Interview with Alexia Praks, author of Falling for Sakura

What can you tell us about your new release, Falling for Sakura?

Falling for Sakura is a reverse harem romance featuring an orphan Asian American young woman named Sakura and her relationship with the seven Princeton brothers. The story deals with bullying, self-growth, and love. Of course, it has many themes such as the flower Sakura as well, which is continuous throughout the book and signifies the transient of things in life and nothing ever lasts.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve read lots of romance books and one day just decided that I’ll write my own and share them with everyone. There wasn’t really anyone who inspired me to become an author. It just felt right at the time to start writing.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Now that I think back, there wasn’t really any best books in my list since there are so many of them. Although recently I tend to read a lot of manga, the Japanese, Chinese, and Korean ones because they’re unique, at last to me anyway. My favorite is Adekan manga by Tsukiji Nao. The art is simply beautiful and the storylines are unique, mixing mystery with human’s behavior such as how far one would go just for their loved one etc. My other current favorite is Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, a Chinese novel, manga, and now anime series. It’s a Boys Love but the storyline is simply amazing. It’s almost like Game of Throne but Chinese version with lots of beautiful boys and the use of magic. It’s a Xianxia/Wuxia so it’s right up my alley as I grew up watching a lot of that stuff. Although I must admit that Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation gets a bit dark at certain points but the art is simply divine to look at, especially in the anime version.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I get to bring my imagination into the written format so that I can share what’s in my head with everyone. LOL!

What is a typical day like for you?

My typical day is waking up at around 10 am (I’m not a morning person). I’d have something to eat and then check my emails (fans and work), Facebook, and Wattpad (I post some of my first drafts MS there). Then I’d start writing for a couple of hours. Then lunch and my routine day walk. After that, I write some more. Then it’s cooking dinner and having dinner at around 6 pm. After dinner, I’d either watch an anime or read a book or manga (depending on my mood). Then I’ll end my night with a bit of editing of that day’s writing. I’d be sleeping at around 1 or 2 am. LOL! I’m kind of a night owl.

What scene in Falling for Sakura was your favorite to write?

There are many favorite scenes in the Falling for Sakura trilogy, but I guess my top is when Sakura first met the seven Princeton brothers and how they’re smitten with the moment they laid their eyes on her. I had so much fun writing that scene, but of course, I love every moment when writing the trilogy.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I don’t particularly have any motto, quote or philosophy that I live by. I just take it day by day. But I guess I’m always like I’ll live my life the way I want to live it according to me and not according to anyone else’s. That’s why I read what I want to read and write what I want to write not because it’s what popular now but because I want to, I like it, and it feels right to me. Ultimately, I’m a little weird because what I like most of the time is not on trend nor is it popular. I favor uniqueness and meaning over popularity.

Alexia Praks is the author of the new book Falling for Sakura

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