is supportive, but what I write is definitely not for their clean, Catholic eyes.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
- Writing and managing your characters’ emotions can help you unpack a lot of things about yourself. Turns out, I’m even gayer than I thought I was!
Do you like to create books for adults?
- Oh my, yes. I have something ‘clean’ in the works, but my current stories are very 18+. Some readers have said they’ll never look at a four-post bed the same way after a certain part of Ashe&Dez.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
- Going to the Strand used book store in NYC feels like a literary pilgrimage. I’ll never forget finding a hardback of my (at the time) favorite book, Green Rider, there.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
- I do and don’t. My pseudonym is just an abbreviated version of my actual name because it makes things easier for me to compartmentalize. And it flows better.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
- I feel like it’s presumptuous to say we’re friends, but AC Adams has been a huge inspiration since I was lucky enough to land on her radar. Not only is her writing kick-a**, but she has a knack for getting her work out there and keeping a social media presence. Go read her books!!!
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
- $40 on a lap desk with wrist support.
What did you do with your first advance?
- I spent my first couple KindleVella bonuses on an ipad so I could write on something other than my phone. I still write on my phone, but I have options now!
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
- Growing up, I would get into trouble if I didn’t use ‘soft’ language like “I’m not a fan of —” instead of “I hate —” when I had a negative opinion of something. So I learned pretty early on that word choice matters.
What do you have coming next?
- After I finish the second part of my KindleVella series Ashe&Dez, I’m excited to start what my partner has dubbed my LPU, or Lesbian Princess Universe. When I wrote Sleeping Cutie for Spice&Steam, I realized it had the bones of a full story that would fit well thematically and tonally with another fantasy story I’m working on. I’m very excited to flesh out those characters and get back to my fantasy roots. Follow @natpaga_writes if you want to keep up with me and my writing adventure!
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