Triscut

What is your best environment for writing? If you like music what type?

I like to be relaxed to write, maybe with a snack and something to drink nearby. I often have the TV on low for background noise but seldom listen to music while writing – it’s not that I don’t enjoy music, I do, but I’ve just gotten out of the habit of listening to it regularly.  And I have a pretty eclectic taste in music but I tend to favor the classic rockers and *blush* country.

Do you outline stories before you start writing or do you just let it happen?

 I do some of both depending on what I am writing. Drabbles I will often just sit down and type after mulling potential topic choices, characters, and situations around in my head for a short period of time. Sometimes inspiration strikes and I can knock out several quickly and other times it takes forever to just pull one together.

The longer stories I have been writing, I plot out at a higher level, indicating mostly story flow and plot points and characters that I want to include. I’ll plan out what I want to accomplish and then begin to draw those components together as I write. Sometimes it works to a ‘T’ and other times the characters take over and move it in the direction they want it to go and sneer at my careful plan and it gets revised.

I’ve really stuck pretty close to canon with my longer stories and have only used minor OC’s (original characters) so my own characterization work so far has not had to be extensive. If I created an original character with more depth and a greater role in the story, I would want to create as full a background for them as I could as I feel that information comes through in the writing as it shapes the voice of the character. I have files of little notes on LKH’s characters, containing descriptions, clothing preferences, my thoughts on them, some telling actions/reactions from the books, sort of a primer on them.

What is it about Jason that draws you to him?

The first AB book that I read was Incubus Dreams. And right there, I fell in love with the smart-mouthed, caring guy who looks out for his friends, is loyal, and just wanted to have someone that would love him just the way he was. My interest in the character grew as I read the other books and learned of his entire history – or as much as Anita knows about it – in St. Louis. And then I found this site and fan fiction and my imagination seized hold of me and demanded that I tell this series of stories from Jason’s perspective.

Who is your favorite male character besides Jason? Favorite female?

Favorite male? Hmmm, that would be Nathanial, hands down after my wisecracking sweetie pie, my sweet auburn haired kitty. Now female character, hmmm, LKH doesn’t give us a lot to work with, but especially after her performance in DM, I would have to say Claudia. That wererat can kick butt! Another great female wererat is Doc Lillian.

Where would you like to see LKH take Jason in terms of character progression?

This is something that I have given some thought to. LKH has had Anita has notice some things about Jason ‘growing up’ but she still, in a number of ways, refuses to ‘see’ him as more than Jean-Claude’s snack. I would hope that she takes some of those realizations that Anita has had about Jason and allows Jason to grow into them and step up to more of an alpha role. I would like to see Jean-Claude give him more responsibility, maybe see him go back to college/university part time, become more of a friend and confidant with Anita. (aawk!! What am I saying? That might mean less Jason page time. I think that I have been reading and beta’ing too much awesome Jason slash!)

Do you write purely for fun or is it something you would do for a living if you could?

It’s for fun mostly. I’ve always loved reading and when I was much younger I did some creative writing, but then I got into a much more technically oriented career and lost sight of it. I have often considered starting writing something original, and toyed around with plots and character, but had never reached that point of actually putting concrete thoughts ‘to paper’ so to speak before discovering ABVH fan fiction and reading the many creative and talented people here.  So, right now, it’s mainly for fun but also as practice for a potential additional/future career. Who knows maybe some day…but I need lots of practice first.

Once you get going, how easy (or not) do you find it to turn out a 4000-5000 word or so chapter? And how long does it take you on average?

This is a difficult question to give an accurate answer to because it is not consistent. I would have to say it can be both incredibly easy when the characters, actions and dialogue is readily flowing and exceptionally difficult when the characters balk, refuse to talk, or go on strike or even worse, go off on a tangential activity. I’ve done a draft chapter in a single afternoon and I have taken several weeks to complete others. Once the draft is complete, I also tend to go back over them several times and polish the piece, changing words, adding details, modifying dialogue, tightening up plot, improving descriptions, removing unnecessary data, moving stuff around. I eventually get to a point where I am reasonably satisfied or I say ‘enough’ to myself and I send it off to my beta. I could read it 10 more times and each time I do, I will change at least a few things. I’m sorry; I don’t have an average value. I will say, that the chapters that are more based from my imagination are more readily written, those that must mesh with LKH’s versions take more time and are more difficult to complete.

If you could remove one book as the "Ultimate Stinker" from the ABVH series, which one would you boot and why?

Do I dislike any of the books so much that I would never read it again? That I would chuck it into the garbage? I would say no. The book that I had the hardest time reading was Obsidian Butterfly and I’m not sure that I have yet read it in its entirety. Why? Part of the problem with it was definitely my mindset when I tried to read it. I also had some difficulty with Anita being away from the boys, and some of it was Anita’s indecision and internal conflict about everything that had happened before this throughout the book. The story just did not pull me in nor did the characters. Though I did like Bernardo.

Are there things that I would change about the books? Damn tootin’ there is! I would love there to be more of the type of plot that was present in the earlier books and some resolution to the problems that are facing Anita and the denizens of St. Louis and less of a focus on sex. I understand that this whole trust/dependence thing is a major issue for Anita and also that the last few books have all occurred in a VERY short actual time period. From NIC to DM has been less than 6 months in the AB world but enough already!! Either allow Anita to deal with it or allow time to pass.  

And lastly....favourite ABVH book so far?

Right now, I would have to say that Blue Moon is my favorite book with Incubus Dreams coming in a close second. I don’t think that I really need to go into detail as to the reasons why do I?? *wink*

We all know who your favorite character is, who is your least?

You do! I’m shocked! Hmmm, least favorite female character: Ronnie. I just want to slap that jealous twit upside the head. If Anita had a true friend that she could have talked some of this stuff that has been happening over with we would not have been dragged on and on through endless torment *holds heads in hands*. She reminds me of that saying/quote “with friends like these, who needs enemies?”

Now, least favorite male character is Olaf. Sorry, just couldn’t warm up to the crazy psychopath. Of the more ‘used’ (in more than one book) characters? I would have to say Malcolm. For an older vampire and he <u>does</u> seem to have been around for a while, he just DOES NOT seem to GET IT. It looks like we may get to know more about him in the Harlequin. It would be interesting to see how that plays out.

Was there a character you didn't like until you read fanfiction about them?

I had to think about this one. There are very few characters that I actively disliked – except for the bad guys like Chimera, Earthmover, Padma, Musette, etc. But there are plenty that I didn’t really give much thought to before reading fan fiction. Gil, the werefox is a great example. LM (luv-micah) has brought him life with her stories, as have several others. I love it when Claudia, Bobby Lee and Rafael are given leading roles in someone’s story. Doc Lillian is a favorite and so is Merle. I love what MLM (myladymystere) did with Kissa in Broken Promises - she was a minor throw-away character from Bloody Bones who now has a full and complex background and compelling interwoven story as well.

What character do you wish LKH would give more pages to?

It would be nice to see more of <u>any</u> of the Rodere. I’d like to see more of what happens at the Coalition, perhaps see Christine and Gil and many of the others that we’ve met in the books working there.

I really felt that Requiem got the short end of the straw in his portrayal in Danse Macabre. I would like to see him show more of the strength of character that you would expect from a third. I dearly loved him in ID.

I’d also like to see more of Wicked Truth. But not as Anita’s sex mates. Aithne would kill me.

I would also like to see Anita pay a little more attention to her pard.

Who do you think she could have developed more?

Hmmm, how much time do we have here? I realize that LKH’s use of the first person narrative limits us to only what Anita sees, hears, feels, knows or is told but sometimes she is so clueless about her surroundings that I want to sneak up behind her an shout BOOOOO!!!

But beyond that, I would love to have a little more on Dolph and Zerbrowski and some of the other RPIT squad members. Sooo, much potential wasted.

There are tons of characters that she could have expanded on over the course of the books. Gregory and Stephen, the twins both lycanthropes, but not the same species, why? Merle, Noah, and Caleb all have stories that have not been even touched upon. What happened to/with them under Chimera; what are their ‘stories’?

I am hoping now that the Hyena has become Asher’s animal to call, that we will see more of the oba and the hyenas.

What other character do you wish to write and develop?

Well, I am currently writing longer pieces for both Jason and Jean-Claude and I successfully squelched several Nathanial plot bunnies over the past year and a bit. *Checks the locks on the bunny cage carefully before continuing*  Doing beta work on a couple of  stories from LM and MLM about and/or involving him helped to satisfy the need to give him a voice. They both allow me great latitude with my suggestions in their awesome stories.

I’ve done drabbles about many of the other minor characters in the books and I find writing the little glimpses of them, allowing a look into their lives, their pain, their hopes, to be very satisfying and cathartic.

Of all the other characters, I find both Caleb and Asher to be the most intriguing; both of them are dark with many secrets and always pushing people away, sometimes deliberately and sometimes through habit. There are stories there to be told for both of them. * checks cage again *

Would you write in the first person, if not why?

I won’t say never, but probably not very often and likely not for anything longer than a drabble series or a one shot vignette. I much prefer using the third person perspective when writing. I find it easier to tell a more rounded story when I am not restricted to the views, thoughts and perspective of just one person.

Do you write in spurts once you've started a new chapter or do you sit down and blow out a bunch of pages at once?

I prefer being able to sit down and write uninterruptedly for several hours. I always find if I stop and start frequently, I spend more time going over what I had already written and adding to and changing that before I get to adding new stuff. I try to leave my in progress stuff ‘up’ at the point that I am working at to prevent that, remembering to save frequently to ensure that accidental reboots don’t cost me tons of work. It always seems to happen when I have just completed something that I really liked, or just fixed something that was bothering me and you can never totally replicate it. Sometimes I wish that I had a rewind/replay capability. That would be totally cool.

Do you have a favorite munchie/writing food- (chocolate doesn't count as it is a necessity, not a snack)

Yes, I agree about chocolate being a necessity. I dearly love dark chocolate and once in awhile I will buy myself one of the bigger bars as a treat, especially if I am planning a marathon writing session. Although I dearly love to eat popcorn, I find that it is too messy to eat when I am actually writing; it gets all over my fingers, the mouse, the keyboard. Yuck. So I must Stop. Eat the popcorn. Wipe my hands. Return to typing. Not fun.

While I am writing... pretzels, jelly beans, Jujubes, some times cookies. But more often I will have tea and toast, especially in the morning.

Who are you favorite authors here?

Let’s see… I love many of the authors here. Marasmine, amanda, Mhalachai, aithne, myladymystere, luv-micah, Celeste, Ruas and I am sure that I am missing some of them. Cris’s Jason fic was one of the first ones that I read about Jason in the archive and her characterization of my favorite wolf just resonated with me. I do hope that she considers finishing it now that she is back on the board.

WHEN IS YOUR NEXT CHAPTER OF 'THE JASON CHRONICLES' !!!

 *Frowns* When both real life and ‘other’ duties *eyebrow raises* ease up enough that I can again concentrate my attention on my blue eyed sweetie. He is stuck in Danse Macabre right now getting ready for the opening show. I know how the last half of the book will go; it is just this next segment that needs to be worked out to my satisfaction before I can continue. Sorry for the delay. It is not being abandonned.

Have you taken any formal writing classes, and if so did they help or hinder you and why?

No formal classes, other than the typical grammar and English classes in grade school and through high school, and an occasional lit type class in college/university. I have several good reference books on style, word usage, etc. Mara and Noah_Vail also have compiled an excellent online reference area in the archive HELP area.

I like to read, always, always have, and I like words, learning their meanings, the nuances and subtleness of their use. LM calls me the adjective queen…I think that was meant in a positive manner.

Do you write/plan to write any original fiction or for any other fandoms?

This is the only fandom that I write in. I battle back any plot bunnies from others relentlessly. L Real Life just has too many demands right now. Plus I currently beta for several other writers on the board and I try to make time for them too.  Now if I happened to win a big lottery and didn’t have to work any longer… J

What single book/written piece has had the most influence on your life and why?

This one is hard, very hard to answer. I cannot think of a ‘single’ item that fits that criterion. Do I say the books that my mother read to me as a child? Do I say the first science fiction book that I read as a twelve year old that pulled me into that fascinating world? Do I say…? I can’t narrow it down. I would almost have to say that everything that I have read has had some sort of effect on me. It could be as minor as just cheering me up, teaching me something new, or sparking a new interest or peaking my curiosity.   

How did you get hooked into the Anitaverse and what is it about it that keeps you coming back?

I am a relative newcomer to the series in comparison to some of the people on the site; it all began for me in early 2005. My niece, who is 10 years younger than me, had a copy of the first Merry Gentry book on her reading pile. She had read them before, and this was a reread for her. Wanting something to read, I picked it up and after browsing through it began to read it and enjoyed the characterization and story potential *wink*. I then went on to read the next 2 books in that series over the next couple of weeks – book 4 had recently come out I think. She told me that the author had another series out about a vampire hunter and that it was good too. I filed that away in my mind but didn’t have any chance to follow up on it.

Fast forward to the Fall. I’m finally in a bookstore and I’m having a look around for something interesting to read. They are having a sale on paperbacks: buy 2, get one free. Now, if you know me, you know that I am never one to pass up a bargain, especially when it comes to reading material. I had already picked up 4 books and so I was looking around for 2 more and Incubus Dreams had just recently come out in the paperback edition and they had a big display. I remembered LKH as the Merry book author and thought, what the heck, and it was pretty thick to boot. (I was looking for material to real during my commute to and from work, so thick counted.)  I didn’t read it right away, but picked it up not long afterwards and was pulled into the story and the characters. I wanted to know how they got to that point and I knew that this was a series so I set about getting the earlier books. My first attempt was not successful. I only found a couple of the books – it was a smaller bookstore. I, looking for the others, googled Anita Blake and among other things, found the Pomme de Sang efiction archive and the Anita Blake Compendium website. I couldn’t believe the stories that had been written about these characters that I had found so intriguing, and as I pieced together Jason’s history I just had to tell it. LM was kind enough to volunteer to read my first attempt and pronounced it good and so I began about 16 months ago writing AB based fan fiction.

What brings me back? Hands down, in the last few books, it has been the supporting characters. 

Posted: April 25, 2007