“It is putting a piece of yourself into everything you do and always doing things from the heart.”
That’s how Zela Callok, the author of The Merciless Blacklist of Highland High, defines success. Such words encompass how some parts of certain characters in her story are a piece of her, both her good and shadow sides. After all, aren’t we humans—all of us—our good and flawed selves?
Her book centers on how our choices in life can lead us to the appealing and/or dark aspects of human experience; that perfection is an illusion, but learning to be a better version of oneself is what matters.
Zela also shares some tips for “budding writers.” Yes, someone is likely to succeed in their endeavor as long as it’s from the heart, according to her.
Let’s get to know our author more through her answers to our interview questions:
What was the inspiration for the story?
To be frank, the story started out like a sort of an experiment. As an avid reader, I wanted to try bringing the story in my head to life. I was still in high school back when I started writing, so I think a lot of what is in the book was inspired by my own experiences or the experiences of the people around me, whether I acknowledged it on a conscious or subconscious level. I just wanted to write a story that I would be able to find myself in if I were to read it and to relate to certain obstacles, decisions, and the overall essence of being young but having to sometimes make choices that are not the easiest.
Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Personally, I think every single character I’ve created somehow holds a special place in my heart. They have certain aspects and traits that I possess, as well as the people I’ve come across in my life that impacted me one way or another. But if I were to choose, it would probably be Aspen and Collin. They are both very flawed, but they try their best to make it by taking advantage of what’s available to them. They make a lot of mistakes and rash decisions, but there is just something about them individually that makes you want to see them succeed. You want to witness them overcome their struggles and survive their addictions, and see them get out of their toxic life patterns and the environment they are trapped in. I think that’s something I can relate to on a personal level—having faith and hope to push through whatever comes their way, no matter how hard it might get.
What do you hope your readers take away from this book?
The overall theme of the series is basically focused on decision making and how little lies and deception can turn into a big f*cking mess, ruining everyone and everything a person has in life. I’d like my readers to treat the story as something to ponder upon, and I want to relay the notion that actions—even though the intention is good—sometimes have terrible consequences and a redo isn’t an option. However, there’s always hope of a better tomorrow if they are willing to do something to achieve it.
If you had to describe Timothy Brenton and Rose Adamms respectively in three words, what would those three words be?
Timothy Brenton is blunt and definitely a playboy that always lives in the moment, but there’s so much more to him that’s about to be uncovered. Rose Adamms is resilient and a believer that people are better than they come off, which isn’t always necessarily true in life. Moreover, she is really soft under all the harsh exterior she has built around herself.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book(s)?
I discovered a lot about myself, but what surprised me was how tied I had gotten to the characters. Nothing in life is solely black or white and people make mistakes, which is okay if those mistakes help you become a better version of yourself. Forgiving yourself is extremely important. I also discovered that at certain times it is really hard writing something that is totally the opposite of what I would have personally done or said in a situation, to the point that I’m writing scenes that frustrate the hell out of me. However, I know it has to be that way so it feels true to the story and the characters.
Describe your perfect book hero or heroine.
I don’t think something like perfect book heroes or heroines really exist. To me, that would be someone who is deeply flawed but is trying to become better; someone who is selfless and is willing to do anything for the people they love; and someone ambitious and kind, and who is able to transcend above their own ego when needs be.
What does success mean to you? What is the definition of success?
Success can have different forms; it is subjective to every single person. To me, it is going through with what you set your mind into, finishing what you started, and making it the best version it could possibly become. It is putting a piece of yourself into everything you do and always doing things from the heart. Having people connect to the piece of yourself that you put out into the world and having them relate to it is an amazing bonus, sure, but primarily I think I feel successful when I know I’ve gone through with my plans and stayed true to myself along the way. Authenticity is everything to me.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Probably to keep going and just continue writing. Don’t let doubts hold you back and don’t let other people’s words get into your head. Write from your heart and write something you’d like to read yourself. Moreover, don’t rush romance, feelings, and situations. Life can be crazy but it can also be slow, and both options are beautiful. Finally, have some sort of notepad where you plan things out and note the timeline and everything essential to the plot of the story so you have everything ready whenever you need to go over some particular detail without forgetting something important.
If you are interested in reading more of Zela Callok’s works, or if you’d like to interact with her, follow her on Wattpad as @moonchildnessa. She hopes to get on Instagram one day to reach more readers, and she’ll definitely update her followers once it happens.
