Thank you Lena for the interview!

Interview

What was your inspiration for And Break the Pretty Kings?

And Break the Pretty Kings began with a concept. While watching shows like BBC’s Merlin and the classic kdrama The Moon Embracing the Sun many years ago, I wondered what it would be like to have a character in those stories who was more than prophetic, but could actually switch places with herself in the future (i.e., her past self slips into her future body, and her future self is thrown back into her past body). I was intrigued by this idea of two versions of the same woman trying to save the same kingdom, and protect the people they loved.

From there, the idea of And Break the Pretty Kings was born. Not with a character or a plot, but with a magical ability doomed to make a mess of things.

What was your process for writing your debut novel?

When I wrote the first draft, I was a pantser through and through; I let the characters roam free and tell me the story. During rewrites, however, I switched gears and began to outline heavily, which resulted in a tighter story each time I started a new draft. Writing And Break the Pretty Kings has taught me a lot about my writing process and how to approach new projects in the future!

How did your main character develops over the course of brainstorming to actually writing the novel?

In some ways, Mirae didn’t change at all. In every draft she was clever, fierce, and protective of her brothers. In other ways, however, the final version of Mirae is quite different from how I originally wrote her. She’s less headstrong and stubborn. More teachable. She’s also much more proactive than she started out, more of a courageous leader than a pampered princess.

What was your process for character and world building?

I’m afraid the answer to the first half of this question might be a little boring! The characters pretty much came to me fully formed, so although I had to make minor tweaks as I revised later drafts, their personalities, desires, and overall growth didn’t change much.

As for the world of And Break the Pretty Kings, I unearthed its bones while pantsing through the first draft; my research of Korean history had a lot to say in that matter! Afterwards, I fleshed everything out by writing a “Bible” for my story’s world. I ended up discovering all sorts of tension points between Mirae’s queendom and the other nations on the peninsula. Of course, not everything in the “Bible” ended up in the final story, but it certainly helped me explore the world’s intricacies and bring it more fully to life.

How would you describe And Break the Pretty Kings in five words?

Sibling-centric, magical, page-turner, k-drama vibes

Did you have a favourite moment to write?

I would say my favorite moment to write was when Mirae meets the villain face-to-face for the first time. I really enjoyed the tense conversation that followed!

What was your favourite book growing up?

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

What is your favourite genre to read?

Recently I’ve been into mystery thrillers like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.