The Phoenix of the Opera

[phantomphreak4life]

Thanks phantomluver4ever1! I added her so hopefully she'll accept the request soon. Perhaps I can direct her towards Little Meg to answer some of our questions? I shall try.

[Lorelai]

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I'm torn really. The writing is alright IMHO, and it's NOT what I excpected (or wanted) but from what I hear there will be more E/M in the next 3 books. I can't say I'm terribly let down because I was expecting something like this when I first heard about it. I think some of that characters were really OOC in some parts but, what can you do? It's the author's story and she can do with the characters what she wants. I wouldn't say it's a must-read, but I wouldn't say that I hate it either. BTW, I sent Miss Montgomery a message alerting her to this forum so maybe she'll pop in one of these days to answer some questions.

[Opera Angel]

Well after the first book do you think the next three might show any promise of Erik and Meg getting together...? Like whoever read it..did it kind of end with not a real ending since there are more to come?

[phantomphreak4life]

It ends with them fleeing France together. But he doesnt really love her. Well not like he loves Christine at least. He only semi loves her because they made love. So basically he loves her sex, not her.

[Sadie Montgomery]

Hi,

I'm not too sure I should be putting my two cents in here. I got an invitation. So here I am. I have full body armor. But I warn you I'm a bit bruised after reading the reviews here.

My focus is on Erik, not Meg. My premise is that it would be very difficult to get over his first obsession. What interested me was delving into the mythic and psychological ramifications of the relationships among the characters. Meg gets the short end of the stick in this novel, but I see her as occupying a place similar to the one Erik occupied with respect to Christine.

Erik doesn't go with Meg in the end because he's interested only in sex. It's more complex than that. These are imperfect people in an imperfect world. He is starved for affection, for love. Meg has offered him comfort. The obsessive love Erik has for Christine is not the love he will have with Meg. With Meg, it will grow.

The reviews here were not unpredictable. I had feared that the novel would not meet everyone's expectation. However when I wrote the first novel, I felt that there were certain things that had to be accomplished--and not quickly but gradually--in the first novel. The most important goal was to make reasonable Erik's break from Christine so that he could find a relationship with someone else. Also I felt that there was expiation that needed to be accomplished before he could go off and build a life. After all he did kill people.

When I finished the first one, though, like you, I felt Meg and Erik had not actually come together yet. They were not where I thought they would be. For this reason I sat down to continue the story. Erik has to choose to be with Meg, not because Christine won't have him. That's the basic premise of the second novel. Meg and Erik come to have a very loving relationship.

You may well not like the other novels in the series. I'm disappointed that you haven't enjoyed the first one. But it's my fantasy, and it won't please everyone. I stand by what I write and am very proud of it. I have a good number of comments from others who have read it and enjoyed it greatly.

If you have any specific questions for me, I'll try to answer them. I'll drop by every now and then to see if you post any comments that I feel I can respond to. But I may need first-aid treatment afterwards. You're a hard crowd to please!

As far as Kay or Leroux or whoever, I extrapolated from the movie, and my Erik is not Kay's or Leroux's. I was not overly worried about following previous texts except in the very basic givens.

I did self publish. I had editing work done on the novel before I sent in the manuscript. I'm happy with the style.

I hope you don't mind my comments or my attempt at self defense. I'm glad the novel is being discussed! And those of you who were disappointed, I regret that the story didn't pull you in.

But thank you for giving me a chance! I loved writing it.

Sadie Montgomery

[Little Giry]

No, it is good that you stand up for your writing, it's good that for once, someone stands up for themselves and their accomplishments. Alot of 'authors' so-called (FF.net writers) fly off into a tizzy (in all capslocks) call names and blow and swear, and make themselves seem even worse. I can't respect authors like that, because it's extremly childish. (urm, like I did before in my reviews...) but I am very glad to see you replied, wrote what you thought of our responses. You keep it very diplomatic, and that's good. (something I really should work on) And, I think we all did jump to conclusions, I know I did, and I am sorry. I think we've all got different standards for the pairing, and this will be a cause for chafing between fans. If I was harsh, I do apologize, because writing and publishing is hard to accomplish, to have the guts to do it is praise-worthy, and no, you can't be expected to please everyone. That's simply the way the ball rolls. No, I did not take a liking to your book (the first at least, I haven't seen teh other three yet) but I am glad to see an E/M fan publish! I do however, like the idea of Erik not immediatly loving Meg, it simply wouldn't make sense, and I honestly can't see him loving her only for her willingness to "please" him. I think the Erik/Meg relationship takes time, and certainly alot of arguements between them. It is a healing process, especially for Erik, and both are learning to adapt with each other, Meg to Erik's mood-habits, and Erik to Meg showing affection for him. I think you are right to take it slow, and it's definitly your best bet. Never fear! There are always lots of fans who love the POTO books, (I was never one of them, but I do love the pairing!) I wish you the best with your book, and I wish every author could be as polite as you have been. Especially since many of us were very rude, including myself.

[phantomphreak4life]

I did not mean to offend you in anyway. I'm sorry if I came off as rather harsh.

Like I said before, this is your story and we shouldnt criticize.

There may have been some things I didnt agree with, but there were a lot of things that I did like. I enjoyed your style of writing very much, a nice change from all the junk I've been reading lately. I liked the character of Raoul, jealous and protective, yet willing to do anything to please Christine. Although recounting the 2004 movie wasnt my favorite part, it was well done. If this was my first exposure to POTO, I would definately want to see it after reading the prologue. I LOVED the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, especially the Edgar Allen Poe (I have this theory that Erik read a lot of Poe, but that's another story). I found it suspenseful. I kept reading even though I was constantly yelling "WHAT?!?!" midsentence. I will admit that I was curious to see what happened to Erik.

If this was my first POTO experience I'd be in love. But since I already have thoughts and opinions, I disagreed with a lot. For a first time POTO reader I think this is a good choice. We need more E/M Shippers, I hate Christine lol. All in all, very well written.

[phantomluver4ever1]

Dear Ms. Montogomery,

I really appreciate you taking the time and writing us back, I know all of us do, escpecially our hardworking administrator phantomgirl110. Though I have only read your prolouge and first chapter, I must say that I personally loved it. When I first read it, I was some what unsure about liking it or not, but reading it again, I fell in love. You are also a very brave soul taking on us, completeley devoted Erik/Meg fans with high expectations. I send you a messaged early on ff.net, telling you that I am the one who made the video "So She Dances". What made you become an E/M fan in the first place? What made you want to write this book? Thank you again so much for your time. It is so sweet of you to do this.

From,

phantomluver4ever1

[Sadie]

Little Giry, phantomphreak4life, and phantomluver4ever1,

Thanks for your responses! I feel like I might recovers from my wounds. Perhaps they weren't so mortal after all.

You're very gracious.

phantomluver4ever1, you asked:

What made you become an E/M fan in the first place? What made you want to write this book?

The second question is easier to answer than the first. I saw the movie and fell in love with it and with Butler's portrayal of the phantom. The versions I grew up on were all horror versions. (Leroux's novel is actually a very hard novel to pin down as far as tone. A good deal of it is actually funny. It doesn't strike me as either romantic or a horror tale. Perhaps it's more akin to a mystery story a la Poe or Conan Doyle.) Anyway, I had never seen the musical. But the movie absolutely floored me. I went back repeatedly to watch it on the big screen. The more I watched, the richer the text became. Especially since the musical underscores the romance (younger protagonists, music as expression of passion rather than horror, the focus on the kiss and sacrifice) I decided that I couldn't let it end the way it did. I discounted, pretty much, the frame in which the old Raoul goes to the graveyard because I felt that to change what happened between Christine and Erik would be to take away from the tragic and romantic dimensions of the story in the movie. That is to say, I didn't want to re-write the movie (even though I refer back to the movie on numerous occasions in case the reader is less familiar with it than we are) but to expand on the aspects that are not fully developed in the movie and to go on beyond it to explore the effects of the sacrifice on Erik. I also felt that the story is the dark, tragic version of the Beauty and the Beast story. All of these are basic story motifs that appear in various versions in literature and film. So I wanted to write Erik another chance, a chance at happiness, but WITHOUT changing him drastically. I find Erik appealing in part because he is tragically flawed. He would be a real bear to live with! It takes a very unique person to deal with him.

So that was the beginning of the series. I read Leroux, Kay, and several versions of Beauty and the Beast, saw all the movies I could get my hands on. I didn't want to use them as a rule book but as a way to evoke the basic scenario: a wounded, scarred man who is enthralled with beauty, something he cannot in himself find, who becomes obsessed and victim to beauty and who in the end sacrifices himself to her. This is the departure for my version.

When I tried to think of a heroine for my version, I didn't want to create out of the void a woman. I actually thought it would be more interesting to have a heroine that KNOWS the history AND who chooses--even though she knows the dark aspect of the Phantom--to love him. The only one that seemed right was Meg, and I thought it was a good choice for many, many reasons. One thing is that her story runs parallel to Christines. Two she is curious about him all along (scene when she asks Christine about her tutor and the moment she goes behind the mirror). Three she is present and announces his arrivals "It's the phantom" on several occasions. It was easy to imagine her as obsessed with him as WE are when we watch what happens between Erik and Christine.

I also liked the fact that she's a dancer. This evoked for me the physicality of the story. Here's a man, according to Schumacher, the director, who was only touched when he was beaten. Such a life would either suggest that he would not be able to bear the touch of another person (the gloves) or that he would desire it and need it above all else (the embrace). In my version, sex and touch are as vital to Erik as air, and they mean much much more than lust. That's why the relationship with Meg seems very corporeal. It is. But I don't see that as demeaning. I see it as human and haunting. Meg understands this. Her strength, which isn't perhaps all that apparent at first in the novel, is that she withstands and endures. She gives even in the face of Erik's obsession with Christine. It is this enduring nature of her love for him which draws him to her. It's the unconditional love that we would all like to think we had as children and that we seek to find again in our mates.

Well, that's some of my take on the story. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write about what moved me so much in the story and what I tried to evoke in my novel.

Cheers, Sadie

[phantomgirl110]

Ms. Montgomery,

Firstly, I too want to apologize for how harsh some of us here were, especially myself. I allowed my disappointment in the little that I read (the prologue and first chapter from iUniverse) get the best of me and I blasted you and your novel without much thought. It never occurred to me, somehow, that you might see the comments made here and be hurt by them, and for my own lack of thought I am truly sorry. In the future, I will be much more careful about what I say here. I completely understand how you were hurt by our words and I sincerely apologize for how thoughtlessly I behaved.

I also want to thank you for taking the time to come here and share your thoughts and opinions with us, especially after how rude several of us were regarding your book. That took a lot of guts, and a remarkable amount of self-control (far more than I possess). Believe me, both your willingness to answer questions and your post's surprising lack of animosity are greatly appreciated.

I still intend to read The Phoenix of the Opera and the three books that will follow it, and I'm still planning to go into them with an open mind and hopeful that I will enjoy them more than I enjoyed the first chapter. It certainly wouldn't be the first time it took me a few chapters to get into a book! Once I get the novel, I will be sure to share my thoughts here, but in a far more mature manner than I have previously.

Once again, I wish to apologize. Never having published a thing in my life, I can't imagine what it must have felt like to come across such rude comments as mine, and I am truly sorry for how that must have hurt you.

[Sadie Montgomery]

Phantomgirl110,

If a writer publishes a novel, she has to expect negative as well as positive responses. Thank you for caring about my feelings. I did cringe quite a bit, but I've been very touched by several of the recent responses, including yours.

I'm pleased you're willing to give the novel a chance in spite of your first impressions. The first three or four chapters are similar in style, but each one approaches the passing of time by focusing to a certain extent on one of the four major players: Erik, Christine, Raoul, and Meg. After these initial chapters, the timelines converge, and the story becomes a bit more traditional in its presentation.

As far as language and style, I purposefully tried to evoke a slightly more formal period in the discourse I used. I didn't want the characters to sound like they just stepped out of a Starbuck's in downtown L.A. I also wanted the novel to be a bit unorthodox, hence the changing POV and the sections in italics. The latter, for me, are stylistically important. They reiterate motifs (such as music and masks) that become associated with the characters, particularly the psychology of the characters. I meant them to suggest the interior world of the characters, their emotions and unguarded thoughts. Some readers have questioned their relevance or purpose in the novel. For me, they are absolutely essential. I could go more into it if anyone were interested.

As I've remarked before, the story involves all four of the characters. I know some fans don't particularly like Christine (not just mine, but the character in an absolute way). I'm interested in exploring her because I think she can be a complex character. I think Christine's a bit of an enigma in the movie. One aspect I underscore is her unconscious manipulation of Erik. Anyway, I hope that my story presents characters in such a way as to make them seem real. And as such they are not perfect. Nor are they always consistent. I think there are a lot of contradictions in each of us.

So thanks for giving the novel another try. You may still not like it. So be it. I hope the story or the characters catch your interest and that it's not a waste of your time.

Cheers, Sadie

[phantomphreak4life]

I went back and read my posts again. That was so inhumane. I am SO SORRY!!

I know I acted like a jerk and I doubt you want me opening my mouth again, but I just have to ask: What are your thoughts on Phantom of Manhattan?
I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're a bit against a sequel...

[Sadie Montgomery]

Phantomphreak4life,

The Phantom of Manhattan is one I read quite some time ago. I actually think the author's purpose was more an exploration of New York than a continuation of the story of the Phantom. The Phantom seems to be the excuse to depict characters and aspects of New York through various voices. The character of the Phantom, if I remember correctly, is very close to Leroux's phantom. The style of the novel itself is interesting, but the story didn't satisfy me. The conclusion, in particular, from what I remember was rushed and poorly conceived. I'm amazed that it's being mentioned as the basis for a sequel. I confess that I wouldn't recommend it. I might try to reread it now to see if I feel the same. I read it after having read Leroux and Kay.

You should be able to pick it up at a library. You could browse it and see if it appealed to you.

By the way, I noticed a question earlier regarding my "series." The first novel did not start out as part of a series. I wanted to write the novel and thought it would be just the one. So it has a sort of closure, but it would appeal more to those who were touched by the original situation between Erik and Christine. Some readers will be satisfied with the resolution in the first novel of Erik's obsession with Christine and with the chance for a different 'path.' Each of the four novels does come to an end. They are not cliff hangers.

Cheers, Sadie

[phantomluver4ever1]

Dear Ms. Montgomery,

I have finished reading The Phoenix of the Opera and let me say that it is definetly one of my favorite books. The way you go in depth with description is amazing and it feels as if I am actually there. Though I wish there was a little bit more Erik/Meg, I definetly understand why you needed to put the struggle between Erik and Christine and the power that Erik still has over her. Last night when I finally had a chance to read, I could not put it down, until I almost fell asleep from staying up till 1 in the morning. I had been so afraid for Erik in the last few chapters. Can you please tell me when we will be expecting a sequel? Once again stupended job on it.

Your devoted fan,

Chelsea

[Sadie Montgomery]

Chelsea,

I'm very pleased you enjoyed it! Thanks for letting me know.

My plan is to publish the second one this summer. I have to prep the manuscript, and it will take a few months for everything to happen.

As you know, I have a page at myspace and will announce its publication there as well as at a few fan sites.

Cheers, Sadie