Name of Author: Ryan Michaelson
Title of Book: In the Beginning
Favorite Authors: Anne Rice.
Bio: In my early thirties; poet; have been something of a jack-of-all-trades throughout my career; cosmology and ancient history junkie; studied fiction writing with the Writer's Bureau of England.
In the Beginning
http://www.wattpad.com/story/34075367-in-the-beginning
Can you explain what your book is all about?
Before the present Heaven (known as Menai) there was the first Heaven called Rabba. Its inhabitants was a unique race of angels, the Allus. Abenador (our protagonist), an angel of Menai, sees Armageddon fast approaching and needs young Reuben's help to thwart fate. In order to help Reuben understand both his and Reuben's destiny, Abenador recounts the perils of his early days in Heaven, his encounter with one of Rabba's mysterious survivors, Heaven's ongoing battle with Hell, and his now final attempt to destroy a harrowing prophecy.
Who is your target audience - and why?
This story is geared toward as wide a demographic as possible. It covers themes about religion, the supernatural, love, gender roles, heartbreak, loneliness, hope and perseverance (I would hope in not too an irreverent manner). At the heart of the story are two unsuspecting individuals, Abenador and Reuben, who finds themselves destined for greatness but also burdened by the demands of it. I believe the reader, no matter how young or old, can identify with the characters and the challenges they face, their inner struggles and turmoil, having sometimes to decide between the lesser of two evils, and at times having to accept that the world is shades of grey and there is no easy answer to life's questions.
What is 'paranormal' about your story?
It is set squarely in the world of the supernatural, beginning with Reuben's near death experience when he first encounters Abenador in the Prologue. From there, it explores the intricate world of Heaven, hearkening back to the Heaven before, and then coming forward to delve deeper into the complexities of Hell. Lucifer is a major player in the latter half of the book, and it will be seen that he is not an entity to be toyed with.
Does it contain other genre elements, if so which ones - and why?
There is certainly an infusion of fantasy in the story, which I believe was a necessary result of creating a 'Heaven before Heaven' as well as seeking to organize both the realms of Heaven and Hell into coherent and workable dimensions that appeared 'adult' in their physical interpretations. Therefore, there are nine 'wings' of the present Heaven each serving a purpose ranging from places of worship to 'libraries' (where the mysteries of Heaven are stored) to war zones. Hell, on the other hand, is segregated into 'orders', carrying a more political and militant undertones.
Tell us about your writing process - how do you get from story idea to a Wattpad published story?
Ha! The phrase 'the agony and ecstasy' is certainly appropriate here, I think. I began writing this story in 2004, on a PC that still utilized floppy disks and ran Windows 95! To tell the truth, I had no idea where the story would go as I am not the best plotter and have little patience to sit and map out a story from beginning to end. Usually I just put pen to paper, fingers to the keyboard and let the thoughts fly. Then, what was once just a vague idea takes shape, sometimes turning into twists or revelations I did not expect.
As for this book, I knew that it was going to be a saga. "In The Beginning" is actually the first of a planned trilogy. I completed the first six chapters, which were very different back then to what is published now, although the main idea has remained the same. Then, over the next ten years I got to about, say, Chapter 12. Then I stopped. Work, school, life. They all took over. Finally, last year, I made up my mind that I had to finish it. There was a story there, burning inside me, and if I didn't take that last terrifying step of completing it, I never would.
So, here I am. I won't pretend that I have sage advice to give to aspiring authors. I'm still figuring it out myself. But I will say this, the journey has been thrilling, illuminating and just plain satisfying!
Did you encounter any challenges when writing, if so - how did you overcome them?
Writer's block happens to the best of us, do doubt, and I certainly went through months, sometimes years, of creative drought. Other times, it would be just plain lack of enthusiasm or getting frustrated with the story. I wouldn't say I 'overcame' them. Honestly, I would just let the story rest until the inspiration hit (this usually happened at the most inopportune times!) and then scribble my thoughts on the first piece of paper I could get my hands on for fear of losing them.
You often hear that 'writing well' is the baseline for success. What does that mean for you?
Oh, I must say that being here on Wattpad has brought a new level of appreciation for that sentiment. The exposure to different authors, different genres, styles of writing and reader feedback has proved invaluable. There truly is no substitute for having a reader say that your work is well-written. It spikes the hope that they will come back!
