MichelleKarise
March 2020
How did you find your way to Fifty Shades? What appealed to you the most about the story?
I purchased the Kindle versions of the books and for whatever reason, they sat unread. Then I attended a girls' outing complete with bottomless mimosa brunch and an early afternoon showing of the first Fifty Shade movie.
I enjoyed the movie, but more importantly the post-movie discussion was lively and fun. I loved how each person had a different interpretation of the events. I needed more, so while I was out on leave, I inhaled all three books.
I needed even more, so I turned to fan fiction. As they say, the rest was history.
I LOVE Christian Grey. He has the same appeal as The Beast, Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones, or John Bender from the movie The Breakfast Club. I'm a sucker for any story of a woman thawing the ice from around a man's cold, dead heart and in turn, that man loving her until it hurts.
You've written about Elena in your fanfic, "La Douleur Exquise." For most readers, she's the character everyone loves to hate. How do you see her?
My friends always joke that I am a person who always wants to know "why." My curiosity in understanding why people do awful things is the reason I tackled this story. Elena has done something terrible and heinous to a young person and has mind-fucked him well into adulthood. She is truly the worst. However, I believe that everyone has a story, and I was curious about exploring her background. My intent is not to make excuses for her behavior, but to explore why a person would do something so messed up.
Do you think Elena had other young men beyond CTG?
I believe that she was with men younger, but not as young as Christian. Unfortunately, proximity, availability, and his particular vulnerability made Christian her biggest target and made it easy for the abuse to go on for as long as it did.
On the surface, Grace and Elena have little to nothing in common, other than being neighbors. What do you see as the basis for their friendship?
I believe there is at least a ten-year difference in ages between Elena and Grace. It is quite possible that the relationship is more of a big sister/little sister or mentor/mentee relationship.
Grace devoted her entire life to helping wounded people. From becoming an ER doctor, adopting at-risk children, and developing a philanthropic organization for families with drug-addicted parents, nurturing and mending the broken flows through Grace's blood.
I believe that Grace instantly recognized that Elena was damaged and took her under her wing. I think the moments of seeing Elena battered and bruised from the spousal abuse solidified Grace's care and concern.
The old adage goes, "To have friends, you need to be a friend." I doubt that Elena was truly in a friendship with Grace. I'm sure that Elena used Grace for connections and to "cleanse" her sullied social reputation.
Also, Grace's son is a billionaire. Of course, Elena would hitch her cart to the Grace wagon.
Finally, secrets prevent the formation and growth of pure, natural, sustaining friendships. Elena had a BIG secret that she needed to keep from Grace. Wouldn't it be something if Elena remained friends with Grace to control the narrative surrounding the abuse?
Let's talk fashion. Most fanfic writers describe Elena as dressed in black, perhaps a nod to her villainous nature. What do you imagine to be Elena's style? Which brands/designers might she favor?
Let me say this, I am a Francophile and I tried to sprinkle pieces of my love for Paris throughout the story. La Douleur Exquise begins in Paris. I started each chapter with a quote from the Marquis Du Sade, an 18th century French writer/philosopher known for his erotic works on sadism, sex, and domination.
It only makes sense that Elena has a love for the French fashion houses—Dior, Givenchy, Hermes, Louboutin, and my favorite, Chanel.
I envision the wives in Elena and Grace's circle wearing "smart" St. John knitwear and carrying Judith Leiber bags to add interest and flair.
Well, Elena is younger than the other wives. She would die a horrible fanfiction death rather than wear something so… classic. No better way to stand out from the crowd than Chanel. I don't see Elena in the classic tweed Chanel skirt suit. She works with Caroline Acton to acquire pieces fresh off the runway. Black jackets embellished with peplums, cream blouses with dramatic ruffled collars, tight pencil skirts, and sky-high heels are more Elena's style. She tops it off with a well-applied swipe of her signature red lipstick, Chanel Pirate, across her lips.
What would Elena wear to a Grey family barbecue? It's hard to imagine Elena sitting behind a plate of sauce-covered ribs.
My Elena character would because she is from the great state of Texas. The daughter of an oil man and a socialite would don a pair of Chanel knee-length denim pants and a simple white t-shirt and then go to work on a plate of ribs.
However, she is too vain and focused on preserving her looks to attend a daytime, outdoor event for extended periods of time. Sun exposure can wreck your skin and cause premature aging.
If you were to write a sequel to the trilogy, would Elena appear? Do you think she'd forever remain out of Christian's life? If not, how do you see her reentering his world?
No. Elena would not appear in the sequel.
Here's the thing, as much as we hope for the better, I can't see Christian going extended periods of time not knowing where she is and what she is doing. I think he does it for the safety of his wife and children, but also to satisfy his own curiosity. I don't think Elena will pop back up. She's a pariah in Seattle. There's nothing for her there.
I would like to know what happened to her. Maybe "Freed" will address that?
Michelle Karise's debut novel, "Kandi's Crush," is available on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited.
