What name do you write under and is it a pen name?
I write under the name Bearcina, and yes, it is a pen name.

What or who inspired you to start writing?
I think what really inspired me to start writing was reading terrible fan-fiction on websites such as Wattpad and FanFiction.Net

How long have you been writing?
I want to say I’ve been writing for at least five or six years now.

What is the name of your most recent story and if you had to sum it up in 20 or fewer words, what would you say?
The name of my most recent story is Years in a Blink, and I’d say that if I had to sum it up, it would be, “A sci-fi horror book about the strangest creatures finding their own home.”

Is the above story part of a series or anthology?
No, I didn’t plan on it being part of a series, but it is part of the anthology a Door to Our Minds which includes four other stories by authors who are all close friends of mine.

How did you come up with the cover design idea/concept?
I think, the cover design was inspired mostly by the concept of Artemia’s desk, having little antiques, such as their equivalent of a polaroid picture of her laboratory. 

Did you listen to any particular songs while writing your story?
While writing Years in a Blink, I listened to a lot of noir jazz and swing, and in particular I listened to Blues For You by Gabriel Pares, and Swing Doors by Allan Gray.

How did you come up with the title for your story?
Honestly, it’s all I could think of that made sense with the point of view from the antagonist.

As a reader, do you prefer e-books, paperbacks, hard-covers or audio-books?
I like reading paperback the most, but hardcover is just as nice. I don’t like e-books, and audio-book was just not appealing.

Have you ever read a book more than once? And if so what was it?
I’ve read the Harry Potter series more often than I can count, and the Leviathan trilogy from Scott Westerfeld was always a good re-read. Other than those two series, I enjoy reading The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern every time I pick it up from the library.

Have you ever read a book just based on its cover?
Yes, I read ROOM by Emma Donoghue, and The Night Circus’ paperback cover.

What is your favorite film based on a book?
I think Coraline would have to be a favorite, since finding out there was a book along with the movie.

What is your favorite book genre at the moment?
Sci-Fi.

What books have made it onto your wish list recently? And why?
Coraline by Niel Gaiman, the movie was a strong favorite and I want to read it. Along with that, I want the new Vampire the Masquerade sourcebook, currently that’s the 5th edition, for my collection of Vampire the Masquerade books.

What book are you reading at the moment? And in what format?
As of writing this, I’m not reading anything, but I do have a few paperbacks I plan on reading.

If you could invite any four (4) authors (alive or dead) to your dinner party, who would you invite and why?
I would invite Scott Westerfeld, JK Rowling, Edgar Allan Poe, and possibly Shakespeare. It would be a mismatch of authors, but all of them are some of my favorite writers.

What’s the best advice that you have been given when it comes to writing?
Don’t edit as you write, just write everything in your mind, and then go back and look at it.

What authors inspire you?
I feel like I’ve been very inspired by Scott Westerfeld. His books have been very influential to my writing style and genre.

Where can your readers follow you?
▪ Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/88362351-beth
▪ ArchiveOfOurOwn: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Bearcina
▪ Tumblr: Bearcina.Tumblr.com
▪ Instagram: @Bearcina

If you are interested in reading Years in a Blink and purchasing your own copy of a Door to Our Minds, fill out the information form below and I’ll be sure to email you more information as soon as the anthology is released.