Fan Fiction, Sex Gods and Single Girls

A/N: Imagine this sitting in Edward's inbox, just waiting to be discovered... ;)


Chapter 28: A Review Reply from Starlighted Dot Net

Reply from: bellybeans

Message: Hi STARDUSTED!

Welcome to my universe! (I guess it's "ours" now?) :) Thank you for popping your "review-cherry" with me. It's an honor and I'll try to be gentle. ;)

You shared a lot for a first-time reviewer and I found your comments rather intriguing. Readers usually expect a happily ever after. It's sort of an unwritten rule in this fandom, and one I generally follow, but we'll have to wait and see where this story goes.

I would agree, these characters had a "meet dreadful." (Liked that term!) Most people don't have that sort of first meeting with a "potential future maybe more." (Another great term!) The odds are now stacked against them, but hopefully things will improve, right? You'd certainly hope they couldn't get worse!

In my author's note I warned you that you might not like Ethan at the outset. He certainly isn't an acceptable love-interest right now. But people can change, as I also said in my author's note. (You'd better be reading those author's notes—there could be a quiz!) Anyway, people change and reinvent themselves all the time; for the better or for the worse. And at this point, Stella would be crazy to contemplate a romance with Ethan, but living in close proximity, it would make things easier if they could get past that initial meeting and form a friendship. It's harder to continue in anger than it is to just forgive and forget, and I believe in forgiveness, for fictional and non-fictional characters. :)

You wrote, "Perhaps it would be better if they wouldn't become friends, but maybe it's too late to suggest that." I assume you're referring to the plot being mapped out already. To be honest, I often write on the fly, with a general idea of where I'm headed and how I want to get there, but sometimes I let my characters take me where they will. Despite their start, Ethan isn't a bad guy at heart. We all do things we regret. Sometimes it's just hard to put the brakes on, even when we know we're in the wrong.

I agree Stella should be careful, romantically speaking, and keep her feelings in check, given what she has seen of Ethan so far. She can't force him to be something he's not, and change has to come from within, but I think she should give him a chance at friendship. It would be unfair of her to write him off as a lost cause without giving him a chance. Who knows...he just might surprise all of us and be a good guy worthy of friendship or even a "maybe more."

So you checked out my profile, looking for clues, huh? :) I always get a kick out of readers wondering if situations in my fics are based on personal experience. My own life is relatively boring, but I guess my creative imagination makes up for that. Anyway, yes, Stella and I are both twenty-something teachers, with a love of reading, and yes, a bit of her background in that first chapter is also mine.

While we're on the topic of profiles... I was curious for more information about you, STARDUSTED, but when I checked my newest avid reader's profile, there was nothing there! Surely you can give me a little peek at who you are? You don't have to, of course, but I'll admit to being a curious girl. :)

I'm glad you are looking forward to the next chapter. I'm hoping to update soon, so you shouldn't have to wait too long for further developments. You mentioned you had ideas about the way things should go and I hope you'll share those thoughts. Reader input gives me food for thought, directions to contemplate, and it's an interesting and interactive way to write a story.

Wow... You've brought out the wordy-girl in me! I hope I haven't scared you off from sending future reviews or private messages! I'll try to tone it down next time, but I've enjoyed thinking about your comments and addressing them.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll keep working on getting Stella and Ethan (and you!) to the happily ever after. I think we all hope for one, and you just never know...it could even be with that crazy neighbor right across the street!

I hope to hear from you again.

-bellybeans


A/N: And I hope to hear from YOU! :)