Inside the Mind - Omara Williams

I’ve always been fascinated by science and technology and the intense emotions stirred by love stories. Hence, I started wondering, “How powerful can love be?” I wanted to explore the specific case of alien romance, unrequited love, impossible love, and fatal attraction within the science fiction background. Once aliens meet humans, their different origins can play a decisive part in a unique plot that could not possibly happen had the lovers been only humans. The main characters in the book are unique to the story and are inspired by it. I created my protagonist to be smart, beautiful and fiercely independent, stirring strong emotions from humans and aliens alike and creating a love triangle from which true, all-powerful love finally triumphs.

I find great joy in writing from the comfort of my home office, where a cosy ambience inspires creativity. The walls are lined with my favourite books and astronomy pictures taken during my past journeys. As I write, I immerse myself in the inspiring melodies of my carefully selected playlists, which fill the room with a sense of wonder. This perfect environment allows my thoughts to flow freely, making the writing process a truly fulfilling experience.

There are many rewarding parts of being an indie author. I have enjoyed delving into the science fiction genre and entering an imaginary world without boundaries. This is where I can explore the fantastic mysteries of our physical world and let my imagination run wild. The creation process is so enjoyable and rewarding that it compels me to keep writing. I never expected the reception that “The Space Traveller’s Lover” has had, so I set my success bar very low. Now, after winning multiple awards and becoming an Amazon bestseller, the bar is very high. But most rewarding to me are the beautiful reviews from my readers.

Creating the storyline, reviewing, and designing the illustrations was very challenging and time-consuming, but satisfying in equal measure as I achieved every milestone. I had so many characters and subplots that it was challenging to organise the whole book. So I had to draw out the scenes and the characters’ physiques and make a wall chart where I could place cardboard cards with a summary of each chapter to set up a storyboard from the initial, middle and final scenes. Eventually, everything fell into place in this mesmerising story of love against all odds.

My advice to aspiring authors is that, regardless of your background, if you have a story to tell and enjoy the creation process, you should not give up. Set small goals to start with and persevere. You will find it gets easier as you progress, and more ideas will materialise. Chapter after chapter, you will finish your book, and there will be a broad audience out there ready to read and enjoy your work.

I am currently working on the second novel in what I plan as a series for The Space Traveller’s Lover. Many storylines from my first book are waiting to be explored and developed further. I am gathering these ideas and creating a scrapbook with pictures and texts, which I'll use to put together the sequel.