Author Interview – Adrian So – The Groundworld Heroes

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best book magazine in the UK“, author Adrian So shares what inspired his new children’s book, The Groundworld Heroes, and his creative writing process.

Written by JJ Barnes

www.jjbarnes.co.uk

I interviewed Adrian So about his life and career, the story of his new children’s book, The Groundworld Heroes, and what inspired his main characters.

Tell me a bit about who you are.

My name is Adrian So. I’m a high school student, as well as a children’s author, with my debut chapter book The Groundworld Heroes publishing this August (but you can pre-order it right now.) I live in Canada and just like any average teenage boy, I enjoy playing soccer in my spare time.

When did you first WANT to write a book?

I’ve always wanted to write a book since early childhood, I would often staple sheets of paper into books and write on them. But in terms of when I actually wanted to write a book, that was early into grade six.

I didn’t have much to do amid the Covid pandemic, so I read and wrote a lot at that time. I started out writing flash fiction pieces regularly, but then the habit spiraled into something bigger: books.

When did you take a step to start writing?

I took a leap into writing my first manuscript at the end of grade six. I would say it wasn’t very successful, I had many writer’s blocks along the way and editors described it as bland. I never even got around to finishing it. But to me, that was the “first manuscript” I wrote.

How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?

It took a rather short amount of time when compared with other authors around me. My book, The Groundworld Heroes, was written when I was in grade seven. The two years after that were spent revising, editing, and querying (finding a publishing house.) It wasn’t until May when I received an offer from Jennifer Lowry at Monarch Press, then I signed with the publisher and brought me to where I am right now.

What made you want to write The Groundworld Heroes?

Nothing really compelled me to write this book. It’s just that one day I was sitting in front of my laptop and thinking of a good story to write, the idea for The Groundworld Heroes floated into my head. It soon expanded rapidly and I typed up the first three chapters on that very day.

What were your biggest challenges with writing The Groundworld Heroes?

The biggest challenges with writing it… It must’ve been the unpredictable nature of the plot. I’m a pantser, which means I don’t plan out the entire manuscript before I write it, I just go along with whatever idea I have in mind. The problem with this is that sometimes I accidentally diverge the story away from the plot, and it causes me a lot of clean-up work to put the plot back together.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?

My brother was an inspiration for Benjamin, the protagonist of my book, in terms of his characteristics.

Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?

The villains in Roald Dahl’s books.

What is the inciting incident of The Groundworld Heroes?

The inciting incident of my book is when a group of predatory humans broke into the underground world of the animals and attempted to kidnap them. The creatures had to migrate to a distant place to escape the humans’ brutality. But Benjamin, the protagonist of the book, fell behind in the evacuation and he was left to fend for himself.

What is the main conflict of The Groundworld Heroes?

My book has a man vs. man conflict. It’s the animals vs. the humans.

Did you plot The Groundworld Heroes in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?

As I mentioned before, I am a pantser, so I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t find enjoyment when I plan out the entire story in advance, I prefer exploration.

Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Groundworld Heroes need?

I needed tons of editing. I reached out to a lot of beta readers, many of them are seasoned authors and editors. I was fortunate to have met this group of supportive writers, as they gave me a lot of valuable advice and helped me polish my book.

What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?

I only have one piece of advice to give to fellow writers: Just write. Even if you’re stuck halfway through your draft, at least find something else to write about. You can only get better if you practice.

Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?

I have one manuscript I’m working on, it’s a chapter book with the working title of The Wacky Adventures of Mr. Troublemaker. It’s about the last safe outpost in a town rampant with evil. This is the next big writing project for me.

And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?

Yes, I believe it was worth the effort to write a book, no matter how arduous the journey was. I’m proud knowing that I’m an author and have written a book that people can access.

Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:

Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Adrian62852188

My website: https://adriansotheauthor.my.canva.site

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3LCfIhX

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LESEPP