Featured Story of March: Mourning Cloak by Mister Otter
Thank you to all who suggested 'Mourning Cloak' as a featured story on Hawthorne and Vine! To say I am honored and thrilled would be an understatement--my reaction was more like total amazement, considering the vast number of fine stories in our lovely dramione 'ship! To be included in the very first round of HV featured stories is an awesome experience!
As for my background, hmmm.....married, school librarian, two dogs, two musical sons. Quiet, imaginative, nature loving--somewhat of a Deep South version of Luna Lovegood. Yes, there are nargles in the Spanish moss and amphibious snorkacks out in the bayou.
I am and have always been an avid reader/storyteller. As a child, my favorite activity was what I called 'to walk around and read'--I would get a book and wander everywhere outside, telling my own version of the story in my hand. My first 'ship was Bambi's daughter, Gurri/OMD (other male deer). I grew up reading basically anything I could get my hands on-comic books, the classics, guy-style war stories-as long as it was interesting, I would read it. But my favorites have always been anything with mysteries and spookiness.
In October of 2005, I stumbled across an adorably fluffy Harry/Draco fanfic. The author mentioned a favorite read of hers, 'Pansy's Volcano.' Of course, I became hopelessly addicted! To me, it was a natural progression to move from reading fanfic to wanting to try my hand at writing the stuff. My catalog of stories is not vast-I've done two multi-chaptered fics, several drabbles, and a few one-shots. Mourning Cloak is the most recent.
How did you come up with the plot for this story?
I wandered into a challenge site and bunney's glove slapped me on both cheeks. What she'd asked for inspired my imagination.
How did it develop?
I immediately pictured a cemetery featuring the required story elements-red roses, unicorns, and rainbows. Not long after I began attempting to write it, Memorial Day arrived. The poignancy surrounding remembrance of those fallen in war inspired the muse to spring to life.
What is your favorite thing about this story?
I especially enjoyed creating the imagery.
How did you come up with the title?
A few years ago, my husband and I were at a nature center, with a butterfly display. One of the featured insects was the beautiful Mourning Cloak. I knew immediately that it would figure in a story someday.
What is one thing you want people to take away from this story?
The sense that forgiveness really can be that simple.
Mourning Cloak
As for my background, hmmm.....married, school librarian, two dogs, two musical sons. Quiet, imaginative, nature loving--somewhat of a Deep South version of Luna Lovegood. Yes, there are nargles in the Spanish moss and amphibious snorkacks out in the bayou.
I am and have always been an avid reader/storyteller. As a child, my favorite activity was what I called 'to walk around and read'--I would get a book and wander everywhere outside, telling my own version of the story in my hand. My first 'ship was Bambi's daughter, Gurri/OMD (other male deer). I grew up reading basically anything I could get my hands on-comic books, the classics, guy-style war stories-as long as it was interesting, I would read it. But my favorites have always been anything with mysteries and spookiness.
In October of 2005, I stumbled across an adorably fluffy Harry/Draco fanfic. The author mentioned a favorite read of hers, 'Pansy's Volcano.' Of course, I became hopelessly addicted! To me, it was a natural progression to move from reading fanfic to wanting to try my hand at writing the stuff. My catalog of stories is not vast-I've done two multi-chaptered fics, several drabbles, and a few one-shots. Mourning Cloak is the most recent.
How did you come up with the plot for this story?
I wandered into a challenge site and bunney's glove slapped me on both cheeks. What she'd asked for inspired my imagination.
How did it develop?
I immediately pictured a cemetery featuring the required story elements-red roses, unicorns, and rainbows. Not long after I began attempting to write it, Memorial Day arrived. The poignancy surrounding remembrance of those fallen in war inspired the muse to spring to life.
What is your favorite thing about this story?
I especially enjoyed creating the imagery.
How did you come up with the title?
A few years ago, my husband and I were at a nature center, with a butterfly display. One of the featured insects was the beautiful Mourning Cloak. I knew immediately that it would figure in a story someday.
What is one thing you want people to take away from this story?
The sense that forgiveness really can be that simple.
Mourning Cloak