#thesunpersists

[mollywog]

Creative Differences

By @thesunpersists & @mollywog

They say to never meet your heroes- but when Katniss gets to work with Peeta Mellark, one of her favorite artists, she jumps at the chance. Her world is turned upside down when their introduction goes sideways...

Will the biggest event of her life be the end of Katniss's career as a museum curator, or will they be able to solve their creative differences?

[thgfanspotlights]

@thesunpersists | thesunpersists | Eli

What's your THG origin story?

I read the first book when it first came out in my language in 2009, when I was in middle school. Back then, my best friend and I read everything we could get our hands on and spent all our time talking about them. We were instantly hooked on THG, and Peeta was our favorite character. When the cover for MJ was announced, we were so excited and had it as our MSN Messenger profile pictures for a long while. (Yes, both of us had the same random picture of a bird; it must have looked so weird to others!) We shared so many other interests and life experiences over the years, but THG remained a constant, and we saw the TBOSAS movie together the day it came out. 🫶🏼

What are your favorite things about the series?

The trilogy stands up so well to rereading. I can sit down and read all three books on a weekend for the millionth time, and not just enjoy myself but also discover something new about the universe. 

What’s something about the series that’s stayed with you or become more meaningful to you over time?

Gale is one of the characters I relate to the most, mostly due to his politics. I think a lot about this line: “Safe to do what? Starve? Work like slaves? Send their kids to the reaping?” When I first read the series as a middle schooler, my understanding of the political issues it depicted was vastly different. I think back then, I thought of the Games and the reality of Panem as metaphors or an exaggeration of our times. But now, it is clearer to me that the way our political systems kill due to neglect, discrimination, or ill intention is not very different from what happens in Panem. As a result, I now relate to so many of the characters more deeply. I also love how so much of the series is about mental health, preserving human life because of its innate worth, and the effects of physical pain on one’s psychology. I work with refugees and survivors of torture, and I find myself thinking about particular concepts or scenes from the book often. 

On a more personal note, my partner was incarcerated for political reasons a couple of years back.* It was, granted, a lot less serious than what Katniss and Peeta went through, but that experience made me see Mockingjay in a whole new light and feel understood. There is still a lot of pain, anxiety, and resentment associated with that experience for us, but there is also resilience and unexpected bits of humor. This is why, when I think of post-Mockingjay Everlark, I project some of my experience onto them and see them as much closer to a ‘normal’ couple than others might.

*The letters we wrote each other during that time ended up inspiring a fic, so… not a total loss overall. 🫣 

What's something you want the fandom to know about you?

That I’m always trying to be more present and engage with more of your fanwork! I constantly feel like I am not doing enough and should be more active and encouraging. So if I’m ever falling short (or come across overly enthusiastic and weird you out), just know I mean well. ❤️

When did you begin creating? What inspired you to begin?

In late 2023, I was severely underemployed and had a lot of time on my hands. So I reread the trilogy a couple of times in the span of a month and joined Tumblr and AO3. Shortly after, I had the idea to write a growing back together fic, which I suspect is the origin story for many Everlark creators. I worked on my fic for a couple of months before sharing it. I never fancied myself someone who could successfully write fiction, but I was surprised by how much I learned and how fulfilling it was to share my work with others. I was thinking I would have one story and be done. But soon, I was sucked into fandom events, collections, and ask games, and I found the whole thing to be so inspiring, and here I am almost two years later. 

What is your favorite thing to depict in your work?

I love modern AUs and messy, struggling characters! Romantic comedies and sitcoms are the biggest influences on my stories, and it’s fun trying to recreate some of those concepts with THG characters.

What’s your personal favorite of your works?

Go, Write Me a Letter is the one I’m happiest with! I find it so lighthearted and romantic. 

If you could recommend just one, which would it be?

The Commons. All our collabs with @Mollywog are like my babies, but I love the different formats we’re trying with this one. We have so much fun (even when we’re just talking about stuff that may not make it to the page) and I’d like to think that the readers can tell, too!

Tell us about an OC of yours. What inspired them and what purpose do they serve in your works?

Here’s another thing I should get better at: creating OCs! In my work, they mainly serve a purpose for a scene or two, and then get forgotten without being properly fleshed out. That being said, the one I like the most these days is Alice from Love Letters by Proxy. She’s Peeta’s sister in law and meddles quite a lot in his love life. She’s nicer than she sounds, I swear, and I was happy to have someone in his corner since things will get worse for Peeta before they’ll get better. 

Anyone you would like to shout out in the fandom?

I have so much fun co-writing (or just chatting!) with @mollywog and @districtunrest. They are so creative and talented, and I’m beyond grateful we got to kickstart this spotlight project together. 

Of course, I can’t not mention @unnamednarrator! It was an absolute pleasure betaing her amazing modern AU, i love you i’m sorry, and she’s currently betaing my WIPs. She’s such a good writer and a great friend, and I’m so happy our paths crossed. 

All my interactions in this fandom are super positive, so I'm doubtless forgetting many many of you, and I'd also like to shoutout: @notsocooljess @groceryreceipts @rainymyx @louezem @moonlightredfern @mage-chocolate @thesweetnessofspring @princesspufflesposts @shewakessupwiththesun

Thanks for making this place fun!

[thesunpersists]

The Devil I Know

All her life, Penelope Feathers was used to backhanded compliments and being the second, or even the last choice. But when it comes to addictive, witty romance novels, Penelope is everyone’s first choice, hands down! But here's the catch: she writes under a pseudonym and no one, not even a single soul, knows her secret!

When her neighbour Colin Bridgerton, semi-famous travel vlogger and quite possibly the most handsome man Penelope has ever laid eyes on, strikes up a conversation during one of her solitary writing sessions in the local library, she finds herself in a dilemma: Will she drive the clueless charmer next door away or expose her secret to the world?

Read here!

@mollywog @thesunpersists

[peaonfire]

Trick or treat!

Do you have any fall traditions? 🧡

Hello @thesunpersists! have some sweets :D 🍬🍬🍬

I don't really have any actual traditions, but when it gets colder and darker outside I start craving soup, so I guess making soups is an autumn tradition for me!

here are some examples from this week:

The first is a normal tomato soup with some cream, the second is my grandma's vegetable soup (posted the recipe here), and the last one is my go to lazy snack for the colder season, egg drop soup! Literally just veggie stock and two eggs!

[rainymyx]

Katniss at the end of Season 1 episode 2 of the commons

Context: a very creative fanfic

https://archiveofourown.org/works/64765999/chapters/166423642

[ongreenergrasses]

🎃 Trick or treat! 🎃

for you, a couple photos of my very Halloween themed kitty!

[thghorrorcollection]

A new work has been posted to the collection.

You can read Much Worse Games to Play by @thesunpersists here.

AO3 collection

[firehelpmeforget]

🎵How does Katniss feel about people singing " Happy Birthday "?

As a kid, I'm sure she was thrilled when her father would sing it to her and I think she loved singing it to her family on their birthdays. It takes some time post-war but I think that love definitely comes back, albeit maybe a little reluctantly.

She makes a big show about how she doesn't need Peeta and Haymitch (and eventually the toastbabies) to sing for her but as soon as the lights go off and Peeta comes out with that cake and candle she is just happy as a clam!

Thanks for the ask!!! 💛

HBD Katniss 2026 Asks