WayWords with FNGRCUFS!

Here we have an exclusive look ast all things fngrcufs! Fngrcufs won a little contest on twitter one day and all she did was answer ‘cupcakes’. True Story. So she won a lil interview and banner. I read her story and I fell so much in love with it that I decided to do the whole shebang! The Banner is made by our very own evilangel813.

The Story: Not Who I Thought You Were
The Author: fngrcufs

The Pairing: Edward/Bella

The Rating: M

The Status: WIP

The Summary: Starting over after a troubled year at college in AZ, Bella transfers schools to New England where she tries to figure out who she is and learn how to deal with things that aren't what she thought they were. AU/AH/OOC/mostly canon pairings/eventual lemons

What I have to say about it:

I fell in love like, Right away. DJward is someone that I want, and someone that I had been thinking about witing, simply because I wanted to see it. This landed in my lap and I pretty much died. I’m kind of a picky bitch when it comes to fanfiction so I was shocked as hell at how quickly I fell in love.

Due to a fire in one of our dormitory buildings over the summer, suite assignment changes were necessary. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Your building and suite assignment are listed below. Please note, that due to the last minute nature of these arrangements, it has been determined that all dormitory buildings will now be co-educational. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Administrative offices during business hours.

Masen Hall Suite 3S
Occupants: Edith Cullen, Emily McCarty, Isabella Swan

"Motherfucker."

I’m pretty sure that right there is what hooked me in and it’s the first paragraph. You know as well as I do that there is no Edith Cullen or Emily McCarty. I was intrigued.

Later on we find that Bella has some problems, problems with ‘letting the right one in’ so to speak.

"James, I'm sorry…I can't help it…"

None of this was anything I hadn't heard before, although watching it up close and personal, I could see how much distress she was in.

"Victoria…I don't understand…James…" Her voice was a hoarse whisper now, and her chest started to heave with sobs, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

I reached out and brushed her hair away from her face, and she instantly stilled. The worry fell from her face and her breathing slowed. I ran my hand from her hair onto her back, never breaking contact as it seemed to calm her.

But of course Edward understand. Things shift in their relationship and turn more than friendly and huge secrets are revelaed.
And personally, the Rosalie in this story might be my favorite one I have ever read. EVER. Scarlett Snow, sex show host. That is all.
Please take the time to take a read! It will be soooo worth your time!


Here is a lil interview guy I did with fngrcuffs via e-mail!


1. Where did you come up with your title?

I went through a few titles before I settled on this, song titles and stuff like that. Then as I wrote it, it became this story of how you can know someone deeply and not really know who they are. Also, the characters take on different roles so they aren’t exactly what people are expecting, I think. Oh, first question and I’ve already rambled. That sounds like me…lol.

2. What gave you the inspiration to write this story?

The initial scenario was based on Threesome, an all time favorite movie of mine. It’s funny and dirty and hot and smart and heart-touching and gut wrenching and I wanted to see if I could write something that had all those elements. Beyond that, I wanted to write something where Edward was the one who was so sure of them and Bella was the one who held back. I wondered if I reversed those canon themes how it would play out. Could he break her down, could she let herself love him, etc.


3. Which of your characters has more of yourself in them?

I’m a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. (OMG, I am such a dork right now!!). Seriously, I’m a little bit Edward and a little bit Bella, with shades of Alice, Jasper, Emmett and Rose. I tried to put touches of myself into all of them. The music, the tv and movie references, the food, the potty mouth humor…that’s all part of who I am. If I had to pick one, I’d say I’m more Edward than anyone. He falls in love like I do, blind and head first. He has these dark things in his life, but he keeps them quiet. He can be insecure and let his fears rule him sometimes. Plus…90s grunge? Awesome! I do not, however, believe that Wings was better than the Beatles. I am sane 

4. Which of your characters do you think has the most redeeming qualities?

I am totally torn. Part of me says Bella. She has all these issues but she’s really trying right now. I love that in a person, the effort to be better. The other side of me says Emmett. He’s sort of living the role that life has given him, but he really wants so much more than that. Sure, he’s a total manwhore, but he’s also a good friend, and he’s sensitive and he really just wants to find someone with whom he can have the sort of love his parents do. Plus, he makes me laugh. Like out loud. Writing Emmett is pure joy. He’s filthy funny and I love that.


5. On the flipside, which of your characters do you feel to have the least redeeming qualities?

Nice, ask the hard questions, why don’t you? LOL. I could say Jake or James or Victoria since we don’t really know them and they hurt Bella. I could say Renee or Charlie, because they were sort of failures as parents. This is tough. I tried to write them all with redeeming qualities. There are no true villains in this story. Maybe Tanya? She’s just a wretched hag.

6. Bella’s past still feels a little bit hazy to me. I know so much of it is now wide open, but will you go any deeper with it?

I will. She’s been through some difficult stuff. Eventually, we will find out exactly what happened in her past, both with her childhood and dealing with her parents, and with her past relationships, that have made her how she is. I wanted to reveal it slowly…for the most part, the reader will learn the details as Edward does.

7. Are Esme and Carlisle going to be canon? Same characterisitcs?

For the most part, they will be. They really want Edward to find someone to make him happy. They worry about him, and they have their reasons. They are also really good people, which is how I see canon Esme and Carlisle. They are off volunteering through Doctors without Borders, which was my AH take on Carlisle being a doctor because he felt the need to help. You get to know them a little in Chapter 10 but we haven’t gotten to see them much, or Bella’s parents either, since they are away from home for college. With the upcoming holidays, we’ll see more of them.

8. Where did you get the Idea for Rosalies radio Alter-Ego name?

I was playing around with Rose and Hale (Hail), trying to twist them into something close but not really recognizable. Rose became the color red with became Scarlett (since I love Clue and Leslie Ann Warren was hot in it…lol) and Hale/Hail became Snow. I wanted it to scream sex or at least politely say ‘chick that likes sex.’

9. Jaspers joke was great, how did you come up with that?

Thank you! I wanted a way to bring him into the scenario and to explain why he wasn’t living in the room anymore. In the movie, it’s just a clerical error that pairs the girl with the two guys, but I thought this would show Jasper as I see him; funny and smart and playful and totally sprung for Alice.

10. Have you changed the way your story was meant to go since beginning?

At the heart of it…no. In the little details…absolutely. The little thing about Edward being gay in Chapter 3; originally that went on for longer. And the logistics of where and when they would sleep together, say ‘I love you’, work out their issues…those have all changed in some ways. I write scenes for them and then my gut says ‘Wait. They aren’t ready for this yet.’ I always thought it was funny when author’s said the characters spoke to them, but they really do. They tell me when something I am trying to fit in doesn’t work, and they tell me when I am pushing them to hard. They also whined about not being able to get their freak on, so I let them (after the super mean chapter end cockblock, of course).

11. DJward is too perfect. Not in the bad way. Do you wish you had one?

Aww, you love him! That makes me so happy  It’s funny, I get such a mixed reaction to him. Some people think he’s perfect while other people think he’s sort of a pussy. To me, he’s complex and that is what I like about him. He is that guy that says the perfect thing...he is sensitive and he really loves Bella and wants to make it work but he is also a little dirty and he’s possessive and…yeah, I’d take one of him a flat second. If he wants to compare my to a burger or take me on the carousel or spend time with me on the couch…I’m in.

12. How many chapters do you envision this story being?

About 20, give or take one or two in either direction, depending on how wordy they are 

Questions about You

13. How did you come up with your penname?

fngrcufs has been my ‘online’ name for years. It’s a nod to Chasing Amy, easily in my top five of all time favorite movies. It’s a little dirty if you know where it’s derived from. I’ve had more than one person ask me if I picked the name because I’ve ‘done that’. It cracks me up.

14. What was the first fanfiction you ever read?

I actually don’t remember the name of the first one I read. I found it on Livejournal when I was a super newb. It was kind of awesome too. It was Breaking Dawn re-do, which I desperately needed. I was a total lurker in the begin, never leaving reviews or interacting, just reading. The first ones I feel in love with were The List by Laura A Cullen (which I still reread parts of), Beautiful Dirty Rich (KikiBlues was the first author that I felt that bond with through reviews and review replies…she’s so kick ass) and The Appointment by miztrezboo (contains one of my single favorite ExB lemons ever).

15. Can you name me your top 5 fanfics of all time?

Gah…no, probably not, but I’ll try. As soon as I send this off to you I will then remember other ones that I will feel bad about leaving out. I have a lot of favorites  Okay, let’s do this!

#1 Tropic of Virgo by In.a.Blue.Bathrobe - It seriously owned me. I reread portions all the time (I do that a lot). I loved the world she gave them. I loved the poetry of her words, and not just the parts that actually were poetry. And hot…yeah, it’s super hot.

#2 Get Me to You by Chicklette - For the longest time, I couldn’t love anything that wasn’t Edward and Bella, but that changed when I read this. I love everything about this fic, everything. The way it’s written, the characters and their flaws and their triumphs. I’ve never read anything of Chicklette’s that I didn’t love.

#3 Geek Love by SassenachWench - Edward I want to be my boyfriend, hands down, and one of my favorite Bellas. Funny, like laugh until you almost cry funny, sext, sweet, smart. It’s really wonderful, I reread the whole thing recently because I missed them.

#4 We Used to be a Love Story by GiveUsAKiss413 - It broke my heart in the best way. I like angst and heartfail and it was just amazing and beautiful and powerful and her writing is like nothing else I’ve ever read. My review read like a freakin love letter.

#5 For the Summer by Camoozle - I’ve never been this sucked in by a story. I started it right from the beginning and I think I was in fic crisis mode at the time. I wasn’t ‘in love’ with anything I was reading at the moment and when I read FtS I went on twitter and got all loud about how I found this fic that reminded me what I loved about fic in the first place. I can’t believe it’s almost over. I’m going to be so lost. Or you know, I’ll just reread it since that is what I do…lol.

Can I do 6? I’m going to. I’m a rebel 

#6 Dear Isabella by jandco and withthevampsofcourse – I just realized I don’t think I ever left them a review…how rude. I loved this so much. This was another one that hurt, but god it was a good hurt.
I could go on and on. Those are all in no particular order except for ToV, that’s my number one.

16. What was your push into the fanfiction world?

I think it was a gradual thing. My bffl is involved in other fandoms, so I knew it existed. I was not a fan of most of BD, and I was particularly saddened by the fade to black honeymoon (I’m a perv, it’s a fact, I don’t hide it…lol). Then my bestie, who got me to read Twi in the first place was all ‘plenty of people have written alternatives, you know.’ So I just started poking around on LJ and found one. I could have just stopped there, but once I found out how good some of the writing was, I was in there like swimwear. Haven’t stepped away since. As long as people keep putting their amazing talent out there, I’ll be here.

17. Have you ever gotten any reviews that really stand out from the rest?

Absolutely, for this and for other things. Those reviews that touch you, right down to your soul…the ones where you feel like the person ‘gets’ you. I live for those. I reread some of them (I know, apparently I reread everything) when I’m doubting my work. They are like hugs.

18. Is your story only posted on fanfiction.net?

If not, where else? It’s on Twilighted, but it’s not up to date at all. I’m like 5 or 6 chapters behind over there. Wow, that is so fail, I should go get on that right now.

19. Do you have any accomplishments you’d like to share? (Awards, contest entries, etc)

Ooooh, I like to share. Actually, I am the worst at self promotion. There is so much amazing work out there that I have a hard time saying ‘Hey, come read mine.’ I’m more likely to say ‘Hey, go read this other kick ass author.’ But I’m trying to get better about it, so let’s pimp, shall we? The Story of Us, which I wrote for the All You Need is Love Contest got a judge’s choice nod, which thrilled me because I was really happy with how it turned out. Alone: A Fairy Tale made top 20 in the Black Balloon contest. There were so many entries, 70-something of them, and really great stuff, so I was blown away to make top 20. Let’s see, I’m Lady Cuffs over on Lustorium, which is cool and fun and gives me the chance to review some really great stuff. I just started posting a new story this week, something totally different for me. I also started a comm for femme and poly recs, and I’m working on some really kick ass stuff related to that, trying to encourage more femmeslash in the fandom.

20. What are you reading right now?

I’m reading For the Summer, at least for the next two weeks. I’m reading a lot of one-shots, since I don’t have a lot of time to read these days. Let’s see…Chicklette, of course…I’m reading Venice Beach Stories and I am about to start Of Kith and Kin. Keeping the Faith by Holly1980. I just read Reality Minus Expectations by mjinaspen recently and it was amazing. I’m always looking for good recs, and then I get sad because I don’t have time to read all the great stuff I want to.

Oh look at that, we’re done. I looked back over the questions. I ramble (or as bookjunkie1975 and mopstyle just determined on twitter, it’s not rambling it’s talking with style). I also had to work really hard not to drop f bombs all over the place…I’m such a potty mouth  This was fun! Thanks so much! Hope this doesn’t make you run away now that you know how dorktacular I can be!