Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the inspiration for this story?
A: Most people believe this story is inspired by the Twilight series (which given how often I talk about loving it, isn’t a huge leap) but this story was actually inspired by now cancelled television series called Pushing Daisies. In this television show the main character Ned has the ability to bring dead things back to life with just one touch. In one episode they even describe him as Midas. While I was watching an episode I wondered what my Midas would be able to do, and of course in my mind he could do something sexually praise worthy, hence Michael’s power to bring woman to climax with just a touch.
Q: How does Michael’s gift work?
A: I’m not exactly sure. I know, a weird answer, especially from me. I usually know everything about my characters, even the name of their great aunt on their mother’s side, but for this series of stories I view them more as magical realism, made popular by Gabriel Garcia Marques and Alice Hoffman in the United States. There’s no explanation or need for one in the story. It just works, and that’s what matters. No one in the story questions it, disbelieves Michael when he says he can do it or asks for any explanation.
There are a few aspects of his power that don’t come up through the course of this story but I did have to understand to keep going with this novel.
1. It doesn’t work on prepubescent girls. That’s why Michael doesn’t recall it occurring until he was in middle school/high school age. It’s not because didn’t have the ability before then, but that he didn’t touch any older girls when he was that age and there for didn’t know of its existence.
2. It doesn’t work on his family members. Older, younger, it doesn’t matter. That’s why his mother didn’t feel the effects when she held him as a baby and if he has a daughter she would not feel the effects either (wouldn’t that be traumatic!!).
3. He needs to make skin to skin contact for at least 15 seconds to start the reaction. No brush in the hallway or accidental bumping on a bus will be enough to cause such a reaction. In order to start the reaction he needs to keep contact for at least 15 seconds. It doesn't sound like a long time but is actually a decent amount of time. 15 seconds only starts the reaction. To hit the full height of reaction he needs to keep up that contact for a longer period of time (the actual amount of time varies from woman to woman.
A: Most people believe this story is inspired by the Twilight series (which given how often I talk about loving it, isn’t a huge leap) but this story was actually inspired by now cancelled television series called Pushing Daisies. In this television show the main character Ned has the ability to bring dead things back to life with just one touch. In one episode they even describe him as Midas. While I was watching an episode I wondered what my Midas would be able to do, and of course in my mind he could do something sexually praise worthy, hence Michael’s power to bring woman to climax with just a touch.
Q: How does Michael’s gift work?
A: I’m not exactly sure. I know, a weird answer, especially from me. I usually know everything about my characters, even the name of their great aunt on their mother’s side, but for this series of stories I view them more as magical realism, made popular by Gabriel Garcia Marques and Alice Hoffman in the United States. There’s no explanation or need for one in the story. It just works, and that’s what matters. No one in the story questions it, disbelieves Michael when he says he can do it or asks for any explanation.
There are a few aspects of his power that don’t come up through the course of this story but I did have to understand to keep going with this novel.
1. It doesn’t work on prepubescent girls. That’s why Michael doesn’t recall it occurring until he was in middle school/high school age. It’s not because didn’t have the ability before then, but that he didn’t touch any older girls when he was that age and there for didn’t know of its existence.
2. It doesn’t work on his family members. Older, younger, it doesn’t matter. That’s why his mother didn’t feel the effects when she held him as a baby and if he has a daughter she would not feel the effects either (wouldn’t that be traumatic!!).
3. He needs to make skin to skin contact for at least 15 seconds to start the reaction. No brush in the hallway or accidental bumping on a bus will be enough to cause such a reaction. In order to start the reaction he needs to keep contact for at least 15 seconds. It doesn't sound like a long time but is actually a decent amount of time. 15 seconds only starts the reaction. To hit the full height of reaction he needs to keep up that contact for a longer period of time (the actual amount of time varies from woman to woman.
Q: How possible are the green inventions in this novel?
A: All the green technologies described in this novel are possible. Some already exist. Some are in stages of testing or experimentation. There is currently a lot of testing going on for wind technology, most working on large pin wheel looking versions that would be considered traditional, but a small segment of the wind power population are looking at swirling or twirling versions of a windmill (which is what Phoebe starts to design as she’s spending time with Michael) as a way to collect even more power. Some Foreign countries are now placing wind farms in the ocean, since that’s where the wind is strongest (which is what Phoebe is collecting investors to do throughout her interactions with Michael). It is not yet approved in the United States.
The other green technologies are true as well. Clark’s invention of DVD cases that take 1/3 the plastic are currently available, Al Gore used it for his Inconvenient Truth DVD, but they haven’t become popular in mass (certainly not enough for Clark to retire permanently from the sales of). Organic wines are starting to take over the market, and organic focused or friendly restaurants or bars are starting to grow as well. The experimental car that Phoebe is given is currently in testing stages by two major car manufactures, the Chevrolet Fuel Cell and Honda FCX Fuel Cell vehicle, but when these vehicles will be available to the public at large is still undetermined.
A: All the green technologies described in this novel are possible. Some already exist. Some are in stages of testing or experimentation. There is currently a lot of testing going on for wind technology, most working on large pin wheel looking versions that would be considered traditional, but a small segment of the wind power population are looking at swirling or twirling versions of a windmill (which is what Phoebe starts to design as she’s spending time with Michael) as a way to collect even more power. Some Foreign countries are now placing wind farms in the ocean, since that’s where the wind is strongest (which is what Phoebe is collecting investors to do throughout her interactions with Michael). It is not yet approved in the United States.
The other green technologies are true as well. Clark’s invention of DVD cases that take 1/3 the plastic are currently available, Al Gore used it for his Inconvenient Truth DVD, but they haven’t become popular in mass (certainly not enough for Clark to retire permanently from the sales of). Organic wines are starting to take over the market, and organic focused or friendly restaurants or bars are starting to grow as well. The experimental car that Phoebe is given is currently in testing stages by two major car manufactures, the Chevrolet Fuel Cell and Honda FCX Fuel Cell vehicle, but when these vehicles will be available to the public at large is still undetermined.
