Q&A Time Round 2!

Here we are with another batch of wonderful questions from our audience.  This time, I'm joined by by my collaborator Selah!



Everyday Love was a collaboration piece with Selah. Did it make things harder or easier to complete entries?

Selah: I can't speak for Ginal, but for me the only issue was keeping up with the writing deadlines, between my other creative work. Ginal set the posting schedule, and was not afraid to nag me if I was holding up production. Fortunately, the pieces were fast and fun to write.

Ginal: For the most part it made things easier, since we each only needed to write about half of a given chapter, and like Selah said, I would nag at her if I needed to. 

Was the collaboration a two way street? As in, did Selah take her character in her own vision, or was it all scripted to a certain degree?

Selah: It was scripted to the extent that we had a general idea of where we were going: 1) Show the adjustments any couple must go through, once the initial euphoria wears off and everyday life sets in. And 2) demonstrate that the most important part of being in a couple is constant honest communication. Since our girls had been loners before they found each other, we knew that communication would be an important issue for them. Then we just had to work out the details.

As for Selah, once I started creating the character I had a definite vision of who she was, and what her life had been like before she became an adventurer. Her past was hinted at in "Everyday Love", and it will be made much more explicit in our coming stories, where Selah's backstory is a major driver in the story arc. There were definitely times when my vision of Selah didn't mesh with what Ginal wanted her to be. Whenever that happened, we worked out our differences. In many ways, "Everyday Love" was about the evolving interaction of the writers as well as that of the characters.

Ginal: I also thought it was important to convey that even when that initial euphoria period has ended, it's still possible and important to continue to maintain the passion, affection, and both the physical and emotional intimacy that are all more readily on the surface in the beginning days.  In my own experience, relationships that fail to maintain these things are often just shells of what they could be. 

It's also worth noting that there was a period where I was continuing to see this as simply my story, and not ours as it continued to evolve.  As I was coming up with ideas for the various plots and overall direction, I formed an "original vision" that sometimes clashed with how Selah would write and act her own character.  Keeping in mind that Ginal and Selah are not just characters, but alter egos of their writers, and you can see how we were butting heads a few times.

But Selah is my dear friend, and I learned to respect her own vision and to appreciate the ways that she challenged me, and helped me tell an even better story.

I felt that Everyday Love allowed for the readers to become more invested in the lovers. Is this to imply that their story will continue on?

Selah: Absolutely! Watch this blog for our next story arc, starting soon!

Ginal: Hydaelyn is a huge world that we've only seen a fraction of, not to mention that Ginal is only 21 and Selah only 25.  They have long lives to live in a very big world!

At the end, talk of marriage was brought up, is this to be something the readers will be reading of soon?

Selah: Marriage, and its complications, are definitely part of the next story. I can't tell you more than that without spoilers.

Ginal: I don't really think it's a spoiler to say that Everheart is essentially the story that shows the things that will either make or break this romance.

If there is to be another chapter or section our beloved characters will be integrated into, will we be seeing reoccurring characters from Everyday Love & Silk Talons?

Selah: Perhaps. Again, I can't give details without spoiling the surprises. I can say that some of our NPC's, such as the painter Sisifu, the Lalafell socialite Hanama Nama and the Roegadyn romance writer Silver Rose will be appearing in short stories to be posted on the Pathfinders blog, http://freecompanypathfinders.blogspot.com/

Ginal: I would like very much to see at least some of those supporting cast that Selah came up with make return appearances.  Also, most to all of the original supporting cast will return at points, and there may even be room for a few new faces.

This question is directed to Selah: Being a big part of Silk Talons must have been an honor, but actually being able to collaborate with Ginal must be an absolute step above that, how does it feel to have worked with Ginal?

It has definitely been a fun project. I have been involved in cooperative writing in the Internet for many years, through various email-based groups, such as VAMPYRES and Ghostletters. And it's always a joy to find someone who understands the give-and-take of shared storytelling. Ginal has a real gift for this kind of work. Our real-time role-playing when working out story details is one of my favorite parts of my life in Eorzea.

This question is directed to Ginal: If there is to be a continuation of these stories, will Selah contine to contribute? Will there be any others that will be contributing as well?

Selah will absolutely continue to contribute, and already has. At this point, even if I may be the primary story teller, the story itself is no long my own, but ours.

Trust me when I say that as good as you may think Silk Talons was, many details could have been better if I had included Selah from the beginning. I'll say again, the way she has challenged my ideas has only made me a better writer.


Will Doom still be apart of your stories? As many avid readers know, there is a new upcoming free company in the midst.


Selah: Possibly. The Pathfinders Free Company is a recent development, but I expect that both Free Companies, and their members, will show up in the coming story. It's a constantly-evolving project. We know the story arc, but sometimes we don't know the details until we write them.

Ginal: In the interest of honesty, but without unnecessary details, it might as well be known that there was a falling out of sorts between myself and a member of Doom's upper echelon. This contributed to other things, and spurred myself, Selah and my real life wife Ama on to trying our own company.

That said, the personal relationship between myself and this person will not affect the story. All characters that I feel belong will continue to be around, and any new characters that we feel can offer something will also be given a spot.


Can you perhaps quench the curiosity of the readers by letting us in on any future works?

Selah: There's a reason that Ginal and I both changed our characters' last names to "Everheart" after our Eternal Bonding ceremony. You'll be seeing that name again, very soon. And its deeper meaning will become apparent as the story develops.

We're also going to encourage the Pathfinders members to post Eorzea-based fiction and poetry on the FC blog. I wouldn't be surprised if Ginal and Selah showed up in some of those pieces. In fact, I would be surprised if they didn't!

Ginal: I also haven't given up on a project I've been pecking away at on the side. It's taking a good while to build properly, but I truly hope that by year's end, I can start telling all of you about something with my Human name on it.


Will we be seeing more references to game mechanics and dungeons in your stories?

Selah: If I have anything to say about it, you will. Although we will probably keep the game-specific jargon to a minimum, to avoid trampling on the story. Too many in-jokes can distract the reader, when what you really want to do is engage their emotions.

Ginal: The problem with translating game mechanics to a written story is that sometimes they don't fit very well.  For example, even though the game allows a single character be change their class and abilities at any time, this wold very confusing to keep up with in a formal story.  So, Ginal and Selah are defined by a single class.  It's also difficult to find a way to fit some things, like dungeons, into the story, since many of those have particular context within the primary FF14 storyline.

That said, I'm absolutely working to find ways to fit in new locations and elements.  Hopefully I'll even succeed!

(For Both): Will you cover any of Ginal of Selah's family a bit more? We learned that Ginal's parents had died in the epilogue but we never learn much about either of their family lives.

Selah: I can't go into details, of course, but Selah's family is definitely going to show up in the next story arc. And I suspect there will be more about Ginal's family as well.

Ginal: The truth is, everything about Ginal's family that was relevant to the immediate stories has already been explained.  An issue that writers often face is finding the balance between detail and relevance, and while I would love to explain everything about Ginal and Selah's lives and pasts, eventually I have to stop before I head too far into irrelevant territory.

However, if I can find ways to work in more details and not detract from the story at hand, I absolutely will.

(For Selah): What inspired you to develop Selah's character? Did you have an idea as to what you wanted to do with her early on, or did you just kind of wing it?

The first hint I had of her history was when Ginal and I decided that our characters should marry, and I wanted to make it as difficult as possible, because you can't move straight to "happily ever after" and still have a good story. In many ways, Selah's personality is much like my own. I think many writers create their PoV character as a self-portrait.


(For Selah) We've seen that the story has a personal meaning for Ginal. Is there any part of the story that you would say is important to you personally? Or a subject matter that you would consider important?

For me, the important part is how to deal with conflicting obligations. Who has the right to call on your loyalty, when time can change everything? These conflicts haven't been a large part of the story so far, but they are going to figure very strongly in the story to come.