JB
So, I have heard that me working with Joel has caused more stir than we intended so, I thought I would give you all the full story behind that. If you look through my entries you will notice how busy I have become and then I threw another challenge at myself with the IVB project but, I really wanted this next chapter told. I had an outline and all the messages and I decided to let Joel do the writing because I love his style (he devolped the line about Juliana having strings) and I know he has been itching to write something. Now, obviously he changed his style to emulate mine more but, I was more than happy to have him write some of this chapter.
I don't really see that happening again because I have never had such a clear but objective for a chapter like that before. It was nice getting to work with him. I suppose our thinking was that we would ghost write it like Tom Clancy Novels or Nancy Drew. I would personally love to have Joel's influence in my story another time because I think he could add excellent depth to some of the characters but, he is getting ready to go on tour so United Light will continue to be a solo venture !
Canon
As I hinted at during an event for JB's autobiography I did a significant change in the sequencing of the story with Caine. In the beginning I made him into his late 40's but I changed it so that Caine is actually about 36 and the age difference between Juliana and he is not so big. I know that 18 years is still a jump but it's close to TomKat's which is 17 years and not not as scary as some of Warren Jeff's wives who were 36 years younger than him.
OT, it's funny how no one made a big deal out of TomKat as they did Aston and Demi.
Anyway that is why I did that I also created a backstory for Caine--that he inherited UL from his father. In a lot of ways these changes help facilitate the story because Juliana's parents saw Caine as this great son-they-never had and that is why they are so loyal to him.
Just pick any actor in their 30's who is considered handsome (Mark Whalberg or Jude Law) and that is who Caine is based on now.
Influences
I have to thank Linda for giving me the idea to actually turn on my TV for influences ! Much of the United Light thinking and way of life is based on MSNBC's Cult Sunday documentaries, mostly on the Jonestown one. While most events I have created are fictional I have always stayed away from cult activity because I did not know how they actually acted but after learning a bit I have to say I was very surprised what people will be okay with.
I won't say too much because I may use some of it in later chapters.
I really wanted my depections of cults to be very accurate so I did research into other organizations that people may deem as cults but actually aren't like Quiverfull (which people believe the Duggars are members of o: ) , the FDLS, Scientology (no relation to the TomKat comment above) and to the more extreme the Manson Family. And one thing I have noticed between all of these are the specific gender roles more importantly between females so I did want to incorporate that into this as well. Somone made the Manson Family refernce in a comment and while that was not my intention it was pretty close.
In reality Polyandry is something that would probably never happen because it's easier to have more children with multiple wives but, that neither here nor there right now.
Easter Egg
I will now let you all in on something I was going to have happen but will not. I was originally going to make Juliana pregnant by Cortland. That's why I made refrences to birth control and Juliana forgetting to make her class assignment the right font. There is a saying that says 'if teens can't remember to bring a pencil to class how can they remember to take a pill everyday.' However when Linda made her character pregnant ,where ever she is going with that (read: update Ms. Leigh !!!) I decided I didn't want to do the same thing because there is so much overlap in our readers. Also, in a sense it would have been an easy plot point so I challenged myself and took it out. Not that I blame Linda at all but I think it would have added more to the violet story when I was ready to move on to the dark blue.
Whats Next
I have to say I tell myself to put UL on the back burner after this one last chapter and come back to it later but I always end up with another chapter so, I will most likely keep UL up for longer than I thought. I am just as addicted to it as you all are !
IVB
As far as IVB goes, I intended to do an entire outline of the whole story but all I have is a beginning so, this one may be like UL, in that I will have no idea where it is headed!
Pictures
I don't have many pictures but I know how much you all like them so, I decided to post a few.
Despite never seeing Smallville Rosa's look is based on Kristin Kreuk because of her ethnic-blend
Here is the enitre image of the ponytail. I though Hilary Duff looked very Juliana in this picture.
I could not remember this actors name for a long time but, this was the look I base Sawyer off of, I got him confused with the actor from Terminator.
The TL uniforms are based on the Marine Service Uniform except with the longer jacket . I couldn't find a better pic.
Speaking of TL's I imagine Rhett as being based on Daniel Radcliffe. I couldn't find an image of him with shorter hair but, just that look.
I'll probably have more later.
I put a lot of thought into my chapters but it is always hard for me to pick out which parts or inspirations to share. I always get an idea when writing comments but then I forget it later. So, if you all have an specific questions about chapters or plot feel free to ask in comments.
