Fred and George and the Toilers of Trouble (Year 1) ✔

Q & A: Bookbindery

A little more about me.

My name is Michael Clifford. I am an independent author, meaning that I've never sought traditional publication, an agent, an editor...none of that. I've always done everything on my own. I'm like an indie rock band of one, with no roadies. So much non-fame. I have more story ideas than I can write in a lifetime, and I've completed 14 books since 2001. Seven of which are published exclusively on Amazon under my pen name, "M. Clifford". The other seven (as you are well aware by now) were written in secret as a gift to my wife who, like me, is a super fan of the Harry Potter series - books of Fred and George fanfiction that, until six months ago, were unknown to practically everyone.

I've filled you guys in on the story behind the books being written, but here's where I can go deeper and answer these in one *hefty* response.

@EowynFaramir - Will the inspiration of this story ever appear?

@life_without_limits - How and when did you come up with this storyline?

@TheR3b1r7H - How long did it take you to write a chapter of the original edit on average?

@skuxlife - You said that you wrote this book before others came out. What was your first idea to show the memories of Hagrid? (assuming the Pensieve had yet to be revealed in the books. It had - GOBLET OF FIRE had been out for over a year)

@FangTheBoarhound - Might I humbly ask that you show us a little more of your family? And we DEFINITELY need a picture of the original anniversary edition of ToT!!

I didn't start off wanting to tell a story about the Weasley twins in 2001, when I dreamt up this idea to write "a Harry Potter book" for an anniversary gift.  I gravitated there in very little time because I am *basically* Fred and George's long-lost triplet (minus the hair and freckles). We are the same age, I struggled to hide the more embarrassing elements of my upbringing with outlandish comedy and took pleasure in getting my parents and every single teacher to flush red in the cheeks, by way of laughter or anger. I've never been a very serious person, but back in the day I was extremely fun, a big day-dreamer, was absurdly obnoxious, and had lots of friends, knowing more than anything,  as the youngest of 23 grandchildren, what it was like to be a part of a struggling, yet massive family. Most of book one was easy to write (the draft took less than a month) because I simply imagined myself as Fred and George, the two sides of my imagination harmonizing steadily with one another. My first draft was significantly different than what you just finished reading, however. The scene with the Pensieve, for example, used to be entirely from the viewpoint of the man from the painting, not Hagrid. And, as you will see in the photograph, some differences can be noticed straight away. Keep in mind, this was 15 years ago.

The first edition I gave to my wife, fifteen years ago this past Saturday.