#cantata

What was the inspiration for this game, and why did you want to write a story in this genre?

Cantata blends my love of words and music and my Italian heritage. The original inspiration was the video game “Jade Empire”, but it evolved into its own unique tale.

Cantata may have been voted in the Action Genre (thank you, all!) but ultimately it’s a story about humanity. It’s about personal tragedies, of persecution, of the loss of heritage and self—all deeply troubling themes that are being played out in very real time right now.

But more than that, it’s about overcoming those tragedies and persevering. That’s something I personally needed to write about and explore.

Are there any specific themes or messages you hope players take away from your work?

All my works revolve around hope, heart, and human connection. I do write about tragedy and strife, because they are important aspects of our journey and moments we all relate to. But I try not to dwell on them. I’d rather focus on the bright side, the silver lining, the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nowadays especially, I think we all need a reminder that there is a light after the long dark, and it’s worth fighting for.

What does your writing process look like? Any habits, tips, tricks, routines or approaches that have worked well for you?

My writing process is very sporadic. I don’t write daily. Personally, I find that if I commit to writing daily, it becomes more of a chore or a job, and I don’t want it to feel forced. However, I do write snippets often. These aren’t long drawn out scenes, usually just lines of dialogue with brief descriptions. These snippets help me flesh out my characters and define their attitude toward one another.

If I had one piece of advice to give, it’d be that the minute you get an idea in your head, jot it down, no matter how bare bones it is, no matter if you think you’ll never use it. You never know what may come of it!

Any books, music, movies etc. you’re obsessed with at the moment, or would like to recommend?

Oh gosh, how limited on space am I here?? Currently, I’m obsessed with Andy Weir. I know everyone is loving “Project Hail Mary” (and rightly so), but “The Martian” was my first introduction to his excellent writing and will always be my favorite.

Going back further, Amy Tan is my favorite author of all time; she probably had the most profound impact on my own writing. She’s a Chinese American author who writes about immigrant families, mother/daughter relationships, culture and the loss of it—and she does it all with heart and poignancy. You might be familiar with “The Joy Luck Club”, which is a phenomenal book, but my personal favorite is “The Kitchen God’s Wife.”

If you were to say one thing to your readers, other authors, and/or the interactive fiction community: what would it be?

You’re never too old to start! If you haven’t written in months, years, or even decades, don’t let that stop you from trying again. Write!

Fun section for the action/adventure genre

Personal fave action/adventure protagonist archetype: The reluctant hero, that dude in the wrong place at the right time.

Personal fave action/adventure setting: Post-apocalypse

If you were transported into the setting above, as the protagonist archetype you selected, what quest/adventure would you be on?