D.O.B.: 10.27.1987
First Name: Bouakham
Online Aliases: Miss Bouakham
Personal Blog (if any): Nope :)
Tru: Hello Miss Bouakham!!! Thank you so much for participating in this interview. I’m so excited to have this interview with such a great and well respected author.
My first question for you is when did you first start writing fanfics? And what or who inspired you to begin?
Miss B: I started writing back in my sophomore year of high school…that would be 2003? It was when I was first introduced to kpop (particularly fly to the sky, shinhwa, baby vox, etc.). I’ve always loved kdramas/kpop, reading, and daydreaming about romantic plots, but I didn’t know what to do with all three combinations. Until I took a creative writing class in 2003. Then my sister discovered winglin, and the rest is history. Ever since, I have been writing fanfics inspired by my favorite actors and idols. That’s probably one of the main reasons why I keep to fanfic instead of NG, my leading stars inspire me to continue writing.
Tru: That is a very interesting concept! No one has described their reason for using celebrities in that manner. It’s usually because everyone else is doing it or because they want it to be a true fanfic! Your reason is rather unique if I must say so myself!
Do you have any favorite authors in the fanfic world? If so, who?
Miss B: I have to admit that I do not read much fanfics, so I cannot give any specific names. I usually indulge myself with romance novels. I find those plots are more to my liking.
Tru: Really?? So who would you say is your favorite published author and book?
Miss B: I’m a sucker for sappy romances. To name one on the top of my head, I would have to say Judith McNaught’s Something Wonderful and Until You are both by far my top favorites. Perhaps these novels are a bit more mature. But the romance McNaught portrays is absolutely breathtaking and you can’t help falling in love with the heroes and heroines.
Tru: After reading "Moonlit Masquerade" I was impatiently waiting for an encore but realized that you went on a hiatus. What brought you back?
Miss B: My hiatus was almost two years. It wasn’t due to lack of inspiration, but more to life itself. College was becoming demanding and so I had to remove myself from the cyber world completely, lol. During my hiatus though, I never stopped thinking or writing. I wrote bits and pieces. I jotted down ideas that came to me. Writing is a stress reliever for me. As a writer, and I’m sure many writers can relate, I am constantly thinking about my stories. I think about the next scene, the next dialogue, my characters…whether it is while driving or during my breaks at work…my stories consume a big part of my time and thought. It’s almost obsessive, really. (A healthy obsession, I hope).
Tru: Lol, it’s most definitely a healthy obsession! One always needs something to make them feel liberated. Writing is your obsession and reading fanfix and writing poetry are mine! ^_^
You have recently started a fanfic, called "Between Two Worlds"; could you give us a brief synopsis on what it's about?
Miss B: Yes, I had this fanfic planned since the completion of “Moonlit Masquerade.” Although I had to put it off, I constantly thought of the plot and characters. It features, once again, Choi Seunghyun and Kim Yoobin.
Synopsis: Brought together by a centuries old family curse, Yoobin manages to enter Seunghyun’s world and is immediately wedded to him. He isn’t exactly the doting husband. Cold and stoic, his indifferent demeanor terrifies Yoobin. Until circumstances, and possibly love, force him to become the perfect man. But throw in a powerful sorceress, an ambitious mistress, some rebels, an unsettled King and discover if their love is meant to be. Can both Seunghyun and Yoobin withstand the test of fate? But most importantly, is Yoobin guaranteed to stay there…forever?
Tru: Wow… I’m so excited about this fanfic! When I came across it on Soompi, I just new I had to put it on my “Watch List” because the plot is VERY different from what I have read in the past and it’s a very risky theme that you have chosen due to the fact that its setting is in Joseon (somewhat like Middle Aged South Korea).
Do you have any plans for the future, as a writer?
Miss B: During my hiatus, I took two fiction writing courses at my university. My professor didn’t want genre stories, so we had to write literary fictions. My stories in class focused a lot on my Hmong culture. Although I love writing on that subject, it really torn me because what I write on Soompi is so different from what I write in class. My professor believes that as a genre writer, it is hard to move away from the circle once your fanbase is established. He believes a literary fiction writer has more leeway. Anyway, I don’t really know where I’m going with this exactly. I guess what I’m basically trying to say is, I don’t think I’ll ever try to publish anything. First off, I don’t think it’s publication material. And these stories are my little treasures, it’s a vulnerable position to put these personal treasures out there to be criticized and shredded to pieces, lol.
Tru: That is very understandable. The publishing world can be very brutal, but I sincerely believe that your work is worth at least trying to let someone check it out! All of your stories are well thought out and beautifully put together.
So, as a very successful author on Soomp!, do you have any suggestions for the newbies?
Miss B: We’ll have to first redefine “successful” since I’m certain I do not fall under that category ;-). However, I have written for many years though, and one word of advice I have is: don’t ever stop writing. We do what we do because we have a passion for it. We have a fondness for storytelling, whether it is through characters, dialogue, or plotlines. And that’s what makes you a good writer. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Tru: Do you have any shout outs that you would like to make?
Miss B: I would like to thank ALL my readers, from 2003 in winglin to now in soompi, for all their support. It’s gratifying to know that there is at least one person out there who enjoys the writing I put out, who enjoys the world I have created with my favorite idols. You guys are all one of my greatest inspirations. Thank you!
Tru: Before I let you go, one of your fans had a couple of questions that they would like to ask you.
Angie Asks:
1. Do most things come from real life experiences? or are they made up on the spot?
2. If you weren't writing what would you be doing?
Miss B: I wish I could say my stories come from real life experiences, because then I would be living in my very own kdrama world with that perfect main lead. But no, my stories are a result of my overactive imagination, and nothing else. Sometimes I might throw in a few things here and there that mirrors me (inconsequential things such as color preferences, etc.), but that’s about it.
I write purely for the joy of it. I have not considered making a career from writing. However, I can’t imagine what I would be doing with my leisurely time had I not started writing. It’s been a part of me for so long now that I don’t think I can adequately answer this rhetorical question. Especially now that I’m done with school and just working, I have so much more free time. I can’t imagine doing anything else with a good portion of my free time, except to write :)
Tru: Well, thank you so much Miss Bouakham for taking time out of your busy schedule to partake in this interview with me! We (your fans) are very grateful for giving us the privilege to get to know you on a more personal level!
