Interviews with Authors *~*VaderLVR64*~* 092104

* giggles *

I'm a kidney specialist, and I work in a dialysis unit.

You kind of don't want to see me...at your age it's not a good thing to have end stage renal failure.

 

Ewww!

I hope it's not a good thing at any age.

 

LP!!! *tackle hugs* I've been waiting to read your interview ever since this thread started! Nicely done, Jieh. Very informative.

Each time I wrote my fics, I just imagined Gabri_Jade chasing me down with a throw-pillow to chuck at my head.

*laughs* Don't you think for a minute that I wasn't seriously considering it. It's a good thing you can't pass up a dare. We'd be short a lovely vignette if you had.

DarthBreezy and bobilll -- loved reading your interviews as well. Thanks very much!

 

I?m just a sucker for the mush. My idols on the board for Han/Leia mush are J_Girl, Jedi-Jade and Leela. Gabri_Jade also does beautiful Luke/Mara mush that I really admire. Every post in their wonderful stories gives me a lovely, shivery sensation, which I would love to be able to emulate.


I am at a loss for words - and that rarely happens. I am extremely flattered that you mentioned me, LadyPadme Thank you.

Here I am reading through the interviews, thinking it's nice to get to know the people behind the names a little better and lo' and behold, there's my name! And it's sandwiched in a most wonderful comment by an author that I greatly respect!

It was a good interview, too. I liked hearing the inside workings about your writing. I found out that we live relatively close, too. I can't see the Statue of Liberty just outside, but it's just minutes down the road. So glad you found your way into the SW fanfiction galaxy. We all benefit so much because of it.



J_Girl

 

Knight_Ander: You're right. It's not so cool at any age. But avg life expectancy for a dialysis patient in the US is 10 years. It looks REALLY bad when you're 30. When you're 95, it's not such bad odds.

Gabri_Jade: Thanks!

J_Girl: I wouldn't have said what I said unless I meant it...

...although you could take the flattery as a form of bribe...as in I'm buttering you up so I can read another of your wonderful posts!

 

Aww, LP! Is that why you write vignettes? I guess I should throw random titles at you from now on, then, so I can get some good reading . . .

*hugs*

 

obaona: Please, spare me! I've got enough on my plate right now...and you know how susceptible I am to dares...

 

Just a little note to all following the thread: I'm leaving for Michigan tomorrow for the weekend. Earliest I'll be back is Tuesday evening. Just so y'all know that's the earliest I'll be able to update the header, if any 'views pop up over the weekend.

Have a lovely hollerday!

>~< Seb >~<

 

Today we have an author who enjoys putting Obi-Wan through the many stages of hell and bringing him back. She's also given everyone an entirely new feel to Xanatos, and has written countless viginettes which are all a treasure. Here she is...

Padawan-Jess-Kenobi!


Can you give us some background information on yourself?


Sure, although there isn't too much to say. I'm a 13 year old girl, still plowing through the hell of Middle School/Junior High. I love to write, act, and I'm extremely athletic, though I only play soccer "professionally." I'm an only child, so therefore, I get to hog the computer. Oh- and I have a dog. I always love a good book, and am a sucker for Ewan McGregor. Okay, I really suck at these things where you have to talk about yourself.


When did you discover Star Wars? Which movie is your favorite and why?


The first time I saw Star Wars, was in second or third grade, about five years ago. I was at this after school thing because my parents worked, and I stayed there with a bunch of other kids until they came to pick me up. One day they started played ANH on the T.V. I just sat down and watched it. It was great, and I loved it right away, but it didn't click to my obsession of Star Wars, it only started it. The Phantom Menace was the movie that sparked my interest and made me a hard core SW fanatic. And people are going to hate me for this, but my favorite movie is TPM. It's so underrated, but I think it?s a fantastic movie. There is so much diversity, and I don't think the saga could start any better. Also, I love the characters of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. They're so diverse, and there is more to both of their characters than meets the eye.


What gives you inspiration?


Its manly the movies and books themselves that give me inspirations. Also, the end of "Moulin Rouge" gives me great inspiration. In a way, it reminds me of the end of The Phantom Menace. That scene always gets me emotional, and I find myself wanting to write a post-TPM story, or a JA one, and truly depict the relationship between the two that was never mentioned. The feel of the movie, and all the emotion put forth is truly inspiring. Although they are two completely different concepts, one being romance and the fic being father/son caring, if you think about it, its not all that apart. The message of Moulin Rouge, love, is what I try to apply to a Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan relationship. I want people to really see that they were best friends.


What puts you in the mood to write?


People are going to think I am so crazy for this. I've just recently discovered the art and majesty of Moulin Rouge, and have bought myself the soundtrack. I'm not exactly sure why, but whenever I listen to a few of the songs in particular, I have this sudden need to write a story with emotions, but mainly a story that depicts the father/son relationship with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.


What do you look for when you read a story?


It's got to have Obi-Wan in it. If not Obi-Wan, that Xanatos. But really, I know how difficult it is to come up with an original plot, so I'm not picky at all about that. And hey, it's got to have some Obi-torture/angst in it too. The thing I look for most in a story is characterization, though. I'll truly appreciate a story if I see that they have nailed Obi-Wan, despite if he is scared, happy, enthusiastic, depressed, sad, drunk ( ) or anything, I wish to be able to think that that is how I know Obi-Wan would act. And almost every story on these boards have fulfilled that wish.


I?m going to become infamous for this: who is your favorite author and your favorite story? Why?


You had to pop this question, didn't you? Well, this is an incredibly hard decision since there are many wonderful authors out there that I admire beyond belief (CYNICAL21, Jane Jinn, Cascadia, obaona, Arwen-Jade_Kenobi, Erika, etc.). But I'd have to say that it was Cassia, The Grandest Obi-Torturer, who blows me away with her stories. Each on

 

Thanks for interviewing me, KrystalBlaze!!

Ironic that my interview kills the entire thread, huh?

 

Nonsense, Jess. This thread doesn't die, it just hibernates occasionally.

Very nice interview! Since I haven't read any Obi-torture, it was interesting to see what makes such an author tick. Quite informative.

 

Oh, I totally get it - my introduction to fanfic was Obi-torture, after all! That genre will never die.

Nice interview, Jess (and for mentioning me). And I totally agree with you about Obi-Wan. I hope you don't mind if I drop by (or lurk ) your stories.

 

**Seb straggles into the thread after a 15-hour drive home from Michigan and wheezes, grinning at the presence of two new 'views**

Upon my return, I was pleasantly surprised to find an interview awaiting with a very popular, very inspirational author. This gent has captivated dozens with his flair for writing the "what-ifs" of Anakin Skywalker's life. Few other people can make you wonder what the GFFA would have been like if Anakin had made some different choices. So grab some Jawa Juice and welcome...

DARTH_LEX!!!!

**********

Darth_Lex, care to give us some background on yourself?

I grew up in Minnesota, went to college and law school on the East Coast, and now live in Florida. I?ll turn 29 at the beginning of August. When I?m not watching or reading Star Wars or reading or writing fanfic, I enjoy watching football and hockey, college basketball, ?The Simpsons,? ?That 70s Show,? and ?The West Wing.?

What drew you into writing, and doing so at the JC forums?

I?m a very ?visual? fanfic writer, if that makes any sense. For as long as I can remember I?ve had images and plot bunnies and ideas of all kinds floating around in my head; in the past I?d always think them through for a few days and they?d pass, or I?d talk them out with a friend and that would be the end of it. Last summer, after I saw AOTC so many times, I finally decided I couldn?t NOT write out all the images and scenes the film had spawned. I sat down and wrote Anakin?s nightmare on Naboo just after Geonosis, then the rest of the surrounding story that became ?One Choice.? After that everything snowballed, and pretty soon I was writing up a storm. I didn?t share them with anyone for a while, though, until I got the courage to post them here. (I honestly don?t remember how I found TFN or the fanfic forums, but I?m very glad I did! ) As they say, the rest is history.

What sorts of things do you look for when reading a story?

That?s hard to answer because I?m reading such a wide variety of stories! I guess I would say the most important aspect to me is good characters. The heart of Star Wars is the characters. I love the action, the romance, the adventure, the clash between good and evil, the humor, and all the rest ? and I try to include those elements in my stories, at least to some extent. But without interesting characters (canon, EU, or OC), none of that really matters. So I?d say that what?s common to all the stories I read is the (very different) ways the authors craft their wonderful characters.

Do you like to use any particular process for writing a story?

It always starts with images and ideas in my mind, as I mentioned earlier. Because of the way I think and work, though, I can?t just immediately start writing. I have to sit down and make notes, which ultimately become the skeleton of an outline. I usually write a few scenes at this stage, the ones that are very vivid to me. If it?s a good idea that really inspires me, within a few days I?ll usually have filled out a lot of the outline with a basic sketch of what happens to whom where and when ? which helps me figure out the hints and red herrings and clues and character development that I want to put in the early chapters to build on later. I usually start writing from the beginning of the outline, but when an image or scene from later in the outline really hits me I stop and write it, regardless of where it falls on the outline. I try to stay several chapters (or more) ahead of what I?m posting, which allows time for DRL and out-of-sequence writing ? and for making each chapter coherent when its scenes may have been written at several different times .

Your writing consists largely of AU stories starring Anakin Skywalker. What's your take on his character?

Even before the PT, we knew the basic story of Anakin Skywalker from what Yoda and Ben said about him: as a young man he was a good person until he made some very bad choices and ended up trapped in a life (and body) he never would have want

 

Great interview, Darth_Lex!

Just keep those plot bunnies fed and nurtured - your stories are so popular because they fill a great need that so many of us have to go play in that "Galaxy far, far away" - and you're always coming up with new ways to do that!

Thanks for writing and sharing them with us.

 

Up?

 

great interview Darth Lex.

 

Hum.....That was interesting to read...
All I have to say is that I love A Destiny Renewed and if you all haven't read it...GO NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Still liking the interviews.

UP!

 

Great interviews!!

 

Great interview, Darth_Lex. I like the way you mentioned the alternate paths Anakin could have taken in AOTC--I noticed that too, and I think it's tragic.

 

Whew, it's been too long since there's been an interview. Here's a very welcome breath of fresh air with a writer whose been through every aspect of Star Wars. She's amazed us with her wonderful fics which are inspired from fables yet so original and refreshing at the same time. She's been archived at the Archives four times and isn't stopping there! Here she is...

LadyElaine!

-----


Would you mind giving us some background on yourself?

Not at all. I?m a twenty-eight year old housewife with one daughter who runs me up, down, and sideways with frightening efficiency. I live in north Texas, which is good, since I love the heat.


What drew you into Star Wars fanfiction?

Oddly enough, not Star Wars. I saw a little horror movie called Pitch Black, wanted to know more about the characters, and stumbled across my very first fan fiction story, a gem called "Apprentice," by Ardath Rekha. That was the first fandom I ever wrote in. Up until then, I didn?t even know fan fiction existed! Then one day I got the bright idea to look for Star Wars fan fiction. Good lord, the sheer amount of stories I found! Good, bad, mostly in between, but all of them sharing my devotion to Star Wars.


What was your first Star Wars experience?

My family saw Star Wars (back before it was A New Hope) when I was not quite three years old. I can still remember how horrified I was by my very first sight of Darth Vader. But strangely, finding out that Vader was Luke?s father didn?t surprise me. Even that young, it seemed somehow fitting.


When did you first begin writing? Have you written in any other genre besides Star Wars fanfiction?

I first began writing when I was twelve years old, but it was all (bad) poetry for several years. Then I began writing (bad) short stories about a Navy heroine. Yes, I got Mary Sue out of my system--mostly--early on! Other genres I write in are X-Men, Pitch Black, and originals.


Who is your favorite author on the boards and your favorite fic? Why?

Wow. That?s a tough one to answer. I?ll give you a list of favorite fics and authors, since I can?t pick just one: "All Our Scattered Leaves," by Hai Gan (I adore that Buddha under the bo tree scene); "Flight to Rison?s Deep," by FernWithy (and I hate Lord of the Flies--go figure!); and "The Magic Lamp," by Marnie (because it?s just so Qui-Gon!).


Do you enjoy reading stories of all the time periods of the Star Wars saga and beyond? It looks like you've written fics about them all!

That?s the most wonderful thing about Star Wars, to me. Contrast it to Lord of the Rings and other tales from Middle Earth: they?re both terrific mythological epics, but there?ll never be any new stories in Tolkien?s world, any more than there will ever be any new words in Latin. Star Wars is a constantly growing universe; with so many stories and authors, it seems to have taken on a life of its own! There will always be new characters to meet, new places to see, new adventures to experience.


Do you have a certain character (Star Wars or any) who you write the most about?

No, what grabs me are the archetypes, not necessarily the individuals. I think the Trickster shows up most often in my stories. (Gotta love ol? Coyote!)


Your fics range from Han Solo to Queen Jamillia. What makes you write from such different genres?

Different moods need different genres. Sometimes I need to write a sad story, sometimes a silly one, and sometimes I need to write a story that just goes "Huh?" But what really captivates me is mythology. For instance, after recently reading Beowulf, my first thought was, ?I bet I could use Count Dooku in that role...? It?s being able to wrap myths in Star Wars packaging--it works so well that it?s addictive. Especially since I don?t have to make up my own plots!


Your fics are inspired by fables. What makes them so inspiring?

Hmm... That one?s hard to pin down. I guess you could say I grew up on mythology--I was lucky enough to h

 

Wow, Pitch Black got you into fan fiction!?

The only thing that movie inspired me to do was to ask for my money back.

Nice interview, Elaine.

 

Lovely to read, Elaine. I LOVED "Don't Look Back" and "Jabba's Good Looks." DLB was at the very least moving, and JGL was just plain too cute.

 

*bump*

 

*waves hand* I betaed for The Haunting of Theed Palace. Great story. I really like your works, LadyElaine. Keep on writing!

Tae