Fanfic Author Interview: ihaveallthesefeelsokay

Author: ihaveallthesefeelsokay(Tumblr)  (AO3)

Review of All the Difference: the Jericho Prequel

How long have you been writing?

19 years, off and on

What was your inspiration for this story?

A suggestion from my therapist – write a character with your problems being loved.

What scene was your favorite to write and why?

The fluff scenes are fun, but my favorites were the ones that went behind-the-scenes of Jericho itself and set up the story, such as what really happened to Jake Green 5 years before the show – and then the recovery from such incidents.

Did you make an outline or write as you go?

I originally wrote it in bits and pieces, then used that to put together an outline.  That outline let me see where I was missing pieces and let me re-write it as a whole, single story.

Is there any backstory to this fic you’d like to share?

Bill mentions a family in the show and a wife in a deleted scene – I wanted to fill that story in because I wanted him to have someone at home during the show.  He gets beat up enough he needs someone at home worrying about him! The challenge for writing the Jericho canon itself is having a compelling OC without having her change what happens in the show.

What was the most fun about writing this story?

I fell in love with the dynamic of Bill and Sarah!  I loved exploring their characters.

What, if anything, was the least fun about writing it?

As I said, this started as a therapy story, and as such, some of the depression/bipolar scenes were hard – not Sarah’s point of view, as I knew that intimately, but Bill’s.  When you feel unlovable, how do you write a character that loves someone like you?

What is your writing routine?

I’d like to say I have a cozy writing nook with hot chocolate and music, but more often than not, I write at my computer – which isn’t in a cozy nook, unless you count clutter.  I do always have a drink, but it depends on what I’m writing or how I’m feeling if it’s hot tea or alcohol or both. I’ve got to have either calm instrumental music playing or no music at all.  I write in Microsoft word and transfer it over to Google Docs as I finish a section, so that it can be read by my friends/betas right away.

Of all the stories you’ve written, which one is your favorite and why?

Bill & Sarah have my heart, but of my other stories, I’m most fond of the Claire Novak story I wrote, Saying Yes.   It was written long before she came back as a character on the show, so it’s not canon anymore, but I still love it.

Do you write commercial fiction? If so, please share links to buy them.

Not yet!  Someday, I hope.

 

Fanfic Review: All the Difference: The Jericho Prequel

All the Difference: the Jericho Prequel by ihaveallthesefeelsokay (Tumblr)  (AO3)

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Category: F/M

Fandom: Jericho (US 2006)

Relationship: Bill Koehler/Original Female Character

Additional Tags: Romance, Fluff, Mental Health Issues, Additional Warnings in Chapter Notes if Needed

Summary: Bill Koehler is a sheriff’s deputy in Jericho. While he has friends and a good job, there’s something missing from his life. However, even if he found someone to love, would his panic attacks drive her off?

Sarah Morgan is freshly arrived in Jericho, looking to assuage the depression that has followed her like a plague. She’s convinced she will never find a stable life and as for love? Probably not for her.

This is a story about two damaged people who manage to find love and hold onto it in spite of everything stacked against them.

A Bill/OFC fic because Bill needs some lovin’ too.


I might be biased about this story, but I’m going to review it anyway. I say I might be biased becase I have been the beta reader for this series for exactly three months today. I have been saving this review until the series was completed, which also happened today. While the reivew is titled for the first story in the series, this review applies to the whole darned thing. All 320K+ words of it.

A tiny bit of backstory on my history, which will illustrate why I lov this story so much. I started writing fanfiction a very long time ago. In those days Original Characters WERE NOT DONE. Caps are required to get across how not done they were. (Side note: because I am a rebel, I created two original characters in those days who were so popular readers demanded sequels. Take that stupid traditions!)

I have been so pleased that the “not doneness” of original characters has subsided greatly. However, they do tend to not be as popular as canon characters, so I admire authors who write them anyway. Not to mention authors who stick to them for so many words and then go make me fall in love with them. I have been living with Bill and Sarah for so long that they have almost become like family to me, and I am very sorry to see the series come to an end.

So, if you’re getting the impression that these stories are well written, you’d be right. The Summary covers the basics. Yes, it’s a love story, but it’s so much more than that. The Prequel is set before the events in Jericho and is perfectly readable without having seen the show. (I’m speaking from experience here. I think I had seen two episodes before I started reading, and I had no trouble following it. Nor did it spoil the series.)

Part 1 is a good romance which follows lots of typical tropes. I don’t say that as a criticism. Tropes are there for a reason, and this one has the additional dramatic tension of two characters dealing with mental illness and its effect on their relationship. The mental illness is sensitively handled and adds to the plot without taking over. As a beta reader, I occasionally encouraged the author to add a bit more of it in places. (Why, no. I don’t go for Bill h/c. Not at all!)

Part 2 covers the events of the Jericho show, and is, to a large extent a retelling of the show, but with LOTS more Bill. Here’s another reviewer confession. I generally will not read stories which are rehashes of canon episodes. However, I devoured this part. It does draw from canon and uses some dialogue and scenes from the show but still feels fresh and cohesive. Did I mention that it has A LOT more Bill? ‘Nuff said.

Then there is Part 3. If you’d told me I would have eagerly anticipated and read each and every part of what is basically a slice of life story, I would have laughed at you and said, “Not a chance.” However, by the time you get to Part 3, you’re so invested in the characters that you want to keep going. It doesn’t hurt that the beginning of Part 3 continues the storyline from the series end and, in my opinion, does it justice. If you’ve finished Jericho and felt the ending was a bit lacking, read Part 3. You’ll get the resolution you wanted. Plus an AWESOME tactical artillery battle which I may have had some part in rewriting.

Fair warning. After well over 300K words, you’re going to be invested in Bill, Sarah and their entire extended family, which includes children and several grandchildren. And yes, the story does end with Bill and Sarah’s death. (No that’s not a spoiler. You see it coming miles away.) I rarely cry at fanfics, and I’m tearing up now as I write this. I read those final scenes just a few hours ago, and they are still painfully fresh. But it’s worth it. Trust me.

So, I might be biased because I was the beta reader. I’m probably also biased because the author has become a close friend (and my beta reader) in the three months we’ve known each other. But I wouldn’t review this if I didn’t love it and think you all should read it.

Thanks, babe, for such a great ride.

And yes, an author interview!