1) Tell us one thing about your story that no one else knows?
Hmm... I wish I were Cole? Lol. Actually, the best answer I have for that is that this is the first and only fan fiction story that I have followed through to the end, and felt so emotionally connected to the characters. I have also made some great friends through the process of writing this story that I would have never made otherwise.
2) How long did it take you to write this entire story?
Wow, that's a good one. I started writing it in October of 2005 and finished it in January of 2009. It was a long and glorious process.
3) Give us a summary different from the one you have posted on AC, with a few more spoilers to make people tune in.
Hmm... to make things interesting, we'll go from Nick's point of view: When Nick is reunited with his childhood crush, he is determined not to miss out on an actual chance with her. Cole is on tour with the Backstreet Boys again, but the problem is, she's there to help someone else out just like she was all those years ago: Brian. Nick will have to prove to Cole that he's not the same teenage kid she once knew, and that he's man enough to help her deal with everything that Backstreet life will throw at them. When menacing notes begin to arrive and jealous fans threaten to destroy their relationship early on, will Nick and Cole have what it takes to push forward and stay together amid all the turmoil? -Best I could do off the top of my head.
4) If you could cast this story as a movie who would play the main roles and why?
Nick as Nick, obviously. And Cole is harder, although I did name her after the actress Taylor Cole, who I think was fun, witty and gorgeous on a little known show called Summerland.
5) Have you ever thought of giving up on the story and if you did what made you continue to work on it?
Lol. Many times. Writer's block can be tough, and I think it was the hardest when I had my son and went 15 months without sleep. Literally. But I always knew in my heart that Nick and Cole deserved better, and that the readers deserved better, so I kept on pushing. Honestly, the therapeutic aspect of writing this story is something I miss already.
6) What was your writing process?
My initial idea came to me while sitting in a stuffy little cubicle at work one day. I have always been a huge fan of medical thrillers and tv shows (ER and the like) so I wanted to do a story about the BSB that could incorporate some of that. It's not easily done without taking the BSB out of their normal lives and altering their universe completely, which just isn't something I wanted to do. Then the idea came to me that I could have a nurse who helped Brian out in the past after his surgery come back into play. From there I just sort of decided to put myself in Cole's shoes and see how she would feel about being thrown into the whirlwind that is Backstreet land and then quite suddenly taken out once Brian was doing well enough. It would be hard for any of us, wouldn't it? Then you add the element of Nick into things and learn that he was majorly crushing on Cole the entire time, and now all these years later she's backstage and has the chance to come on the road with him again. That would be crazy for Nick, right? I didn't really use an outline, though I had a fairly good idea of the entire plot in my head from the beginning. I wrote when I had 15 spare minutes here or there so it wasn't as organized as it probably should have been in retrospect, but I had an end goal and lots of drama in between to make it interesting.
7) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
I can't pick just one! Especially since there were multiple points of view happening here. Instead, I'll just explain why I loved a few of them. Fair enough?
-Nick, because it was fun to write him with his heart on his sleeve a little. He isn't perfect, but he is a caring person who I think has struggled with his ability to trust and love deeply (romatically, that is.) It was a great experience to see through his eyes in this story and try to deal with everything that's going on. I think he's easier to relate to that way. And he has admitted in interviews that he likes to spoil girls, so I had fun with that aspect of his personality. He really is a romantic.
-Cole was fun because she's a strong, sexy, independent woman who does just fine on her own in the real world. Her life only gets turned upside when the Backstreet enter the picture, leave, and then enter again. Lol. Cole has had a successful career and can take care of herself, which is one of the reasons Nick is so attracted to her in the first place. She's also very motherly to the Boys, which is something they probably need quite often. She is able to look past the kid Nick that she once knew, and see the man that he has become and respect him that way. She's a pretty good role-model honestly. I love Cole. I miss her already.
8 ) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
Hmm... this one is probably fairly obvious with this story. Michelle. She's crazy! Anyone who would take a knife to Nick is absolutely certifiable, but she made for some interesting plot twists.
9) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them?
Definitely. This story was about all of the Boys, although it focused mainly on Nick. Brian is a big part of the story because he and Cole have a history together after she took care of him year ago. AJ and Cole became great friends in the past and their relationship picks back up right where it left off. I love all the guys.
10) If we like this story...then we'd love what story?
Oreos for Breakfast comes to mind. It's been a few years since I read it, but I'm sure I can find the website for it somewhere. I'll come back and post it when I find it. Lots of Nick, a girl in a band that he dates, and lots of drama and touring. It's lots of fun. It's more graphic than "A Different Man" but some people enjoy that.
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Topic: Featured story of the Month for April 2009: A Different Man by Guitargurl (Read 6653 times)