Story & Lesson Highlights with Sophie Mutiara Nova

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sophie Mutiara Nova. Check out our conversation below.

Sophie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I love collecting trinkets like I’m a crow amassing treasures. Lost coins, origami cranes, snail statues with pancake hats, cats made of crystals and broken pieces of jewelry. I love to place them amongst my jade plant propagations– like an adventurer in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign building an enchanted forest haunted by phantoms. I love collecting monsters and myths. I think that’s my sweet spot whenever I make something new these days– very Junji Ito meets Miyazaki.

I’ve realized the overlap between “cute” and “creepy” stories is a strong one, especially in fairy tales. The villain features just as much as the main character in folklore and often is much more interesting in their motives. The princesses and witches should adventure side by side in my humble opinion. I think everyone should have a fairy tale garden of trinkets surrounding their houseplants. It makes life a bit more magical.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sophie Mutiara Nova (they/them)– a Queer, Nonbinary, Half-Indonesian immunocompromised Writer-Director. I write stories and make films about monsters finding loving homes despite the horrors™. I stay up too late reading ghost stories and Creepypastas. I like glitter a perfectly normal amount (too much).

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My favorite time of year was writing for my high school literary magazine. Blame the Midwest emo I yearned to be– I’d always write the creepiest & crawliest short stories like clockwork to turn in by Halloween. I’d write about clocks that stopped time and cosmic horror and betrayals and existential crises and the undead. My English teacher was so sweet and truly an inspiration who told me to keep writing. I’ve had other amazing mentors in life who cheered me on even when I was still finding my voice.

I kept my promise and kept on writing.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Mental health. Thank you to the Trevor Project for picking up my calls when I felt really alone. They saved my life.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe in ghost stories. Whenever I turn off the last light in a darkened room– I can’t shake the eerie feeling that there is a shadow monster and I must outrun it and slam the closest door shut or it will get me.

I hate turning off the lights. I blame too many horror movies. (But I can’t stop watching them. Queens of the Dead was the most recent one, and I think everyone should go watch it)

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If immortality were real, what would you build?
A mythical library with a garden indoors sprouting from a pond of goldfish with a carpet of moss. And roses that curl around columns. And tea that gleams blue with flowers pressed in cookies. And a sword in a stone.

I really liked fantasy stories growing up– especially the Song of the Lioness series by Tamora Pierce.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sophiawhittemore.com/books/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesophiewhit/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://bsky.app/profile/thesophiewhit.bsky.social
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FinalGirlsFilms
• Other: https://linktr.ee/authorsophiewhit

Image Credits
LA Indie Horror Film Festival, LA Indie Horror Society