Our bubble of Tumanako by Nina Baxter

Congratulations. Your short story was a finalist in this year’s Beyond the Expectations (an anthology of NZ intermediate school writing). Tell us about your story. What inspired it? 
Nothing in particular- fantasies of parallel world's, family problems, just my imagination.

You’re a student in your spare time. So tell us really, how important are writing competitions? 
Not overly so. This is the first one I have entered in actually. School is very important to me.... I love to learn. But this was a really cool opportunity.

What is your opinion on receiving feedback? 
It's always good to hear what people think about your writing be it positive or negative so that you can improve on your flaws in the future.

Name the writer (dead or alive) who you would most like to have dinner with and tell us what you would like to ask them? 
Either Susan Dennard or Veronica Roth. I'd love to know what inspired their stories and the world's within them and how they come up with such creative and intriguing characters and scenes.

Tell us about your work in progress. 
I am in the midst of writing a novel (I'm only at page 80) but if this question is referring to while I was writing my short story my method is: I start with a rough idea and a few disruptive phrases I want to use before starting to write. After writing I go through taking out all my unneeded sentences and words before editing.

YA fiction, of all the genres, is addressing the real issues. Discuss your favourite genre. 
I love a variety of genres but I especially love young adult fantasy, books with lands and people different to ours with trouble- filled quests and relationships.

Where do you see your writing taking you in the future? 
I feel it will always be a passion of mine even though I may not manage to make a living from it, I will keep writing.

Anything else you would like to say about being a writer? 
It is an amazing feeling ... being able to describe situations so vividly as so you can almost bring your characters to life. I love it.

Thank you so much for your answers. 

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