Once Upon A Midnight Dreary...

The Midnight Sun Meltdown - Timeline of Events

Sep 5, 2008
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(**NOTE: Also available on LiveJournal, MySpace and Xanga.)

Dear Minions,

I have to admit, I find the meteoric rise and fall of Stephenie Meyer and her Twilight saga as unfortunate as it is fascinating.

There were a great many mistakes made on both sides. Words have been exchanged, feelings have been hurt, projects have been put "on hold indefinitely", etc.

I don't know if some fans realize exactly how much has transpired since BREAKING DAWN'S release just over a month ago so I've decided to chronicle (to the best of my ability) the most recent events leading to what many fans have deemed Meyer's "Epic Fail".

Please note that I have not gathered the following facts in an attempt to harm Meyer in any way. I do not know Meyer personally and don't feel it is my place to judge her as a human being. We all make mistakes. Fortunately, not all of us are forced to deal with our daily decisions under a microscope in a public forum as vast as the one Meyer has. In this instance, her level of fame (and the amount of intensely loyal devotion shown to the series by fans) is as much a curse as it is a blessing.

Hopefully, reviewing the chain of events leading to this literary debacle will help put things into better perspective for some fans.

How do you think fans should view this unexpected (and quite unprecedented) meltdown in Meyer's world? Perhaps as a cautionary tale?

Take from it what you will.

Quoth the Raven,
N. V. R. Moore

The meltdown begins....

June 2008

Stephenie's web master/brother Seth Meyer announces, via Smeyer's official web site, that MIDNIGHT SUN (a.k.a. TWILIGHT from Edward Cullen's POV) will be Stephenie's next project:

"In response to the outrageous number of emails that I have received with questions concerning Midnight Sun, I talked to Stephenie this weekend and she asked me to let everyone know that Midnight Sun is her next project."

TWILIGHT fans rejoice!

August 1st

Stephenie embarks on a sold out four city promotional tour known as the "Breaking Dawn Concert Series" to promote the release of BREAKING DAWN, the highly anticipated fourth book in Meyer's Twilight Saga.

The concert section of the tour features the musical stylings of Justin Furstenfeld from progressive rock band Blue October.

August 2nd

BREAKING DAWN is released. Fans celebrate across the globe by throwing midnight release parties and standing in line for hours in order to buy the next installment in the Twilight Saga.

In less than 24 hours the backlash begins...

J. Aultman starts The Great Book Burning Tour of 2008 (Burning Dawn) on Amazon.com's Breaking Dawn Forum, a place where fans can "vent out of anger at the way Meyer’s ended a good story."

A movement on Amazon.com begins where fans urge other fans to return their copy of the book: "Unhappy with Breaking Dawn? Don't burn it--RETURN it!"

J. Rogers announces on Amazon.com's Breaking Dawn Forum the creation of the Burning Dawn community on MySpace designed for fans that are disappointed in BREAKING DAWN.

August 4th

J. Rogers starts the tongue-in-cheek Breaking Dawn: The Musical thread on Amazon.com's Breaking Dawn Forum. The musicial is eventually picked up by an as-of-yet unnamed high school drama class for production.

August 8th

The Twilight Lexicon blog is hacked. Site moderator, Nicole Bright, accuses an as-of-yet unnamed "disgruntled fan of the series."

"We know that it was a disgruntled fan of the series who hacked our system," says Bright. "It took place as a direct result of the Lexicon's backing of Stephenie Meyer and her work."

However, Bright also admits that the Lexicon blog is not particularly welcoming of readers that disliked the book. Moderators have been instructed to remove any comment that is considered unsupportive of Smeyer, BREAKING DAWN or the Twilight series; thus limiting the free exchange of ideas and thoughts on the blog.

"If you were posting on every thread on our forums, 'Stephenie Meyer is a terrible writer. Everything about it is horrible,' then we just aren't the place for you," Bright said. "As her official fan site, this needs to be a positive place where we can gather together and discuss what we like and have positive conversation. Hate spam makes it very difficult for someone to enjoy the site."

SOURCE: VH1's article "'Twilight' Lexicon Blog Hacked By 'Breaking Dawn' Haters"

August 9th

Smeyer, looking rather tired and sad, appears in an exclusive 10-part interview with Entertainment Weekly to discuss BREAKING DAWN and the controversy surrounding it. Smeyer becomes defensive during certain parts of the interview making the following statements:

"If they really love the characters, then I would hope that this would make sense to them, because these are the true characters," she explained.

"I hope that if they really do enjoy the other books, they'll realize that this is kind of where it was supposed to go."

"It is what I wanted to do, and that has to be enough."

She also quickly dismisses the backlash from thousands of unhappy fans over BREAKING DAWN as "The Rob Effect"--a term she herself coined after fans expressed their displeasure with British actor Rob Pattinson being cast to play Edward Cullen in the Twilight movie. Smeyer explains that Pattinson's presence eventually grew on fans and concludes that their discontentment over BREAKING DAWN will eventually fade into acceptance.

"I've actually named it the Rob Effect. For some reason, the fans take a couple of days to get used to something. And it was most obvious when it was announced who was going to be playing Edward and they were all freaked out and there was all this online controversy and now everyone completely loves Rob. So I knew it was going to be an interesting ride for a lot of people, they had their idea of what was going to happen, and if the book didn't match up, they were going to have a problem with that and of course, the book wasn't going to match up to what everyone imagined so I was expecting it and I'm hoping that after they have a chance to think about the ending that I wrote it will grow on them."

Outraged fans quickly take to various blogs, vlogs, and internet forums to discuss this new development. Many describe Meyer's comments as "condescending".

August (Unknown Date & Time)

The first 12 chapters of MIDNIGHT SUN are leaked on-line by an unknown individual. Fans immediately notify Stephenie via her web site and her publisher Little, Brown but neither party deigns to address this issue for almost two weeks.

August 15th

Heather Faust announces in the Breaking Dawn Amazon.com Forums the launch of the "Legitimate Concerns About Breaking Dawn" Petition. Said petition asks Stephenie Meyer to explain a list of plot holes in BREAKING DAWN, or, at least, acknowledge the majority of fans who are displeased with it. It isn't long before the petition goes viral and is picked up by a number of respected news outlets.

August 28th

In a two part update to her official website Stephenie announces she "will be participating in the creation of a new music video for Jack's Mannequin" then posts a second update addressing the MIDNIGHT SUN leak.

In her second update, Steph discusses her disappointment in fans who have downloaded the leaked manuscript, the violation of her rights as its author, concluding with the fact that she has decided to place MIDNIGHT SUN "on hold indefinitely" in response to the leak. (A leak many of her fans feel they aren't responsible for and therefore should not be reprimanded over.)

Stephenie explains that she is too depressed to continue with the manuscript as it stands right now. (A manuscript, it is believed, she could sell for approx. $5 million dollars since she has completed her contract obligation to Little Brown and therefore could auction MIDNIGHT SUN off to the highest bidder.)

Instead, Meyer offers the incomplete manuscript, consisting of the twelve chapters already leaked, for free on her website in .PDF format as a consolation to fans.

Smeyer also links to video footage from the NYC leg of her Breaking Dawn Concert Series at iClips.net as rumors circulate about a comment she made at the Los Angeles Venue regarding her dislike of book signings and how she's only there for Justin [Furstenfeld, from Blue October].

(**NOTE: If anyone knows where I can find the actual transcript for this, please let me know!)

August 29th

LiveJournal blogger cleolinda posts commentary on the first twelve chapters of MIDNIGHT SUN here and here.

**PERSONAL NOTE: I absolutely adore Cleolinda and find her blogs both hilarious and entertaining!

August 31st

Interestingly enough, Smeyer's depression from the violation of her rights as an author does not seem to translate to her other projects, both literary and nonliterary (i.e. the Jack's Mannequin video) as evidenced by a blog posted three days later by Stephenie on her MySpace entitled "Positivity and rock brilliance". A blog in which she resolves to be cheery, laughs at her own use of the word chargin, and discusses her excitement with directing the aforementioned Jack's Mannequin video--her "current happy distraction."

September 2nd

Little, Brown Publishing makes a explosive statement Re: Midnight Sun:

"A partial draft containing chapters of Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer has been leaked on the Internet without the knowledge or permission of either Stephenie Meyer or Little, Brown. Although these early chapters were never intended to be published in their current form, Stephenie Meyer has decided to authorize the posting of these rough, initial chapters on her website (www.stepheniemeyer.com) in fairness to her true, loyal fans. While no decisions have been made at this time regarding the publication of Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer is currently at work on other writing projects. Little, Brown looks forward to our continued publishing relationship with Stephenie Meyer and, like her many fans, we are eager to experience her next literary creation."

Many fans find the insinuation that they have not been "true" or "loyal" insulting.

September 3rd & 4th

The LA TIMES posts an article entitled: "Hero Complex: 'Twilight' fans get emotional" addressing fan reaction to Meyer's decision regarding MIDNIGHT SUN. The article seems to be written in a biased manner, with snarky personal commentary preceding all quotes made by any individual who is less than thrilled with Meyer's decision. So much for objective journalism! Fans respond in a variety of ways.

One comment by "moon" posted on September 04, 2008 at 01:22 PM catches my eye:

"Okay, here is my take and please understand this is not to be mean or even negative toward Stephenie, it is just a theory. We all love her and who cares what she does or why we will still love her regardless.

This all seems VERY fishy. First off she gives a manuscript to someone that gets "leaked" but she isn't going to sue or prosecute the person behind it especially since she knows who said person is (if it was leaked on the internet there is a way to track that person's actions I am sure) second she is so depressed by her rights being violated she can't go on, but a couple of days later she was more than ecstatic on her myspace page in regards to the directing of a music video...quick recovery for someone who was ready to kill all of the cullens. Third she said she is over vampires and ready to move on...but lastly...technically her contract is up with her publisher.

So stop the project, create a lot of buzz about it, decide to finish then offer to the highest bidder...brilliant and i support her for being so. I love SM and if this her plans all I can say is 'You rock momma' it will be worth the wait. Another reason me and my fellow conspiracy theorists think this is because her manuscript just happen to stop right before the BEST part of the book...ponder on it you must."

Could this be the real reason behind the MIDNIGHT SUN leak? Is there an actual MIDNIGHT SUN conspiracy in our midst designed by Stephenie Meyer and/or her publisher to distract fans from the backlash of BREAKING DAWN? Thoughts?

September 5th

So far, no public "outing" by Meyer, Inc. or legal action has been taken towards the individual who actually leaked the MIDNIGHT SUN manuscript to begin with--despite the fact that Stephenie has stated the following:

"Due to little changes I made to the manuscript at different times, I can tell when each left my possession and to whom it was given."

Many fans are curious as to why they are, in their view, being publicly chastised/punished by the author for a crime they didn't instigate while the actual party responsible has yet to be addressed.

Some fans are also angry that Stephenie and Little Brown didn't take immediate measures to caulk the leak in question as soon as they were notified of its existence by fans.

**UPDATE #1: Internet rumors abound as to the identity of the person responsible for "the leak". Some fans have speculated the culprit is none other than Rob Pattinson/Edward Cullen himself!! (Possibly as payback for Stephenie's "Rob Effect" remark??). The claim has yet to be approved or denied by Meyer, Inc. or RPatt.

**UPDATE #2: The Twilight Lexicon has put together a Fandom Support Quilt for Smeyer which can be viewed here and here.

All events have been compiled by me to the best of my ability. If you've noticed any discrepancies in this time line or have a relevant event (both positive or negative) you feel needs to be added between June 2008 and today feel free to MESSAGE ME and let me know.

Far Too Frequently Asked Questions, Vol. 1

Aug 27, 2008
3 comments

So let's get the ball rolling with a couple of...

~~Far Too~~ Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is N. V. R. Moore your real name?
A. *Blinks* Yes...Of course it is. *Ahem*

Q. Why do you use a fake name?
A. To annoy you.

Q. No seriously, why use a pseudonym?
A. I like to keep various projects separate from each other and...I also do it to annoy you. ;-)

Q. How do I pronounce N. V. R. Moore?
A. Nevermore. It's an homage to Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". You can also call me NVR/Never, NV/Nev or just, "Hey there, Evil Genius!"

Q. Are you male or female?
A. Put it this way, I'm a member of the more highly evolved sex. Let the battle begin... *licentious laughter*

Q. Why are you so secretive about yourself?
A. Why are you so nosy? LOL

Q. Are you a celebrity in disguise?
A. Only in my own mind.

Q. Why do you use so much alliteration?
A. Because I'm an evil genius and because alliteration makes it easier for people unfamiliar with a new word to memorize it.

In that vein, my favorite nursery rhyme is Peter Piper, I enjoy chowing down on chimichangas and have a splendiferous soft spot for AI alumni Kelly Clarkson.

**NOTE: I've also been told I have the desthpicable disposition of Daffy Duck lol

Q. What does nefarious, licentious, ponderous and/or splendiferous mean?
Perhaps you should venture over to Dictionary.com and find out?

Q. Why do you use so many archaic words?
A. Words are only archaic if we cease using them. There are a myriad of magnificent and wondrous words available that can increase your vocabulary's verbosity with a vengeance. Look for them.

Now let's enjoy the ribald stylings of Hamtaro the Hamster!

Hamtaro the Hamster

Is it just me, or is there something unholy about Hamtaro? Look at those glazed eyes... *Shivers*

Now look at Gangster Elmo... :-)

Okay...Maybe not lol

Amused

Quoth the Raven...,
N. V. R. Moore

Mood: Amused | Watching: Hamtaro and the Ham-Hams Vol. 1

And So It Begins...

Aug 26, 2008
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Dr. Evil

Muahahahaha! Ha ha...Heh. *Coughs* Believe it or not, that's my impression of maniacal laughter, folks. Minus the leather armchair, bald head, facial scar and woefully underdressed sphinx cat sitting on my lap. (Poor, Mr. Bigglesworth, we barely knew you...)

I do, however, have a ponderous pinkie wedged menacingly in my mouth to add to my overall diabolicalness. So far, so good. Of course, it would be 10x more effective without the cherry Twizzler sticking out the other end...Oh well.

As most of you should've surmised by now, I am N. V. R. Moore: aspiring Children's/YA Fantasy author and clog dancer extroidinaire. I'm just kidding about the clog dancing. Thought it would make me look "cool".

I am currently working on two children's fantasy series: The Misadventures of Simon DeBurge and The Legend of Lythica. I will also be announcing a new YA Paranormal series very soon.

This Veraciously Vile Vox is one of various heinous haunts I have on the world wide web. If you truly wish to see inside the mind of ebil (--yes, E-B-I-L not evil!--) then feel free to visit my Officially "Official" Website or my other baleful blogs at LiveJournal, MySpace and Xanga. Or, as I like to call them: my Litigiously Loathsome LiveJournal, Maliciously Malevolent MySpace and Xenophobic Xanga. (Why? *stompsfoot* Because I'm the evil genius around here and what I say goes! *rasberries*.)

Micro-bloggers twitch on over to Twitter to witness my terrifyingly terrible tweets.

You may also make enemies with me on any number of sinister social networks (I am registered at 60+ of them under the screenname NVRMoore).

Visit my DigFoot, FriendFeed and iminta profiles for more information on where to find me or reference my Windows Live Space to peruse my multitude of meticulously loathsome lists.