Polyamorous Fic Rec

Hello guys! Did you miss the little owl?

Sometimes love is so big and exciting that it needs more than one person to exist… welcome to the "Polyamorous Fic Rec". Two series and one fic about this unusual and obscure theme in The Hunger Games fandom.

Unalaska Series – Lbug84, (Mrs. Creative Smut)

Summary: A look at Katniss, Peeta, Gale & Finnick's life in Unalaska. AU, polyandry, mature, lemons, the whole 9.

Warnings: Rated M.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

The main reason for that doesn't involve the fact that Katniss is the matriarch of a three husbands family. What makes this story something new and fresh is the Inuit/Eskimo/Native Alaskan culture where the it takes place.

Why is it good?

It's also be a history class! I personally love Lug84's style, and she works with plot twists beautifully.

Writing stuff comments:

With short chapters and a flowing plot, the author leads you to a different, intriguing story where at the end of each chapter you just need to read the next!

Heartbreaking line:

"I'm yours."

"Yes. You're mine."

The Glühwein Series – MockingJayFlyingFree (tumblr) and Lbug84, (Mrs. Creative Smut)

Summary: Peeta thinks his wife, Katniss, is too pure to have any dirty sexual fantasies. It turns out he's wrong. Very wrong. When the opportunity arises, will they make her fantasies come true?

Warnings: Rated NC-17.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

I need to be honest: I squealed when I saw this update on tumblr. Seriously: MockingJayFlyingFree and Lbug84 writing a foursome fic? I NEEDED to read this.

Oh right, the obscure part is the FOURSOME one. But it's also the AWESOME part.

Why is it good?

Whoa, hello? Peeta, Finnick, Annie and Katniss? This should be: why is it AWESOME?

Writing stuff comments:

A long story, but every little word is worth it! They explore each relationship separately and combine them together in a polyamorous relationship that works perfectly in their AU world.

Katniss is the main character, and you go paragraph by paragraph exploring this new idea, concept, love. Not just you, reader, is convinced by this, but you feel like the author was convincing herself that four people in a bed would work.

It did, by the way.

First Person POV, a journey into Katniss' pure (yes, I used this word) mind and insecurities, with a story flow that makes you forget how many words this story has.

Considering the enormous success of the story, those lovely ladies wrote a sequel, "Absinthe". It's a WIP and you should also check it out!

Heartbreaking line:

I'm Katniss with no label.

And that's okay. Liberating, even.

"Does It Hurt You At Night, Or Does It Keep You Alive?" – ygrainette (tumblr)

 

Summary: She doesn’t think Katniss will ever really understand the effect she has. Not on Peeta, not on Johanna, not on the whole goddamn country.                      

Warnings: Rated M, PTSD, abuse, violence.

Why is this fic a creature from the night?

Another polyamorous fic, but this one has a strong focus on Johanna/Katniss, so we enter the colorful path of slash fics.

Why is it good?

The author shows Johanna's POV in part of Mockingjay and Catching Fire. Johanna is very well developed and has original touches, such as her background in District Seven.

Writing stuff comments:

3^rd Person POV. Johanna is the main character and we see what is going on in her mind through her ironic, sad and hopeful eyes. A short one-shot that makes the readers wonder what would happen if Katniss and Peeta had too much love between them that another person was necessary in their relationship.

Heartbreaking line:

Katniss grins as wide as Johanna's ever seen her. There are crinkles at the corners of her eyes and the ghost of a dimple in her left cheek. It might even be genuine.

Don't spread the hate! If this theme doesn't interest you, feel free to ignore this post! I'll be posting different themes, mostly the ones ignored by the fandom… 

Suggestions? I'm on tumblr: ask me!

WIP Everlark Recs With Titania: Catching Fire Edition

This has been a crazy week for The Hunger Games' fandom.  Every time I opened my tumblr, there were countless premier pictures, official clips and stills to feed the anticipation for the next installment of Suzanne Collins' amazing trilogy.  There is no question that the director and cast of the upcoming film demonstrated a deep understanding of our beloved characters and had a ton of fun making the film too!   So, in honor of the multiple premiers, I went on the hunt for fics set during Catching Fire.  There were countless one-shots and drabbles but below are two mult-chapter fics that really deserve a reader's attention:

A Marriage Between Victors by optimus-pam

Summary:

What if the Victory Tour ended with a wedding rather than an engagement? A story that explores what would have happened if Peeta and Katniss had been forced to marry. How does this change affect their relationship? District 12? The rebellion? Rated M for later chapters. Banner by Ro Nordmann.

Favorite excerpt:

“I love you.” Katniss froze at Peeta’s words, which he sealed with a kiss to her collarbone.

It terrified to hear those words after the intimacy they just shared.

The ‘thank you” slipped past her lips before she could think of anything better to say and immediately the weightless feeling her body enjoyed just moments ago was replaced by a heavy sense of dread.

[…]

He dragged a distracted had through his hair.  “You don’t say ‘thank you’ after…” he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to gain composure. “After something like this.’

He turned away from her and Katniss saw the scars he would bear forever, the high price he paid for loving her.  He left the bathroom with his shoulders slumped in defeat and closed th door quietly behind him.  Katniss dropped her head in to her hands and began to weep.  She wept in shame that her foolish heart once again broke Peeta’s

He was right, thank you was not enough for what had transpired between them.  It would never be enough.

Why I love it:

Characterization!  This fic keeps everyone in character in a credible way.  Katniss feels deeply but is still emotionally daft.  Peeta is sensitive and loving without being emasculated, as many fics end up doing to his character.  But the absolute breakout character of this fic is Gale – still angry, still rebellious but now with the added bitterness that Katniss has returned as the wife of Peeta.  This character is strongly AU but also maintains crucial cannon elements to help the reader connect to the original story.

Catching Fire and Burning Down by Tara Bear

Summary:

The effect it has on him is nothing short of satisfying. But wrong, so, so wrong, and different and not me. It's the hunger. The side of me that I didn't think would be. That wants things like this; nakedness, beds, Peeta. And so it's not really me, who reaches out and grasps his wrist when he makes to stand and leave, it's the want. The fire begging for more fuel. *Rewritten*

Excerpt:

“You make me weak,” I say, one of the hands I have slung around him, pinching his side lightly.  The accusation in my voice is overpowering.

It takes a moment, but his eyes open, eyelashes tickling my forehead.  I repeat myself when, groggy, Peeta pulls back so we are at a talking distance, but still entirely too temptingly close.  

“How?” he rasps.

“That’s a stupid question,” I tell him.  “You make me have another person to worry about. When I was young… it was only my mother and Prim.  Now I have you, and… Haymitch… and Gale…”

“Loving people isn’t a weakness, Katniss.”

“Yeah, well,” I say, stubbornly, “I don’t love you.”

“I know,” Peeta says, amusement in his voice.     `       

Why I love it:

Again, Katniss is her usual non-reflective self, which is appropriate for her character development at this stage of the trilogy – she has feelings for Peeta but for all the reasons we know, she keeps him emotionally at arm’s length.  Except in this fic, Peeta breaks down those barriers sooner, creating intense emotional drama as we see Katniss forced to confront the intensity of her feelings for Peeta.  The writer makes good use of the source material, rewriting the parts as needed to fit her narrative while maintaining cannon elements. 

AND

In honor of one of the most anticipated scenes in Catching Fire, see below a wonderful piece of fanart by ghtlovesthg.  Johanna converses with Peeta in her birthday suit while a chagrined Katniss attempts to maintain her composure.

Next Rec Theme:  Everlark and the Captiol's Depravities.

If you have any ideas for Rec themes or any fics I should look at, post a comment here or hit me up at titania522.tumblr.com.

Sealskin (K/P, Rated M)

Well, well, well, look who found their way back! What can I say, I've been busy trying to find fantastic little stories for all you people to read and boy do I have one for you this month! How about we get right down to it, eh?

Title: Sealskin
Author: Loupee
Rating: Rated M
Pairing: Katniss/Peeta, Katniss/Gale
Summary: "In the cold north folklore told of shape shifters who lived both within the ocean waters and walked on land. Peeta believed they were just a thing of childhood stories until a fateful encounter. Years later he is drawn into the world of a girl with uncanny similarities whose past and future are interwoven with those of the creatures."

Why?

If you're relatively new to THG fanfiction you're probably still diving into the plethora of canon-compliant fics that have a tendancy to fill in the empty holes or other characterizations that you don't get from canon - and that's perfectly fine. If though you're like me and you've been kicking around for a while you may start dabbling in reading fics that take a more liberal approach to the characters by putting them into amazing little alternate universe scenarios that blow your mind.

Sealskin is absolutely one of the fics that will carry you away. I swear, you will show up for the star-crossed lovers and stay because you simply can't stop reading.

One of my favourite things about Loupee's Sealskin is that it is unlike anything I've ever read before. It centers around an old folklore tale but brings a very human aspect to the story that ties it almost seamlessly into the THG world. The characterizations are spot on with both Katniss and Peeta staying very true to form in their expected behaviours alone as well as during the critical moments that could be mirrored by canon elements. My only concern (and this is a personal preference of mine) is that once again Gale is in the role of the antogonist and that simply breaks my heart.

I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for something completely out of THG universe, or anyone who just wants something fantastic to read. Hopefully you go check it out.

Much love.

Hurts So Good AU Fics

Seasons greetings, everyone! Since the holidays are upon us, I figure this would be the perfect time to bring you angsty fics. You know, something to balance out all that holiday cheer. I kid... But really, this month I bring you two pieces that actually stray from my usual Everlark (Katniss/Peeta) pairing, sort of. Both pieces involve Katniss in a pairing who is not Gale, and not always Peeta. This month's stories, a one-shot and a WIP, feature the "star-crossed lovers" motif that marks Katniss and Peeta's tragically beautiful relationship.

Title: "The Vow" (Katniss/Peeta, Katniss/Cato)

Author: Ro_Nordmann

Rating: M

Summary: After thirty years, now I am an old woman, with regrets of the mistakes I'd made in my life. More than anything for accepting that vow on Independence Day. It changed our lives forever, making us into heroes we were not; dooming us onto unstoppable damnation. 

Recommendation: Not to be mistaken for the Rachel McAdams film, "The Vow" is Ro_Nordmann's reinterpretation of the 2011 film, The Debt, starring the incomparable Helen Mirren. If you've seen the film, this story follows the plot pretty closely, but to me, this cross-over makes sense on so many levels. Both have elements of a rebellion driven by a dictator, and a complicated love triangle between broken people. You will also see some minor characters in unexpected roles. What I like most in this one-shot are the interactions between Katniss and Peeta. They are painfully poignant, even though (but perhaps made especially because) the plot and pairings of this story are far from canon-compliant. Though the ending is painful to read, you wish it wouldn't end.

Title: "The common thread that lies between you and me" (Katniss/Peeta, Katniss/Seneca Crane)

Author: angylinni

Rating: E

Summary: Katniss Everdeen has only loved one man in her life, but she's married to another. They can't stay apart and they can't be together.

Recommendation: This is one of my favorite WIPs of the moment. "The common thread" is a modern AU that jumps around through time to unravel the complicated relationship between Peeta and Katniss. Her characters are wonderfully flawed, which makes them oh so realistic in this story. My favorite is probably her Peeta, who can be very crass and sweet in the same paragraph. And do not be fooled by a chapter's steamy sexiness because I warn you that the author will swiftly pull that rug from underneath you, and leave you with a gut-wrenching zinger of a last line, every time. What gets me most about this ongoing story is how Angylinni slowly and deliciously peals back the layers of the Everlark relationship, and with each chapter, she manages to find a different cross-section of the bond they share. It is at once painful, heartfelt, snarky, mysterious, and heartbreaking, and you can't help but tell yourself to keep reading until the end, wherein (I hope) we will be treated to triumph... although, who knows, except the author herself?


This is it for now. Stay tuned for my review of V. Arrow's The Panem Companion. If you havne't done so, check out our Prompt Challenge, why don't you? Entries are due 16 December 2012. Cheers, everyone!

Science vs. Romance AU Fics

Sorry for being AWOL last month. Life caught up to me, and I didn't have time to do my segment justice, so I thought I'd wait until this month to update. I've unintentionally been making recommendations based on common themes in the pieces I read, so I suppose I'll keep doing that. This month's theme is based on Rilo Kiley's "Science vs. Romance," one of my favorite songs. I love the dichotomy between science and romance, and one would immediately think that these two are mutually exclusive. Well, these two authors artfully combine the two; they open their stories by leading with science and ending in romance.


Title: "Elasticity" (Katniss/Peeta)

Author: TwoPisces

Rating: M

Summary: Elasticity in physics is the physical property of a material to return to its original shape after a period of stress. Sometimes, it can apply to people too. Modern day AU.

Recommendation: In this college-set AU, Katniss meets Peeta in her physics class, and a sweet, sweet romance blossoms. But that's not all we get. TwoPisces weaves a beautiful character backstory with Peeta, we are delighted to see the two characters dance around and toward their obvious attraction for each other. I am also tickled by the minor characters in the story, particularly Johanna, who is not just the brash, foul-mouthed hoyden we know and love, but is a brash, foul-mouthed big-sister type to Katniss. Chapter 8 was updated not too long ago, and it does not disappoint (fans self). Plus, major bonus points: this story mentions Mulder and Scully, who absolutely embody the co-existence, as opposed to the conflict, between science and romance.

Title: "Range of Motion" (Katniss/Peeta)

Author: fnurfnur

Rating: M

Summary: Range of motion is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another. Katniss Everdeen is sent to physical therapy to help her range of motion after a shoulder injury. She did not expect the therapy, or the friendly patient she meets there, to be the catalyst for making motion in her life.

Recommendation: The theme for this month's recommendations could very well be "Peeta being adorable," because fnurfnur's Peeta certainly is. I really like the dialogue: it's witty and humorous, and certainly 2012. I was hooked at the mention of zombies. I also enjoy the clever ways canon dialogue is incorporated into the story. It is subtle, and not forced the way some fanfiction AUs deliberately drop canon dialogue every which-a-way. I am amused by the Seneca Crane character here, who is the overbearing, under-qualified boss we've all had or currently have. In just the two chapters of the story so far, we can probably expect more adorableness from poor, injured Peeta, and I know I can't wait.


Finally, in the month I was absent, Prompts in Panem: AU Week came and went. I have two fics that deserve honorable mention... and not in the "honorable mention" that is the consolatory, thanks-for-playing way, but the I'm honored to mention these pieces because they are superb in every way kind. They come from two of my favorite authors. If you haven't read "Admirer" (by HGRomance) and "The Threshing Floor: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School" (by porchwood, née Mejhiren, who I've rec'd before), please do yourselves a favor and go do.

Happy reading!

Waxing Nostalgic AU Fics

Howdy, folks! This month I bring you two stories that evoke nostalgia in wonderfully different ways.

Title: "When the Moon Fell in Love with the Sun" (Katniss/Peeta)

Author: Mejhiren

Rating: M

Summary: "It's something out of an old tale: a golden young man in a white bearskin, striking strange bargains with desperate souls on the cruelest night of winter." AU fic, based on the fairy tale "East of the Sun & West of the Moon." Peeta Mellark, winner of the 74th Hunger Games, returns from his Victory Tour to make the starving Everdeens an offer they can't refuse.

Recommendation: Mejhiren had me at "fairy tale" in her clever yet subtle universe where the Hunger Games exists, but with a folk-taley spin. The premise of the story assumes the Everdeens are never involved in the Games, but Peeta becomes the Victor and earns himself fame and fortune. The story follows the plotline of the fairy tale from which it draws inspiration from. I took Mejhiren's advice and read the original tale, and I found myself regretting not having discovered it sooner; it's a gem. I love the way the original fairy tale lends itself to such an unexpected mashup. Further, I also really like how the author keeps the first person narrative, allowing us to see how a conflicted Katniss sees the kind yet vulnerable Peeta. Mejhiren wraps her story around the fairy tale, lending mysticism to the Hunger Games universe while humanizing the stock characters that often populate fairy tales. What we are left with is a doubly comforting world of decidedly human characters––lovable with their achingly familiar conflicts––and an enchantingly intriguing storyline that is a sure read.

Title: "Violets in the Mountains" (Katniss/Peeta)

Author: PenelopeWeaving

Rating: T

Summary: "The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks." -Tennessee Williams. Katniss and Peeta in North Georgia.

Recommendation: I love AU fics that highlight how well The Hunger Games fits in Americana. PW's story, which alludes to playwright Tennessee Williams and is set in Georgia, does just that. The prologue alone was enough to reel me into the story, depicting the often reinterpreted scene where Peeta saves Katniss with burned bread. I really enjoy how PW has written our main protagonists as children: little Katniss is so stubbornly proud, it's interesting to watch young Peeta chip away at her pride with his altruism. I was so excited yesterday, to find the story updated and the time frame sped up a few years. It is so delightful to read this narrative from Peeta's perspective, and his efforts to win over Katniss with charm and sincerity. The characterization of the characters, both major and minor, are spot on. I really enjoy the parallels drawn to the book, especially how Peeta and Katniss find each other again unexpectedly after spending a number of years without contact. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story takes us, and how PW will take the characters through adolescence in the '90s... because, you know, some of us have been through it, too.


Happy reading!

Present-Day AU Fics (Katniss/Peeta)

Hola, everyone! I come bearing a pair of recs by two fabulous authors who transport Hunger Games characters to modern times––very sexy modern times, I might add. What drew me about these two pieces in particular is the setting in each of them: one in San Francisco, and the other set in Manhattan.

Just a little soapbox moment for me. I've been a user on Fanfiction.net for over 10 years now. Yes, that probably dates me quite a bit. I've been reading fan fiction since I was in high school. Never did I anticipate there would come a day when "unleashing your imagination" would come with a caveat. The first rec in this entry (along with other stories) was forcibly removed from the site, despite being appropriately rated by the author herself. I'll spare you the tirade, but let me appeal to your continued support for all authors whose imaginations have been deemed too hot for FF.net to handle. "Fire is catching," and, well, you know the rest. /soapbox

Title: "Two Wrongs"

Author: JLaLa

Rating: M

Summary: "Katniss, you're my best friend and I love you but seriously––marry you?"

Recommendation: The plot of this story stems from the "Katniss and Peeta in an arranged marriage" situation attempted by a handful of fanfic writers. What makes JLaLa's story so wonderful is how realistic the circumstances faced by the characters are. JLaLa recycles familiar characters in believable roles, and I've been pleasantly surprised to find them parallel to their canon counterparts. Far from regurgitating the same storyline as the books, "Two Wrongs" stands on its own right, a roller-coaster of emotions that is light-hearted then heart-wrenching at times. Reading "Two Wrongs" makes me long to go back to the bay area, at least for a visit. JLaLa takes great care in including landmarks in her story, even providing useful footnotes about spots (and other pop culture references) mentioned in each chapter. 

Title: "The Beast and His Belle"

Author: Falafel_Waffel

Rating: M

Summary: His whole life was a masquerade. It wasn't until he met the outspoken Katniss Everdeen that Peter "Peeta" Mellark really began living.

Recommendation: The fact that I enjoy this story probably means that I'm a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey who isn't reading Fifty Shades of Grey. Falafel mentions that "Beast" is "somewhat inspired" by the runaway bestseller, but with a Hunger Games twist. The story is mostly light and playful, the kind of guilty pleasure you'd want to read while eating a tub of ice cream. Expect to blush violently every time you read a chapter from this story. What strikes me most about Falafel's story is that her Katniss remains feisty, fierce, and headstrong. On the other hand, you will meet a new side to Peeta, who is at his most charming, multiplied by about a hundred, raised to the power of fame and fortune; this Peeta equals irresistible. I'm partial to stories with developed settings, and if my "I ♥ NY" mug is any indication, this New York-based story has all the elements of being a must-read.

Aaaand that's all, folks! See you next month.

Interview with VividlyVisceral!

Welcome, Panem!  Today I have the honor of presenting an interview with a lovely and talented author known as VividlyVisceral.  Though best known for writing the longest in-progress Hunger Games fic on Fanfiction.net, The Capitol Games, she was also named "Best Author" in the 2011 Summer Hunger Games Awards and was the September author of the month here at Nightlock.  Enjoy the interview, everyone!

Welcome, Vivid! Thanks for doing this interview.

No problem, thanks for the opportunity!

So, first of all, tell us a little bit about yourself.

Well, I'm nineteen years old and I live on the eastern coast of Australia. I've been writing fanfiction since I was twelve, but I've only been on http://www.fanfiction.net since about 2005. This is my third account, and I'm planning on sticking with this one.

How did you get into the "Hunger Games" and Fanfiction worlds? What was it that made you love the books?

I can't exactly remember how I got into FanFiction itself, since it was back around 2003 where I first began writing fanfiction on Quizilla, but I do remember when I first started delving into fanfiction of the Hunger Games. I was having a study period and had gone to the local shopping centre with some friends when I first picked up the book. There were little blood splatters over the title that interested me, and I was sold the moment I realised that it was about a game where people killed each other for glory.

I bought the book and brought it back to school. I didn't stop reading until later that night. I remember just sitting there staring at the last page thinking "Wow. That was amazing." No other book had held my attention like the Hunger Games had, and I knew right then and there that I needed so much more. Since I already wrote fanfiction, it was an easy solution. I began working on my own fanfiction, The Trial Games that same week.

What charmed me most about the book was the entire 'fight to the death' situation. I have a bit of a thing for gore in literature, and the Hunger Games offered this wonderful opportunity to write gore, despite the fact that the book itself isn't too explicit in its descriptions of murder/mutilation. Katniss was also a welcome change from all the other YA heroines that were circulating at the time, and I enjoyed reading about her. Although, I wasn't really too invested in the romantic aspect of the books.

Your Fanfiction "The Capitol Games" is the longest in-progress "Hunger Games" story in the Fanfiction.net archive. Did you always know it would be record-settingly long?

To be completely honest, no. I had no idea it would get to this stage. When I first started out on The Capitol Games, all I was set on was doing the best I could to present each character adequately. Previous stories that used characters created by other users tended to focus on a handful of tributes and gloss over some characters- even ignoring them completely. Seeing that always bothered me. To avoid doing the same, I decided to give every character the same number of perspectives before the games began. It started with twenty-four reaping chapters of 4000 words, and sort of spiraled on from there when I hit the pre-games chapters, with each installment reaching counts of 9000 words apiece.

The numbers just sort of accumulated over time, and to be honest even I'm a little stunned to see how much I've written.

You've won honors such as "Best Author" and "Best SYOC Story" in the seasonal Hunger Games awards, as well as being a Victor in oneshot challenges on Starvation. How do you feel about these awards, do you think they help bring you more readers?

I think awards are great fun and good for bolstering confidence in authors, but I don't think they really brought me more readers.

"The Capitol Games" is enormously popular, with nearly 1400 reviews. What do you make of all the fan response to your writing?

I'm really quite surprised that I have almost 1400 reviews. If I were to make something of the overwhelmingly positive response that I've gotten, I'd say that I must have done something right in my writing that the readers are responding to. It's a nice thing to have happen.

*Note: "The Capitol Games" has now passed 1400 reviews!*

Do you have a favorite pairing or character to read about, or just a favorite type of fic (AU, post-MJ, pre-canon, etc.)?

Personally I love AU fics, and other stories that use submitted characters. However I will dabble in pre-canon stories and the occasional pairing fic. I can't get enough of Katniss/Marvel! Ahaha.

The TVTropes page of "The Capitol Games" notes that it's one of the only SYOTs (Submit Your Own Tribute) with the support of most of the Fandom. Were you concerned about writing this type of story originally, or was it something you always wanted to do?

At first it wasn't something that even crossed my mind. I had been inspired by Chocolatiee's wonderful SYOT, and I knew it was something that I wanted to try for myself. I felt like I had the capability to take the characters I was given and really make a story out of them.

The issues of SYOTs came only really began a little while after I had started work on the Capitol Games. I couldn't argue that the SYOT format broke guidelines- asking readers to submit characters- however I was one of the few who had collected their tributes before posting the story, thereby rendering it as a collaborative work.

However, that hasn't exempted me from being questioned about my motives for writing an SYOT story rather than creating my own characters, but I stand by my decision. The story has brought me so much closer to the creators of the characters, I've made some wonderful friends and everything has just been so fun. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What's your writing/editing process like? Do you prefer writing your usual longer chapters, or your shorter pieces?

I work from a chapter plan, meaning that I've written a basic run-through of each of my chapters right to the end of the story. Whenever I start to feel like I'm getting off track, I check my plan.

Longer chapters are actually more rewarding, but it's nice to mix it up with a shorter piece now and then. However I prefer to update with longer chapters because I know how upset I am when an author I am watching only does tiny updates. It's much more rewarding knowing that I'm giving my readers a nice big update.

You're often commended on your "gore" scenes – is that your favorite area of writing?

It really is! I know that sounds odd, since the usual 'favorite' areas of writing tend to be action, romance or dialogue- but to be completely honest, nothing makes me happier than writing gorn scenes. It's hard to explain, but there's a great deal of satisfaction in being able to write something that can simultaneously horrify and enthrall readers at the same time. I believe that, if gore is well written, it can be absolutely beautiful. The Hunger Games fanfiction archive has some marvelous proof of that.

Are you excited to reach the second installment of your epic, "The Vicious Games", or will you be sad to leave the first behind?

I'm excited. The Capitol Games will always be very dear to me, and really The Vicious Games is just continuing on what The Capitol Games started. It won't truly be over for a long, long time.

Your writing always flows so well – but has there been a particularly difficult part of Fanfiction-writing for you so far? Any type of scenes you struggle with?

I don't know if there's any particular scene I struggle the most with, but I have a bit of trouble with "dramatic silence", and I constantly feel a need to fill things in with words. Because of that I end up telling a lot more when I should be showing. I also struggle quite a bit with romantic scenes.

There are also a few things I want to fix with my writing, and that's mostly my use of dashes. I'm a bit dash-happy at times.

Do you have plans for other fics you'd like to write or other Fandoms you'd like to explore?

I'd love to explore the Fallout (video game) fandom, because there's a lot of opportunity there to have fun with the little unexplored side-stories that aren't explained in the games, and I'm really getting into the Divergent fandom, so expect a few fanfictions on that front someday.

How do you feel about writing OCs created by your readers? Do you think there's more pressure to write them well, or does it come more naturally?

I do feel pressure to write them well, but that's part of the fun. It makes sure that I don't slack off or misuse the characters, and it guarantees that I must finish what I started. I'm not just writing for me, which is the case with all my other stories. I am writing to do justice to the twenty-four characters I was given, and their creators who read their fates.

Could you tell us about some of your favorite "Hunger Games" fics? Are they similar to what you write?

It's hard to pick my favourite fanfictions, but three that have stuck with me since the beginning are "First" by gethsemane342, "150th Hunger Games: Make Your Own Characters" by Chocolatiee and "A Capitol Experience" by Claratrix LeChatham.

"First" was the first fanfiction that really hit home with me about the reality of the Hunger Games without being preachy or overly emotional. I loved the characters and the chemistry they had. Chocolatiee's story was similar, and was the first SYOC/SYOT I read where the characters meshed well and were respected rather than used up like dirty tissues. "A Capitol Experience" is also special to me because of the love and dedication put into it, and the subtle but lovely action/gore descriptions mixed in.

None of them are as 'explicit' in their use of gore as mine are, but they treat characters expertly which is what I hope to do in my own writing.

What inspires you to keep writing "Hunger Games" Fanfiction – the positive responses to your work or your original love of the series?

I'd say it's a mixture of both. The positive responses are a wonderful incentive, but I really do love the Hunger Games itself. It's the only book I've read more than five times, and the movie blew me away.

Finally, is there anything else you want your readers to know?

Just thank you. Writing is so much fun, and I'm so glad to have been able to cross paths with everyone this way. :)


Thanks for doing this interview!

The Windup Girl (K/P) and She Flies with Her Own Wings (K/P)

Hey all! forthegenuine here, in my inaugural post. I want to thank the lovely staff here at Nightlock Recs for being such gracious hosts, and for the warm welcome I've received. I will be recommending Alternate Universe Fics here at NR about once a month.

I know that there are a ton of great AU fics out right now, but I want to spotlight a couple that are perhaps not as well-known. They are both works in progress, so hopefully with a little encouragement, these authors might be inspired to let us continue reading their works.

Title: The Windup Girl

Author: otterpuke
Rating: M

Summary: I wondered briefly if I would suffer the same fate as Finnick. After all, the Girl on Fire would price a fair penny in the Capitol, and as I crossed the arena bare in shackles and filth, oh but did the lions roar as they placed their bidding.

Recommendation: "The Windup Girl" grabbed my attention from the get-go. Like any good epic, it starts in medias res (in the middle of things), and the reader is left to wonder what exactly transpired in this universe. The characterization of the characters is familiar... with the exception of Peeta. I think many of us are intrigued by "dark" Peeta stories because we're so used to seeing him gentle-like for the most part. Glimpses of his twisted, hijacked persona are deliciously portrayed in the threatening and fearful version of Peeta this author has reinterpreted. The story also incorporates canon events, although the deviations are not yet fully explained. I love the narrative style in this piece because it is very reminiscent of Collins's voice. I'm anxious to discover where this story came from, and where it's headed next. The story is dark, though, so be forewarned.

Title: She Flies with Her Own Wings
Author: RainyDaysAnyways
Rating: M
Summary: When her father moved the family from the Seam to the forests of Oregon, Katniss thought she would never again see the Boy with the Bread. Now 18, the tough logger's daughter has arranged to take over as schoolteacher at Camp 7. Her plans are thwarted when college boy Peeta Mellark, fresh off the train, gets the job instead.

Recommendation: I love how The Hunger Games's characters and plot can be translated into period pieces. This one is set in 1916, and the author reveals that it is inspired by the Anne of Green Gables series. Having never read the series myself, I don't have anything to compare this fic to, but it draws you in immediately with the earnest characterization of an early-Twentieth Century and twenty-year-old Peeta. We've yet to meet this universe's Katniss, but the author has hinted that we will have that pleasure very shortly. While the plot has yet to be developed fully, you can appreciate that the story hints of an Oregon that is at once idyllic and progressive, contains a rich family drama, is peppered with humor, and yes, quite sexy at times. This is definitely a piece that I am on the lookout for.


That's all for now, folks! I hope you enjoy reading. Cheers!