Hi StoryKeepers! (You can read about why I’m calling you that here.) I’m Hadassah Waugh, a young Christian, artist, and writer of fantasy adventure novels. I’m based in New Zealand. So glad to welcome you! You probably came to this page to suss me out and see whether or not I’m legit, so let’s dive right in.
It all started when I was about 15. I felt gloomy because I wanted to read more books and watch more shows. Especially all the cool animes my adult siblings told me about. But I kept being told ‘It’s not suitable.’ ‘Anime is for adults, and full of dark stuff.’ ‘Most fantasy stories are actually filled with darkness.’
One day, I thought, “Why should it be that way? Why can’t there be an anime-like fantasy-adventure story, which is suitable for kids, but also has an epic and gripping enough plot to enjoy with my older siblings?”
Then the brainwave hit.
I could make such a story!
I could write to shine light into genres that are mostly dark, like fantasy and anime! I could make a website for people like me — teenagers and kids who long to nerd out with others in a safe place and in a wholesome way!
So after 3 years of writing, learning, writing some more, and finally kicking my perfectionism to the curb with regards to this website, I can welcome you all with joy!
This site will be my hub for everything related to my passion — creating stories through novels, art, and the occasional bit of animation that reflect and shine out the hope, light and love Jesus gave every day. It’ll also be where I nerd out about movies, shows, games and books with you all, and give tips on writing and art. I’ll probably do posts on whatever I’m currently researching for my books, as well.
Hopefully you can get as much enjoyment and value from this as I do making it for you all!
Here’s some fun facts so you can get to know me a little:
— I love LOTR, Marvel, Star Wars, Narnia, Avatar The Last Airbender, a ton of Enid Blyton’s books, Lois Walfrid Johnson’s Viking Quest, and a mostly suitable anime/manga series called Snow White with the Red Hair.
— I’m a complete nerd of the anime style. I’m even one of those people who can’t stand to watch anime in English. I watch it in Japanese with subs — which has sparked an interest in the Japanese language. I’ve been learning Japanese on and off for a couple of years now, so to all you Japanese speakers out there: こんにちは！初めまして！私の名前はハダサーウォーです｡ 日本語を話せます、でも少しだけです｡ どもよろしくお願いします！
— I’m the 4th in a homeschooling family of 5 kids. I love eating peanut buttered toast in the mornings, playing and telling stories to my younger sister, and chatting with my adult siblings whenever they’re home. I also love the beginning of an adventure — when you go on a car trip, and it’s sunny in the morning, and everything’s so pretty and you can’t stop smiling because of the way your heart’s singing, “Yes! An adventure!”
— I play piano, violin (very poorly) and can puff out some semblance of a tune on the ocarina. I love music, especially moving movie soundtracks or songs. I also love a fair bit of J-Pop, though I don’t understand the lyrics.
— My current WIP is a 5-book fantasy series called The Prince of WalfKlau (working title) which I hope to traditionally publish someday. There will eventually be a whole section of this website devoted to nerdy behind the scenes stuff, like character profiles, maps, and deleted scenes. Watch the World of WalfKlau space … 😉 Oh yeah, and occasionally some of my characters might decide to do blog posts of their own, although we’re currently having an argument with about whether they’ll do it in their space, or intrude into mine.
So, now that you know what I’m all about, I hope you’re as excited as I am to share adventures and nerdom here together! 🙂
— Hadassah Waugh