Author Udita Plaha has generously done an exclusive interview with OBS. Read the review of Magicus Catonium here.

1. What made you want to write in the fantasy genre?

Fantasy was something I read a lot as a young kid. I just loved being able to take myself out of the present and stretching my imagination to believe, for a moment, that something so different was possible.

2. How did you come up with the world of Magicus Catonium? And where did the title come from?

I grew up a complete nature-girl. I found nature something to be wondered at, and that’s exactly how I wanted Magicus Catonium to be portrayed—a world of wonder. I had a dream of a world filled with natural wonders, and that image stuck with me throughout the book. I also wanted a way to link my fantasy world with the real world, so I created a language older than Latin, from which “Magicus Catonium” came from. Magicus means magical, and Catonium means world or lower world.

3. Anna and Ria have been best friends their entire lives, where their characters based on anyone you know personally? Or was their relationship based on your friendship with your best friend?

Writing stories actually started out as a way for me to bond with my best friend. We spent almost every day of the summer together (when we were 11) and one day we just decided to try to write a short story. I wasn’t sure what to write about so I started off with characters that personified both of our personalities. I ended up using those characters as Ria and Anna. Down the line, however, the characters split from our real life personalities and developed their own.

Note: Next two questions gave away some elements inside the book! Spoiler alert!

4. Ria and Leon end up kissing. Will readers get to see their romance develop in the next book?

The Praesidis Series focuses a lot on how every relationship affects the decisions we make. Leon and Ria have a deep connection, which they will try to explore throughout the series, but many things stand in their way; thanks to the Harbringers, who have a huge role in the relationships around Ria.

5. Anna and Ria, at the end of Magicus Catonium, return back home uncertain of the future of Magicus Catonium, can you give us any details on what will happen in the next installment?

In the next installment, you’ll find the story taking an unexpected route. Ria discovers part of the truth of why she was brought to Magicus Catonium, and who actually brought her there. The readers will see Ria start to question her destiny, which so far she has blindly accepted. At the end of Fridae Gotha, the 2nd book in the series, Ria realizes that to save Magicus Catonium, her story may not have a happy ending.

6. What made you decide to venture into the world of writing? Did you always want to become a writer?

I was ten when I knew that I needed to write. It wasn’t that I wanted to, I just had this need to write constantly. I started out like most writers, writing poems and short stories. My English teacher encouraged me to develop my stories and then one day I just decided to turn a strange dream into a book.

7. Where do you get your ideas for your novels?

The first book came to me during a dream, in which I could clearly see Ria and Anna fighting with Solan to protect this amazing world. As I grew older—around 10th grade—I decided that I wanted to take The Praesidis Series in a more philosophical direction. I liked to explore the way people affected one another and that idea grew to become The Praesidis series. I also wanted to get into what makes a person’s destiny, and the circle of interlocking “curses”. As in, is it possible to overwrite a curse with another one?

8. What inspires you to write?

Philosophy, music, and dreams. I’m always thinking of another story, because you’ll find me constantly listening to music or just spacing out trying to work out a new concept.

9. Do you have any quirky routines you do when working on a novel? Like, some favorite junk food you just have to have or a certain artist you always listen to?

Whenever I’m writing I will have my music playing. I noticed that I tend to write my best work (in my opinion) around 1 AM. I also find that I write better if I have someone to talk to about my ideas. I also like to write a lot when I’ve just come back from a run.

For more info on the series, click here.