In the Spotlight

I'm today's "Author in the Spotlight" on ADifferentForest!

Thank you, dear ADF, for this wonderful opportunity to talk with other readers!

You can read the article here:

http://www.adifferentforest.net/Campfires/27188

Happy Weekend!

- Raum

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"An Italian Winter" on FicSisters!

An Italian Winter has been featured on The International House of Fanfic. Thanks to FicSisters!

http://ficsisters.com/2014/10/05/we-love-good-fic-we-cannot-lie/

We love good fic. We cannot lie…

*Waves* hello to our friends all over the world! You keep amazing us…thanks for being here.

Our post today brings an array of great reads. Enjoy!

Happy Weekend!

- Raum  

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Writing Lab: Do you use your own experiences to inspire your writing? (Brian Sweany) @briansweany

Since 2000, Brian Sweany has been the Director of Acquisitions for Recorded Books, one of the world’s largest audiobook publishers. Brian has a BS in English from Eastern Michigan University, from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1995. Making Out with Blowfish is the sequel to his debut novel, Exotic Music of the Belly Dancer. For more details, check out the author’s website at: www.briansweany.com.

1. Making Out With Blowfish is about midlife crisis and tragedy. Did you use your own experiences to inspire your writing? 

Much of my first book, Exotic Music of the Belly Dancer, was inspired and informed by my own teen hijinks. There was a shameless precociousness to my cast of characters. They were vain, self-absorbed, and melodramatic. In other words, they were teenagers. In the second book, we see these characters not as prom royalty or captains of their sports teams, but as mothers and wives, husbands and fathers. Their mistakes matter more. Their impulsiveness hurts people. Curfews are replaced by accountability. I tried to take cues from the book Little Children by Tom Perotta, which in turn was inspired by Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary. Suburbia rendered as art, as a familiar but uncomfortable canvas for humanity. Not that my protagonist, Hank Fitzpatrick, doesn’t do his best to rage against the dying of the light. Rest assured he continues to struggle with a serious case of arrested development. But then again, if our 30s and 40s were so awesome, we wouldn't call it a midlife crisis.   Much like the first book, I tried to take cues from my own experiences. I'm in my early 40s now, married almost 19 years, with a beautiful wife and three great kids. That being said, my wife and I don't spend our days drinking champagne, popping bonbons in each other's mouths, and toasting to our evolved awesomeness. Couplehood, parenthood and adulthood can all be just as frustrating as childhood, if not more so. Only now, we don't have any excuses. We have all the tools, and yet we still screw up. That's what really sucks. But it's the struggle and the occasional ugliness that makes the joy and the beauty so much more fulfilling. If you can filter out all the white noise on any given day and tell yourself that there's no place you'd rather be than where you are, you and hopefully everyone around you are going to be okay. 

2. You have worked in publishing for quite some time, what is your publishing world like? How has working in the publishing world helped you to be an author? 

For the last 15 years, I’ve worked as Director of Acquisitions for Recorded Books, one of the world’s largest audiobooks publishers, and before that as a book editor right out of college. It’s been an interesting business, especially more recently with the evolution of digital technology. E-books and e-audio have changed the game, changed the rules. 

Gone is the bookstore on every corner, and in its place is the “Buy Now” button. It’s the golden age of the impulse buyer. Five years ago, your average reader would never walk out of a Barnes & Noble or Borders (RIP) with 10 books under her arm. Last month, I looked at my credit card bill and saw ten Kindle purchases I don’t even remember making. It’s a double-edged sword; at no point in the history of publishing have more readers had more access to more books, and yet you could argue that because of this accessibility, at no point in the history of publishing has it been harder for an author to make a living wage. 

My work has allowed me to gauge reading tastes in the general public and given me access to the eyes and ears of editors, agents and authors at the highest level, but the most fundamental way it’s helped me is through reading. For me, it’s a compulsory activity. I don’t have the option not to read books. In any given week, I review maybe 15-20 manuscripts for recordability and commercial appeal. I’ve heard some writers say that they don’t like to read other people’s work because they feel it taints their voice or unduly influences their writing style. I’m here to tell you that those writers are idiots. 

To quote Stephen King, “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” 

3. Making Out With Blowfish reference music and pop-culture, discuss the music and pop-culture form your teens-thirties. What influenced you the most? 

I will say the music and pop culture references are not quite as pervasive in the second book as they are the first book, and that was by design. When you’re in your teens, seemingly everything you do is some kind of milestone, some kind of best-ever or worst-ever moment that raises you up or knocks you down. And invariably, there’s a song or pop culture event you associate with those moments. 

To this day, when I hear a certain song, I get a little lightheaded and swear I can smell my high school sweetheart's perfume. While these moments still exist as you get older, they’re fewer and farther between. If being young is about emotionally investing yourself too much in even the most mundane of moments, getting older is about chronically taking what matters most for granted. As for what influenced me, I’m like any Generation X’er. 

My influences changed as society changed. When the optimism and debauchery of the 80s faded into the rearview mirror, our rockers put away their hairspray and spandex and replaced it with facial hair and flannel. The Sunset Strip deferred to Seattle. The unbridled cockiness of “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” became the fearful, post-AIDs acclamation, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” This transformation spoke to me, and I think we see the characters in Making Out with Blowfish acting as microcosms of these changes. 

Beth, Hank’s wife, is more serious and somber in this new book. And much of the time it’s not by choice, it’s because Hank is too afraid to take the wheel. Too afraid to be the patriarch the world has wanted him to be since midway through the first book, and way too excited whenever he hears an 80s hairband song come on the radio. 

Thanks, Brian!

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Book Birthday: Character Interview with Lissa Bryan @LissaBryan #Ghostwriter

Let's continue our celebrations for Ghostwriter, Lissa Bryan's first novel.

There's a discussion you can join on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/601835033192271/

Let's re-read the interview to Ghostwriter's main character:

Interview with Sara Howell from Ghostwriter

And would you like a giveaway?

Please add a comment to the blog post about Ghostwriter before entering the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Snare 5 -- Trust

The 5th chapter has been posted! http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8955111/5/

Camilla's short poem (SatinCoveredSteel helped to translate it):

Perché Bella vuol sapere?
Perché lui la vuol vedere?
Sono entrambi catturati,
Forse son già innamorati.

Why does Bella want to know?
Why can’t Edward let her go?
Both of them are captivated;
is their love already fated?

Would you trust this vampire?

Do you remember the one-shot I wrote for Emergency Beta Service?
Well...here are the other entries and the winners :-)

http://emergencybeta.com/2013/03/03/and-the-winners-are/

"Meet Raum" on EmergencyBeta:  
http://emergencybeta.com/2013/03/08/meet-raum-judges-choice-winner/

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"Damaged Goods" by Alexandra Allred BlogTour. Let's meet the main character!

We've recently talked about Alexandra Allred's novel, Damaged Goods.

MyReadingLounge is very happy to say "Welcome!" to this great author for today's stop of the Blog Tour. 

The book is now available: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/77

Today we're meeting a special person: Damaged Goods' main character, Joanna Lucas. She has an amazing story to tell, and I bet she'll reveal something about her author...

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Hi Joanna! Would you please introduce yourself to our readers who may not be familiar with your story?

I still can't believe people are listening to our story.  It's all so surreal. I never meant for this to become such a big deal.  Or, at least, I never imagined being a part of something so big. I am just an everyday woman who tried to start a life over after leaving my unfaithful and abusive husband. But I guess I should back up.  For a proper introduction, my name is Joanna Lucas.  I moved from the Hamptons after a very public, very messy divorce and hoped to renovate an old farm house and establish myself in a quiet, sleepy town.  Boy, was I ever wrong!

What do you do for a living?
 

Today, I am so proud to say I am living a dream as a sculptor and I run an animal sanctuary. I never fully believed in my own talent as an artist until I moved to Marcus and met my amazing friends.  Before my move to Texas, I was always told I was wasting my time, that I wasn't any good and I believed it. Who would have believed a crazy protest, an outrageous act of rebellion could have set me on course to live a dream? I still can't believe it. As for the animal sanctuary, I laugh almost every time I think about it.  Me! I, along with my friends, run a non-profit organization that rescues, feeds and houses exotic animals that were abused and/or thrown away by careless and thoughtless people. It is an honor to do this.  It's a tribute to someone we love.  Again, it's crazy.  It is a crazy life I live.
 

Where do you live?
 

I live in Marcus, Texas.
 

In one of the first chapters of Damaged Goods it's said that you're reading a book. I bet you like reading. Which books are you taking with you in Texas?

This is such a fun question.  You know, I was a bit of a book snob before my adventure began.  I have always loved biographies, history and historical fiction. When I moved to Marcus, I did have several boxes full of books that included The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard, Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo, Weird Sisters by Elanor Brown and books by one of my favorite author, Erik Larson.  But today, you would never believe what books I have on my nightstand. Raising Emus: The Proud Bird that Lays the Emerald Egg by Carrol Ridlen, Real Stories of Big Cat Rescues: Tales from the Exotic Feline Rescue Center by Melanie Bowlin, A Wolf and His Man by Elizabeth Parr and We Bought A Zoo by Benjamin Mee. Oh, how my life has changed!

Your new home in Texas represents the new life you're beginning. Are you going there alone? Do you have a family?

When I moved to Marcus, I truly thought I was all alone.  I come from a very dysfunctional family, riddled with addictions and, well, denial.  This is difficult to discuss but I knew at a very early age that the only way I would survive was if I escaped.  I guess that was how I wound up with my ex-husband.  At the time, he seemed like the solution.  Well, his money seemed like the solution.  I had been so poor, I thought that money would solve my problems. All I managed to do was move from one dysfunctional family to another.  When I moved to Marcus, I thought I was done with people.  I didn't trust anyone.  I didn't want to trust anyone because it places you in a very vulnerable position. But now I have a family.  And I never knew that family could be like this.  We have a trust, a kind of bond that I cannot describe.  I love my sisters.  I love my husband.  And, yes, I consider my animals to be very much a part of the family.

What about your friends? What role does friendship have in your life?
 

They found me.  I was lost.  I was so lost and didn't even know it.  But these insane, crazy, nutty women just swooped into my life and changed my world.  The didn't just find me, they discovered me.  Until they came into my life I didn't know who I was.  Now I do and I owe them everything.

What do you consider are your strengths?
 

My strength is my home.  Shady Land. I know that might sound a bit odd but my home is our base for ... for everything.  We, the group of us, built our home despite the fire, big industry and naysayers.  We built this home in honor of lives lost and for the animals and for us, the survivors.  It is where we all come to love and laugh, celebrate and pay tribute.

If I say "love," do you think about someone -- or something -- in particular?
 

This makes me smile.  Thank you for asking this because it gives me pause to think about love.  When I came to Marcus, I honestly thought I would know know real love, be it in a sexual relationship or a friendship.  A family?  I just didn't think it existed for me.  So when I hear the word "love" I see the faces of the family I have today.  My girls.  Roberto.  My animals.

Would you tell us something we don't know about your writer -- Alexandra Allred?

 
She craves a Shady Land of her own.  The daughter of an Military Intelligence Officer, she moved all her life.  Every time she met a friend and felt settled in her new home, new orders came in and the family was packing again.  She dreams of having a home - a safe and healthy home - filled with friends and family (and animals) where she can finally settle down.

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Thank you, Joanna, and thank you, Alex Allred!

Here's a gem for our readers!

Meet the real Suzette Lee, Sue Pope, with Alex Allred

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Who's the author of Damaged Goods

Alexandra Powe Allred graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in History, saying, "As everyone knows, once you get a degree in history, all you can really do is teach or write. I'm just doing what I can!" As the daughter of a (now retired) U.S. Diplomat, Allred traveled all over the United States and around the world. Her writing career began before graduation with several pieces on bi-lingual education with national education publications.

But the real stories began while living as a youth in Moscow, Russia. Under a communist regime, imagination and the ability to create stories was the very best way to beat boredom (and the freezing cold!). As her career was taking off, Allred embraced her second passion -- sports. She trained for and made the U.S. women's bobsled team in 1994, becoming the first U.S. National Champion. She was named Athlete of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee and garnered much worldwide attention as she was also 4 1/2 months pregnant at the time! Her training regimen was (and is) used by the United States and International Olympic Committees for pregnant athletes. Following her retirement from the sport in 1998, Allred returned to the literary world with The Quiet Storm.

While living in the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY, she was able to talk to Olympic and National athletes from all disciplines and share with sports enthusiasts. From there, her career was launched. She did adventure freelance writing for Sports Illustrated, Muscle & Fitness for Her, and Volvo magazines. She held a sports column, worked as an editor for NOW magazines outside Dallas, Texas and began working as a Clean Air advocate, often testifying before the EPA.

Today, she writes (mostly) fiction, teaches kinesiology classes for Navarro Community College while enjoying her family and animals in Texas.

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Thanks to TWCS Publishing House for providing the ARC and the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.

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#Ghostwriter by @lissabryan #Giveaway - The winner is...

Lissa Bryan and the main character of Ghostwriter, the amazing Sara, came to visit MyReadingLounge on October 12. Among the lovely readers who left a comment and shared the link to the post on a social network of their choice, one is getting a free e-book copy of Ghostwriter.

Are you ready, Erin (drtyler)?

Thank you to everyone who left a comment!

- Raum

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"Ghostwriter" by @LissaBryan Blog Tour. Let's meet the main character!

Welcome to the "Ghostwriter" Blog Tour! 

Lissa Bryan's first novel, "Ghostwriter", has been reviewed on this blog. MyReadingLounge is very happy to say "Welcome!" to this amazing author for today's stop of the Blog Tour. 
There's a giveaway, too!

The book is now available: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/books/detail/69

Today we're meeting a special person: "Ghostwriter"'s main character, Sara Howell. Are you ready to find out what she'll disclose about her story...and about her author?

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-- Hi Sara. Would you please introduce yourself to our readers who may not be familiar with your story?

I'm Sara Howell. I'm 24 and a journalist. At least, I was until I was laid off because of budget cutbacks at the paper. Now I'm ghostwriting the autobiography of Senator Lucy Bridges.

-- Is your current assignment your dream job? If not, what else would you like to do?

I'll be honest: it's not the best job I've ever had. It's extremely difficult because Lucy didn't give me much information to work with, besides a stack of speeches on her political views. But a job is a job, and I should be grateful that I have one. Many people don't these days.

What I would love is to be an investigative reporter. When I was young, I used to dream of working at U.S. News and World Report, going around the world to interview leaders and track down the facts about events of the day. It now looks like that will never happen but I think I could be happy working as a ghostwriter ... If I could just finish this book! 

Sara working at her laptop

-- Where do you live?

I had an amazing stroke of luck recently. I met Ginny Fortner, a real estate agent, who offered to let me rent her family's house on a private island along the Outer Banks. It's the most beautiful place I've ever visited, and even better, I discovered that it used to be the home of my favorite author, Seth Fortner. It's kind of awe-inspiring to think I'm walking the same beaches he used to walk.

-- A private island? It sounds amazing. Which books are you taking with you over there?

Seth Fortner's books, of course. I'm very proud of my collection of those. Other than that, money has been sort of tight for me lately, so before I left for the island, I filled up my Kindle with free e-book classics like War and Peace and Great Expectations. I've never had the chance to read some of them, so I see it as an opportunity, not a deprivation. Others, like Wuthering Heights are favorites, so it will be like a visit with an old friend.

-- So, you love reading. Could you tell us more about this passion?

When I was a little girl, my mother once accused me of prefering fantasy to reality. Maybe she was right. In books, I can expect mysteries to be solved, lovers to have a happily-ever-after, and justice to be served, which real life sometimes sadly lacks. One of the happiest moments of my life was when I arrived at college and saw the size of the campus library and I knew I could read as many of those books as I wanted. Sadly, I didn't have much time for reading between my job and studying, but walking into a library always lifts my spirits and brings back that lovely memory.

-- An island, and your books. Are you going alone? Do you have a family? Who would you like to go with...and who would you like to leave behind?

My mom is my only family and I was never really the sociable type. Since I broke up with my boyfriend, Richard, I've discovered how much I like being single. Being alone with the wind and waves has made me happier than I ever could have imagined. As long as I have my books, I could never be lonely.

Sara walking on the beach. Who's the man with her?

-- What do you consider are your strengths?

I'm persistent. That's what got me through college when my mother refused to help me out financially. I think it's a good quality for a reporter to have, because I always want to get to the bottom of the mystery, to figure out why things happened as they did or people's motivations for their actions.

I'm also a person who tries to see the bright side, and I don't need much in the way of material things to be happy. Growing up, my mother worked hard to support us, but we never had much money, and I was on a very tight budget in college, so I'm used to it. But don't they always say that the best things in life are free? I'm beginning to believe it.

-- You mentioned that you broke up with your boyfriend. What role does love have in your life?

I'm starting to think that I'm never going to have a romance like I've read about in my books, but I think maybe I can be content with what I have. I'm not sure if I ever really wanted to have kids, or whether I was just trying to follow what society says a girl of my age should want. I've found that I'm happier in the solitude of the island than I was when I was with Richard.

-- Imagine you can go back in time. Where and when would you go?

I would love to be able to go back to the days when Seth Fortner lived here, even if it was just to catch a glimpse of him while he was working. It would be so interesting to learn what his writing process was like. Can you imagine what it would be like to read one of his first drafts and see how the novel evolved?

-- So, you'd like to meet your favorite writer. But you spent a lot of time with your own writer, Lissa Bryan. Tell us a something we don't know about her.

She listens to Nine Inch Nails and White Zombie while writing romance.

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Thank you, Sara, and thank you, Lissa Bryan! Don't miss a visit to Lissa's blog!
Thanks to TWCS Publishing House for providing the ARC and the opportunity to participate in the blog tour.

So, are you going to read this book? You can already order it; but, if you feel lucky, why don't you enter the giveaway? The winner will get an e-book copy of 'Ghostwriter'.

Leave a comment below and share the link to this stop of the blogtour on a social network of your choice (Twitter, Facebook...). Please do it before October 15, because on the next day, the winner will be chosen (randomly!). You can send me an email with your email address, where the copy of 'Ghostwriter' will be sent.

 



 

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Interview/8: ManderBetis (and a new blinkie!)

Today's guest is ManderBetis. She won the Twilight of Craigslist AD Contest with her story Beautiful Girl with the Baseball Bat, which we're going to discuss. 

• Beautiful Girl with the Baseball Bat, by ManderBetis

Summary:  Beautiful Girl with the Baseball Bat - Port Angeles. 1st place in the Twilight of Craigslist AD Contest part one!

Raum: Hi ManderBetis! Would you like to tell us more about 'Beautiful Girl with the Baseball Bat'?

ManderBetis: I came up with the idea after listening to a Glee song Bust Your Windows and knew about the contest but had no intention of writing anything. Until my co-worker said that the song was her kinda crazy and poof a beautiful bat wielding Bella came to life :)

R.: Who is your favorite character in the Twilight Saga and why?

MB: Edward, of course! I loved his gentleness, his protectiveness and the kisses on the neck. . .

But then I found fanfic, more specifically Windchymes and fell hard for her stories and her Edwards. I think she captures the realness that Twilight is lacking; her characters actually talk through their issues and come out stronger at the end.

R.: Would you describe your writing process?

MB: My writing process is ridiculous. I write whenever the mood strikes and never write anything in order. I usually write little 'scenes' and later fit everything together.

R.: Would you describe your relationship with your readers?

MB: It's honest. I try and respond to every review and have been beyond fortunate to have only received one truly negative review. I love the truthful reviews that go in depth about my Edward & Bella, as in real life a different perspective can shed new light on something.  I have changed directions in a story because of one amazing reviewer.

Oh and I met my best friend after she read and reviewed my first story. She's amazing and never comments about my horrible grammar and prereads everything I write! 

Thank you, ManderBetis!

Here's a blinkie for "Beautiful Girl with the Baseball Bat," courtesy of MyReadingLounge. Go read this story and the other contest entries, too!

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Interview/7: Jmolly (and a new blinkie!)

Today's guest is Jmolly. For those who have enjoyed "I Hunger for Your Touch," or the other 23 stories by this amazing author, there's a big announcement: Jmolly's posting a new story, "Make Haste My Beloved". Let's discuss it with her. 

Raum: You're posting a sequel for "I Hunger for Your Touch." Your new story's title is "Make Haste My Beloved." Would you like to tell us more about it?

Jmolly: In the story, you will see Edward become a leader and a father, and you will see Bella become his equal, as she gets through her pregnancy, gives birth, and turns from a hybrid into a fully-fledged vampire.  Their lives will be exceedingly full.  They both now function as young adults, not adolescents.  However, they are planning to prank Emmett and Rosalie in retaliation for years of teasing Edward and giving him TMI, by pretending to be (in Ed’s words) ‘extroverted sexual deviants’. 

There are college obligations and hijinks, Edward’s fledgling coven of rescued hybrid mothers and babies in the Amazon to look after, trouble from the villain, Caius, old emotional baggage to drop, impending parenthood and the birth of the baby.  One of those elements alone would be enough for a human to deal with, and this young couple must learn to cope with an overwhelming amount of ‘busy’.

My stories are very detailed.  For example, this one will likely have characters speaking Italian, Ticuna, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and French, and take place in four countries.  My native language is English, but I also speak and write French, and I learned to write Ticuna.  Camilla10 helps me with any Italian past its pleasantries, and Sarahalliwell gives me the Portuguese.  This story costs me an average of 100 hours per month in research, drafting and revising.  It owns me.  Luckily for me, there’s likely to be more humour in this one than in “I Hunger”.  I’m looking forward to that immensely.

R: Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

J:  Edward.  I suppose that’s because I can relate to his values.  Apart from his pessimism, my personality works much the same way.  I’m 43.  I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house as a child, while my mother went to work.  My Poppa was born in 1892, and my Grammie in 1902.  They were Victorian.  Manners and gentility were very important to them, as was modesty.  I can see them when I look at Edward.   I can hear them in his slang.  Edward is such a paradox.  He is partly a classy, elderly gentleman, and partly an emo, hot-blooded (cold-venomed) teen.  I find that a fun thing with which to work.  But in addition, there is something incredibly pure and selfless about him that is very beautiful, and he’s so self-deprecating that he can’t even see it.

Truthfully, when I first read “Twilight”, I wasn’t that taken with it.  My daughter (ahem) coaxed me to see the movie, and when Pattinson came onscreen, with his stunning ability to convey emotion using only his eyes, I almost instantly fell in love with Edward.  After watching the movie, the book came alive for me, and I’ve been addicted ever since.

R: In your story, you often use biblical references. For example, in "Make Haste My Beloved," you use a passage from the “Song of Solomon”. Would you like to tell us more about this choice?

J: Faith is a constant, underlying element of my stories.  Living in faith, not preaching it.  As a Christian, it struck me immediately that a vampire who tried to keep ‘That Last Commandment’ and feared for the soul of his human mate, denying his base instincts in order to preserve his morals, was a person who must have formerly been a devout Judeo-Christian, who endlessly mourned his (perceived) separation from God.  It broke my heart. 

The first story I wrote was ‘Redemption’, in which Edward (holding his newborn daughter) finally accepts that he is not beyond God’s reach, that God still loves him, and that he can live in a state of grace.  An HEA for Edward was my main objective in starting to write, and to me, the character would never be happy while not belonging to God.

My choice of the “Song of Solomon” -which every person on the planet ought to read for its beauty alone, incidentally- is complicated.  What else is new!  The verses pertaining to the story are very key.  I don’t want to give the plot away, but I’ll say that the title refers to both Bella and Renesmee, and that the important elements include venom, burning, survival and endurance, jealousy, anger, devotion, love, commitment, enthusiasm and joy.

R: Would you describe the relationship you established with your readers?

J: I love them.  Up until some real life setbacks this year, I answered every review, and I am now trying to get back to that.  A thoughtful review costs someone time, and I pay them for that.  I’m grateful when a reviewer pays me for my time.  In two years I’ve had perhaps five reviews that upset me, and only one could be called a flame.  My readers seem to be a kind, intelligent, wonderful bunch.

I have some extremely young readers, and I have a reader who is 88.  I have mothers (and fathers) who read with their daughters.  A lot of men read me (and admit to it -lol).  I have readers of all faiths, nationalities and persuasions, and I adore communicating with them through pm’s.  I let them know some stuff about me, and often they let me into their lives.  Yes, I really care.  Many readers have become friends who know my real identity.  Some of my best real-life friends began as readers who reviewed me on here.  I met one in Toronto last year, and plan to go to Boston next year to meet another.  And you bet I’m coming to Italy one day to meet two special friends.  After that?  England, to see my pals there. Will I make it to New Zealand and Australia?  Oh, man, I need to win the lottery! Lol. Or actually finish my independent novel and get it published.  Soon (that’s what my husband says).

My relationship with my readers is based on affection, respect, acceptance, kindness and trust.  Yeah, I love my readers.

R: Would you like to describe your writing process? How did it change during the time you have spent in this fandom?

J: Hah, a very good question… The biggest change is probably that (beginning with “I Hunger”) I keep chapter notes and backstory. Continuity is a bear but it’s essential to good writing. The other change is that I have learned how to write longer pieces, and how to pace them. This entire universe, which presently has a timeline from 1640 to 2070, lives only inside my head.  I’m indebted to Room340C, who has many times looked up a reference for me in one of the older fics.  I never outline, and rarely do I write chapters and let them sit unposted.  My writing process, let’s see…  These little people are crowded inside my skull and my brain has not exploded. Yet. I know all their stories from conception ‘til death.  One of their experiences speaks to me, and I say, ‘suppose this happened’, and suddenly there’s an idea for a book. 

I know how it ends before I start writing it. That’s vital.  I know the key points in the story, too.  Next, I go on Youtube and listen to a whole lot of music.  I spend hours picking out playlists.  I have playlists for stories that might not be written five years from now. I brainstorm for a title, check by ‘Searching’ that nobody else has used it, and often decide how I’m going to name chapters.  Then I pick a sentence out of the air: a pertinent sentence with movement and sometimes emotion, and that becomes the first sentence of the book.  If I need research I try to find all my sources before I begin each chapter.  I write quickly (typing 90 wpm) while listening to my playlist, and on a good evening I can get 5-6 pages in four hours.  Smaller stories have one or two scenes per chapter, and big stories have three to five. Rarely, if ever, has a chapter covered more than 24 hours in a timeline.   I write every day.  I’m miserable if I don’t. My kids (aged 16, 13, 11 and 8) support my writing, and so does my husband. 

Thank you, Jmolly!

In this interview, Jmolly mentioned her story "Redemption." I enjoyed it very, very much. Here's a blinkie for it.

If you read these fanfics, please don't forget to tell the author that "Raum sent you" and say "Ciao!" from me! Thanks!

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Writing Lab: research and feedback and Interview/6

Today we are going to discuss two subjects, strongly related: research and feedback in writing. When you create a story, you are not only giving your readers a plot and some (hopefully believable) characters, but you are letting them visit your world. It can even be a totally new world because your story is set in an unusual context or in another era.

The feedback you'll get will tell you if the "time/place machine" you are building with your story actually works. Feedback is one of the most precious things in the fandom: both readers and authors should remember that reviews aren't meant only as a praise -- although positive reviews are surely flattering. If readers provide good constructive criticism, reviews can become a great way to improve your writing and to give readers better stories to enjoy.

Readers, prereaders and betas are your best friends, even when their suggestions can be difficult to swallow.

For stories that require a lot of research, you might consider getting in touch with a "technical" prereader -- e. g. an expert of history, if your story is set in a different era, or an FBI expert, like in Stolen.

My Reading Lounge welcomes State of delusion, who is ready to answer some questions about her writing process and her story,

Stolen - http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6765236/1/Stolen

Summary: When Bella Swan was 9 years old, her mother was murdered and her life was irrevocably altered forever. Now that Bella is all grown up, she has joined the FBI, and is determined to bring those who stole her life from her to justice. 

Let's discuss this fic with the author!

Raum: "Stolen" is your first fanfic in the Twilight fandom. Would you like to tell us more about it?

State of delusion: Funny, that like Meyer’s Twilight, the story came to me in a dream. I have changed and evolved it quite a bit since then. It came to me shortly after I started reading fanfiction, but it took me a year to get up the guts to stick it on paper.
The story begins with Bella as a young child. Her father is an FBI agent working to bring down a powerful international syndicate, the Volturi. When he gets too close, the Volturi go after him, killing Bella’s mother practically before her eyes. It changes her whole life. She vows to join the FBI and bring them down.
Now, she finds herself grown, in the FBI, and doing what she always wanted to do. She is also falling in love. But will she really be able to bring down the Volturi? What price will she have to pay along the way?
This is an Alternate Universe fic. It does have vampires.
 
R: Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

SoD: Of course, like many of us, I am enamored with Edward. I have always thought this was Meyer’s best character. He is in many ways the perfect man—what every young girl dreams about—his perfect looks, his intellect, he’s rich, strong and fast. But, like every great character he has his fatal flaws. He’s a vampire, which in and of itself is a huge flaw, but it’s his self-loathing, that to me, is his greatest flaw. It makes him human—makes him real.
Out of the minor characters, I always loved Charlie. I thought Meyer did a great job creating him. He reminded me a lot of my own father. At times, he was what you expected of a father—watchful, protective and worried for his daughter. But then, there were the times when he just didn’t know what to do with a teenage girl, and he fumbled and floundered. I found him to be very believable.

R: In "Stolen" Bella joins the FBI. How did you come up with this idea? Did you have to do a lot of research to develop this character?

SoD: You always hear that you should write what you know. Well, I obviously ignored that sage advice, because I know absolutely nothing about the FBI. I have had to do a lot of research for this story, and it is very time consuming.  It is important to me for the story to be as technically correct as possible so that it is believable. Fortunately, there is a lot of information about the FBI on the web, and I have been able find most of the information I need. The rest has been directly from my imagination.
I did have a reader who works for the FBI contact me recently to tell me what a good job I was doing on this story. She said that, so far, I had really nailed the technical parts about the FBI—that the story was really believable. I was so happy to hear that I had gotten most of it correct.
We have talked a bit back and forth since then, and she has recently agreed to become a technical pre-reader for me. I am really looking forward to have her help on my story.

R: Can you describe the relationship you established with your readers so far?

SoD: I’m new author and this is a new story; so far, my readership is small. But my reviews have been very positive thus far and that has been such an inspiration to me. I don’t think readers realize how much this input means to authors. I know I didn’t until I started writing. But I have had some readers that have provided me with some great feedback that I have really been able to take to heart. And, of course, there is the connection I was able to make with my newest pre-reader that I mentioned above. I’m quite excited about that.

R: Would you like to describe your writing process? Has it changed during the time you've spent in the fandom?

SoD: I am very new to the writing process. I never really consider myself a writer or someone who would take this on. As I became immersed in the fanfiction world, I kept wondering if this was something that I could do. I was really terrified to put myself out there, but I had a few stories swirling around in my head and I decided to give it a try.
It has been a real challenge for me, because I don’t think writing comes easily for me. I write best when inspiration strikes, and unfortunately that tends to come in fits and bursts. I just went through a terrible period of writers block. I wrote and deleted my last chapter a number of times before I felt comfortable with it.
On the bright side, I found that I love writing. It is extremely cathartic for me. I find myself wanting to learn more about the process and working to really improve my writing. It can be a bit intimidating, but I know that it is something I will continue work on.
Another great surprise, and one that I am really enjoying, is how collaborative the process can be. I have one pre-reader and two betas that provide a tremendous amount of input and constructive criticism on this story. And now, I just added another pre-reader to help with the technical information pertaining to the FBI. It’s been a lot of fun working with each of them. Of course, then there is the input from the readers, too. They have all helped me become a better writer.
 
R: You are a geologist. Did you job experience influence your story?

SoD: No, not really. Maybe in the respect that Bella is a woman working in a typically male dominated field.
I keep trying to think of how I could write a story that would pull from my knowledge and experiences as a geologist. I just can’t think of way to make it exciting enough for wrap a story around. I will have to keep working on it.


Thank you, State of delusion!
I made a blinkie for "Stolen" - here it is!

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Interview/5: Rose Arcadia (and a quote!)

She's the incredible artist who makes extraordinary banners and blinkies for hundreds of TwiFics. Thousands of readers found new stories thanks to her works. Today's guest is Rose Arcadia!

Raum: Would you like to tell us more about the way you began to develop your blinkies and banners? What was your inspiration? Did you get a specific training on computer graphics?

Rose Arcadia: No, no, I had no training at all.  I just wanted to make a blinkie for a friend of mine, got on Google and figured out how to do just that.Inspiration?  That's the tricky part.  I know so many talented artist who can just whip these puppies up at the drop of the hat.  Me?  I'm que loca in the brain apparently.  I can love a fic, but no matter how hard I try, I can't get a visual.  Then suddenly, a chapter appears, then BAM, I've got the whole thing playing in my head.  Then I sit down and figure out how to make it on the computer.  Sometimes I don't know how to make these visuals, but hell, that does not ever stop me...

If I can't do it, I'll figure it out.  I don't care if it takes me days, I gotta get this sh*t outta my head and onto the screen!

Raum: Would you like to describe your blinkie-banner making process? How did it change during the time you have spent in this fandom? 

Rose Arcadia: Back in the day, I used to make blinkies that were 10, maybe 15 frames.  Now, I'm using about 200-250 frames.  Why?  Because somewhere along the way, we all figured out how to add videos to animated gifs.  It was a blessing and a curse.  Editing 200 frames to make them match in size, contrast, lighting and color, is not as easy as 15.

But don't get me wrong, I love adding videos to my blinkie...LOVE IT!  It gives me so many more possibilities.  I look at my Caged Bird Sings, or my Fold Your Wings blinkie....ohhh, or my Unexpected Circumstances blinkie, that one nearly killed me!  But anyways, it was just f*cking cool to see that come to life, ya know?  I did these days and days worth of work, and then I had this beautiful visual as a result.  I get a kick outta that, man!  It's an awesome feeling to see it done, I'm tellin' ya!

And the best part?  The exposure it helps the authors get.  I get so proud and giddy when they earn success from these little animations.  They deserve it.  God knows, I'm a SAHM, I can't be buying books left and right.  But these authors give me all this for free?  Hell, least I could do, if you ask me...

Raum: What tools do you use? Can you give us some specifics and technical advice on banner/blinkies making?

Rose Arcadia: I use Jasc Animation Shop 3, Picasa & GIMP to make what I need.  Especially now days, I'm a major animated banner kick, because I love combining the two.  But, I'm very anal about making the frames match in color and what not, so it probably takes me 10 times longer to do.  I'm such a geek...

Advice?  Hmmmm....play with and combine the effects, you'll learn a lot from doing that.  Oh, but just because you have the effect, doesn't mean you should use it.  The checkered effect, that would work great with a fun fic or an 80's theme fic...otherwise, not so much.  Fading is usually the way to go.

If you don't know how to transition between frames, and you want a dramatic effect, plan white or black .9 second frames can really make a powerful effect.

Font...if you have a serious fic, use a classic font.  It it's a fun fic, use a fun font.  Angst?  Find something distressed.  Period fic?  Find a font that would have been used in that century.  It makes a huge difference in selling the story.

Watch your blinkie when it's done.  Did you have time to read every line?  Too much time?  Adjust your timing to match how long it takes to read.

Also, if you fade between video frames, fade with 1 frame for .10-.12 seconds, then erase the 2 frames you faded originally.  This will make it flow continuously without stopping.

And lastly, don't forget to transition your last frame with your first frame, that way, it flows when it starts over.

I know, I know, WTF am I talking about...I'll shut up now!  Told you I was a geek...

Raum: Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

Rose Arcadia: Edward.  Cause he's so pretty.  Like, really pretty.  Oh, and did I mention he's pretty?

Really?  I need to explain?  Ok, I just think he's beautifully flawed.  I adore that.  I adore also how, in the fandom, Edward could do no wrong.  He could kill a person and we cheer for him to redeem himself.  But go and change the name to Jacob and we demand that he rot in prison.

But yeah, mostly because he's pretty...I wish I was deep and meaningful with my answer, but apparently, I'm blinded by beauty...sue me!

Raum: Who is your favorite artist? (painter, sculptor...as you please)

Rose Arcadia: Dali, he is the creator of my love for art.  As a preteen, I once saw a replica of Three Ages above the fireplace of my Uncle's home.  I stared at it for a long, long time before my sweet Uncle came up and told me all about it.  I sat for 4 hours straight looking at it, only taking small breaks to play the french horn.

Years later, it was one of the reasons why I decided to go see a certain vampire teen movie at the theater...I was curious about the actor who was playing Dali in Little Ashes.

Raum: If Edward were an artistic masterpiece, he would be...

Rose Arcadia: Guernica?  Hmmmm, ok, maybe not, possibly in his head...oh wait, I know...Starry Night!  Hehehe!  See, this is why you shouldn't chat with your sister while doing interviews, she puts silly thoughts into you head!

Raum: Would you like to describe the relationship you established both with the authors and with the readers who, thanks to your works, find many new stories to read?

Rose Arcadia: Authors have always been so appreciative.  I love seeing or hearing their reactions.  It's better than corn on the cob at a summer picnic.  Oh, that sounds so good!

I think I'm hungry, brb...

Ok, I ate...sorry, corn craving turned into a bacon craving...yeah, long story!  So what was I saying?  Oh yes....I love how close I've gotten to authors and readers from making these.  I can't write, I would make a terrible author.  This was a great way for me to get my toe in the door and make some awesome friends.  Hell, some of my best friends now are authors who I just bonded with.  I love the sh*t outta this fandom, I'm tellin' ya...

Raum: You made many of us dream with your inspiring images. What are your dreams?

Rose Arcadia: Well, I once had a dream that Kristen Stewart climbed up my body and clawed up my face with his teeny-tiny hands.  It was all because at the time I was writing a Robp33n weekly post for The Cold Shower.  Yeah, she didn't like that.

I really, really try to keep that dream out of my artwork.  But that's ok.  I have an insane imagination and a truckload of OCD tendencies.

So yeah, I'm good to go...

Thank you, Rose Arcadia!

I couldn't make a blinkie for the queen of the blinkie-makers so...

A quote for Rose Arcadia!

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Interview/4: Cesca Marie (and a new blinkie!)

She's the awesome author of greatly admired stories, such as Dead on my feet; she's a great beta-reader and she's contributed to MyReadingLounge's Writing Lab with a very inspiring article about The opening hook of a story. Today's guest is Cesca Marie.

Raum: The theme of illness is very relevant in your main story, "Dead on my feet", and the hospital setting, with particular attention to the childhood, is present also in your oneshot "And so this is Christmas." You presented both the patient's and the paramedics' POV. Would you like to tell us more about this choices?

Cesca Marie: For the last couple of years I've mainly been writing about disability and chronic illness, trying to represent it in an honest way that didn't sugarcoat or elicit pity. I also have a thing for medical fiction and memoirs (Bloodletting and Miraculous Cures by Vincent Lam, The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon, Gimp by Mark Zupan, A Nurse's Story by Tilda Shalof, etc.), which contributed a lot to "Dead On My Feet" and "And So This is Christmas." I pulled a lot of Edward's attitude both from my own feelings about going through adolescence in a spinal brace, and from a girl I met while travelling who has since died of cancer. That said, it was the first time I've written about cancer. My older stories (most of them aren't online anymore; the quality of the writing was too poor) included characters who were blind, d/Deaf, severely autistic, and mentally ill, but this was the first time I was going to write about a condition that was life-threatening. I chose to write about remission rather than the disease itself, because it's such a fascinating time: you're not ill but you look it; you don't feel that great, and people are happy for you but don't know how to deal with the fact that you're not magically back to your old self. Cancer isn't just a prolonged case of the flu -- it changes everything. A whole new identity has to be forged, and I find that fascinating, especially because we don't talk a lot about how to deal with situations like these in Western cultures. I still receive emails from the friends and relatives of people with cancer asking for information and recipes. The result is that I plug Elise Mecklinger's Goes Down Easy a lot, among other cookbooks. Some readers ask advice for how to give emotional support to a sick person, and it saddens me that something as common as chronic and/or acute illness is still such a taboo subject -- I really hope that one day people will have a more personal resource to turn to than the click-and-point PM button on my profile. Odds are, we're all going to need a resource like that at some point in our lives. 

R: Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

CM: I like Charlie. He has some less-than-admirable moments, but for the most part he reminds me of my dad. Not very talkative, but a deep thinker.

R: In "The Hideaway" and in "Dead on my feet" your Bella is ironic, sarcastic and sometimes also naughty. Would you like to tell us more about the way you developed this character? 

CM: In "The Hideaway" Bella is little more than a teenager with an attitude problem. She resents the stagnant nature of her home life, thinks she knows something about the world, and like most teens, is bitter about problems she doesn't have. She matures a little bit in that story, but in the beginning her belligerence was fun to write. 

With "Dead On My Feet" Bella, things were a little more complex simply because the story was longer and she had more of an evolutionary arc. She begins in a place where she's trying to better herself, keeping everyone at arm's length, and in no way inclined to befriend another cancer patient. Her issues come out slowly--even slower than do Edward's. Initially readers struggled with that because they were eager to see Bella and Edward in a relationship, but it just wasn't realistic to have them pour out their deepest secrets, regrets, and insecurities within a week of meeting.

R: Both your Edward and your Bella have OOC elements. In "Dead on my feet" Edward is neither a fascinating vampire, nor an extraordinary handsome young man, as he's usually described in AH stories. You also chose a difficult subject for the story. How do your readers react? Can you describe the relationship you established with your readers? 

CM: The fun of OOC in "Dead On My Feet" is that it's superficial. You're right, Edward isn't a vampire and he isn't good looking enough to stop traffic, but he and canon-Edward have a few things in common. They're outsiders, over-reactors, sometimes bitter, hopeless romantics, at odds with the masses, part of a loving family, and committed to their relationships. That said, the superficial element did turn a few people off initially, I think. It's not easy to picture Edward without his trademark wild hair. They understood why the change was necessary, of course, but the "cancer story" isn't going to have universal appeal. 

My relationship with my readers changed a lot over the course of the story. I wasn't expecting it to become so popular. Before "Dead On My Feet," I was happy if a story got 50 reviews over a period of 6 months, so in a lot of ways I wasn't prepared for the attention it would get or the amount of time I should have to spend interacting with readers instead of writing. Most of the initial response was positive, but as weeks went by and the story darkened I received a lot of hate mail, and even some commentary from people who hadn't read the story but had to throw their two cents in based on hearsay. It's not always easy to shake off the negativity, but I managed to stay focused and finish the story the way I wanted to. One reviewer for the story's last chapter remarked on the way that I didn't ask the audience to become co-writers. I hadn't thought about it until she said something, but she had a point. Some writers like to play to the desires of their audience, and some just want to be storytellers. To each their own. I just happen to prefer the non-democratic model; the choice of the readers begins and ends with which stories we choose to consume or pass over. It's better that way--just look at the platypus; see what happens when things are designed by committee?

R: Would you like to describe your writing process? How did it change during the time you have spent in this fandom? 

CM: My writing process usually starts with a single line, and then everything else falls into place. For "The Hideaway" it was "You survived Prohibition. I'm sure you can think of something." Once I have a good grip on the tone, I can write the rest. I like to have the whole story conceptualized early on, but will settle for not knowing the ending until I've written a little more. Other than that, all I need is a wall to put my back to (people reading over my shoulder is by far my biggest pet peeve) and my laptop. 

The only difference in how I normally write and how I wrote "Dead On My Feet" is that I didn't take many breaks. The story was composed in blocks of ~8k words per week, so I had to be on the ball.

R: You are also a Beta reader. Did your experience as a Beta influence your writing process and your stories? 

CM: It doesn't, really. I'm very picky about what I take on in terms of beta projects. If a story's synopsis or outline doesn't capture my interest, I know I won't do a good job beta-ing it. I'll lose interest. I'll be tempted to skim. Providing low-quality beta services doesn't appeal to me, so I end up turning down a lot of requests. And to a certain extent, there are things that a true writer will learn independently. If a person really, truly wants to be a writer, (s)he'll own a style guide and grammar book. (S)he'll examine the market/fandom for what's hot, what's not, and what's been done to death and resurrected in sequel form. A beta reader can't teach these things, but a writer who wants to know them and is actively seeking answers will often produce a compelling story. Attitude counts.

R: In "The Hideaway" Edward says: "Dreams are some of the best things about being human. You get to change and develop…to become instead of just be." Could it be a trait d'union among your stories, at least among "The Hideaway" and "Dead on my feet"? 

CM: You're probably right. Both stories deal with characterization and personality in very close proximity, so personal development is a ready-at-hand theme. I guess that sort of makes the stories bildungsroman in a technical sense, but it is only fan fiction.  

Thank you, Cesca Marie! I made a blinkie for Cesca Marie's story "The Hideaway." Here it is!

 

If you read these fanfics, please don't forget to tell the author that "Raum sent you" and say "Ciao!" from me! Thanks!

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Interview/3: troublefollows1017 (and a new blinkie!)

She's the lovely author of a fic that is over 10,000 reviews! We meet, with her new chapters, every week, in the same day. Today's guest is Troublefollows1017 and we'll talk about

• Fridays at noon, by troublefollows 1017

Summary: "Edward Masen's life intersects with Bella's at the restaurant he dines at for lunch every Friday. He's handsome, arrogant, and is used to avoiding love. She isn't impressed by the things that usually have women falling at his feet. AH/AU."

Don't miss it! Why? Let's see it together...

Raum: You're currently writing one of the most followed and appreciated stories for Twilight, "Fridays at noon." It's got a particular structure, because in every chapter you focus on the events that happen to Edward and Bella on Friday. How did you decide this structure? What was your inspiration for this story? 

Troublefollows1017: I read a book called One Day by David Nicholls.  It's a peek into the lives of two people the same day every year for like 20 years.  I thought that was kind of inspired.  For the purposes of my story, I went with the once a week and picked a time of day as well.  

I tried to think of a place two people might see one another every day at the same time and Eclipse, the restaurant, was born.  I also have written other stories where Edward is the super nice guy or really perfect in every way.  I wanted to do a more damaged Edward.  One that people don't like right away but have to peel back the layers to see there is someone worth rooting for in the end.  

That has been a big challenge.  Many people do it and some of the big name authors in the fandom have done it so well.  Icy and SR, for example.  They have written Edwards who are horrible and wonderful all at the same time.  My Edward gets compared to MotU's Fifty all the time.  He probably gets compared to him more than canon Edward!  I do have to say, my Edward is based on canon.  I like Fifty, but my Edward has different damage and different ways of dealing with his problems.  The stories are not the same, although I think some people started reading it thinking it is going to be like that.  Hopefully, they aren't disappointed when it turns out different!

R: You usually write in BPOV, as in the canon Twilight saga.  Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

TF: Well, of course, Edward is my favorite character in the saga!  Yes, partly because of all the typical reasons, but I love the way he thinks and how he is probably the character who changes the most from beginning to end.  I like that he has basic characteristics that are consistent but he still evolves because of his relationship with a simple human girl.  

I kind of used that same premise in Fridays at Noon.  That Edward is very set in his ways.  He's used to consistent patterns in his life, his expectation for change is low.  Then, he meets this woman who turns his world upside down and because of her, he wants to live a different kind of life.  He wants to be a better person.  He learns things can't always be the way he wants.  He also, like canon Edward, has to step out of his comfort zone and do things he has never had to do before. 

R: Your Bella has an extraordinary capability to love and forgive Edward. In the first chapters, she showed that she can be also ironic, funny, smart. Through her eyes, you're dealing with many difficult topics (e.g. regarding Alice's and Edward's past). Would you like to tell us more about the main themes of your story, such as a scaring past, the difficulty to believe in love, the sacrifices that love can require to lovers...? 

TF: I guess I would say it is a story about love in all its forms.  

How our relationships with everyone who comes and goes in our life impact us and our other relationships.  Though it is BPOV, this story follows Edward's journey to understand what it means to love and be loved.  He has a traumatic past.  He had parents who expressed their love very differently.  His mother's love was selfless and she gave it freely.  His father was only capable of selfish love.  Edward grew up believing both kinds led to disaster because of what happened to his parents.  So, he gave up on the whole idea of it.  

Enter Bella Swan.  He doesn't want to love her, but she creates feelings he can't even label.  She falls in love with him, and it terrifies him.  Love in all its forms always ends badly, at least that's what he believes.  He thinks Bella is like his mother and he is like his father.  Fridays at Noon is about Bella's fight to show him that theirs is a different kind of love and his quest to love her the way she deserves.  I added lots of other characters in there to show Edward has always surrounded himself with loving people and that Bella attracts the love of everyone she befriends. 

Their relationships with all the other characters is important, too.  Love isn't always about two people.  We love our family and friends, too.  Those relationships strengthen us and support us through life as well!  People sometimes focus on romantic love like it is the answer to everything.  I think everyone needs more than just that one person.  In real life, people can't rely on one person or it can become a burden too great for that person to carry.

R: You are one of the most reliable authors of the fandom! you always update every Friday, you post a teaser every Tuesday, on your blog you always add your comments to the story and you post beautiful and inspiring pictures for every chapter. You've also spoiled your readers with amazing outtakes! Could you tell us more about the relationship you established with your readers?

TF: I do try very hard to be consistent.  I thought it would make things easier for people who wanted to read it.  I know as a reader, I appreciate the authors that stick to a regular schedule.  As a writer, it keeps me motivated.  I think this whole thing is fun and the fact that people indulge me is great.  

I LOVE talking to people that read the story.  I have met some of the greatest people ever because of Fridays at Noon.  I even met three readers in person while I was on vacation.  They all drove over an hour to sit down and have a meal with me!  It was very cool.  I have found that we're not all that different.  Lots of my readers are moms like me with a crazy obsession for all things Twilight.  On the other hand, there are others from all over the world, which amazes me.  I talk to people in places like Italy, Australia, Ecuador, Germany, Brazil, New Zealand.  My kids think that makes me much cooler than they thought I was before!  

I enjoy replying to reviews.  I get some PM that allow me to get to know some people better.  I joined Twitter and Facebook, which opened up a whole new world to me. I talk to some people every day!  I have readers that are now really and truly friends of mine.  I never imagined that would happen because of this silly thing called fanfiction.  I feel like everyone spoils me by paying attention to any of this.  I'm glad people like the story, but I feel like the one that is reaping the benefits!     

R: Would you like to describe your writing process? How did it change during the time you have spent in this fandom?

TF: I write all the time.  

Just ask my family.  They have threatened to take away my laptop on numerous occasions.  I usually have an outline, but it is a fluid process.  Things change once I really begin to write.  

I sometimes have an idea of how I want a chapter to begin and end but don't know what's going to happen in between until I start writing.  I have a wonderful pre-reader who checks things over and offers her perspective as a reader.  She tells me if something doesn't make sense or if someone acts out of character.  She also makes me defend why I did things a certain way, allowing me to see where I need to add things so it will make sense to everyone else.  Surprisingly, my own mom likes to read what I write (although sometimes I send her edited versions when there are some lemons because, well, she's my mom!)  She is a second spelling and grammar checker.  

When I first started, I just wrote and posted.  I spend way more time editing than I did in my earlier stories, which is probably easy to see!  I also post Fridays at Noon on Twilighted and the validation beta over there pointed out some of the grammar errors no one else did.  So now, I double and triple check things to make sure they're right before anyone else even looks at it.  I think I have grown as a writer since I started.  I have a better understanding of flow and character development.  Hopefully that comes through!         

R: Could I ask you how many chapters of "Fridays at noon" are left?

TF: I just posted Chapter 24, we have four more to go.  That includes an epilogue.  I may also write one more outtake within the story.  But I have a bunch of outtakes planned.  

One for the Fandom for Tsunami Relief.  

And a couple for readers who "won" outtakes for answering silly questions or for doing nice things for me.  

I have a reader in Italy who offered to send me the Vanity Fair with Rob on it over there.  She earned an outtake!  

I have another reader who is a photographer and is visiting Seattle.  She is going to take pictures of some of the real places that have been used in the story (she may or may not be taking a cardboard Edward LOL!)    She definitely earned an outtake!  

I love doing things like that.  I like knowing what people want to see in EPOV.  I do like writing things from his perspective.  I do not intend to rewrite the whole thing from his POV but certain chapters.  

People have been asking for a sequel and all I can say is I wouldn't do it unless I could think of a good plot line.  I wouldn't want to just keep it going without a clear purpose.  A good story needs a beginning, middle, and end.  

All good things come to an end - even Fridays at Noon!    

Thank you, troublefollows1017!

I made a blinkie for troublefollows1017's Fridays at noon. Here it is!

If you read this fanfic, please don't forget to tell the author that "Raum sent you" and say "Ciao!" from me! Thanks!

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