As everyone in Southern California probably knows by now Cobalt has been going through some big little changes which have not really effected me that much since I live at home. It has been nice seeing the "company" get back to it's roots.
It was nice meeting the new East Coast Cobalt family in Philadelphia, unfortunately we won't be asking them to downsize, Consider Pacific Hills the "suburban" campus of Cobalt.
August
Notes on August. I started having these disjointed thoughts about the characters and came up with 6 standalone ideas even before I finished Litany Lane. I'm content with the two I've posed (Trivia : The Storm was actually intended to be and written first)
All of that is to say that there has been a sequel stewing. I know I know I didn't see it coming either but I picked up hints in LL and it is very different.
Different How?
I'm finding that the sequel will mess with a concept I used in S&A in chapter 17. The idea of telling a story out of order. I have about 13 (2 that were meant for August) chunks that go in no order (some make no sense at all) and still need some glue. . . this should be very interesting. I should also stop watching Supernatural reruns.
More Litany Lane Stuff
Mr & Ms : Meta Answer
So some of you commented on why the characters still call each other Mr. Fierro and Ms. DeLune. I think character-wise they are just used to it and although it wasn't intentional it does come off almost like a Jane Austen novel (Joel, has copies in his office. I skimmed).
Update
This next story sets up for one of the concepts (it's really obvious)in "The New Project" and is based on a picture that has been sitting on my desktop for a while. !
I was not very happy with the comments from the last post and with reason.
I know a lot of people know (or think they know) who I am so I won't go into immense detail but to say that writing has been like free prozac for me.
I'm not having the best year so far and being able to connect with strangers (although I hate calling you that) has been wonderful. I was always a very imaginative and creative child and it wasn't until I graduated college that I've let my creative side take a back seat.
Long story short, a few weeks ago I was offered a part-time job as a Adjunct Professor. Once I was cleared by my doctors to work, I spoke with some new writers at Cobalt and choose one of them to fill in as Linda Leigh.
She agreed to write something original for LiLe while I --in essence-- quit.
Clearly it didn't pan out to well.
What does this mean ?
At first it didn't mean anything, then I started reading comments. . . oh, the comments, and you know what. . . I missed you all, and while I was typing up a syllabus and listening to my Ipod i felt like something was missing, and I knew the job wasn't for me.
No big deal right ?
Wrong, the truth is I'm an ambitious person. I want nothing more than to help people, but I do have a large family and I want the best for them. I'll probably spend the next 5 years as a SAHM and typing away. Does that mean I'll give up my carrer ? Hell No.
What does it mean ?
It means I get down on my knees and beg for you all to forgive me and if that doesn't work I have gifts.
Lastly I really want to say how nice this has been for me and as much as I hate to say it I wouldn't be here if I wasn't trying to one-up Joel, so thanks honey.
Who wants a present !
I come bearing gifts.
Oops
While dealing with the above mess, I forgot to post a few things about Litany Lane
Oheka Chapel is based on Oheka Castle in upstate NY (K. Jonas was married there). I changed it becasue I wanted her to be able to see her Grandmother's grave from the church and Oheka Castle is a hotel.
You all made me laugh with the masochist vampire albino, but the PC term is "Person with Albinistic Characteristics." In case TLC decides to do a special. Also I don't know why it didn't occur to me but the inspiration for Litany Lane story may have come (slighly) from the Sean Flannery film Powder (seen here at 29, on set) and . . . Jason Issacs. did I ruin it for anyone ?
Litany Lane
So, no I'm not done with Litany Lane just yet. It was originally set up to be a vignette series in which Fierro and Clara don't leave Litany Lane, but when I decided to take them out in the end I was planning on making Dec-Mar. a vignette..
But that didn't seem progressive enough for me do I'm trying my hand at what I call (I did research) Louis Vuiton Realism, think Kmart Realism with rich people. They don't have to be read in order but there is a slight chronology to them.
August
In June I'd managed to die and comeback, totaled my car and survived a minor concussion with 4 broken bones, and moved in with my parents. In July I broke off a 400,000 dollar wedding only now be haunted by my family's past, both wanted and unwanted. With 31 days left in summer vacation and my older sisters wedding, August is going to be a long month.
(I found this picture on Tumblr, I finally know what squeee! means)
It has been refreshing every time I finish a piece and of course the connection that I am able to have with all of you. all of that aside I want to congratulate Shawna on the new United Light she is working on, it really is as always super awesome.
So I will let the cat out of the bag . . .
I have been working quite hard on something new. In the midst of this I had one of the commenters tell me that I made them like Taylor swift, which is great so with little a due I have a new serial !
The New Serial
West Cove
Ally, Jade and Rachelle have been friends since college, they decide to tackle thier mid twenties together with one last vacation at West Cove beach but will this summer prove to be more than they can handle and create bonds they never new existed ?
It's a really inserting ride writing this and I am so happy to be able to let it breathe. It of course is riddled with my "signature themes" so this should be fun.
Playlist (yeah formulaic !)
Chapter 1 +1+ Tik Tok - Ke$ha +2+ Love Story - Taylor Swift
Chapter 2
+1+ When I see you - The Last Song +2+ The Climb - Miley Cyrus
So, this blog post has a playlist filled with songs that I couldn't find a place to put within in the story.
Have You Ever Been In Love - Celine Dione
This is the song Clara and Mr. Fierro dance to in chapter 11, but it didn't fit in the final version.
I Surrender - Celine Dione
Here Without You - Three Door Down
This is Mr. Fierro's theme song
A hundred days have made me older
Since the last time that I saw your pretty face
A thousand lies have made me colder
And I don't think I can look at this the same
But all the miles that separate
Disappear now when I'm dreaming of your face
I mean, come on
All My Life - KC- and JoJ0
. . . because this song has great lyrics.
Haven't Met You Yet
See alternate (non canonical) ending !
Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen
Inspirations
So, while I love Pandora I have also discovered tumblr.
Fuckyeahhkissing".tumblr.com/archive"
Fuckyeahhlove".tumblr.com/archive"
Fuckyeahprettybows""
Thepastels""
Auderyhepurn complex""
Ohmissmiu""
candiesandlaces
Modernfairytale
femmecherie
and of course
___________________________________________
Comments
July -You have made me actually start to like Taylor Swift! At first I was hesitant about LL but, I really love it now. I wish there was more of Fierro/Clara though.
I feel you on the last part but it is the nature of the story
June - Wait, does Emile ever get a last name or is Emile his last name ? It's funny she calls him Dr.Emile. I am in love with Emile too!
Honselty I don't know if it is his first or last name. It's all she knows so she went with it.
sugarcookie - I think this was so sweet this was a new kind of romance. How much time had passed since Lucie's death and Clara's arrival ? I can kind of look past her falling for her stepgrandfather.
Let's see. Lucie left Nightfall 6 months before Clara died. I can look past that too !
Bostongirl - Such a pretty ending and those roses in the end are really unique looking.Chautauqua must be a real place because I am looking at it and have no idea how to pronounce it. I am just calling it Chaquita (like the banana's.)
Honey, it's a Seneca words it's "sha- TAW- kwa". It's a real place.'
Seneca - I was so close in my comment when I said Clara wasn't a specter because of sacrifice ! I should have put it together. Do you know what happened to the Olivers ?
No, yet I don't. Sorry. (what a coincidence with your name and the comment above)
Ashlyn - Um, so like everyone didn't go back to their respective time periods but back to the current present ? Because I was totally prepared for Mr.F to be like 70 or something and then there would be some Emile/Clara action.
I did think about this and even though I am all for Emile/Clara that won't happen. The meta reason Mr. Fierro is still there is because he is exactly where he is supposed to be.
NyBarista - I love how Clara calls him Addison when she is upset with him but, when they are alone she still calls him Mr.Fierro. I was a little confused by the whole time thing but, I'm glad Mr.Fierro was still alive and Kayla too. Yeah Happy Ending !
Not all endings can be explained. She mostly calls him Addison to show a change in their relationship.
Topaz - This was the perfect ending, I don't think any of us could have put this together. Is Mr.Fierro really there in the end or is she seeing a ghost ?
Hm, I'd like to think he is really there but he could be a ghost, if you prefer.
PrincessA - How is Mr.Fierro being good at math any kind of spoiler ? The ending scene was just to perfect but, it is killing me we never see them kiss or anything.
Hm, I guess it wasn't. Not having them kiss was intentional.
Sam L - I love all the pictures you used, it really helps me visualize. I also love the images on the playlist. Also, 2 of those links go to the same image
Thanks honey, you keep me on my feet.
Trish- *sneaks out* I love this story a lot and everything about it except for one thing. I don't think the Epilouge song was the best choice, I was expecting something more classical. *runs for cover*
Honestly, I was all out of music and found this via the Tristan and Isolde soundtrack.
AprilShowers - Wait a second, Peter was a PRINCE ! Aw, hell no I can't believe she didn't marry him. Just kidding ( a little bit) was he always a prince that seemed out of left field.
Well Clara did say in Chapter 6 that Victor ". . .reminded me so much of Peter."
Mal - I were Clara I would want to go find the Bordeoux family and warn them about the curse. Of course that is assuming Litany Lane was real which it was . . . wasn't it ?
Yes, It was real. But even if she did what could they do about it ?
Carter - I had to re-read this twice because I loved it so much. The second time I realized Mr.Fierro does not touch the marble of Lucie's grave so he has moved on a little bit.
You get a gold star *** . That was a suggested last second change by another writer to show that he had slightly moved on.
Hpgirl - You would think because he hates Roger Delune so much Mr.Fierro would stop calling her Ms.Delune. However I guess technically Roger is off the hook for murder ?
I think it slightly amuses him that he can tell a "DeLune" what to do. As for Roger I guess we have to define murder and go on from that.
Appletini - I am so bittersweet over this ending, I really am ! I want there to be more (ecspecially more Emile)! I couldn't get much from the Epilouge but I imagine Fierro and Clara get married and live in solitude in the farm or something ?
I do know that he is not going to marry her, but feel free to fanfiction it away. Sorry !
Violeta - I like all the mentions of princesses and happily ever after. I kind of feel like there is a little satire going on though. The "princess" (Clara) gets her happily ever after with the "beast" even though she has 2 princes after her.
Well, Peter doesn't count. He is in the same "because my family wants me to" boat with Clara.
Erik - And the batshit insane award goes to Victor. I wonder if he would become a specter just to get revenge on all of them.
It totally does, but there is a bit of sympathy for him though.
Sienna - A lot more Emile scenes ! I had no idea Emile was a professor, what does he teach ?
He has a PHD in Literature
Daisy - Speaking of Emile which book is he reading from ? That is such an interesting turn about, I would almost call this a twist ending.
It's my variation on a old French law. I hoped it wasn't to much of a Deus ex Machina.
Quinn - I have so many questions! Does Kayla's dad being a police officer mean anything? and who is the teenage girl with Ms.Ginger.
I made Kayla's dad a police officer to show that he would protect her from the harm that caused her to die. As for Ms. Ginger I didn't want her to be alone. The girl is her Great-Niece.
Helena - Seriously, Lile you need to rewrite the entire Twilight series for us ! I find myself thinking Mr.Fierro is a vamp sometimes.
Funny you say that.
Wendi said...
Emile says :
“She might not remember you, she was young”
Is their a reason he says *was* ?
I am going to miss this story.
So funny that you bring this up bcause I changed it three times. I think was really just states that what happened is in the characters past now.
Rei -It must be weird to have to walk by your own grave like Mr.Fierro does and leaving by the quarry your body was dumped in.
True, It's also funny how in the end Addison and Clara will eventually walk away from the cemetary. . .
Rosie - If that dress is the Morarti Heirloom I can't believe Clara is just getting it dirty.
No, she is wearing a Tiara
illia - I wonder if the wind that blows through when she touches Fierro is her grandmother's ghost, trying to take revenge on her. I don't see how Clara could ever go back to her family knowing the secrets it holds.
All true, that was her Grandmother.
Jeri - Why does Mr.Fierro look different to her ? Is he older or something. I am so glad they all got saved and Clara lost that goddamn promise ring.
He is alive and she didn't lose the ring. In chapter 10 Mr. Fierro takes it from her *wink wink nudge nudge*
Ellie - IMHO, I actually like the fact the Clara is a virgin, I think its not something you see a lot in modern fiction that is all about sex. This story seemed to genuinely be about love, IMO.
I don't know honey, this may go back to my SAHM obsession, but you should try Twilight.
Trichelle - In my mind Mr.Fierro putting the roses on Lucie's grave was a way of saying "I am going to forgive you but, you have to forgive me for this," this being falling in love with Clara.
He is still very much in love with Lucie, but I love your interpretation
General
Word Count : I don't have it yet put chapter 8 cam up to 30,000
So, as I'm sure many of you have picked up this story was inspired by my love of Johnny Depp/Tim Burton (Sweeny Todd, anyone ?)and watching Paranormal State (and Hoarders) on A&E. In the original version I wanted to stick a modern girl in an old fashioned world. Once I figured out how to do that I decided I wanted a character who with white hair which somehow became an albino Character.
In the back of my mind the "Specter" story line was an alternative story line and I wish I knew how I went from that to the final product.
Mr. Fierro/Lucie/Clara
So, there were a few hints that Mr. Fierro and Ms. Ginger (who likes to sit and watch) knew more than they were letting on.
In the Prologue "the smell of fresh wood and flowers " in Clara's House.
Clara notices that the two houses are built exactly the same
In Chapter 10 she is comfortable in the sewing room because it was her Grandmother's
This little exchange in chapter 5 :
“It’s so unpleasant”, she said adding some more water to her plants, “It didn’t really effect Litany Lane until your grandmother—“
“And Mr. Fierro’s girlfriend”
“How did you find out about her ?”, she asked
Also in Chapter 9 and when Addison is retelling his story at points he breaks into using contractions. In chapter 9 he is reliving his death and the same is for chapter 11.
One last piece of info, the Epilouge is told from Addison's POV.
As for Lucie she is based on the fabulous Helen Mirren. Lucie does have lots of issues as a character but she really does love Addison, in a way that he doesn't quite feel about Clara just yet.
Really interesting character, he is alot like Edward Cullen in that he is older than he looks (52 years), he is brooding (ish) and falls for a girl decades younger than him and he plays the piano. I can't pretend like I don't see the parallels I have read Twilight 15 times with my SIL 's reading group. Admittedly though Edward is a lot better at expressing his feelings.
I can't say I'm completely done with Addison (as I call him in my notes) as a character, one of the reasons he makes Clara work for him is because he thinks that Lucie's dependence on him and Roger led to her unhappiness and because Addison doesn't like how Martin treats Clara (ie marrying her off, paying for her apartment, making her wear a promise ring. . .) I really want to experiment with introducing Clara's father. I'd lik to get inside Mr. Fierro's head.
H is a bit of an off-kilter person in he does objectify beauty and is a bit of a masochist (and not the Edward Cullen kind) . . .
Emile
As Mr. Fierro pointed out everyone on Litany Lane was murdred. Emil was killed as part of a hate crime and because Linda Leigh is so formulaic. . . he is gay. He lives in Connecticut and is married, he was being robbed by a teenager who shot him.
Fairytales
I threw in a few classic fairy tale references, they were fairly obvious
Clara's Middle Name, she loses her shoe twice in the castle.
Read the original Beauty and The Beast (hint, there are roses and 3 sisters)
In the hospital Peter kisses her and she wakes up
Peter is a Prince
Clara is a maid who is offered a chance to marry a king.
I'm so Formulaic
I'll admit that I may be a bit formulaic seeing as I have a tendency to write
Romance stories with social commentary
Have one Homosexual Character
Feature characters from foreign countries
Wealthy characters and settings
Someone is loosely Irish.
Place setting in New York
Torment and Torture two love interest and throw in a third
Alternate Ending.
So there is a short alternate ending, this was the very first ending I had in mind and It picked up from chapter 11 and Clara has lost all memory of dying and wakes up with a second chance. She decides to stay late at school and play her classroom piano.
She and Peter are shopping in Manhattan and they go into a tiny Music store, where a 25-year old Addison works, he has no memory of who he is or who Clara is.
All in all this was before I introduced other elements and I wanted a neater ending.
So, what now
Well, I may turn to blogging about Cobalt, I think I have to take it one step at at time.
Litany Lane does set itself up for vignettes but it's all the speculation for now.
No, Chapter 11 is not the last chapter and I will admit "Addison's Story" was supposed to be its own chapter therefore ensuing multiple cliffhangers but I thought it was a bit much.Since it's not going to be addressed again, I will say that Mr. Fierro is not Clara's Grandfather (although he is her step-grandfather. . .). Let's just say he is really good at mathI can't say much else without spoilers so here we go.
Playlist
Chapter 13
+1+ - Two Is better than one - Taylor Swift/Boys Like Girls +2+ - After All - Johnthan Clay
I think in previous post I made it somewhat clear that this was likely to be my last "webserial", but now I think I may have found an interesting solution but we will worry about that when the time comes.
Chapter 10
Not much to say about this chapter, except I couldn't find a piano version of Rhapsody in Blue but Youtube has one if you are curious.
Chapter 11 & 12
This is a long one, so be sure to have snacks (:
Playlist (starts at 16)
Chapter 11
+1+ - A Historic Love - Trevor +2+ - Our Love - Paul Cardall +3+ My Immortal - Evanescence, You don't Know me - Michael Buble (Eddy Arnold) Ice - Sarah Mclachlan
Chapter 12
Sacred Nature II - Paul Cardall (playlist has been rearranged so this song is at the bottom !)
In one of the comments HPgirl asked me about whether someone in Nightfall could get married or pregnant. I thought about this for a while and while it is true Clara could get married. she could't get pregnant. I think, although I hate to touch on this, as far as this story goes they are only manifestations of themselves and their bodies are still on Earth.
Also here is the inspiration for Clara's House.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32627978@N08/
The Olivers
In relation to HPgirls comment the Olivers are a married couple who met in Nightfall. They had a semi-story line in the begining. In which Emile (in chapter 2) explains how they came to Litany Lane in different decades but manage to get along.
Chapter 10
If I'm allowed to have an opinion this is actually one of my favorite chapters.
Playlist
+1+ Habanera - George Bizet *skip the first 30 seconds*
+2+ Bella's Lullaby - Carter Burwell
+3+ Sacred Nature II - Paul Cardall
+4+ Come Away With Me - Nora Jones
+5 + Nocturne E Flat - Chopin (played by John Robson)
