Love Never Fails:
My thoughts:
This story was slated to be the final chapter of the Hewett Series, a storyline that I had loads of fun writing. This was also the most emotional chapter, for both the characters and the writer. I found myself in tears while writing certain portions of the story.
I had not originally planned a time travel story, but adding that aspect allowed me to set the hook, making for a much more entertaining story. And having Virginia and Matt being suddenly faced with a grown-up daughter was loads of fun.
I portray Matt and Ginny as a very deeply in love couple, but as seen in the story they still have the challenges and problems and disagreements of a normal marriage. Virginia’s character has evolved as well as she is shown to be much warmer in this story than, either in the series, or my previous stories. Virginia and Matt have truly grown together, and that aspect is highlighted in a conversation they have about their tiff on the plane years ago.
I do the same with Ed’s character, as he is shown to be much mellow than portrayed in the series, yet at his core, he is still Ed Straker. His decisiveness and leadership have not wavered. It’s important to note that this is a case of character evolution and not out of character portrayal.
The funeral home scene was very difficult to write as it brought up some rather unpleasant memories. Writing about John and Matt in this scene came from personal experience. Matt helping John deal with the loss of his father was therapy for both of them, and for me.
At the future HQ, we get to see a couple familiar names and some new ones as well. I loved the idea of Nina Barry as a General and Head of the IAC. It was a nice tie-in to the future and I certainly think she could have made the grade. I think my portrayal of the SHADO command lineage was believable as well.
I enjoyed the parallels this story had with Matters of the Heart and it was fun to have Virginia and Matt relive some of the tender moments they shared in the first story. The repeat of their first long kiss and having them reminisce about their first hike up the mountain really tied the stories together.
The jam session was another part that I had a blast with. A classical trained pianist would have no trouble sitting in with a jam session of this type, especially being exposed to this type of music for seven years. I dearly love toying with Virginia’s creative side, it adds so much to her character.
Like most of my stories, I’m along for the ride as well and I got the idea of making Kathy Crawford the focal point in time. Even the aliens don’t realize this as they mistake Ginny and Matt as the targets.
The other difficult scene was the afterlife portrayal. Matt and his Dad finally get to say some of the things that they left unsaid, I cried through the whole chapter. Much of this was left to interpretation as this subject is not always well received. For whatever reason, many of us are uncomfortable when faced with our own mortality. (Or the thought of meeting God.) It’s a risky subject for any writer to tackle. I hope I did it justice.
Being fond of happy endings I had to figure a way for Ginny and Matt to avoid the plane crash in the future, and yes, Matt gets to walk his daughter down the aisle a second time.
I had loads of fun writing the whole series and yet they all form, a very serious storyline, and I hope a worthwhile contribution to the UFO mythos.
I hope everyone enjoyed this story, and the series.
My thoughts:
This story was slated to be the final chapter of the Hewett Series, a storyline that I had loads of fun writing. This was also the most emotional chapter, for both the characters and the writer. I found myself in tears while writing certain portions of the story.
I had not originally planned a time travel story, but adding that aspect allowed me to set the hook, making for a much more entertaining story. And having Virginia and Matt being suddenly faced with a grown-up daughter was loads of fun.
I portray Matt and Ginny as a very deeply in love couple, but as seen in the story they still have the challenges and problems and disagreements of a normal marriage. Virginia’s character has evolved as well as she is shown to be much warmer in this story than, either in the series, or my previous stories. Virginia and Matt have truly grown together, and that aspect is highlighted in a conversation they have about their tiff on the plane years ago.
I do the same with Ed’s character, as he is shown to be much mellow than portrayed in the series, yet at his core, he is still Ed Straker. His decisiveness and leadership have not wavered. It’s important to note that this is a case of character evolution and not out of character portrayal.
The funeral home scene was very difficult to write as it brought up some rather unpleasant memories. Writing about John and Matt in this scene came from personal experience. Matt helping John deal with the loss of his father was therapy for both of them, and for me.
At the future HQ, we get to see a couple familiar names and some new ones as well. I loved the idea of Nina Barry as a General and Head of the IAC. It was a nice tie-in to the future and I certainly think she could have made the grade. I think my portrayal of the SHADO command lineage was believable as well.
I enjoyed the parallels this story had with Matters of the Heart and it was fun to have Virginia and Matt relive some of the tender moments they shared in the first story. The repeat of their first long kiss and having them reminisce about their first hike up the mountain really tied the stories together.
The jam session was another part that I had a blast with. A classical trained pianist would have no trouble sitting in with a jam session of this type, especially being exposed to this type of music for seven years. I dearly love toying with Virginia’s creative side, it adds so much to her character.
Like most of my stories, I’m along for the ride as well and I got the idea of making Kathy Crawford the focal point in time. Even the aliens don’t realize this as they mistake Ginny and Matt as the targets.
The other difficult scene was the afterlife portrayal. Matt and his Dad finally get to say some of the things that they left unsaid, I cried through the whole chapter. Much of this was left to interpretation as this subject is not always well received. For whatever reason, many of us are uncomfortable when faced with our own mortality. (Or the thought of meeting God.) It’s a risky subject for any writer to tackle. I hope I did it justice.
Being fond of happy endings I had to figure a way for Ginny and Matt to avoid the plane crash in the future, and yes, Matt gets to walk his daughter down the aisle a second time.
I had loads of fun writing the whole series and yet they all form, a very serious storyline, and I hope a worthwhile contribution to the UFO mythos.
I hope everyone enjoyed this story, and the series.
