Interview: AllyDLV

Many thanks to the brilliant AllyDLV for taking time to talk to me. :)

After some technical difficulties from my side and off topic questions…

Mandy: Shall we get started? :) I have some easy questions, and then questions about the story. The rest I'll have to wing it, because I read the story in one go without stopping to think about questions. *Facepalm*

Ally: Yeah, sure!

Mandy: Tell us a little about yourself and how you found/got into writing Twilight/Vampire Diaries crossover fanfiction.

Ally: Well... I'm a Graphic Designer, completely passionate with my career, even though I haven't really practiced it a lot in the past three years. I've always had a pretty strong creative urge to do things.  My mind tends to just fly away on its own constantly and I'm always thinking about different scenarios in my head about the things I see on my day to day life.

Ally: I got into writing Fanfiction like... ten years ago? I started this story that I never finished writing, but that was all plotted out in my head, it had nothing to do with TVD or Twilight. I was, (honestly still am) a huge Backstreet Boys fan, and I started writing a fic about them, wayyy before when fanfiction.net allowed writing about people and not only tv/book characters.

Mandy: You removed it from your profile?

Ally: I don't remember what happened... I think ff.net removed all of those stories.

Ally: I might have a copy somewhere; it would be very funny to find it.

Mandy: Would you be cringing or laughing when reading over it? :D

Ally: It might be in some old dusty diskette... yep, thats how old it is!

Ally: Probably laughing.

Ally: :)

Ally: So TVD and Twilight came when I finished reading the TVD books, and watched the first few eps of the tv series

Mandy: What inspired you to write Shattered + Fix You the way you did? Just the scenes in your mind or something in real life? (Vague or decline to answer if you want)

Ally: I really loved Damon from the start, and I hated that he was always cast aside like the bad guy, the one that was never loved, the third wheel

Ally: So I thought about Twilight, and how much I really disliked the books.

Ally: And I have no idea how, or why, but I started picturing Bella and Damon together

Ally: I mean, Damon could teach her a thing or two about confidence and having fun, and Bella 

could just love him after getting over Edward.

Mandy: I think that's what brought *me* to the fandom; the fact that if Bella could mature, it would be probably by Damon's very capable, delicious, and dangerous hands.

Ally: Exactly.

Ally: I really thought that Bella forgave Edward waaaay too easily in the books

Ally: She had no self respect what so ever.

Ally: I had read a few crossover fics, but what bothered me was the pace at which things happened. In my head, it didn't make sense that Damon and Bella fell in love at first sight. We're talking about two characters that have both been hurt, really bad.

Ally: That's when I started writing my own fic.

Ally: :)

Mandy: Is that why friendship came first? Do you believe a friendship is necessary before a relationship, or can it be formed after the tingly feelings of first crush are over?

Ally: I think that the base for any relationship is trust, and you have to build that trust. When you've been hurt, like these two, you build up walls, and hold people up to very high standards before letting them in. I think that Bella and Damon needed to trust each other before allowing themselves to explore their other feelings.

Ally: In real life though, I think anything can happen.

Ally: In my case, I tend to be very shy. I like to know the person first before diving into a relationship.

Mandy: Less insecurity that way, if you already know the type of person he/she are.

Ally: Exactly.

Mandy: Any crossovers you're reading right now and LOVING, and want to recommend? :)

Ally: Honestly... I haven't been reading anything lately :( I've been real busy with a bunch of other things in my personal life. I really enjoy emeraldphoenix23's stories.

Ally: :) She's an awesome lady.

Mandy: She is! It's been a pleasure talking to her. I'd read one of her stories, but we never got talking until she joined the group. :)

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

Ally: I get that a lot. That's why I take so long to update. Even though I know where the story is going I'm stuck.

Ally: Sometimes I don't know how to start a scene, or a conversation. So what I do is that I either watch a few bits of TVD or I read a little of both series to get going. Sometimes talking about the chapter with someone helps.

Ally: Their input gets me thinking.

Ally: Some other times I just need to shut off the real world and just concentrate on my writing.

Mandy: How often do you take away time from your real life to write?

Ally: Not as much as I'd like to... lol...

Ally: Sometimes it's a few minutes in the morning, or a few hours in the afternoon. Sometimes I'm at work and inspiration strikes, so I have to jot things down on post it's so that I don't forget and work on the story when I get home...

Ally: It's never constant though...

Ally: I don't rush it. I write when I write. There's no schedule.

Mandy: Was it difficult writing Damon and his snarky self or did it come naturally?

Ally: SUPER DIFFICULT

Ally: Why do you think there's no Damon POV ever?

Ally: LOL

Ally: Dear Lord, I don't know how that man thinks.

Mandy: But his actions! They're always true to his character, and Bella's observations of him are usually so...spot on.

Ally: I over think his lines a lot.

Mandy: Like, you hint at something and let us think about it before Bella observes them later in the chapters.

Ally: Aww. Thanks!!!! I really try to do him justice; I tend to write his speeches over and over. I go: that doesn't sound like him, that's too soft, too snarky, not enough spice....

Ally: The man drives me crazy.

Mandy: Do you ever feel satisfied with his dialogues or at the end you just hope that whatever he says will have enough character?

Ally: Sometimes.... I'm never completely sure...

Ally: For example, I LOVE the way that Emeraldphoenix23 writes her Damon.

Ally: I always wish I could write him more like that.

Mandy: What characteristics of her Damon can you list off the top of your head?

Ally: I like his attitude. He is super cocky, and confident and I just love the answers she comes up for him to say.

Mandy: Sequels are often hard to live up to the first story. Why did you go that route rather than continue the story as just one?

Ally: Mmmm... I think it has to do with Bella's growth. Shattered Bella is different from Fix You Bella. She has grown. Shattered was about Bella growing into her skin and feeling comfortable in it as a human. Her being able to create new friendships outside the Cullens, giving her the space to mend. In Fix You, she has mended, she has new friends, she is more confident, and she is discovering her new life. It's a different type of self discovery path. And in Fix You she's ready to open up again and start living her life.

Mandy: The story writing changes after I believe there was a bit of temporary hiatus? It starts off by telling emotions, and then changes to SHOWING emotions, the writing advancing. What changed?

Ally: I think I changed. You see, English is not my first language. There was a time when I was in high school when I spoke and wrote in English every day. But then I went to college and started working and never ever spoke English. So I guess I wasn't as fluent as I used to be. I wasn't in the bilingual mindset. When I started writing more often things just came easier. So I guess that shows in the writing.

Ally: Oh, I also read a book on writing

Ally: So maybe some of the things I read there helped too

Ally: lol

Ally: There are a series of books called: Write great fiction. I don't remember the author

Ally: Let me see if I can find the book on barnes and noble

Ally: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/write-great-fiction-plot-structure-james-scott-bell/1100623200?ean=9781582972947

Ally: Super good books.

Ally: My sister got me into them.

Mandy: Awesome! Those would really help the aspiring authors. :)

Ally: :)

Mandy: Did you find it difficult to write Bella maturing while keeping her in character?

Ally: I don't think writing Bella is that difficult.

Ally: She isn't that complex of a character.

Ally: Pretty plane, in my opinion.

Mandy: But her point of view...you'd written her in the heartbreak condition while helping mature her without actually telling the readers. Was it difficult to do so underhandedly?

Ally: I know people are probably going to kill me for saying that. But it's how I feel about her and the whole Twilight series.

Mandy: One-dimensional.

Ally: Yep.

Ally: I think we've all felt what she felt at some point

Ally: So maybe I went from personal experience.

Ally: But I really don't find her difficult to write.

Mandy: I don't think teenagers in the world should be idolizing her, as she gave up personal goals and her family to be with a guy she loved. :/ I've seen that happen one too many times in life, and it's just sad to witness.

Ally: True. I agree.

Mandy: As Bella spends more time with Damon, she’s becoming dependant on him rather than Edward. In your words, how is their relationship different than Bella and Edward’s—assuming that the readers were not able to pick up on the hints between the lines.

Ally: Well... she is becoming dependant on Damon, and Damon on her. *spoiler alert* Because of Bella's ability.

Ally: The relationship is different because Damon lets her be. He trusts her. He doesn't underestimate her. He believes in her. He knows she's strong. Because deep inside I think he identifies with her

Ally: Edward thought Bella couldn't take anything, that's why he ran away in New Moon.

Ally: He made all the decisions.

Ally: Never let her think for herself.

Ally: All the Cullens did that.

Mandy: About Bella's ability... Could you elaborate on that and Bella and Damon's dependency on each other? :D (I'm probably pushing it here...)

Ally: Yeah, I'm not going to answer that one ;)

Ally: Nice try though...

Mandy: I tried...I tried.

Mandy: *Hangs head* ;)

Ally: :P

Mandy: Can you answer on why you had that ability included? Is there a particular reason or just for the purpose of their relationship extending beyond what it had been?

Mandy: Because that type of intimacy can't be achieved even through physical connection.

Ally: The relationship grows stronger because they relate to each other. The ability only affects their needs. Their whole relationship isn't happening just because of her ability.

Mandy: No, no, I meant... the trust in the relationship. It's being altered because of the ability? Growing deeper?

Ally: Oh.. yes.

Ally: LOL

Ally: Sorry

Ally: (worry)

Mandy: *Giggles* No worries.

Mandy: There can be multiple ways a sentence can be taken. ;)

Mandy: I understand that both have been hurt...but is there any way Damon is taking their physical relationship slow so that Bella can be comfortable with their new found advancement? For her to discover that he wouldn't leave her, he doesn't think he's superior, that he wouldn't manipulate her? Anything in addition to that? :P

Ally: All of the above, and I think deep inside Damon doesn't think he deserves any of it. He's never been loved in return. So he's being careful too.

Ally: ;)

Mandy: Does he think of Bella as "pure", too?

Ally: I haven't thought about that... but I guess so...

Ally: He's not putting her up on a pedestal or anything...

Ally: But I guess he thinks of her as pure in some way...

Mandy: I love that part. :D He doesn't underestimate her, but at the same time, he understands her needs better than she does, perhaps? I keep getting the vibe that he's keeping their physical relationship slow because he understands she needs time to take it all in.

Ally: Point on.

Ally: Bella gets overwhelmed easily. He knows that.

Ally: She over thinks, he knows that. He learned that when he creeped on her as Mr. Crow.

Ally: ;)

Mandy: How can we forget that! He even ate some corns out of her palm. ;)

Ally: Acting.

Mandy: It was definitely the first time I'd ever wanted to huggle a crow. o.O

Ally: :)

Mandy: Not to mention stealing a nest just to have it outside her window. :D

Ally: He was gaining her trust.

Ally: Damon gets what he wants. And he wanted to get into her head.

Mandy: I love the way you had his personality. Maybe acting, maybe not... But the whole snarky comments, but underhandedly making up for those with sweet actions as a crow.

Mandy: That, too. LOL. Him and his secret agenda...

Ally: Yay!

Ally: I really tried!

Mandy: It shows. :) Amazing story. It's more original than fanfiction if you remember the names of the characters and include in a different hurt past.

Mandy: The story had Bella's character developing in a way that Twilight lacked.

Ally: Aww... *blushes*  :$

Mandy: Deserved praise.

Mandy: In your words, what's the moral behind your story? Assume that you're telling this to a 2 year old. :D

Ally: Umm... I guess that I want to make Bella a stronger person. To value herself. She's doubting herself because of a guy, and that shows serious self esteem issues. Your relationship doesn't define you. Your happiness can't depend on others. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, know who you are and not be afraid to be that person.

Ally: You are worth fighting for. Don’t go begging for love.

Ally: Or forgiving asses who treat you like crap.

Mandy: LOL. I love the way you worded your sentence. :D

Ally: I don't think Bella is a good heroin in the books.

Mandy: Most in Bambi's Beloved agree with that sentiment. ;)

Ally: She represents all the wrong things to look up to in my opinion...

Mandy: Any pending works that you want to give us a preview of other than your current works?

Ally: Nope. I think I'm done after I finish this one. I'm all out of ideas for now.

Mandy: Any hints you'd want to give as to what's coming up in the story? Any teasers? :D

Ally: If I come up with something else I'll post it.

Ally: Oh. The next chapter is my favourite chapter so far.

Ally: It was super fun to write.

Ally: I had been wanting to write that chapter for like, a year.

Mandy: Hiiiiiiiint. You can't leave us like this!

Mandy: What's it about? What's going to happen? What can we expect? :D

Ally: *SPOILER ALERT* Bella and Edward come face to face. Damon will be pissed. Elena will be pissed. Jasper will be pissed. Emmett will be pissed. Alice will be pissed. Edward will mope *rolls eyes*  |-(

Ally: Emotion packed chapter.

Ally: Winter is coming.

Ally: lol

Mandy: LOL. What about Bella? *Wiggles eyebrows* I wonder if Damon will be possessive.. Doubt it, but I can hope!

Ally: You'll just have to see. She will be very angry at some point.

Mandy: Aw. I shall wait patiently. though I do have some chapters to catch up on, so. ;)

Mandy: When're you posting that chapter? Ally: I think, sometime next week, possibly Tuesday.

Ally:  I want to post NOW, but I haven’t started the chapter after that one, which is my new rule. I have to have at least 2 chapters written before posting a new one. So that updates are more frequent.

Ally: My readers complain a lot when I take a long time to post.

Mandy: I think they forget sometimes that authors are taking time out of their own lives to do something they're not getting paid for.

Mandy: I've received death threats in anon reviews, for joke's sake. o.o

Mandy: ...at least I hope it was a joke, or I'd be worried about their mental health. Death threats over internet?

Ally: :)

Ally: Please  (whew)

Ally: I KNOW!

Ally: Me too

Mandy: :O

Ally: I swear some people take fanfiction too seriously

Mandy: True! Numerous times I've wanted to just throw my hands up and say "I quit."

Mandy: But the ladies at BB...they're convincing. ;)

Ally: I've noticed

Ally: ;)

Ally: Mandy, I think you did a great job setting up the awards :) So I want to thank you for that.

Ally: (clap)

Mandy: Thank you! :)

Mandy: And thank you for your time! It was wonderful getting into your head. :D

Ally: You’re welcome!