Hi. I (coolbeanz) have carried out some questions to people, informing them about the Book and asking them what they wanted to know. The most popular questions included:
Q1: How did you come up with the idea for Sugar and Spice in the first place and what part did you play?
Coolbeanz: Okay. Wow, thats going a whole 5 years back. When we were in primary school, Twinklerose and I were very close friend and I guess, after going to each other's house lots, we made these kind of fictions about these two sisters who were very different. The idea of the contrast between them sort of established the title therefore giving the main characters their names. In my opinion, I like to feel that I played an important role in the making of the book because I specialized mainly in Spice's Character. It was also my idea to name their house and their cat (however their cat was then renamed by myself when we did the second version of the book.) I also made Leahn and her character. I played around a lot with Spice's appearance and personality to begin with though because I wasn't sure how she would look and act but I am glad that I concluded on the way she is because I wouldn't change a thing. A friend of ours in school began to make these funny comic strips about them and, taking some of the ideas mixed in with our own, we sketched a brief outline of the plot.
Twinklerose: In year 5 at primary school we had to write our own project and that's we started our Sugar and Spice Book! I always designed what the characters looked like online on girly dress up games such as stardoll and using makeup and hair designs for fun, trying out different looks and styles too. However, nowadays we share everything pretty well. Alex (Coolbeanz) is the main writer but I love advertising and looking for ways to get our book known. I also designed and wrote as Sugar in the early days of the book, although I wouldn't describe myself as her completely whatsoever! I also designed the character Scuba and where he lives along with our friend, Daniel, who made the comic strips too. I would say that I didn't necessarily write the actual book as much as Alex did, but I love designing new characters and getting the book out there. Together we are the dream team!
Q2: Has the book changed since you first wrote it?
Coolbeanz: Oh immensely. Actually, we wrote the first version of it in textease when we were only in year 5. In year 7 though we decided to redo it on microsoft word. I think the first version was very fantasy-like - more fantasy like than the final of course. In addition, Spice was first thought of as an emo kind of person and grumpy. we were going to make sugar really sweet but then we changed it to give a good twist. I'm very pleased that we eventually gave Spice more colours to her personality. If i remember correctly, she was first going to be blonde. Also, they were originally said to have had both a mum and dad as well as a little brother.
Twinklerose: Yes of course! In year 5 we had very little writing talent compared to nowadays. In year 5 we couldn't work any writing programmes or professional design kits so it wasn't half of what it is today. I remember that Spice was a emo but I thought instead of initially being blonde we wanted her to have a short, choppy pixie cut which was black with red highlights at the top, which seriously wasn't a good look! We changed it around and eventually decided on the looks we use today. Also sadly, Daniel doesn't contribute to the ideas but bearing in mind it has been 5 years and now he is a teenage boy, that is totally respectable! I would love him to take a look and see all the changes we have made though. Maybe sometime we could upload some of the comic strips he made if I can find them from the old files I kept of 'Sugar and Spice documents.' They truly were the funniest things around!
Q3: If you could say two things that you admire about the other author and how they contribute, what would it be?
Coolbeanz: Thats easy :) Well when Twinklerose does write chapters, the ideas that she comes up with are very good and she is great at plot twists and all of that. So yes, coming up with good ideas is definitely one of them. The other thing would probably be her determination to make it perfect. She wants it to be a great book and I feel that, without her, the book would not be as brilliant as it is today. I would never have been able to do it without Amber <3
Twinklerose: Well Alex is the main writer, it wouldn't be around if it wasn't for her and I respect that immensely! She always confronts me when she is wanting to make changes too, which is good because we build on eachothers imagination! She always updates the blogs and comes up with the greatest plots and designs. WELL DONE ALY :D
Q4: What do you pride yourself most in regarding the book?
Coolbeanz: Just the exciting plot twists that I have come up with. I really liked writing the last couple of chapters. Mainly though I am proud of the characters that I have created. In addition, I came up with the idea for the dragon tribe which is featured more in the second book. It was really fun creating it.
Twinklerose: The advertisement and ideas I have. I find it hard to write the chapters sometimes to be honest; I have the ideas but I can't structure the sentences or make it last as long as the chapters require! I am proud of the fact I found our publishers, paragraphed the entire book and put it into the write format too.
Q5: So, what characters did you invent and develop most (between 1 and 6 characters)?
Coolbeanz: For me:- Spice- I made her who she is and developed her personality which I am very proud of.
Leahn- I created her and plotted how her character developes during the next few books
Serena and Savannah- I created their whole history and the enmity between them, trying to associate it with that of Sugar and Spice's though on a bigger scale of course.
Nathan- he was the first major guy in the book. I tried to make him get along with everyone and be a great (male) friend to Spice. I also decided that he could have a romance with Leahn for the first four books.
Fabian-Spice needed to have a relationship with someone so I made Fabian. I made him sweet and a bit shy, however I'm not sure whether I intend their relationship to last or not.
Twinklerose: My characters were Sugar, Naomi, Scuba and Jodie. When we decided it would be a great twist to play on the characters to change the personalities I worked on the things Sugar would say and how she would react. With Naomi, I created her family and struggled background which was also great. I am also planning to create two more characters, to represent Alex and myself, but that's all your getting from me on the subject!
Q6: How many chapters did you write each out of 52?
Coolbeanz: I'm not sure. Because I am the one who specializes in the actual creation and writing of the book, I have done the majority of chapters. So, out of 52, I have probably written 45 to 47 of them. Some of the chapters we have written together because we have met up many times and had sleepovers where we have stayed up all night writing the book.
Twinklerose: I'm not sure either! Aly has pretty much said all I needed to, I'm not the main writer of the book and specialize in other things. I have also been so busy as I start my GCSE's a year earlier than Alex. The amount I have is beyond crazy and I'm always caught up in some coursework or revision for a test! I have done 10% of my English exam and got full marks though-(40/40A*)- I am planning to write more and my new years resolution is to plan time more effectively!
Twinklerose: I LOVE this book but seriously find it very hard to keep up with all the things I do! (see last question) I spend as much time as possible on looking for ways to get this out there. I am currently searching into teen magazines seeing if they 'true life stories' and want to write about our book! I'd say a 10 definitely but I need to but this before all the other things I do at school!
Twinklerose: Designing and creating Coco Beach, and organising the blog and advertising ourselves, I also reply to everyone who comments so I would say I am the communicator who connects with all the fans (I'm not saying that Alex doesn't- I just reply to everyone who comments) I just want to say thanks to everyone for reading and being supportive! Why not buy the book? Its about £2.50 or $5 on
smashwords.com (search Sugar and Spice and look for the cover picture of a mirror!)
Q7: How much on a scale of 1 to 10 are you devoted to this book?
Coolbeanz:
Q8: If you could be one character, who would you be and why?
Coolbeanz: Well throughout all of the books, all of them have quite a lot on their plate. I would not mind being Spice but, as the chosen one and the future queen, she has a lot of responsibility. I like the way though that even when she realizes that she is next in line for the throne, she doesn't change or suddenly act like royalty- she just stays the same and lives life like an average teenage girl (not for long though of course or there would be nothing to write about!) In my opinion, the best character to be would either be Spice or Leahn who faces the least amount of challenges in the books.
Twinklerose: Again, Alex has summed up exactly what I was going to answer. Naomi has a tough time at home, Spice has all the future responsibly and danger and Sugar... Well I just wouldn't want to be her, the way she acts and everything. I would say Leahn as she has it easiest. But I am going to create two more as I said that represent us so you can all see how we would make it.
Q9: What appeals to you so much about writing a book?
Coolbeanz: Just the fact that it can be so spontaneous. I love being able to portray my emotions ideas and experience through writing. It also feels great to know that you are in control of the book. You might now know where it takes you but it helps knwoing that you can make the decisions (that is in this case, me and twinklerose.) In short, it is very entertaining and anything can happen.
Twinklerose: IT'S SO FUN! The excitement of finishing a chapter, reading Alex's and building on hers and deciding what happens! It is just the best feeling ever, especially when we got it published.
Q10: What is the one thing that YOU (as an individual) have made in the book that makes a massive difference- not a character?
Coolbeanz: Even though it doesn't feature much in the first book, I think that the biggest thing that I have done to change all of the books (as a series) is make the dragon tribe- as in set it up, make the laws and the tribes- including all of the warriors in it and their roles. The dragon tribe is a major setting throughout books 2, 5, 6 and 7 so without it, those books would be very different.
smashwords.com (search Sugar and Spice and look for the cover picture of a mirror!)
MORE QUESTIONS COMING SOON.
IF WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED SOME KEEP CHECKING BECAUSE WE WILL XX
-Twinklerose and Coolbeanz
