* The Series is called Zephyr's because all the stories have something to do with a restaurant called Zephyr's. Originally, I was going to called Cephiro, which is the name of a planet in one of my favorite anime series ever: Magic Knight Rayearth by the wonderful studio CLAMP. But then I thought that perhaps Cephiro was too obscure a reference and I settled for Zephyr's.
* If you are familiar with Korean Dramas then, before you point it out: Yes, I'm aware there is a story called Sam Soon or something like that and that it resembles A Sweet Inducement. I never actually watched the drama until, like, two years after I was done with the story. My friend Stella told me about it because she's a fan, and I sort of liked the central plot, and ran away with it. And you know what? now that I've seen the drama, I don't think my story is anything like that! I mean, John is never that much of a jerk!!!
*The names of the characters:
- John Devane is one of my favorite names. I think I was watching a Sex and The City re-run when I was lookign for a name for the protagonist, and it was that episode when it's revealed that Mr. Big's name is John so I took it from there. Plus, it's Remus Lupin's middle name!! As for Devane, I picked it up from a book - I think it's Someone to Watch Over You by Lisa Kleypas, the last name of the heroine - I thought it unusual and it went well with John.
- Stella McAdams was named after my good friend Stella (or The Original (TO) Stella), which is funny since story-Stella doesn't resemble TOStella all that much. The McAdams camef rom actress Rachel McAdams, whose movies I adore.
- Lauren Martineu, she was named after The Original (TO) Lauren, a very dear friend and she does resemble Story-Lauren! I tried my best to put TOLauren's bubbly personality into Story-Lauren, I think it worked because Story-Lauren has been one of my favorite characters to write. Oh, and the Martineu part is a reference to Rachel Gibson's amazing book See Jane Score, there the male protagonist is called Luc Martineu and he's a hockey player... that's why all the Martineus have a hockey obsession.
- Also, Patrick, Lauren's brother in the story is named after one of TOLauren's actual brothers, though I have never met him.
- Jason Sadler, This one I just picked on a whim.
- Nathalie and Nathaniel, TOLauren picked the names, she said she was entitled to name picking because technically they are her babies.
- Jess Devane: again, total whim. Her Mom, Sabrina, was named after the movie.
- Mark Devane: Named after his uncle, Jess's dad.
- Hannah and Dan Taylor, Dan's name came first, I just liked how straight forward it sounded: Dan Taylor. Hannah's name came because I really wanted a sweet name for her and it went well with the last name.
* The name of Dan's Firm Wolfgang and Hart, well, I was going for the name of the evil law firm in Angel (big Angel/Buffy fan over here!) but I think I spelled it wrong and never went back to change it. That's in part why Dan get's called Devil's Avocado.
*Names of the stories:
- A Sweet Inducement: It was mostly because how John has to tempt Stella to pretend to be his girlfriend.
- Trouble With High Heels - see, I never got why I picked this one! the best I can come up with is that maybe it was because Lauren is a bit of a fashionista.
- The Pursuit of Chocolate - exactly like it sounds! I believe everyone has the right to love, Freedom and the Pursuit of Chocolate!
- Sticks, Jocks & Love? - named after the Martineu's Grill & Bar.
* In all the stories, the chapters' titles are some quote or saying. In A Sweet Inducement and The Pursuit of Chocolate, these are mostly food related. In Trouble and Sicks, Jocks & Love? they are mostly witty sayings all around. Most have to do with what happens in the chapters, but some don't.
* Something no one has ever caught on? The "Jocks' part in Sticks, Jocks & Hockey (or Love?) it doesn't refer to a jock as in, you know, an athlete but to the cup the athletes use to cover their privates. No one ever guesses that but it always makes me smile when I think of it.
* That girl Kris who flirts with Mark during The Pursuit of Chocolate, the manager?, well, she's a little cameo of another e-friend, Kris, The Parody Queen.
* Also, it's not secret I got a love-hate relationship with A Sweet Inducement. I love that I wrote it but I hate that people keep telling me "it's just like that KD!" it's not!. Anyway, I love it and depresses me at the same time.
*By the way, A Sweet Inducement was plagiarized once before, but thankfully that's int he past now.
