Gondolier: Mrs. White, I'm yours whenever you're ready.
Mrs. White: **snicker** Okay… So, I gotta say, when I posted on the Twilighted thread that I was going to be talking to you, I got a lot of questions from those girls! It was great! They love you!!
G: Great! I'm glad to hear it--I was wondering if you got any responses
MW: Yeah, I did, a LOT of questions.
G: Those minxes will dig for spoilers any way they can, heh.
MW: You're right, but I didn't promise them anything, so you're under no pressure with me.
G: Ha! I'll never break.
MW: Okay, I should probably ask you questions since I have a lot and it might take you some time to think about them. :D
G: Okay. And I'll probably take my time answering some of them, so you might want a book on hand or something.
MW: But before we start, who is your celebrity crush?
G: Right now, Robert Pattinson is kinda gorgeous to me. But Colin Firth is my celeb hubby. We've been going for fifteen years now.
MW: Nice, I like him too. :D
G: He's got bedroom eyes.
MW: Yeah, and his voice is pretty good too. :D
G: Mmmmm.
MW: I love Rob but before him it was, and still is, Michael Vartan. I adore him.
G: He is a cutey, definitely
MW: Yeah, and he's smart and funny. I like funny. Okay, so how did you get started in fan fic?
G: Reading or writing?
MW: Either, I guess. Maybe how did you find it and what made you want to write it?
G: Well, I started reading fanfic because I had this unfulfilled Austen obsession in the late nineties, and The Republic of Pemberley site was my crack. They had a fanfic archive there called Bits of Ivory (very PG). When I started reading I was all...I had no idea there was such a thing! This is perfect!
Writing came along after the Phantom of the Opera movie came out. I have a longstanding affair with Erik the Phantom (he was my first musical, sigh), and again--was unfulfilled because he BITES IT in the end of the book. I'd always loved to write, but I had such a huge drive to give him his sequel and happy ending, that I just decided to write it myself. That was Fraternite, my first fanfic. It's still up on my profile, and has a special place in my heart.
MW: Oh, that's good!! :)
G: Yes, Twilight isn't my first fandom. I'm a bit of a fanfic slut ;)
MW: Hmmm, I know a thing or two about being a slut… Hey, what’s your favorite dessert?
G: Mmmmm. Skondra's toasted almond fudge ice cream
MW: Yummy. Anyway, what’s the first Twilight FF story you read?
G: Wow, I'm not even sure.... I can tell you it was an AU story--it took me awhile to cross the AH line. I didn't understand the appeal at first--I mean, what's the point if they aren't vampires? I was so wrong... It took me a long to start finding the good stuff, which happened when I found The Lazy Yet Discerning Ficster
MW: Nice.
G: I do remember one of the earlier fics I read was The Heart Brings You Back by Lilies for Algernon, which is still one of my favorites.
MW: What is the last movie you saw in a theater?
G: Valentine's Day.
MW: Did you like that? I wanted to see it. So much romance…
G: It's entertaining. Not stellar and not nearly as good as Love Actually, but it's worth a watch.
MW: Cool. What’s your favorite tv show from when you were a child?
G: Wow, I really have to think over this one....
MW: I’ll wait, I think I hear the neighbor man outside…
G: My Little Ponies. There was some awesome angst in that.
MW: Oh you got that right! My sisters used to love that. That and Jem!
G: YES! Yesterday's Jem’s are today's fanfic writers
MW: What’s your favorite Twilight fan fic story and why?
G: Oh gosh. I'm going to break this into categories.
I really adore The Lost Boys by hwimsey. It's well-written and her narration is witty and original-love her metaphors. There's an exciting plot, and a really good mix of angst and humor. It's very unique- Dashiell Hammett meets Wuthering Heights meets Entourage, no lie. That's my fav AH fic. AU...If Love Could Light a Candle by Pastiche Pen. Talk about eloquent and well-researched. I also really love Sanctuary by JennyFly. Her themes blow me away--so much depth there. And her Edward characterization-- I feel so much for him, his realistic self-loathing... the forbidden fruit, tortured priest.
MW: Ohhhhh, that sounds good.
G: It's VERY good.
MW: Hey, if you could be on any reality tv show, what would it be?
G: Ghosthunters
MW: Oh, my kids love that one.
G: I love that one. That's why Bella does, too -- a teensy tiny bit of self insertion
MW: Okay, back to business, how did you come up with this story?
G: A combination of things, without spoiling it for anyone. Basically, it's New Moon in the real world. In Twilight, Edward is a vampire and he's afraid he'll hurt Bella-that's why he leaves. So what is the human equivalent? Why would Edward stay away as a human? I wanted to create a new "vampire" mystery for Bella to work through, with Americana as a backdrop- childhood sweethearts, ideal small town. I wanted to create that old high school scrapbook nostalgic feeling, then twist the innocence of it as real life swoops in and people grow up. It's very much a coming of age story.
MW: Wow, impressive. My friend was dead on when she came screaming to me that it was just like New Moon! I hadn't even seen that.
G: I came up with the idea when going through a box of old letters from an former boyfriend. They were hilarious, very innocent, playful. I really want to publish those suckers, but I thought he'd sue my tush, heh. So that got me thinking.... what if Bella had an ex who was writing their story? How would she feel about that? And Hydraulic Level 5 started forming from there. I try to make the Twilight connections fresh. I tweaked them, not rehashed the stories.
MW: How did you decide to associate it with all the rafting stuff, the chapter names and things, what inspired that?
G: Well, in New Moon Bella becomes an adrenaline junkie to get past the pain of losing Edward. It doesn't quite work for her then because of the whole vampire element, reading minds, etc. I like to think if Edward had stayed away longer, she would have found some confidence in herself amid the reckless streak. As far as the whitewater rafting elements, that's one big fat metaphor for Edward's "mystery" as well as Bella's inability to heal properly. They are both stuck-- Bella needs to move forward to get out of the endless cycling hydraulic, and Edward needs to backtrack and correct some poor choices before he can get out of the hydraulic. See that metaphor there? ;) Also, I love whitewater rafting -- it's something I'm familiar with, so I can write about it accurately.
MW: That is awesome!!!
G: Thanks!
MW: Oh, this is important, what’s your favorite item on a relish tray?
G: Red peppers. Nom nom nom.
MW: Oh good answer. They probably get neglected a lot of the time. I know how that feels, being neglected... And how many days a week do you get full on made up? (Make up, hair, jewelry, perfume, everything!)
G: Once a week. I love writing from home.
MW: Alrighty then, so who is your favorite character to write?
G: Oh geez, I love all of them for different reasons. Obviously I love writing Bella, because she brings humor and positive vibes to a story that could be downright depressing without it. Then there's Edward-he's very complex, and I've put a TON of time into developing a rather controversial character. One of the fabulous things about Twilight fanfic- reconstructing beloved characters -- is also one of the hardest things. Many readers expect Edward to be the perfect boyfriend /lover /husband. In addition, that perfection expectation often is according to a person's life experiences; therefore, there are a thousand different definitions of a perfect Edward. So when I write an Edward who's made some bad choices and even while he's trying to right those wrongs still screws up, it brings out some pretty strong reactions in readers. So back to your original question -- I love writing both Bella and Edward, taking canon traits and expanding on them in more of a real life structure. And then there's Leah. I'd wear her Bryn Mawr sweatshirt any day.
MW: What’s your favorite time of day?
G: Twilight..... No seriously, it actually is (I know, gag now, get it over with). It's kind of a cozy in the winter -- finishing up writing for the day, fixing dinner, hubs gets home. Then in the summer, I've probably been outside for most of the day and am just relaxing and enjoying the cooling air. Sigh. Great time of day.
MW: Sweet.
G: Saccharine.
MW: Hee-hee! So, how did you meet and get your beta?
G: I wanted to be a bit more involved in the fandom before I even considered writing for it. So when I heard Eclipsed by Jacob was looking for a beta, I actually offered myself up to her. Then she likewise betaed for me when I started writing. She has the cutest kids. JennyFly also betas for me, helping more with the character development. She doesn't hold back her opinion, which is very helpful to me. Emibella hooked us up.
MW: Oh, that's good. Hooking up… Um, so how does it make you feel when people gush over you and your stories?
G: Well, not gonna lie, pretty damn good :) But I'm a pretty reserved person, so sometimes it makes me a bit squirmy, too. I really feel honored when readers open up and trust me enough to share a piece of themselves-- those are the reviews that really move me, not so much the gushing.
MW: That's good. Though now everyone is going to be using you for all their Dr. Phil moments.
G: Ha! Bring it.
MW: Okay, girl moment, how many purses do you have?
G: Five, no lie.
MW: And which Disney Princess most closely resembles you and why?
G: I bet everyone says Belle, because of the whole book thing. But I'm going to go with Ariel, because she can't freaking talk to save her life.
MW: I know, I'd say her too cause I always think what other people have is better than what I have. Plus I don't like being told what to do, unless it’s while I’m tied up.
G: Ooh, good one! The pond is always greener on the other side of the ocean
MW: Yep, exactly! Which Twilight saga book is your favorite?
G: Twilight is actually my favorite of the series. I thought Bella was at her most likeable there...she got a bit whiney to me in later books. I very nearly flounced after she complained about her surprise birthday party. But Twilight-- there's something magical about having a crush on the beautiful boy every girl wants, then finding out he wants you back. And toss in the mystery and excitement of the supernatural themes, and it's a great read.
MW: Oh, that's true. The boy crush thing is so right. Hmmm, pretty boys… So, if you could get it on with any character from one of your stories, who would it be and why?
G: Ahhhh. Felix, because he's unobtainable. And Edward of course, because he's unobtainable too. Actually...they're all kind of unobtainable because well, you know, fiction.
MW: Unfortunately that’s so true. Um, if you could give one piece of advice to a new author, what would it be?
G: Ooh, lemme think about that one. Okay, this may sound a little odd.... characters are not puppets. You don't simply manipulate them to act and think the way you do. To really tell a story readers can connect with, you have to get into your characters heads and think like they do--not vice versa. You may have the best technical skills, a quirky writing style, and gorgeous research, but if you can't connect with your characters--even the minor ones or the villains, your readers can't either. In-depth characterization takes a story from superficial to emotionally gripping.
MW: Wow, that is really good. I love that!!! And it's so true too, nice. Oh yeah, how did you choose your pen name/username?
G: When I was moving in the Phantom fandom (call "phans" cute!). A gondolier is a person who navigates a gondola. I also liked it because of it's nod to Gilbert and Sullivan
MW: Cute. I wondered about the gondola thing, if it was tied to that. Oh yes, what is your favorite part about fan fic and the Twilight fandom?
G: About fanfic -- the overwhelming creativity. And the reader/writer interaction. That is something neither the writer NOR the reader should take for granted. Other than writing groups or college workshops, writers will never get opportunities for reader reaction like they do in with fanfic. It's also up to readers, when they review, to be helpful-- not glib or hurtful. About the fandom -- the generosity. Yes, we have our catty, naughty moments, most of us are women (and I can say that because I am one, ha). But overall, this group has proven themselves to be a spirited, kind bunch of people. I feel like by being a part of the Twi-fandom, even if temporary, has opened doors that allow me to give back to others. I hope others are taking advantage of those opportunities, too.
MW: Hmmm, you’re so insightful…it’s kinda hot. Alright, what is your favorite ALMOST curse word?
G: Cliff-hucker, definitely
MW: And I'll just say, my friends that have read your story always tell me that they think about me whenever Bella uses an almost curse word. I'm very flattered that they do that.
G: Awww!
MW: So, now let’s get to a few of the questions from those spoiler wanting minxes over at Twilighted. You might have to really think on some of these. I'm reading them and I'm like wow... Maybebymonday asked -- Mirrors. HL5 has many events that are 'mirrored' throughout. Some are subtle, some obvious. I'd like to know how she plans the mirrors, and then incorporate them in her writing. Are some of the mirrors spontaneous or are they all planned out well in advance?
G: A few are spontaneous, such as the Weeping Lady, because I want to illustrate something or highlight a metaphor. But most of the scenes have been planned to show how B & E are reliving their past, to an extent. IT can be great for reconnection, but it can also be detrimental if they make the same mistakes.
MW: Yeah, I usually just use mirrors to check my make up before I go out with my fellow cougars. Uh, durameter asked -- Who do you think is the most understood character, and why?
G: Most understood character is Bella, because she's narrating--readers get her point of view. Misunderstood is probably Edward, because he's been such a mystery up to now--his character unfolds slowly. I'm hoping that by the end of the story, readers will have a much clearer picture of him.
MW: She also asked -- There are 2 sides to every story. In HL5's case, there are many sides. If besides Bella, any other character was going to tell the story through their own POV, who's POV do you think would most closely resemble what really happened?
G: Charlie. Bella doesn't get him all the time, but he's a fairly sharp guy.
MW: Did your own love of music come out in Edward and Bella's connection with music...which only strengthened their connection to each other?
G: A bit, but the music influence came more from canon Edward, as well as the Seattle setting. The Pacific Northwest location is almost another character in HL5 -- it ties B&E together, and they miss it when they aren't there. That setting includes a strong music influence.
MW: Oh, that's cool. Nice... Looking back, is there anything that you would have changed in your story so far?
G: Yes, I know there are places where I could have trimmed scenes and story lines to keep the story more concise. I can't think of any specifically just now, but I know they're there.
MW: Out of all of your characters, who do you relate to the most? Who do you sympathize with the most? Who is your favorite?
G: Actually, Edward. Our personalities are very, very similar. And I haven't created him to be that way-I based him on canon Edward, and the direction I took him just makes sense with his personality. We both have strong green personalities (you'll get a kick out this - http://www.ehow.com/how_2111594_spot-green-nt-personality-type.html). So I suppose I understand Edward, but perhaps sympathize more with Bella. She's an orange personality (rash, ignores rules, loves adventure), and she's really gotten screwed over (unfairly) because of it. People who should have had more faith in her haven't--partly due to her personality, but more because of their own flaws. My favorite character is Leah, followed by Rose. They don't mince words.
MW: Nice, I like that. And I gotta check out that link, it looks cool. :D Last question from the fans, greedy cliff hucking floozies that they are -- Edward has written 5 books. To whom were they dedicated to?
G: Oooh. Good one. Is this a trivia question? Did I include it somewhere in my story?
MW: Hmmm, what? Oh, I don't know, neighbor guy has his car all soapy, I’ve got a perfect view from my window.
G: Ha! Okay... since Edward is intensely private when it comes to his feelings, I'm going to say he most likely included a generic dedication to the people who've supported him, yadda yadda. He's no Anne Shirley.
MW: Yeah, and aren’t we all glad for that? I mean, him being a man and all, it’s more fun fantasizing about him as a man. Oh never mind. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
G: Wow! Hmmmm… Thanks for believing that Heaven exists.
MW: Cute.
G: I thought so
MW: Wow, I’m glad it’s a nice day here, neighbor guy just took off his shirt.
G: Ugh, I'm jealous. I have 50 inches of snow in my yard
MW: Unnggg, the only white fluffy things I see outside are the soap suds covering those abs…
G: Okay... and that's my cue to go cry.
Hope you enjoyed it!! Gondolier was very accomodating to our Wacky Mrs. White. I think she said she'll have another interview next week, and this one I'm SUPER excited for. She's talking to edwardsbloodtype, the author of High Anxiety. Oh, I love that story!!! It was all I could do to stop myself from giving her a list of questions to ask, though most of mine would probably have spoiled things for all of you. I guess I'll just stick with her crazy brain and see what she comes up with. :)
See ya!!
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