questions and answers
THE MAKING OF THE SERIES
How frequently do you update?
- Well, the answer to this question is, unfortunately, very irregulary. I do not keep a schedule, or anything of the sort, but I try to make it two weeks between each. It all depends on whether the chapter has been pre-written, how long it takes for my beta to look through, and real-life-stuff that might get in the way. I hope that Roads Travelled's posting schedule will be fairly regular: It helps that I decided to finish the entire first story before posting - it should relieve me of some stress, if nothing else. ;)
What does the series/chapters writing process look like?
- I have found, that, when writing stories, creating a timeline (the one here is more of an overview - the one I actually use is more of a day-to-day calendar, with lots of details) with things I have to include is A and O. It is really helpful, as I would probably forget to write down something pertinent otherwise. Also, it helps me keep my head on straight, and not stray into the trap of "losing sight of the big picture."
How long is every chapter?
- The length on every chapter have been doubled (compared to the "Out of the Blue" series), and contain no fewer than 4000 words. I don't have an upper limit, but I try to keep it down under 8000.
Sometimes you forget to put in spaces between words...
- That's an issue at FF.Net only, I believe, since it is a formatting problem of the document manager and uploading process on the site. It isn't something I can do anything about, unfortunately. The chapters available for download here should be free from such errors.
I have found several grammar/spelling issues in the series.
- I'm very sorry about this. To my excuse, English is not my first language (I'm Swedish), and I do my best, as do my beta, but it's easy to miss small things like that. But I do think Roads Travelled has a lot less of it than its predecessor.
Can I donate art and come with ideas for the series?
- Yes! It is all very welcomed - just send it to my e-mail. Though if the art is of very poor quality (and then I mean very poor - I'm not picky) I reserve the right to not post it here. And I give no guarantee that your ideas for the series will be used - it all depends on whether I think it fits with the plot. As I plan and write ahead, your ideas should preferably be very long term, fit into a future plotline, or not depend on the plot at all, but it's not necessary.
THE BASICS
For how long will the series stretch?
- Just like the Harry Potter books, the Roads Travelled series will be in seven parts. The first three covers the MWPP-era and the first war, and the last four covers the seond war in the wizarding world.
Where does the series take place?
- In the Wizarding world, with the occasional scene (such as dreams and flashbacks) taking place in Sunnydale. BUT remember that the Wizarding world is part of an entire different universe, and time: Buffy travelled through a portal across time and space and ended up in a different dimension. I.e. the "BTVS-verse" and the "HP-verse" do not co-exist on the same plane...so you can't just travel back and forth. lol.
Is the story canon?
- Since this is a crossover - no, we can't really call it canon at all, now can we? But, it may seem so to many readers - in the "Out of the Blue" series I stay(ed) very faithful to the books even through the second war: This will not be the case wirh Roads Travelled, which will be completely AU with an original ending. I plan to follow the "official" timelines for the HP-verse during the first war as faithfully as I can, as we have no exact story on how it went down and gives me space to improvise and stretch the facts to my own liking, while still keeping it fairly true to reality.Will I use the Horcruxes or the Deadly Hallows? Doubtful.
I have found a HUGE error in the story that is not a part of canon.
- As already mentioned, this is not canon, though it may seem that way, and that error is probably there for a reason, but if you're not sure, contact me.
Where can the series be found?
- On FanFiction.Net, Twisting the Hellmouth and at this site as .PDF documents.
THE ACTORS/ACTRESSES
The actors/actresses you've chosen to portrait James, Sirius, Peter, Lily, Remus, Mandy and Samantha are nothing like I imagined them! A couple of them are not even British!
- You're free to imagine them looking however you want - this is how I see them, apart from some of them lacking British accents/heritage, and details in appearance, because, it's not easy find good british actors that fit my visions for the characters at least somewhat...
Why don't you use the actors/actresses from the movies to portray the Marauders and Lily?
- I don't really like them. It's not that they were bad, exactly, but I don't think any of them fit the part: They're too old, and not good-looking enough. It is mentioned time and time again in the books how good-looking both James, Sirius and Lily were as young. Remus is mentioned as grey-haired and "sick-looking", but that is when he's older, after suffering from years of transformations and loneliness. With Buffy in the picture, would that still be the case? And I don't think the personality Thewlis and Oldman uses for Remus and Sirius were quite right. They did a good job, but...it was just kind of weird for me.
Why did you chose the actors/actresses you did to portrait the marauders and co?
- Read my full motivations on the cast/characters section of this site.
THE CHARACTERS
I love(d) insert deceased/noticeable absent character. Will she/he be back?
- There are a lot of characters in the Buffy/Harry Potter-verse, and so it is not easy to include everyone. There is no guarantee that a character that has been mentioned/included in the past will be so again - espescially not if he/she has passed away. But, as we know, dead people don't always stay dead in fiction, so, obviously, there is a chance. Don't give up hope!
I hate insert character. Will you please kill her/him off or hurt him/her very badly?
- While no character are guaranteed to stay alive/remain safe in this series (which does take place during war-times, after all), I also will not do terrible or awful things to them just for the sake of it, even if I, myself, as an author may not like them that much either. If a character is "killed off" or in other ways crippled - well, then there's a reason for it. If and when I do that, it will be because of the plot, not because someone wishes/asks for it to happen.
Isn't Buffy supposed to be the Slayer? Where are all fighting scenes?
- Yes, Buffy is the Slayer, and I admit, my fighting scenes, when there are any, leaves a lot to be desired, though they have gotten better. My excuse is that in this series, I try to play more on Buffy's other sides - i.e. being a witch, growing up and her personality/emotional side - the story isn't about her being the Slayer. Because, well, she's so much more than just a killing machine. Although, I do plan for more action/fighting scenes further down the Road (pun definitely intended), so be on the lookout!
Wasn't James a seeker?
- James is most definitely a Chaser, according to J.K. Rowling herself. It is only in the movies (that cannot - and should not - be regarded as canon, with a few exceptions) they say he's a Chaser. However, Rowling has also said that James may have played Seeker at one point (like a reserve or something) so you're not completely off. But, in my story, he is a Chaser (I also happen to like that position much better than Seeker - more action!)
Mandy Walker/Samantha Lowell/other OC is a bit of a Mary Sue/Gary Stu...
- *Winces* Yes. I realise this, but she's/he's far less so than Eliza de Mort, the "Out of the 'Blue" character Mandy replaced. But I needed her/him to be able to "bond" with Sirius/Peter/other character in some way, so that's why I gave her/him a bit of a troubled homelife/sad past, but it hasn't been - nor will it be - mentioned that much. Still, I am really sorry! But I hope you can overlook this and focus on the things about my OC's that's good.
I wish you'd mention Peter more.
- I know he's not mentioned quite as often, but I think I've managed to find a balance that works, and as a more realistic, sympathetic and likeable character in Roads Travelled than he was in "Out of the Blue", since I know what big part he plays. The way he "developed" in the first version of the series (and his character in general) isn't something I'm very pleased with - or proud of - at all.
Will the Sunnydale-characters enter the story?
- Originally, they were going to play a large part in one of of the stories which were going to take place between the first and second war, in Buffy's universe. However, my plans have changed and an apperance in Roads Travelled are, at the moment, very unlikely: The only part they will/could feature in is flashbacks and dreams, so while they might show up, they will never be part of the main cast, nor as recurring characters. I did have plans to write an Interlude story that takes place alongside Road of Innocence, where you can follow the Scoobies' progress without Buffy, but we'll see. I have a few chapters of that story written, but I'm not pleased with any of them, so if I do post a story like that, I will probably start from the beginning.
THE PLOT
What is the overall plot of the series? Where's the main conflict? It just seems to be a bunch of mini-conflicts every three or so chapters.
- In the "Out of the Blue" series, this was certainly the case, and partly the reason why I'm rewriting it. A lot of version one of the series is seriously lacking in everything really. Roads Travelled is far better regarding plot and development, though not perfect, but I do have goals/checkpoints that I work towards when I'm writing, so I won't "lose my way."
What is the main plot of every part?
- Road of Innocence: Buffy moving on from Angel, and her life in Sunnydale, falling in love anew, dealing with having become a witch, and finding new friendship in the marauders, Lily, Mandy and Samantha.
- Road of Carnage & Road of Sacrifice: The First War against Voldemort: The conflicts/momevent in the Order and within the Death Eater camp, death and new life, as well as growing up, with all responsibilities and troubles that entail. The breaking of friendship, the breaking of trust and heavy losses, and how everything surrounding the war and their life outside Hogwarts have impact on the characters.
- Road of Loyalty: Remus and Buffy being in the dark about Sirius' innocence and trying to capture him, bonding with Harry (and Neville), re-discovering Elizabeth (who, you ask...hihi), and being professors and "in charge." You will also get glimpses of Mandy's life, of Peter, now living as a rat, as well as Sirius on the run and the consequences on his mind from Azkaban. Also featuring the year of the Triwizard Tournament, with Voldemort's return.
THE REMAINS
Tell me about yourself: What do you do on your spare-time? Are you an author in real life?
- I'm not a real author, though I would like to publish a book in the future. Of what kind, I do not know though. I hope/think writing fanfiction helps me develop as a writer though. Your feedback helps a lot! At the moment, I am a University student, working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Graphics Design & Communication. On my spare-time, I "play around" in Photoshop, write and read fanfiction (obviously), update my websites, sing, hang out with friends, write lyrics and poetry, watch TV and movies, read books, and more!
I still have questions/I've sent you a question, but I haven't gotten an answer.
- If there's still something you're wondering, and haven't gotten answered by reading this section, send me an e-mail or post in the tagboard. Same thing if you have already asked a question and haven't gotten it answered - you'll just have to re-send - I've probably missed it, and for that, I am truly sorry.
THE FUTURE: Beware of Spoilers!
Is Snape good or evil in your series?
- Well, I know he turned out to be a good guy in the books, and I like Snape a lot - because he is a very interesting and complex character. But honestly, I haven't decided yet: Sometimes, my characters run away from me - they take a life of their own, and this is what I feel is happening to "my" Snape - he's very slippery! :D Because of that, I never let you know Snape's thoughts (when it matters) in Roads Travelled - only what he sound like to others. But whatever I chose, I hope you'll agree it was the right decision.
What part will Peter Pettigrew have in the later parts of the story?
- Well, a big part. I don't want to say much more, but he does have a large role to play, and hopefully I've managed to make him a more interesting character this time around.
Will you have Sirius fall into the veil, like in book 5?
- You'll just have to see. In the "Out of the Blue" series, his fate has been hinted at between the lines, and - if you've seen them - in the wallpapers for Way of the Warriors, Darkening Sky and Time to Go. Still, there's absolutely no guarantee I will let it play out the same way in Roads Travelled (remember, it's very AU), which is more of a stand-alone series, really.
What future pairings do we have to look forward to?
- Well, there are many possibilities. I like to leave it all open. But, in the "Out of the Blue" series there have been hints of many pairings, though nothing has been decided. In Roads Travelled, who knows? Some characters will be added, some removed, and others replaced. It's impossible to say how things will end up! Besides, do you honestly want me to? |
