#jlala

So you're a fast reader :) What made you decide to write Everlark fanfiction? After Mockingjay, I just needed more and so I started to read fanfiction, Everlark specific. I've been writing fanfiction for awhile now for other fandoms and wanted to give it a go with Everlark. There is something about a couple whose been through what they have and get a happy ending. You want to know how they got there. So I just visually created in my head my own play on their story. Which other fandoms did you write for? Sailormoon was my first fandom when I was in my teens, then Harry Potter. Somewhere out there, my Sailormoon fanfics posted...unbeta'd...written on Notepad and in text format...

That is all kinds of awesome!! So you've been writing most of your life. Do you write original fic/non fic too? Yes, it's a passion that I love to do outside of work, home life, etc. I didn't major in it though because I don't necessarily want to make a job and keep it a passion, something just for me. I am working on an original fiction very loosely based on We Go Down which I pulled out of FFn and AO3 That's fantastic, best of luck with that!! So let's talk about some of your other fanfics. I think everyone is reading Fated to Love right now (and waiting with bated breath for every update!). Can you tell me about it? What prompted you to choose that particular story to adapt to the everlark universe? I know! I've got people going kind of crazy because it's so soap opera-ish. But Fated to Love is based on a Korean Drama called Fated to Love You. The story is about a mousy office girl who accidentally has one night with a snobbish business mogul which results in a pregnancy and a marriage. It's the story of them trying to coexist and try to become a couple as well as a family.

I'm a big fan of Korean dramas and the characters were just well written. I'm always looking for ideas around me and during the middle of binge watching, I turned to my husband and told him that I wanted to Everlark it.

He agreed. Also I really loved the thought of changing up Katniss and Peeta's personalities. And how has the response been, both to the story, and to the characterizations? I think it has been going well. A lot of readers are big Korean drama watchers as well so they enjoyed what I pulled from the series. Some will even make suggestions on what they'd like to see. I think I've kept a good balance between the actual series and my story. It was a big change for people to see Peeta as sort of this cold person, even mean at times. However, seeing him progress, even fall in love with Katniss and have her reciprocate was a big deal when it happened.

Which is what I wanted. I wanted readers to react at the end of chapters. Just like I did while I was watching the series. And react they have! How do you feel, in general, about the feedback you receive? Do you incorporate suggestions or change your fics in response to what readers are telling you? I definitely take suggestions into account, I took in a lot of suggestions when I wrote Two Wrongs. I've never changed a fic in response however. I've always had a set idea on what I wanted out of my characters and stories. So are you an outliner? What does your writing process look like? I rarely outline. I outlined maybe the last two chapters of Two Wrongs. I always know how my story begins and how it ends. The fun part is writing the in-between. Okay so you rarely outline, you're a 'pantser' for the most part. (Me too). So where do your story ideas come from? I know some are adaptations of books and movies, but you're hugely prolific, there are a lot of stories out there with your name on them... Let's see...Two Wrongs was developed during a walk on the beach. There was a really souped-up car, the kind that had a huge back seat and this image of Katniss and Peeta sitting in one just hit me. Also, I wanted to showcase them in San Francisco. Again came from my love of the 90's as it was really a time that I had a lot of life changing moments. Prompts, of course, will jump start an idea like Shameless or Good Enough. We Go Down was from a similar that I wrote for the Sailormoon fandom.

I get fixated on images or memories will also just get me to write something. Okay, talk to me about your pairings, because you're primarily an Everlark writer, but you've also written Everlarkthorne, Hayhanna and a little bit of Galeniss. What do you enjoy about the challenges of the 'alternative' pairings? The challenge of getting them together. When a pairing isn't in canon or not even thought of, you  have to creatively think of situations and parts of the characters that would bring them together, give them that spark. Everlarkthorne, for example, can be difficult because Gale and Peeta are very different characters both in love with the same woman, but that can also bring them a sort of kinship. Also, the fact that Gale and Katniss shared similar traits even features would attract someone like Peeta and the things Katniss loves about Peeta could very well cause Gale to fall for him as well. I love that idea!

Do your real-life experiences show up in your fics, by the way? I meant to ask before... Yes, all the time. A lot of things in Again happened to friends or family of mine. Like Thresh being jumped for his Niners jacket in Again, that happened to my cousin in the early 90's. A lot of the sites in Two Wrongs are places I frequent in real life, too. Personally, miscarriages and fertility issues in my fics are from my own experiences. It's a good way of healing and I find a lot of people can relate, it ends up helping them too. Something cathartic about sharing those difficult pieces of our lives and knowing they might help someone else in a similar situation not feel so alone? Yes, I've had readers who personally message me and tell me that they got a good cry from a story and even shared it with their sibling, significant other, etc. It definitely lets me know that I'm not only one out there with these experiences and feelings It's amazing how a bunch of books can bring together a community! So... tell me what's next for you? You're working on original fiction, but you'll still be writing THG fics? Yes, I'm not quite done with THG and writing everyday keeps my brain fresh! I'm slowly archiving all my drabbles and will eventually post them on the fanfiction sites. I love the fresh brain idea :) You write every single day? Do you set aside a specific block of time, or set a word target, or do you just follow the muse? I follow the muse. I can be on a bus and suddenly write on my notepad on my phone. It will vary from one sentence to a paragraph. What advice would you give the starting out writer? Know that any story idea is a good idea if they are sure and passionate about it. That in the end, writing is about enjoying and celebrating characters that you love, not about reviews or popularity. Good advice! Okay, in that vein, tell me which if your own stories is the most under appreciated, and why should people run over and read it right now? I always say this but Lazy because each character has an oddity about them (each person is based on a deadly sin) but they make this odd little family in the end. They all have each other's backs. Also, I think I wrote my best incantation of Hayffie in it. Shameless because I love an immoral Everlark. Also, Look to the West because I love that it has a supernatural aspect to it and the Galerose pairing is tragically lovely. I love Shameless, it's one of my favourites!

Which authors are your guilty pleasure? I am a big V.C. Andrews fan, if that wasn't apparent by Good Enough. I'm very into the Confession of a Shopaholic series--I relate a little too much to the main character... Lol I think we all do! Anything else you would like to mention? Any other projects you'd like to highlight it any shout-outs? There are just too many people that I am thankful to have in our fandom, yourself included :) I would like people to know that if they ever need anything that my box is always open for them. It doesn't even have to be about writing. I just think it's important for everyone in the fandom to feel like they have support. Oh that's so sweet! I think people will be thrilled to yo now how nice and approachable you are!

I'll wrap up now, thank you so much for chatting with me!! No problem, I hope that it was a little entertaining and hope everyone will enjoy it! Thank you for taking the time to do these interviews! You're completely entertaining :) Thank you, my dear! Enjoy the rest of your day!