Written Author Interview
- Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do outside of writing. What is a day in the life like for you?
My name is Nana Hoshiko, and I’m a writer and artist. Outside of writing, I love spending time with my family and pets. I’m a huge cat lover and care for a colony of feral cats—they’re my babies, and I always make sure they have a safe place with me.
I’m naturally very creative, even outside of writing. I love collecting little treasures from nature, practicing Oshibana, making jewelry, and preserving moths and butterflies after their life cycle. I also enjoy going to shoegaze concerts, reading manga, and reading in general.
Some of my biggest inspirations are Ellen Hopkins, Ai Yazawa, and Satoshi Kon. Most days for me are a mix of writing, creating art, caring for animals, and finding inspiration in everyday life.
2. What inspired your first novel? What was the thing that got you into writing in the first place?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember—long before my frontal lobe fully developed 😂. I was a kid with a huge imagination, and my family always noticed signs of creativity in me from a very young age.
My first serious project was my comic Star Ring, which ran from 2017–2020. The inspiration behind it was honestly a mix of boredom, imagination, and a strong desire to create something of my own. I’m incredibly thankful for it, because without Star Ring, I probably wouldn’t still be creating today.
I really started taking my work seriously after entering Star Ring into the International Medibang Contest. Even though we didn’t win, the comic reached around 19k views, and it was such an exciting experience. I’ll always be grateful for spaces that give indie creators a chance to be seen.
3. How do you come up with characters? Are they spontaneous or meticulously planned?
I’d say my characters begin with observation first, and then become meticulously planned over time. For me, character creation goes far beyond personality templates or Enneagram types..it’s about observing real behavior, body language, emotions, and the way people interact with the world around them.
I take those observations and place them into the world I’ve created, then explore them through scenes and dialogue with other characters until they naturally find their place in the story. Every character I write has a purpose, even the smaller ones.
4. What are some of your favorite genres to read? Are there any books you’d recommend to first time readers or people looking for something new?
My favorite genre to read is psychological thriller, without a doubt. I love stories that explore the human mind and emotions in a really intense way. I’m also a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins…I mention her constantly. Her raw storytelling and free verse writing style have always inspired me.
For anyone looking for something new, I’d definitely recommend checking out Ellen Hopkins, especially if you enjoy emotional, honest storytelling. I also love creators like Ai Yazawa and Satoshi Kon for the way they tell deeply human and visually memorable stories.
5. What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer?
One of the most difficult things about being a writer is getting past the mindset that you have to start perfectly at chapter one. Sometimes the best ideas come from scenes in the middle or even the ending first. Dialogue can also be challenging, along with the constant pressure to keep creating new ideas.
I’ve found that my stories become much stronger when I know the ending before the beginning. Once I understand where the characters are ultimately going, it becomes easier to build the emotional journey that leads them there.
6. What is your process to completing a novel from outline to final product?
My process changes with every project, so I don’t really have one strict formula. Usually, I start with characters and emotional themes first, then build the story around them until everything naturally falls into place.
7. What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve written in your novel? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.
To pinpoint one specific scene as “unhinged” would probably take too long. I tend to explore themes that many people are uncomfortable with, and most of my work tells raw, emotional stories centered around subjects people don’t always openly discuss. I write about addiction, mental health, identity, grief, obsession, things that exist quietly in people’s lives but are often hidden away.
Not because these topics are inherently terrible, but because they can make people uncomfortable. That discomfort is human, and I think there’s beauty in confronting it honestly. I’ve never been interested in writing polished versions of humanity. I want my stories to feel real, intimate, and sometimes unsettling in the way real emotions are.
8. What’s one thing about being a writer that absolutely drives you up the wall?
Honestly, self-doubt. I think a lot of writers, myself included, quietly battle the feeling that what they’re creating will never fully match the vision in their head.
9. What does being a successful writer look like for you? What type of life do you want to live as a writer?
Success to me is having readers truly indulge in my work and understand it on a deeper level. Before every book, I always ask myself a question inspired by Abbie Emmons: What is the truth I want to scream from the rooftops? Once I find that truth, the story becomes meaningful to me.
I think if that truth reaches even one reader, if they feel seen, understood, or emotionally connected through my work, then I’ve succeeded as a writer. That kind of connection is what would make this life worth living for me.
10. Describe your writing journey. If you had to write a story centered around it, do you think you could pull it off?
Let’s just say my genre of choice would easily match the story of my life. My writing journey has been emotional, unpredictable, and deeply personal, which is probably why I’m so drawn to psychological and raw storytelling in the first place.
I think I could pull it off, honestly. Writing has always been the way I process the world around me. A lot of the emotions, themes, and questions in my work come from real experiences, just transformed through fiction.
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