Marisa Oldham's Blog
April 16, 2013
FAQ
FAQ's
Since I released The Falling of Love I've been compiling a list of FAQ's that have come my way. Have a question for me about the book? Please feel free to email me at author@fashionnchaos.com or email me on Facebook via the novel's page.
Facebook Page
Q: Why three novels under 400 pages each?
A: When I first started writing TFOL I really had no idea it would go where it has gone. I was highly doubtful that anyone would love Grace and Ian's story as much as my sisters and I did. Once I kept getting positive feedback the drive to complete Grace's story became more than just a hobby. I have always felt that Grace's story was one that required an intense beginning, middle, and end, so with this in mind I knew I wanted three separate entities for all three parts of her story. Also, each paperback, by the time you add shipping, comes to about $18. Can you imagine the cost of a 900 page or more novel?
Q: Who are the characters in your novels based on?
A: Anyone and everyone, from myself to celebrities. Each character that I've formulated in my mind has traits from someone that has touched my life either personally or from a distance, but the characters are fictional, any resemblance to actual living human beings is not intended.
Q: Why do you just skim over the other characters, why not bring us more of their stories?
A: Everyone loves Michelle, and I do give tidbits about what is happening in her life, but in the end the answer to this question is simple, this is Grace's story.
Q: Will Michelle get her own series?
A: A series, probably not, but her own story, it's likely. I think about it all the time so it's highly possible.
Q: Without giving too much away, explain Jaden's actions.
A: He's simply too loyal of a friend. In The Falling of Grace we learn a little more about why he does/did what he does.
Q: Is Ian the villain in your stories?
A: Absolutely not. He's a victim. I knew that by writing Ian as I did that I was setting my readers up to hate him, but I had hoped that they would understand the underlying truth of why he does what he does and that the readers would forgive him. He just makes bad choices.
Q: What can we expect from the second book in the series, The Falling of Grace?
A: The tittle of the book has multiple meanings, which should become clear to the reader the deeper they dive into the story. Readers can expect that the second book picks up at the very moment the first book ended. I hope to surprise my readers with this novel. I hear a lot of speculation about what people think is going to happen, but so far no one has guessed correctly.
Q: You have a unique style of writing whereas you dive into a story with facts and details, playing the story out gradually like most authors, then bam it's several months or years later, why?
A: I call myself a juicy-parts writer, in more ways than one haha. I hate reading stories that drag on about the same subject for 10 or more chapters. I like when authors get to the juicy-parts. If I'm dwelling on a portion of the story, it's because I feel it's crucial to the overall story. An example of this is Grace and Ian's falling in love as teens. Grace's story must begin here so I lingered on it. It is so crucial to the theme of this entire series. However, I felt that her years in college were not important to the overall story so I skipped through them.
Q: Why all the sex? Why not just take the sex out and make the book marketable to teens?
A: When people read the first few pages of TFOL I can see where they may be thinking, I'm reading a teen's story. As we progress through the story the reader should find that Grace is not your typical teen, even though it is written that she is, through reading the story the reader learns that she's not. The events in Grace's life shape her into the young girl that she is forced to be, they shape her into the young woman we find her as at the end of TFOL. The overall theme of Grace's story, which is revealed in the last novel, is not a theme that I feel is suited for a teenager, but Grace being a teenager is an intricate part of the web I'm weaving. This series is most definitely not a teen series. The sex, in my opinion is necessary because it takes us on an intimate ride with these characters. When two people are in love, they make love. Does the sex need to be so graphic, yes, a couple words about how they went to bed wouldn't sufficiently express the deep feelings these characters have for each other. I could take out all the sex scenes from TFOL and market the book to a teen audience, but they would be left with an unfinished story because by book 2 Grace is no longer a teen. These books are intended for mature audiences, hence the labeling on the books.
Q: What made you bring the Rock n' Roll aspect into the story?
A: I was a Headbanger's Ball watching, tall banged wearing, boots and rock t-shirt wearing teenager. The music, the musicians, my lifestyle, the lifestyle of the bands I worshipped, are a part of who I am. Plus, half the guys in rock bands in the 80's had stories similar to Ian's; kid from a small rural American town dreams of breaking away, moving to Hollywood and making it big, what freakin great inspiration for a love story? I haven't read one book that covers this. How could I grow up as a teen how I did without this being a huge inspiration to me?
Since I released The Falling of Love I've been compiling a list of FAQ's that have come my way. Have a question for me about the book? Please feel free to email me at author@fashionnchaos.com or email me on Facebook via the novel's page.
Facebook Page
Q: Why three novels under 400 pages each?
A: When I first started writing TFOL I really had no idea it would go where it has gone. I was highly doubtful that anyone would love Grace and Ian's story as much as my sisters and I did. Once I kept getting positive feedback the drive to complete Grace's story became more than just a hobby. I have always felt that Grace's story was one that required an intense beginning, middle, and end, so with this in mind I knew I wanted three separate entities for all three parts of her story. Also, each paperback, by the time you add shipping, comes to about $18. Can you imagine the cost of a 900 page or more novel?
Q: Who are the characters in your novels based on?
A: Anyone and everyone, from myself to celebrities. Each character that I've formulated in my mind has traits from someone that has touched my life either personally or from a distance, but the characters are fictional, any resemblance to actual living human beings is not intended.
Q: Why do you just skim over the other characters, why not bring us more of their stories?
A: Everyone loves Michelle, and I do give tidbits about what is happening in her life, but in the end the answer to this question is simple, this is Grace's story.
Q: Will Michelle get her own series?
A: A series, probably not, but her own story, it's likely. I think about it all the time so it's highly possible.
Q: Without giving too much away, explain Jaden's actions.
A: He's simply too loyal of a friend. In The Falling of Grace we learn a little more about why he does/did what he does.
Q: Is Ian the villain in your stories?
A: Absolutely not. He's a victim. I knew that by writing Ian as I did that I was setting my readers up to hate him, but I had hoped that they would understand the underlying truth of why he does what he does and that the readers would forgive him. He just makes bad choices.
Q: What can we expect from the second book in the series, The Falling of Grace?
A: The tittle of the book has multiple meanings, which should become clear to the reader the deeper they dive into the story. Readers can expect that the second book picks up at the very moment the first book ended. I hope to surprise my readers with this novel. I hear a lot of speculation about what people think is going to happen, but so far no one has guessed correctly.
Q: You have a unique style of writing whereas you dive into a story with facts and details, playing the story out gradually like most authors, then bam it's several months or years later, why?
A: I call myself a juicy-parts writer, in more ways than one haha. I hate reading stories that drag on about the same subject for 10 or more chapters. I like when authors get to the juicy-parts. If I'm dwelling on a portion of the story, it's because I feel it's crucial to the overall story. An example of this is Grace and Ian's falling in love as teens. Grace's story must begin here so I lingered on it. It is so crucial to the theme of this entire series. However, I felt that her years in college were not important to the overall story so I skipped through them.
Q: Why all the sex? Why not just take the sex out and make the book marketable to teens?
A: When people read the first few pages of TFOL I can see where they may be thinking, I'm reading a teen's story. As we progress through the story the reader should find that Grace is not your typical teen, even though it is written that she is, through reading the story the reader learns that she's not. The events in Grace's life shape her into the young girl that she is forced to be, they shape her into the young woman we find her as at the end of TFOL. The overall theme of Grace's story, which is revealed in the last novel, is not a theme that I feel is suited for a teenager, but Grace being a teenager is an intricate part of the web I'm weaving. This series is most definitely not a teen series. The sex, in my opinion is necessary because it takes us on an intimate ride with these characters. When two people are in love, they make love. Does the sex need to be so graphic, yes, a couple words about how they went to bed wouldn't sufficiently express the deep feelings these characters have for each other. I could take out all the sex scenes from TFOL and market the book to a teen audience, but they would be left with an unfinished story because by book 2 Grace is no longer a teen. These books are intended for mature audiences, hence the labeling on the books.
Q: What made you bring the Rock n' Roll aspect into the story?
A: I was a Headbanger's Ball watching, tall banged wearing, boots and rock t-shirt wearing teenager. The music, the musicians, my lifestyle, the lifestyle of the bands I worshipped, are a part of who I am. Plus, half the guys in rock bands in the 80's had stories similar to Ian's; kid from a small rural American town dreams of breaking away, moving to Hollywood and making it big, what freakin great inspiration for a love story? I haven't read one book that covers this. How could I grow up as a teen how I did without this being a huge inspiration to me?
