Nique Joaquin is a student writer currently studying at New York University Abu Dhabi. Born in the Philippines and schooled in an international school, she is a lover of literature, music, and movies. Her writing inspiration arises from a variety of sources, be it dreams, daydreams, or movies.
Get to know her more:
Do you have any amazing stories about your fans? Any favorite fan stories?
Back when I was promoting ‘Break Me, Mate’ and its publication, I opened up a Q&A session where I could answer everyone’s questions through Elair and Maddox’s voices. It was one of the most fun experiences I had with my fans. It was like a really cool role-playing experience too and looking back at it I had so much fun that I barely even noticed I was ‘roleplaying’.
What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
My favorite thing about being a writer is that I can let people inside my head that are honestly filled with so many daydreams. I like creating worlds and stories about people and I’ve always wanted to share whatever I had in my head to other people. I find it super relaxing as well and I’m glad I have a creative outlet where I can use my words for both myself and other people that want to go on a journey.
Who is your favorite character that you wrote?
By far, my favorite character has been Elair. She’s been the character in my head for so long. I’ve had her kind of character in other books and stories I’ve written before, but Elair was just wild. I loved being free with her and I envy her ability to speak so straightforwardly. She’s just a lot of fun and has the mouth of a sailor – which I enjoy. There’s no filter on her, she’s just straight-up which I loved.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I think I first realized I wanted to be a writer when I was like five. I wrote this story about this little girl that made hats and had a large dog. It was supposed to be a short story but I never finished. It was honestly quite plotless. But I realized then that storytelling was my passion. I always looked forward to creative writing classes, storytelling times, etc. So I definitely felt that being a writer was my path.
Do you have any fun facts about your book?
“I do, actually. I spent an entire three days writing the final half of that book. I would literally spend days thinking about it and get my ideas at like 4 a.m. and start writing. (I can’t really do that anymore but yeah.)
I guess the other fun fact was the way I created the language and the thought behind it. I needed to conceal a few key bits of information and I thought it would be fun. So I looked up words, their roots, and mixed and matched. I had to think about grammar too, which was surprisingly fun. I tried to make it simple but I have an actual dictionary (digital of course) on my laptop now – in case I want to re-use it.”
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It really depends. I find writing does energize me when I’m in the mood and I love the story that I’m creating. It exhausts me when I get stuck in a rut and write about four or more different drafts of the same chapter. It’s a fun process but I do get tired. Nowadays, I have to set aside more time for writing because it does exhaust me when I have to maintain a schedule. I’m a little more lenient now and I think it shows in the stories I write. Writing’s getting to be more energizing now than before.
What is your favorite quote?
“Whatever happens tomorrow, we’ve had today” – David Nicholls in ‘One Day’
Who do you say has inspired you the most?
I think that my mom has inspired me the most. She’s such a strong individual and I love her for it. I admire her ferocity that I wish I had myself. I’m more of a quiet person but my mom is the opposite, she’s just so social. I’ve written her into one of my books before and I loved every moment of writing out her character. She’s helped me reach my dreams and goals and I know that she’s always got my back.
What advice do you have for aspiring authors out there?
Write. It’s the biggest advice I have. Don’t let anyone bother you about your writing. Listen to criticism but continue to write. Nothing is more important than honing your own craft so read as well. You learn from reading, you develop from writing, and you improve from feedback. So let others read your work – no matter how embarrassing you think it’ll be or how shy you are.
What’s your favorite part of your own book?
This is a hard one – if I had to pick one… I’d have to say that my favorite part was when Elair and Maddox met – as in when they meet in her father’s office. That was so much fun. I had gotten so sick of the classic meetings that I had read in so many werewolf books. The shivers and magnetic attraction that just drove them crazy when they first saw each other… yeah no. That doesn’t happen with Elair and Maddox and I freaking love it. I really enjoyed crafting that scene – and I still remember it vividly.
Do you have a writing routine? If yes, what is it?
Hm… I sort of do. Before I write, I usually make myself a cup of coffee and pick some music to set the mood. I didn’t use to do this often – but when I wrote ‘Break Me, Mate’ I started to map out plots, take note of characters etc… I now always have a notebook with me. I have like three that are dedicated to writing notes for my stories. I just always have to have one with me for whenever I have an idea.
Who is your favorite author and why?
Hm… my favorite author would have to be, cheesily enough, Nicholas Sparks. I’m just amazed at how many tragedies that guy can make – and I’ve enjoyed most of them. I really like the way he makes you invest in his characters, you get attached to them and really do love them – which is why his tearjerker books work. I’ve cried so many times reading a Nicholas Sparks book – and of course that’s a given now that he’s famous for it. But he’s great and I envy and admire how well he can evoke emotions from his audiences.
What are you writing now?
I am currently writing “Crave Me” which has a very similar vibe to ‘Break Me, Mate’. I really wanted to write another werewolf story and Auden’s character came to me. I wanted a human woman that could match up to her mate without having to have super special powers (at least at first). I think I’m fixing the flaws I’ve subconsciously taken note of since ‘Break Me, Mate’ was completed and it’s exciting to me. I just wish uni didn’t take up so much of my time – otherwise, I’d be writing it non-stop.
What inspires you to write?
I usually get inspired by music or emotions I feel when I read, watch, listen, etc. It always starts with some kind of feeling. For example, when I wrote ‘Break Me, Mate’, I had gotten tired of the same old ‘my-mate-rejected-me-so-I’ll-cry-first-then-be-bad-ass’. I just wanted a ‘bad-ass’ character straight off the bat. I wanted her to be strong and assert her power. So I created a story around this kind of character. Most of my books come from a kind of irritation that I wanted to ‘relieve’ by making my own stories.
It’s a wrap!
Make sure to grab Nique Jaoquin’s Break Me, Mate on Amazon (don’t forget to leave a review) 😉, or sign up for her newsletter for updates and freebies! You can also like her on Facebook and follow her on Goodreads. 🙂