Ulric Alvin Watts is a multifaceted creator based in the northeastern United States—librarian, cat-sitter, former film critic, videographer, stage and screen actor, news cameraman, and even an Elvis impersonator. His debut middle-grade novella, Realia, launched this spring as a self-published labor of love.
In this cozy, in-depth interview, Ulric shares how childhood memories and a desire to reconnect boys with reading inspired Realia, why he chose self-publishing over traditional routes, and what comes next for a storyteller determined to push boundaries. Pour yourself a warm drink, settle into your favorite chair, and discover the mind behind the story.
Realia by Ulric Alvin Watts
Q: What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
A: This book is a middle-grade novella about a gifted fifth grader whose plans to discover more about the universe are tested when he is presented with the means to a life of carefree leisure, and later finds himself at the center of a plot against all of humanity.
Part of what compelled me to write the book was all the reports about how children, particularly boys, were losing interest in reading for pleasure. I wanted to write something that boys would be genuinely interested in reading. Another was the complaints about how many science fiction stories were highly unrealistic in one aspect… but it would spoil things to reveal what that is.
Q: When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
A: I’ve had ideas about writing books since I was in the second or third grade. I’ve written film reviews for college newspapers, but I’ve only gotten serious about writing science fiction in the past several years.
Q: Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
A: There were a few characters for whom I had to devise a unique set of mannerisms and way of speaking — not quite normal, but still normal enough so as not to seem out of place or to arouse suspicion.
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: Much of the book is based on my own experiences being regarded as very smart by my peers and letting that go to my head. Some of the life lessons learned by its protagonist bear a similarity to what I would have told my younger self if given the chance.
Q: Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
A: Plenty. A lot of the protagonist’s experiences going to school is based on my own experiences in grade school in the ’90s, and many aspects of the school itself, from its name to its layout, were modeled on my own school. Some scenes — such as when he accidentally cuts himself on a microscope slide in class and takes that opportunity to examine his blood; and when he tries to make up a writing assignment on the spot when asked to read it aloud, as he’d forgotten the assignment — were taken from my own doings in the fifth grade.
Q: What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
A: If readers asked me, “Did the protagonist make the right choice in the end?,” that would be nice, as it would show they were thinking critically about the story and the characters. And my answer would be, “I’m not entirely sure myself.”
Q: Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
A: My favorite moment is when the protagonist realizes the antagonists may not be as omniscient and in control as they first appear to be and they like to think of themselves, and devises a plan to catch them off guard… but again, to go into detail here would spoil things.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: The biggest challenge was finding a publisher, which I eventually concluded to be insurmountable, and resorted to self-publishing. (Note to aspiring authors: This is often a shady endeavor. Think twice if you’re asked to pay the publisher first.)
Q: What’s next for you as a writer?
A: I’m not entirely done with this story. I’ve already written an adaptation of it for a different medium, one that expands greatly upon the original narrative, in a project that might come to fruition if the original book becomes successful enough. I have ideas for some other projects as well.
Happy reading! ❤️
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