Thursday, May 31, 2012

June Author Spotlight: Edwards Eternal



The Notebook is pleased to announce it's June Author Spotlight. This month, we are featuring the amazing author Edwards Eternal. She has written four stories for the Twilight Fandom including: Awaken, and Snowbound. All of her stories are utterly amazing! The way in which her words are so carefully crafted together is beautiful, and the moment you start reading her writing you will find yourself immediately transported into the world of characters she has lovingly created and developed. If you haven't had a chance to Edwards Eternal's stories, I suggest you take a change and give them a read. You won't be sorry you did, and I guarantee you'll be just like the rest of us, sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see what she comes up with next.


 Wanna get to know Edwards Eternal? Here's how you can...


We got the chance to ask Edwards Eternal some questions, here's what she had to say....

 
      The Notebook: What made you decide to start writing fanfic?
  
Edwards Eternal: I sorta fell into beta’ing with Sheviking by accident and one night I was a little brave and went hog wild on a chapter, adding to dialogue etc which I never did. The next day I wrote her to apologize and was shocked when she told me she loved what I added and to please do that again. She encouraged me to try and write something myself.  I scoffed. I could never write. A few months later Kitkat Cullen and I were chatting and I threw out an idea I had – she told me I should write it. It niggled and ran around my head and finally I started tapping away at my keyboard. A while later Simply Coffee was done and I sent it to KK just to read it. I had no intention of posting it, but it was in my head and I had to get it out. But she informed me if I didn’t post it she would never speak to me again.  After debating, I finally I showed it to Windchymes who promptly betaed it and insisted as well it be posted.  I don’t think I was ever as nervous as I was the first time I hit the enter button that took the story live. If it hadn’t been for Kitkat literally holding my hand for weeks it never would have happened. She is the one who really got my name out there. Without her I think Simply would have been one of those fics that just died a quiet death…
                                                                            


        TN: Which of your stories was your favorite to write?

EE: Simply coffee holds a special place in my heart. It was my first and the one that has a lot of my own life in it. Awaken flowed so well because the idea was so firm in my head and the characters so vivid.



TN: Who is your favorite character that you've written? Why?

EE: Probably Carlisle in Awaken.  Why? Really he is me, except with a penis. I am blunt, funny and sarcastic, but if you are my friend I am loyal to the end. Fiercely so.



TN: Who is your least favorite character that you’ve written? Why?

EE: Jacob in Snowbound. He is cold, nasty and so selfish. I have trouble relating to that so it’s hard to write.



TN: Do people in your RL know about your writing fanfic?

 EE: A few. Thanks to my hubs, more than I really wanted to know.



6. What is your greatest achievement so far?

EE: Actually starting and finishing a fic. Putting myself out there. I am very shy in real life and I found this highly intimidating. Even under an alias. I find writing very personal and to put it out there and wait for people’s reactions is at times stressful. My first bad review sent me into the corner weeping. I have gotten tougher.  
And frankly this right here is really cool.



7. Where do you get inspiration for your stories?

EE: Oh God. I see fics everywhere. I hear something or see something and BAM. I almost got run over in a parking lot a few weeks ago when an idea struck me as I watched a security camera watching me. I carry around a notebook and pen now and am constantly scribbling.  I had to leave a party once cause I had such a strong idea in my head and didn’t want to lose it. One of the best chapters in Awaken came out of that party.



8. Do you outline your stories before writing them, or do you plot them out as they go?
  
EE: They grow. I have a file I keep if ideas and things that need to be in the story. I usually know the beginning, some of the middle and always the end. In Snowbound I wrote the first few chapters then jumped to about chapter 30 and wrote backwards. It was highly confusing, but it was the only way I could get it to work. I don’t know if anyone else does that, but honestly, I don’t think I am normal.  In any respect.



TN: What are 5 things you want your fans to know about you?

 EE: My fans. Oh my. That sounds so… strange. Hmm…  not sure how to answer that.

 I want them to know...

That the thought I have “fans” makes me squeal in delight. In no way did I ever think that would happen.

That their love of my stories and their reviews, comments and theories mean more to me that they could possibly know and because of that I strive every story to make sure it is as good as it can be for them. Because they deserve it.  That they choose to read my work is something I consider a great honor.

That the people who help me behind the scenes- Kitkat Cullen, Windchymes, Sandy Swearingen and especially my beta Midnight Cougar mean more to me than words can express. MC  holds my hand, takes me off ledges and generally calls me on my bullshit weekly.  I would be lost without them.

That I plan on writing for a long while yet.

On a personal note nothing means more to me than family and friends and I love and guard both zealously. Oh and I swear – a lot.



TN:Who are some of your favorite fanfic authors?

EE: Oh God ,so many. Windchymes, Sheviking, Kitkat Cullen, Georgey Girl, Albee4U, Drotuno, Ireen H, Born on Halloween, The only Kyla, Reyes 139, Stephanie McNutty, Witchy Vampire Girl , Cara No, Shay,  Dream of the Endless,Princess Rachael ….really the list is long. And I have already missed so many in this short list.  There is so much talent on this site. So many remarkable authors. All with their own style and ways of drawing you in. There is so much fuss made about BNA vs lesser known authors. Their status means nothing. I read because their words move me – sometimes to laughter, sometimes to tears or anger, sometimes simply because. To me they are all amazing.



TN:  What are some of your favorite fics?  

EE: Oh another tough one! Blood Lines hands down favorite vamp fic ever. Anything by Windchymes is a fav. Same as Sheviking.  Drotuno.  Wide Awake is still a go to must reread fav. The Lost Boys which has been pulled is also a huge fav. Sorry there are just too many.



TN: What was the first fic you ever read?
  
EE: Wide Awake I think. Then MOTU. Both made me breathless. Blood Lines was in there somewhere and it blew my mind and became my alternate ending to the Twilight Saga.




TN: How did you get into fanfic?
  
EE: Totally by accident. I was on a group page and someone mentioned Wide Awake, I wondered what a fan fic was so I clicked the link…discovered an entire world I never knew existed… and haven’t looked back since.



TN: What story owns your ass right now?

EE:High Fidelity by Ireen H  is my drop everything and read it right now one.  Such a well written, self-destructing Edward. Highly intense.



TN: What color socks are you wearing?

EE: None. It’s hot and I had a pedicure the other day so my toes are pretty and sparkly. I don’t want to cover them up! They are pink and have swoops on the big toes if that counts.



TN: Why did the chicken cross the road?

EE: Cause Edward was there. Because that’s why I’d cross the road. Regardless of traffic.


TN: How do you find a needle in a haystack?

EE: A motherfucking metal detector


TN: Other than Edward, who is your favorite Cullen? Why? 

EE: Hmmm… Esme  maybe because of her strong caring nature.  Much like my own.


TN:  If you were Bella, how would you handle Edward’s leaving in New Moon?

EE: Much the same. My hubs and I split up while we were dating and it was the darkest time of my life. When I love its 110%. Luckily he was the same and we got back together and married soon after. That was 23 years ago.


TN:  How does Mr. Eternal deal with your writing? Has he read any of your stuff?

EE:  He is amazing. He teases me all the time about it but he is the one who bought me a new laptop with more memory and writing software on it. He read some of Simply, but none of the others. He isn’t much of a reader. He is however far too much of a talker and tells way too many people what I do. I have explained the worlds colliding theory to him, but …sigh… he still does it.


TN:  Of all your Edward’s which one are you most attracted to and which Bella best represents you?

EE:Wow – maybe Awaken’s Edward – so damaged, so vulnerable yet so wonderful and capable of such deep love.  And Bella? Probably Awaken also. I do tend to care for those around me – a lot.


TN: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

EE: If he was a big woodchuck , as much as he bloody well wanted. I’m not stopping him.


TN: If there was one thing you would change in either the Twilight books or movies, other than Edward leaving in New Moon, what would it be and why?

EE: The entire way Bella treated Jacob and Edward. She should never have encouraged Jacob and insisted on the ongoing friendship. Especially after the kiss. It hurt Edward on so many levels and he was always too patient with it.


TN:  What is the most memorable quote you’ve read in a fic? Why is it so memorable for you?

EE:Funnily enough in Wide Awake. When Bella has her meltdown in school and Edward knows he needs to reach her, but Esme is standing over her protecting her. And Edward says “The sight of her magnificence made me gasp. That is what a real mother looks like.”
It reminded me of my own mom who I lost years ago. She was glorious when she defended her children. And has always stuck with me.


TN: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other people?

EE: Never let the people you love fail to know what they mean to you.  Always tell them . Always. Because you never know when it’s your last chance to do so.
Let love be the first reaction to everything.