Minty: "Iboni, looking at your works, specifically Runaway With Me which deals with prophecies and supernatural beings, and Boy in Denim Jacket which deals with real human emotion—it makes me wonder about the creator behind the keyboard."
[The camera zooms in slightly on Minty's face, catching her curious expression. A few audience members lean in, sensing a shift in the mood.]
Minty: "So, my first major question for you is this: Does your personal faith or spiritual upbringing play a conscious role when you sit down to write, or do you try to separate your personal beliefs from your storytelling?"
Iboni: "Oh, Minty! It definitely plays a conscious role when it comes to writing! But let me confess this to you all who are watching and listening: I wrote those three novels when I was an atheist."
[There is an audible, collective gasp from the audience. A few people whisper to their neighbors, and the energy in the room shifts to one of intense fascination. One person in the front row raised their eyebrows in surprise.]
Minty: "Oh, wow! That is a confession, Iboni! Thank you for your honesty."
[The audience begins to clap—not a loud roar, but a respectful, appreciative round of applause for her transparency.]
Minty: "That is absolutely fascinating, especially given the range of your work—from real-life vulnerability to a fantasy world filled with powerful magical prophecy and ancient folklore. That changes the entire conversation for this episode."
[Minty gestures to the crowd, who are now completely silent and hanging on every word.]
Minty: "We have a lot to unpack there, because if your foundational works were created from an atheist worldview, then the moral and spiritual pillars of those stories must be deeply rooted in something else entirely. Let's dive into those follow-up questions, shall we? You don't have to answer them all at once, of course, but I'm truly curious about this perspective."
Iboni: "Sure, go ahead, Minty."
Minty: "In your fantasy novel, Runaway With Me, you incorporate powerful, ancient beliefs—prophecies, magical codes, and beings like the diwatas. Since you weren't drawing from a personal faith, where did you source the fundamental concepts of good, evil, and destiny for your fictional world?"
Iboni: "It came from the books that I've read, the movies and series that I've watched, the stories and tales that I've heard. Oh, and I also did some research as well."
[A few people in the audience nod, identifying with the idea of being well-read and the power of research.]
Iboni: "You know, no person can truly know with certainty that they know what is good, what is evil, and what is destiny because we are just humans! Humans who always try to get through each and every single day that they are breathing. Who knows! What you think may be evil is seen as good by someone else."
[A low murmur of agreement ripples through the room. One or two people can be heard saying "True" or "That's deep."]
Minty: "That is a profoundly honest and, frankly, very realistic answer, Iboni. It makes perfect sense. You're essentially building a moral framework for your worlds based on collected human experiences, mythology, and research—rather than a singular, divine doctrine."
[The audience offers a smattering of thoughtful applause, acknowledging the complexity of her world-building.]
Minty: "That line, 'Who knows! What you think may be evil is seen as good by someone else'—that is the perfect foundation for conflict, isn't it? It means every side in Runaway With Me can be completely justified in their own minds. Very complex!"
[A camera pans to an audience member who is nodding vigorously, clearly impressed by the writing philosophy.]
Minty: "Thank you for clarifying that creative process. Let's move from the larger world-building to the individual heart of your stories. Let's talk about your main characters."
Iboni: "Gladly to."
[The audience settles back into their seats, settled and ready for the next chapter of the interview.]