A Special Tribute to Stephenie Meyer
By Kaleb Nation
[ Exclusive article for the Twilight Guy Day, launched by the Twilight Lexicon ]

“Even though some of us have never met her, we feel like we know her...like she’s a friend from school.”

—Amy

Stephenie Meyer, like most superstar authors, carries an image.

“There were hundreds of people at the signing I was at, and she had something lovely to say about every single one of them.”

—S.

Stephenie listens to music from Linkin Park, Anberlin and Muse (and gets to meet them), writes vampire romances with characters that people fall in love with, keeps up with a huge Myspace profile, meets movie star guys on her film set, loves having vampire-themed proms, and is still a regular mom at the end of the day who cares for her kids just like any other. What teenage girl wouldn’t want her mom to be a little more like Stephenie?

And don’t think just the girls are for her. When I wrote about Edward Cullen needing a better ride than his old Volvo, Stephenie made it known that he does in fact have a cooler car, and started talking about S60 R’s and Aston Martin Vanquish’s and all sorts of other car jargon that left my head spinning. Since when does a 34-year-old mother of three know more than a college guy about cars? Stephenie put me right in my place with that one.

During my research, I asked Twilighters to tell what they liked best about her, and if they agreed with my idea of her being seen as the Ultimate Mom. In less than 24 hours, I got 400 positive responses from her family of fans.

“Stephenie Meyer really is like a mom. She treats us like her daughters, or even more like her sisters.”

—M.K.

Gone are the days of the harried writer with the thick black coat, snake-tipped cane, face which frightens small children and ever-present bottle of gin. Stephenie Meyer is the friend who shares in the interests of her readers just as if they were her own children— or better yet, one of her friends.

On Myspace, she still runs everything herself: adding friends, posting blogs, and keeping the information flowing to her dedicated fans. Her trusty brother Seth manages her official website, which unlike many author’s, is updated regularly with news and photos. Before her Twilight series skyrocketed into fame, she even had a public email address where anyone could reach her.

“When I read the acknowledgments at the end and she's mentioning all these bands I listen to I'm just like, "UM HAI, WANNA BE MY BFF??"

And she'd probably answer in chat speak as well, lol.”

—M.

Stephenie’s entire personality seems to filter down into her writing and her relationship with her fans. Somehow, she is able to juggle being a star author and a mom at the same time, and write books that are not only entertaining, but strikingly clean in an age of widespread media immorality. She has said she would never write something she wouldn’t want her own kids to read. And because she treats her readers like her family, they defend her like their own. Woe to the blogger who says something against Twilight. The hounds of hell hath no fury like a band of fighting Twilighters.

Stephenie’s fans love her not only because she gives them exactly what they want in her books, but because she is still there, accessible, normal, and answering fan questions, whilst at the same time getting photos snapped for a spot on TIME’s Most Influential People of 2008 list. There is a feeling of knowing her even if you’ve never met before— a feeling that on the inside, she is still just like you.

“She is the kind of person we would all like to be when we grow up.”

—R.B.

If you were to step back in time, you’d see a regular suburban mother, raising three children and writing a story she just couldn’t get out of her head. Multiple bestsellers and uncountable sold-out appearances later, Stephenie is still the same person as before: except now, the Ultimate Mom’s family has grown into millions.

- - -

About the Author: Kaleb Nation is a writer, radio host, blogger, and 19-year-old college student, sometimes better known as The Twilight Guy. His debut novel, Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse, is set to hit stores in late 2009. He currently blogs his journey as a guy reading Twilight at http://www.twilightguy.com/, and as Himself at http://www.kalebnation.com/.

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Comments (14)

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written by Hedvigss, May 15, 2008

I really agree with Kaleb Nation. Although I don't think of Stephenie as my mom or anything, she's definitely a role model. My friends and I are all obsessed with the Twilight series, and I'm currently reading The Host (I'm on chapter 52!), which is also an AMAZING book.

I just have to share this funny story:
My friend and I were drawing "the perfect guy” in history class, a mixture of Edward, Jacob and a few other fictional characters, and a boy behind us was wondering what we were giggling and laughing about. We told him about the Twilight series and said he wouldn't know about it. He said he did but we didn’t believe him. We continued to draw funny stuff for a while and then suddenly he said "I mean, Stephenie Meyer…" My friend interrupted him by almost falling off her chair when he said that. I thought she was laughing at the way he’d said Stephenie, Stepheenie, but then she whispered “We never told him her name!” That cracked us up; he didn’t seem like the type who read that kind of books.
A few days later, however, he showed us how he’d looked up “Twilight” on Wikipedia and found Stephenie’s name there. We’d been tricked! It still made our day and we’ll probably laugh about it forever. Sorry he’s not one of you, Twilight guys.

Excellent
written by Cocoa, May 19, 2008

That was an excellent tribute to Stephenie. Thank you so much for asking for fan comments and including them in your piece. A brilliant showing of affection to so many people's favorite author.

I love Twilight guy!!
written by Erin, May 20, 2008

Amazing article, you really captured Stephenie Meyer. One day I was trying to get my mom to understand why I love her as much as the books and just couldn't understand how someone I'd never met could be a motherly figure to me. I will have to show her this article.
I think it's great that your reading Twilight, please keep updating your blog!!!

OMG
written by karla15846, May 20, 2008

:'im soo proud
(
omg i LOVE it lol

Amazing Article!
written by Bookflower, May 21, 2008

This really is an amazing article Kaleb! I thought you wrote it so well. It was amusing to read, but all of it was very true.
And well done to Stephanie too, for being such and Ultimate Mum...

Amazing way to explain SM's place in our hearts.
written by Jennifer, May 22, 2008

Kaleb did a WONDERFUL job on explaining how wonderful Stephenie Meyer really is. He showed how brilliant she is, and how yet, she still gives her fans the news and updates as often as possible. She seems to treat her twi-hards like a new celebrity does to their first year of fame, except she's been in fame for a long time now, and yet, she treats us with the same respect.

Amazing article, It couldn't be put in a better way.

:]
written by Amanda, May 23, 2008

Twilight Guy, you're pretty much amazing.
:]

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written by Sanguina, June 02, 2008

Awesome tribute to Stephenie. Thanks Kaleb, you rock. Oh, and GET TO CHAPTER 13 ALREADY! We are all dying to hear your opinions on it.

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written by Grace, June 06, 2008

I Love Stephy! (my real life childhood bff name) and i love her books! i love twilight and i LOVE the host! she has no shame. she admits what we want (girls) through bella! and all our desires we may or may not be ashamed of and i dont know anyone who hates her for it either... what makes a good teen novel? ASK STEPHENIE! cause she has it down to a science and we all love/envy her..... ALSO! one more thing..... edward is the boy with impossible qaulitys to live up to... he's our dreamboy (girls everywhere) .....so i hope no guy feels too much pressure (twilight guy) to be something he's not.... that's a sign of immaturity... and face it... there can never be another edward cullen........EVERRRR!!....sooooooooooo dont kill yourselves

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written by Grace, June 06, 2008

p.s. i did NOT just call twilight guy immature... lol i read it and it sounds like that... lol but i didnt... lol... are u though? j/k --twilighter

Insightful
written by Victoria, June 20, 2008

You have a unique style of writing. No wonder you have so many followers. If you become the next Stephenie Meyer (a more macho version, but no less intriguing), I wouldn't be surprised.

Your reviews are insightful- you research like an ox until you feel that you have come to know and understand the characters and authors of the books you read. It makes a girl wonder about your personal life, but you'll not see me prying.

awsome!
written by Samie M, June 30, 2008

that was a great artical! i really have to agree that i think stephanie the same way! not just a friend, or mother, but as a role modle. and for me to say that it must be true, as i am the person who dont really look up to people as most of the time they let you down one way or the other, but i get a great vibe about her. she really is the ultumint person! a fantasic person so anyone of any age to look up to!

:D
written by fiona, July 09, 2008

Perfect description of Stephenie.
I would love for her to be my mum, haha.
Kaleb, you rock!

Great Job!
written by laur, July 10, 2008

This is a great article; it really nails who Stephenie Meyer seems like to her fans. I love the comparison to a mom-- I never would have even thought of that. It's true though. It's also true how it seems like you know her even when you've never met her. Kudos on the article!

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