sarea | TSA1 posted!

Whee!!! I've been waiting for this for so long!!!

*scurries off to read, err print*

I will have a review asap (hopefully I'll still have power and internet :P)

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

You're the best!

You're so sweet!! *crosses fingers for your eckeltricity access*

<333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loved it. That is all.

W00t! Thanks, babe!! <3333333 you as well. :-*

I just wanted to let you know that I love the direction of the Slow Autumn so far. I'm never good at reviewing, so I'll just say that the characterizations are great, and ooh, "Genevieve". Was that in the Prologue? Because I must have missed it if it was, but yeah, I've never seen anyone call Ginny that, I like it!

Thanks for updating. =)

Hey, thank you for leaving a comment! : ) I think you did a great job w/ your review, so you should go forth and review many more stories. <g>

"Genevieve" was not introduced in the prologue; I only referred to her as "Ginny" there. I'm glad you like it; canon has never been explicit about what "Ginny" was short for (if it's in fact short for anything), so I wanted to use something different. I'm sure it's really "Virginia" or something. :D

Alright, well, let me try and be a little more in-depth in my review, I feel bad that the first one was so sucky. So, I got out TSA1 again, and am going to go through it =)

1) I should have mentioned this in my first post: You used "Hell & Bliss!" Rock on, my friend. Rock on. It fits so well, here, too.

2) Ron is ever-so-hormonal, and I love it. I love the part where Harry was like, well, like this: "She probably wouldn’t have resorted to violence if Ron had said it to Lavender, rather than to Lavender’s chest," said Harry mildly.. The characterization here is perfect. In canon, Ron generally has the louder humor, and Harry has the quiet, often sarcastic remarks that are just as funny. Which is exactly how you wrote several parts here, including a part about Harry being the son Molly's never had (Hah!). I loved it. Lovelovelove. In fact, I loveloveloved all of the humorous parts of this chapter.

3) I'm not entirely sure about Olivia and Jeremy yet; then again, I'm never entirely sure about Other Characters. I'm hoping (and assuming, knowing your wonderful writing skills) that Jeremy being a Slytherin will be worked into the story slightly more (more than him being like, what, the first Muggle-born Slytherin ever?).

4) I guess my biggest gripe is really sort of a minor point - there wasn't enough Draco/Ginny interaction. ;) Fine, fine, I get that tossing them together immediately is generally a bad plit point, (unless its smut, of course, and you're tossing them together into a room to shag, shag, and shag some more) but, you know. Looking forward to more in the next part, hopefully? Which will, again hopefully, be soon? :D

Thanks again for the update. I've been looking foward to this story for quite some time now!

1) W00t! It's probably my favorite of Majandra's work. That or "Oil + Water."

2) It's always been said that it's harder to make people laugh than make them cry, so I'll take that compliment and run with it! :D I'm so glad you enjoyed Ron.

3) Oh, yes. <vbg>

4) There will be much more D/G interaction in the next chapter, but yes ... I plan to take it slow with this story. It's going to be my big "how Draco and Ginny get together"-type base, after all. Previous to this, all of my stories have them in established relationships, and I think that's partially because I think getting these two characters together would take a lot. So I kind of need to tell the big "how I see it happening" story, and TSA is it. But yes, hopefully the next part will be soonish. And by soonish I mean I certainly hope to take less time than I did for this chapter! :))

I just wanted to tell you that it was absolutely worth the wait. I'm horrible about feedback, and I don't think that I've ever sent it to you at all before - but I should have.

The story is wonderful so far, and I *really* hope that I get to read the next chapter soon.

Thanks for taking the opportunity to feedback now and let me know what you thought! It means a lot. :D

To say that I'm a leeeeeettle nervous about the reaction to this chapter would be an understatement, since I know it can't possibly live up to whatever anticipation might have built up in this long wait between parts, but lay into me anyway. I'm an adult. I can take it. And if I can't, I'll take it anyway.

Sarea, I don't notice any flaws. The story flowed, I wasn't ever bored--despite the fact that it was longish and drawn out. I think it's important to make a note of that, because I often find myself skimming other fanfics when they stretch things out long. But not with this piece.

I'm beginning to think that your writing and story-telling style is perfectly suited to my tastes. I don't think I've read any story of yours that I didn't like a lot and find satisfying. You have become my favorite fanfic writer. You really have.

This chapter is so richy textured. I'm often unsatisfied with other stories because not enough time is spent explaining why a character does this or that. This tendency is particularly pronounced in many of the Draco/Ginny stories I've read. I think it is a rather odd thing for these two characters to get romantically involved. So if a writer is going to put them together, she has to build slowly, showing their personalities, their motivations, their (not so) inevitable attraction.

When this building is done well (as it is in "Autumn"), it is so pleasing, because I really get wrapped up in the characters and you feel what they are feeling. I am seduced into their skins--and I forget what is happening around me. That's a feeling I don't often get from reading these days (although in my childhood, I experienced it all the time). So I appreciate any writing that can draw me so closely. Such is your Draco fanfic writing.

I really liked this chapter and I know I will read it again and again to catch all the nuances. Good work.

I'm so glad you mentioned the issue of the length, because I'm well aware that it was long, and most of it was set up, and while it's a necessary part of story building, it's not always the most interesting part. I'm really glad to hear that it worked for you -- I've already heard some constructive criticism about how I should use fewer words to say the same thing. It's good feedback to have, though I don't see myself changing the way I write dramatically.

I do tend to get verbose, so maybe this will spur me to watch myself more. Of course, if the complaints stem from the fact that the chapter itself is long ... then they're out of luck, as I don't plan to post 2-page chapters just to cater to short attention spans. :D That's not the kind of audience I want, anyway. Or maybe I should stop posting to places where such readers hang out. So, to the point: I'm glad you mentioned it, because now I have both points of view, and can work with that feedback as I go forward. The next chapter has much more D/G interaction, and I suspect there won't be much criticism about length then. :))

But I agree with you; getting Draco and Ginny -- two such disparate characters -- should, rightfully, take a long time. But I understand about cutting corners, and normally would do it myself (as there's only so many times you really want to get that in depth with it, I suspect), but this was a story in which I didn't want those corners cut; didn't feel it would work or be right. So yeah, we're in for a long ride. It is the slow autumn, after all. Heehee.

I think the fact that you can get into a character and feel that you're experiencing what they're going through is one of the highest compliments a writer can receive, so thank you. That's so wonderful to hear. We're all painting universes, of course, so our ultimate goal is to draw you in and hopefully help you enjoy your stay there for awhile. ; )

Sarea

Hi, I'm the same anonymous reviewer as above (if you couldn't tell by the IP addy), and I just wanted to point out that while I could feel the length of this chapter, that was mostly just because it was setup, and rather expected from the first chapter. Please, please, please do not ever post 2 page chapters of this story. Long chapters rock. Particularly your long chapters. This didn't get boring, it didn't feel too drawn out... it felt like background, which is exactly what it was supposed to be.

Because I'm so committed to making this Book Club work, I created a chart for those who don't understand how it works. One friend said it was too confusing and she didn't want to do it because she didn't see how she'd get 36 books for the price of one. Tell me if I've made sense of it? The gif is a tad large but I tried to make it as simple as possible.

http://home.satx.rr.com/victorianlife/bookswap.gif

Geez, I didn't think it was that difficult a concept! :D But you've nailed it w/ your chart. Hopefully that can convince anyone who doesn't understand how it works.

I didn't think it was that hard either but I also think that if it's not extremely obvious sometimes people don't want to bother figuring it out. Sort of like that riddle in Labyrinth -- one can only tell the truth, one can only lie, what question do you ask and who do you ask? :)

Hi, I got the link from lissanne's journal, and I must say, I loved it! I love the way you write Ginny. She seems so much more mature, and I don't know...likeable? The plotlines are very good, and I am interested in what will happen with poor Harry and Hermione. Well done! You have no reason to be nervous, it was great!
~Batgirl

Hi, thanks for stopping by!! Ginny's a difficult character to write, imho -- there are so many ways a person can go wrong with her, and I really have to watch myself. I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed the story so far. : )

Sarea

WONDERFUL chapter, Sarea! It was most assuredly worth the wait.
I love the in character-ness of it all (if that makes sense...). And yours is one of the best interpretations of Draco I've seen in a long time.
The air about him just makes me melt (he's a very melty guy, that one). Very composed and together, rather than the snobby, irrational hottie you see everywhere else.
And I adore Ron! He's usually just an annoyance and ends up only irritating the reader and getting in the way. But here he's got a very compelling and wonderfully brotherly quality to him. Like you could see him being your brother.
He's not just freakishly protective and he doesn't just tease mercilessly. He and Gin share a closeness that only real siblings can understand. And I find that most fics lack that.
The mood of the entire chapter was great. It's definetly the kind of fic you can 'come home to'. It's comfortable and you settle right into the scene and cast like you've known them your entire life.
I can't wait for the next chapter. It's bound to be a hit!
Much love and snuggles. ~Alex* (sapphireyes87@hotmail.com)

Hi Alex, thank you so much for leaving a comment. :D I'm thrilled to hear that Draco's characterization worked for you; he constantly makes me bite my nails, wondering if I'm making him too soft/snarky/dislikable/whatever. You have to admit though, a snobby, irrational hottie isn't anything to sneeze at. :))

I <3 that you <3 Ron!! I <3 Ron as well. He often gets the shaft in stories (er ... even in stories that aren't slash *ahem*), and I know a lot of people who dislike him. I've always liked canon Ron, and I'm trying to be as true to him as possible. Don't want to neglect the poor guy. ;)

Sarea

*Loves you, but not in a Draco/Ginny kind of way ;)*

Eeeeee! I'm so glad that you finally posted the new chapter of TSA and even better to hear that you have quite a few pages written for the next part. I finally figured out what your chapter titles: "After: Winter" and "Before: Summer" meant in context to "The Slow Autumn." Am total idiot, of course.

I love that you can write Draco and Ginny from such a fresh angle that differs from the typical fanon cliches and yet still believable in the context of canon. Also, you write OCs very well (usually they make me retch) and I'm very interested in their developments as well as those of the main players.

*gigglesnorts at Ginny's mental comment to Harry that Molly would probably like to see them get together--that's how I read the canon too, though many an H/Hr-er disagrees with me* Occasionally Ginny's attitude towards Harry is a little wavery to me--I'm guessing she's mostly over him but there's still a residual something she feels that she might want to explore but also kind of doesn't want to deal with? Narratively it feels slightly inconsistent, but when I think about it, it's probably a very human attitude, and you write realism so well. The minor characters are spot on, especially your Fred and George, who were just totally adorable. I'm also very curious to see how that Hermione-->Harry dynamic develops as well, although the Harry-->Ginny makes me kind of O_o.

For me, Ginny has been a hard character to read about post-OotP because it's so hard to reconcil her canon character with her fanon character. Is she brave or isn't she? Especially when it comes to Draco--I guess I see her as being slightly more confrontational towards him given the situation, but that's just my interpretation. ;) For fanfic purposes however, I do definitely favor the more vulnerable Ginny that obviously Harry doesn't understand or see, she's just such a woobie heroine that you can't help but love her.

Draco. He deserves his own new paragraph, I think. ;) I loved how you weaved in the little details from canon and developed them into your Draco--how he's too tall to play Seeker better than Harry, how his attitude has changed since Lucius was entombed in Azkaban. It's not easy to transition canon Draco into romantic lead Draco without falling into cliche and being a bit over the top with words, but you have changed his character ever so subtly and yet enough to make a romance between he and Ginny believable.

<3333333333333333333333333333

*Loves you, but not in a Draco/Ginny kind of way ;)*

Hahahahahahaa. Awwwwww. *masks disappointment*

I finally figured out what your chapter titles: "After: Winter" and "Before: Summer" meant in context to "The Slow Autumn."

Well, it's not the clearest thing in the world, but it was the only way I could do it without making it really lengthy. Hopefully in the future when things get even more dicey as we move back and forth, they'll be more helpful in positioning the time period.

Also, you write OCs very well (usually they make me retch) and I'm very interested in their developments as well as those of the main players.

*feels the pressure* Heehee. I'm also usually not a big fan of OCs, but in this case it couldn't be helped. Not to mention, JKR hasn't given us the name of even one of Ginny's friends in her year (and we know from OotP that she has them, so...). :-l Anyway, I hope they'll continue to be interesting as the story goes on, though the focus is definitely on the main characters.

Molly would probably like to see them get together--that's how I read the canon too, though many an H/Hr-er disagrees with me*

I think you could make an argument that Molly would be in favor/neutral to the idea; I certainly don't think she would be opposed.

Narratively it feels slightly inconsistent, but when I think about it, it's probably a very human attitude, and you write realism so well.

Haha, thanks for giving me an out. The thing is, we learn in OotP that Ginny got over her crush on Harry -- at least enough to start behaving normally around him. But Harry is probably still quite crush-worthy, at least attractive, and even if you were over him, if you had an inkling that he liked you back, wouldn't you waver, just a tad? <g> You might realize that you don't really like him, but I think it would be quite tempting. ;)

The minor characters are spot on, especially your Fred and George, who were just totally adorable.

Yay, thank you! JKR's given all her characters such distinct personalities that it's quite daunting to try and write long fic in this verse, since I really want characters to stay recognizable at the very least. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when writers change a character's personality in order to suit the needs of their story. Interpretation, I'm a big fan of. Outright contradiction, not so much.

I'm also very curious to see how that Hermione-->Harry dynamic develops as well, although the Harry-->Ginny makes me kind of O_o.

Oh, poor SL. Since this story is D/G focused (H/Hr won't even get equal weight), you'll see the H/Hr develop mostly behind the scenes. They will get their moments in the spotlight, of course, but not with the same level of attention.

Ginny has been a hard character to read about post-OotP because it's so hard to reconcil her canon character with her fanon character.

I know. This is partially what took me so damn long to get this chapter out. But Mynuet made some pretty good points about canon/fanon Ginny, and I feel slightly better about the whole thing. I also prefer the more vulnerable Ginny that we see in fanon, but that's not to say that she's not really like that in canon -- Harry's just not privy to it. See? Interpretation, not contradiction. ;)

she's just such a woobie heroine that you can't help but love her.

This is why I barely even thought of her as anything more than an annoying pest in canon, and didn't start liking her until I started reading fanon, when I got to see more to her.

(OMG that I went on so long that LJ wouldn't let me post my whole thing. I am too fucking verbose.)

I loved how you weaved in the little details from canon and developed them into your Draco--how he's too tall to play Seeker better than Harry, how his attitude has changed since Lucius was entombed in Azkaban.

<333333! Thanks! Well, the books have made a point of saying that Seekers are small and light, which makes sense. So if my Draco's tall, it's inevitable, then, that he would cease to be as effective a Seeker as Harry, who's arguably always been better than Draco at it, anyway. Yes, and the change from OotP for Draco is the fact that his father's in prison. There are lots of ramifications to this, and many ways a person could take it, but this will be my take on it. At least initially, as I reserve the right to change my mind for another story. ;)

yet enough to make a romance between he and Ginny believable.

We shall see, dear. We shall see. :D

Thank you for your feedback!! <33333333!

Sarea

Just in time for Autumn, eh? I've been waiting for this story to updated since the time you posted it. I didn't review the Prologue though (shameful, isn't it?) but at the time, I wasn't good at reviewing since I just came back from a fandom hiatus. Whatever excuses I may have, I am reviewing now, dear Sarea! I would cut up letters and paste them and MacGyver them to you but I have no idea where to direct them.

So now the real stuff. I love your writing and you amused me and made me smile through all of this. I like your Ginny, always have because you seem to capture her characterization so well in just one or two chapters. You also write a really sexy Draco, broody and rich. Damn. Don't we all want one of our own?

I laughed out loud when I read the "Dionne’s Teahouse", "Lady Lissanne's" and Sydney mentions.

I'm impatient for the real action. I'm so repressed, I need the smut. We Repressed Chinese girls need it to survive! You understand this like no one else does. I'm looking forward to the manicure (and the smut) the most. We all know Draco gets his nails down, nothing wrong with a man who has gorgeous hands.

What else can I possibly say? I'm not an amazing river like Sydney is but I just want you to know, I loved it and I'm so glad it's being updated. I cannot wait until the next one. Please update soon!

*dies*

Hahahhaa, you're right, it is just in time for autumn. I could say that I planned it that way ... but then I would be lying. :)) Heehee, just the offer of MacGyvering the letter is enough for me.

I like your Ginny, always have because you seem to capture her characterization so well in just one or two chapters. You also write a really sexy Draco, broody and rich. Damn. Don't we all want one of our own?

We sure as hell do! And thank you so much for the praise. Given that Ginny and Draco are the most important characters in the story, it's pretty key that we like them. I haven't yet had anyone tell me that they couldn't stand one or the other, so that's a relief. :D

I'm so repressed, I need the smut. We Repressed Chinese girls need it to survive!

LOL! That's the most compelling reason I've heard yet!

I'm looking forward to the manicure (and the smut) the most. We all know Draco gets his nails down, nothing wrong with a man who has gorgeous hands.

Mmmm, yes, I quite agree. I have a thing about hands. It's the #1 most important physical feature in a guy, for me. And while I'm not really all that keen on the idea of men getting manicures (it just seems so girly; very sexist of me, I know), Draco is one of the few who can pull it off. ;)

Thank you thank you for your feedback!!

Sarea

Wow...can I just fangirl you now and get it over with? Because I have to tell you that if the chapters are going to be like this every time I will have to ask if I can bear your love children...yours or Jade's that is. ^_^

When I saw the length of this chapter my jaw just about dropped. I had a little chat with my sister

apple_eyes, she was ecstatic that the chapter was so long. I just have to say that this chapter was well worth the wait though. All the UST just sitting right there in front of their faces...priceless.

Your portrayal of the twins was fantastic though...exaclty how I see them doing their job. Flambuoyant with no care as to the particulars of the shop...just interested in the merchandise.

I liked the little talk between Ron and Ginny regarding Harry and Hermione as well; I always believed that Ron wouldn't be too incredibly angry with the two if they did get in a relationship...it's just not Ron. I can understand him being hacked off and angry...but he would never hold a long standing hatred against two of his best friends. Also have to say that it was quite funny to see Ron mooning over the "banshee" at that one restaurant. I wonder who it really is now...although it's probably not that important to the story. I have to agree with Ginny about the fact that you can't tell the difference between all the waitresses.

Oh, and before I forget...loved that Ginny's name is Genevieve. Always so used to seeing the Virginia that it's nice to see a different name there.

As for the D/G moments...yummy. I didn't know Draco could be so yummy; I shouldn't be surprised though since you always make him out to be so yummy. Adored the moments when you saw the subtle changes in him when he saw Ginny in Diagon Alley. I know it's so sad...but I like seeing the little moments when someone realizes something internally and lets it show, whether they know it shows or not.

Sorry if this review doesn't make sense...just wanted you to know that I loved this chapter and I can't wait for the next one.

~Christina

YAY that you guys liked that the chapter was long! I personally like long chapters, especially if the wait has been awhile (and I think TSA qualifies, hee).

W00t! So glad you liked the twins. They're a couple of my favorite characters in canon (second only to perhaps Snape, who is my hands-down favorite). :D

I can understand him being hacked off and angry...but he would never hold a long standing hatred against two of his best friends.

Well... He would definitely be hurt, but he also loves them too much. Especially as he grows older and gets more mature. He was pretty good at being a prat in GoF, but I like to give Ronnikins the benefit of the doubt and I think he'd get over it. Eventually. Particularly if he had something else to distract him.

I wonder who it really is now...although it's probably not that important to the story.

:D You are the only one who's expressed curiosity about Ghazbag so far. Her identity will be revealed, eventually.

Oh, and before I forget...loved that Ginny's name is Genevieve. Always so used to seeing the Virginia that it's nice to see a different name there.

Awwww, I feel the same way. I mean, if I had to place bets I'd bet on "Virginia" (or possibly Ginny is just her full name), but with fanfic I can be a little more creative, as canon hasn't been explicit about it. :D

I like seeing the little moments when someone realizes something internally and lets it show, whether they know it shows or not.

So do I. Actions speak louder than words, right? Especially with someone like Draco; you can't always trust the words that come out of his mouth, though they may be the truth. You have to watch him carefully ... and sometimes he'll give himself away. : )

<33333 you for your awesome feedback. Thank you.

Sarea

Well... He would definitely be hurt, but he also loves them too much. Especially as he grows older and gets more mature.

*nods* Exactly! I <3 Ron!

Her identity will be revealed, eventually.

You take pleasure in teasing me so don't you? ^_~ Well I'm glad that more will be revealed as I am intensely curious about who she is, even if others aren't. I'm easily distracted like that though.

TSA1 posted!

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The Slow Autumn 1

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More on The Slow Autumn 1

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A Humble Review...

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