Interview--Alyona77

 Many thanks to the lovely Alyona for spending time with me! 

Mandy: Are you ready to start? I'll ask a series of easy questions regarding you and fanfiction, and then about your story.

Alyona : Thanks, and yes let’s start.

Mandy: Is there any particular name you'd like for me to refer to you when I post the transcript?

Alyona : Alyona works fine.

Mandy: Tell us a little about yourself and how you found fanfiction.

Alyona : Well, I am 19 years old, I was born in Ukraine. My biological parents lost custody of me and my younger sister Ashley, when I was 10. So I spend around 4 years in Ukrainian orphanage. I was adapted at age 14 and have been living in America since then. I love to read, like really love it. I found fanfiction one day at school when I was bored. In the beginning I only read the stories, but later I wanted to try to actually write something. Since I want to become I writer when I graduate college. Well as I said I love to read and write, I have a really big imaginations. And I also love psychology since it fascinates me. I attend college right now and next year I am moving to North Carolina. I think that is about it.

Mandy: Fanfiction is a great way to start. It helps build the fanbase and get practice along with it. What type of genre do you enjoy most?

Alyona : Well romance has to be the first, I also love supernatural and suspense.

Mandy: What makes a story worth reading for you?

Alyona : Well first I like original stories, and not just a repeat of something. But I also like when the author sticks to the characters true identity. Like for example I don't like human stories in Twilight section because Edward is a vampire and I like him to stay a vampire in the story. But sometimes I get really hooked on something that I don't even really care about originality, like right now I love to read bashing stories in Harry Potter section. They just really make me laugh.

Alyona : Oh and I also love to read non-canon parings because I think it is fun to mix things up a little.

Mandy: Any crossover Twilight/Vampire Diaries stories you read, love, and want to recommend?

Alyona : Give me a moment to find them

Mandy: Okay.

Alyona : Saving Me by emeraldphoenix23
The Originals by MsSkylerBlack
When in Mystic Falls by Lily Hastings-Salvatore
Those are the top 3

Mandy: How do you deal with writer's block?

Alyona : Well that's depends on how bad it is, because sometimes when I stop thinking so hard on what too write it just comes to me as I write. But if it really bad I read something to inspire myself, or sometimes chocolate helps lol

Mandy: Chocolate is always a great option for every life problem. <-- words I live by, lol. I’m surprised Damon or Elena (as we know that she’s already starting to have feelings for him) weren’t bothered by the fact that Damon’s soulmate was someone other than Elena.

Alyona : Well Elena was but she didn't want to upset Stefan. Well and Damon was too shocked at first, but as you remember in the episode Rose when he told Elena about his feelings he said he can't be selfish with her. So he was ready to die when he learned that his soulmate was Bella, so he didn't really gave it much thought since he accepted his death.

Mandy: How does Bella/Damon’s relationship in your story differ from Edward/Bella’s in Twilight?

Alyona : Well first and most important Damon does not try to control her every move, which means they are more like partners in the relationship even before Bella became a vampire. Second they are more open with each other and there are no secrets, which means if Bella felt insecure about their relationship she would have no problem telling Damon. Also there is no love triangle, which takes out all the drama and again the insecurity. And I think Bella needs a person like Damon in her life, who can make her life more exciting. In some ways they are apposite but in many ways they are similar. And I think that is what would make their relationship work, sure apposite attracts. But there is only so far you can go with that statement, before relationship fails because of difference of opinion.

Mandy: Someone opposite of Edward to break her out of both her shell and depression... How does their friendship differ from that of Elena/Damon?

Alyona : Well Elena in some ways reminds me of Katherine, sure she is nicer. But give her 100 years as a vampire and I think she would end up just like her.
Damon I think always feels like he doesn't deserve Elena that she is too good for him, and that him falling in love with his brother girl is his fault. But Elena is not an angel, if she was she would pick one guy and stay with him. But instead she gives both bothers mixed signals especially Damon. I mean she kisses him and that runes back to Stefan, what kind of relationship would that make? They are not on the same level in their relationship just because of that, Damon puts Elena on the pedestal, and Elena doesn't appreciate Damon enough.
But in Damon/Bella relationship they are both on the same level; no one takes the other for granted. And I believe that is important.

Mandy: Speaking of relationship importance... Is friendship important in a relationship? And if so, before the relationship begins or it can be formed as the relationship progresses?

Alyona : I think friendship is really important, because how can you trust someone with your life secrets without a basic foundation in the relationship. But I also believe that every relationship begins different, like sometimes people are friends first but then it is harder to cross that fine line between friendship and relationship. Like using Elena and Damon for example yes they are friends and Elena cares for him, but she does not know if it is romantic or not and she is too scared to find out that is why she runs back to Stefan in my opinion.

Mandy: Moral behind your story?

Alyona : Be on guard against women who can strike from a distance.
Nothing is what it seems.
Be careful before you judge.

Mandy: Any hints as to what we can expect in the upcoming chapters? Or any pending work you want to give us a look into?

Alyona : By pending work do you mean in this story or if I am working on something new?

Mandy: Something new. Different than your current projects.

Alyona : Well there would be more Caroline/Klaus moments, also Jeremy is going to stand on his own two feet. And my favorite Katherine is coming back and her fate will actually be quite surprising.
 

Alyona: As for something new I am thinking about writing Caroline/Damon story. There is just something about that couple.

Alyona: The plot would most likely take place after the end of second season, Damon and Alaric left and later they came back to see Stefan and everything is really different then what they expected. Again I don't think Elena would be a nice character in the story, just because I think it is fun to make her look bad.

Mandy: Interesting! Thank you so much, Alyona. I really appreciate you giving me your time today. I'll send you the final transcript linked here so you know what to expect and can tell me if you want to edit anything out.

Alyona : It was no problem it was fun. And I will look at it, no problem.

Mandy: Have a good day!

Alyona : Thanks. You too