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This page is for authors new to the archive. Rather than just listing their work, I thought that it would be cool if we found out a little about them. If you have yet to send something to the site, and you'd like to participate, please contact Ashera@asherasarchive.com. Or just access the questions here and then send them in with your story. But please, please, please, be sure to back up your answers, cause I've lost interviews in the past... Speaking of which, I still have a few interviews that I haven't posted yet. If you are an author who isn't new to the archive, but you'd really like to do an interview anyway, give me a shout too. If you're wondering why there are different interview questions for some authors, it's because I am always adding questions and different authors get the questionnaire at different stages in its development. Plus, some authors just aren't interested in answering certain questions, which is perfectly fine. Thanks to all of the authors who contributed!
Emily submitted her Uber story First Light, a Xena/Gab Uber set in a rainy and dangerous Manchester. Tell us a little about yourself I live and work in the U.K. I'm an academic - a sociologist, to be exact - and I specialize in feminist/postmodernist educational practice. At the moment I'm doing research on initiatives for women and girls in science, engineering and technology, in relation to processes of globalisation and economic, political and personal developmental needs. I'm happily married to Troubleshooter - she moved to England early this year. How long have you been watching Xena? Since 1999. Although Xena is shown mainly on satellite and cable in the U.K., so my viewing has taken place rather sporadically! I've probably watched less than ten episodes - so my imaginings of X&G draw to a great extent on the work of fanfiction writers like Missy Good - in my opinion, Missy is a more than adequate substitute. What got you into the show? My ex-partner was a confimed Xenite - a self-styled fanatic in fact. It's thanks to her that I watched any episodes of the show at all - she gave me a condensed 'education' via videotape! And although my knowledge of the show is still rather limited, from the start I could see potential in the Xena/Gabrielle pairing. How did you discover fan fiction? I actually discovered fan fiction before I ever saw an episode of Xena. A friend I met on a discussion list for lesbian academics had a partner who wrote. The partner was Smitty - and the first story I ever read was Of Drag Kings and the Wheel of Fate. After that, I read Smitty's Xena stories, and I was hooked. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] I think the best fan fiction writers have done a wonderful job of exploring the Xena and Gabrielle relationship. Uber stories take the characters to a different level, and if they're of high quality, can acquire a life of their own, in which the standard archetypes grow into something more nuanced and sophisticated. Troubleshooter's story Belief is a good example of this. Recently I've also been very excited to see some Xenaverse authors trying their hand at original fiction, and really stretching themselves in terms of plotting and characterization, and adopting new styles. Why did you decide to start writing fan fiction? I've always been a scribbler. When I was very small, my mother soon learned that the only way to keep me quiet was to give me a book or a pen! And as I've grown older, fiction writing has become a regular hobby - a way to exercise the creative side of my brain that gets buried under academic work at times. If you've been writing fan fiction for over a year, what do you think of your earlier stories? Have your interests changed over time? First Light was my first fan fiction piece, an uber novel, and it was a learning experience for me. It was my first attempt at writing something of considerable length, and I experimented a lot - with varying degrees of success! I'm proud of the book as my first stab at writing a piece of fiction for 'public' consumption. But I think the more recent original pieces I've produced show that my style has improved since I wrote it. Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? I don't - not through choice, but because I haven't found anybody willing to do the job! People who have the time and inclination to provide good feedback are a rare gift, in my opinion. And my grammar/spelling is normally pretty tidy, so I require someone with the insight and ability to critique at the level of structure, style and characterization, which requires a great deal of commitment. Recently I've been lucky enough to have some input from Kamouraskan, and have also been workshopping my stuff on the Bardic Circle, which has been a great help in terms of inspiration and interaction with like-minds. Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? My influences generally fall outside the realm of fanfiction, and include Emily Bronte, Sarah Waters and Arundhati Roy. Although research takes up most of my waking hours these days, I try to keep a novel 'on the go,' at least for a few minutes before I go to bed. Fan fiction writers who've made an impression on me include Troubleshooter and Susan Smith. Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? If I've enjoyed a fan fiction story, I always send the author a note to tell them so. Many authors rely on feedback to keep them going - the fact that people admire your work can't be underestimated as a motivation to keep it up. And I think most authors are pretty good at responding to feedback when they get it. Do you write Uber fiction? Why or why not? Uber was the obvious place to start for me, since my knowledge of the show was so limited when I started writing. And I was also attracted to uber because of the fact that it offered safety and freedom at the same time - for a first-time writer, the established archetypes can provide a ready-made structure, while the imaginative leap that uber involves allows for exploration of other themes as well. Any comments, questions, suggestions? Just my thanks, for archiving my work and listening to me ramble, and for such a great site! [Ashera: Still think this after it took me two years to post your story?]
 Delenn submitted Goddess of Lava, a story that pairs Ares and an original female character. Tell us a little about yourself Umm, I'm a teenage girl from Canada (Or, as I prefer "Can-eh?Duh!") How long have you been watching Xena/Hercules/Young Hercules? I've watched Hercules since the beginning, and I've been watching Xena since the start of season 4. Never watched more then one episode of Young Hercules. *shrugs* What got you into the show(s)? Hard to say, probably my Dad liked H:TLJ… I loved Xena as soon as I heard about it though; all female kick-ass power is good. ;) How did you discover fan fiction? Someone that I met at the Official Xena Forum, there was fanfiction on her site. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] The chance to really get into different character's minds. Why did you decide to start writing fan fiction? I'm a creative person, the whole thing just appealed to me. Besides, who can resist when an idea strikes? How long have you been writing fan fiction? When I got blackmailed into it probably! LOL. Start of season 5, maybe? If you've been writing fan fiction for over a year, what do you think of your earlier stories? Have your interests changed over time? Oh gods, my earlier stories were crap! No plot and just… icky! It's like I didn't get the characters at all… not that I claim to totally understand them now, but I've got a bit better over time! Well, when I first started, anything that wasn't A/X scared the crap outta me, so I suppose I'm more adventurous now! What characters do you enjoy writing about? I like writing Ares and Callisto. Xena's good, just harder. What do you find compelling about them? Getting into "bad-guys" heads is really interesting, a whole "what makes them tick" type thing. Do you include sexual content in your stories? What pairing(s)? Why? If you don't, why not? Well, generally, I'm really bad at writing NC-17 stuff. Although, now I'm making the effort to try. Lots of pairings. I think that if you're going to go into detail of people's thoughts, and then into detail of battles, that it's only fair to go into detail of other things too. It makes the stories more interesting IMHO. Do you enjoy reading stories with sexual content? Why or why not? Refer to above answer, ;). Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? For most of my stuff I use a beta reader, she's just the best. Brutally honest. It's like, I'll send her something and she'll be all "Ooh that's great, but would so-and-so really say THAT!?" just things I wouldn't always notice. What word-processing/editing programs do you use to write in? Do they include a spellchecker? Do you use it? I write in Microsoft Word, which is really fun. I use a spell-checker and a grammar-checker… they save my life many a time! Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? I have to say, Illyandria, Skkye Blue, Something Royal and Princess Destiny. Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? Yes, I sent all of them feedback. I try to send authors that I really enjoy as much feedback as possible, cause I know they'll enjoy the encouragement. They almost always respond. Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? Well, I mean it's nice, but X:WP and H:TLJ weren't ever that accurate, so I suppose that it's not all that important to me. Do you write for any other fandoms? If so, what are the pluses/minuses of the Herc-Xenaverse in comparison? I write B:TVS and A:TS fanfiction sometimes. I find it slightly easier as it isn't in the ancient past, but not as challenging. Do you write Uber fiction? Why or why not? Nope. I've never thought of a good uber story, so I've never written one. Now that both Hercules and Xena have ended, will you continue writing for the show(s)? Why or why not? Yes, or at least I will finish all my stories that I have started. Until I run out of ideas, I will keep writing. Is there any kind of Xena or Hercules fan fiction that isn't out there (as far as you know), but that you would like to see? (Pairing, genre, style, etc) Seems to me there's just about everything. Any comments, questions, suggestions? Great site! I'm really happy to be a part of Ashera's Archive! [Ashera: Glad to have ya :)]
 L.A. Hulberg submitted the stories The Innocent and The Innocent Part II, stories that have Xena and Gabrielle in love with one another, but afraid of expressing it. Which, of course, leads to problems. Tell us a little about yourself I'm 42, I have a 10 year old son. I love Motorcycles, Tennis, Softball, Baseball and sports in general. I was a commissioner for my son's Little League and a manager for two of his teams (both of which were winning ball clubs). I'm a guitar player, I like to write poetry. I love to read and I'm into Pagan/Wiccan thought. How long have you been watching Xena/Hercules/Young Hercules? I started watching Hercules from the first episode. I love mythology and this seemed to be right up my alley. My son also likes mythology and archeology. So this was a medium that we could both enjoy. Watching Xena just came naturally as a part of watching Hercules. What got you into the show(s)? I got into the show because of the mythology aspect. After watching for awhile, I found I loved the writer's take on how things "could have been" back then. I also enjoyed a strong and positive female lead (Xena) I could identify with. How did you discover fan fiction? I discovered fan-fic by searching for more information on the Amazons and Xena. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] I found with the fan-fic, there was an open door for the true love between two same-sex entities. It seemed like most writer's delved into feelings beyond what the TV show was willing to portray. I'm not talking sex, I'm talking about getting close to someone you care about. Fan-fic went much farther with the Xena/Gabrielle and the Hercules/Iolaus relationships. Friends love each other on some level whether there is sex involved or not. To have a friend you must be attracted to something about them. Fan-fic exposed that. Do you enjoy reading stories with sexual content? Why or why not? If it's got to do with love and not hard core sex I enjoy reading it, though I admit there are times I read "Xena the Conqueror" series. Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? I just read and re-read, my own stories. Though there are times I could use some outside input. Not sure why I don't just reach out to someone. What word-processing/editing programs do you use to write in? Do they include a spellchecker? Do you use it? I use the spell checker all the time, however, sometimes when the box pops up asking "What is this?" while I'm in the middle of a thought, I end up losing my concentration. Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? I enjoy LN James sometimes, but truly there are so many out there that are so good, it's hard to pick just one. Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? I have sent very few authors feedback, but everyone I have sent feedback to, has responded in a gracious and positive manner Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? Basically yes, historical accuracy is important, however...even the writers of XWP have jumped around the time lines. What is your favourite euphemism for female sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? I don't have a favorite euphemism for genitalia, but I do have least favorites. The ones that begin with "C," I think it's a bit on the crude side.
 Killian, a new author, has a series called Caitlin's Chronicles, and another Uber offering, As the Dart Flies, both of which have been added to the archive. Both stories have bdsm in them, so please read the warnings. Tell us a little about yourself I am 41, and pretty new to writing. I have been at it a couple of years, with the Caitlin's Chronicles. I have a great interest in writing Xena fan and uber fan fiction. How long have you been watching Xena/Hercules/Young Hercules? I have been watching Xena steadily since the beginning of Season 4. I got into it also on USA cable, so i have seen everything several times. The show changed my life. What got you into the show(s)? A friend of mine told me about the Lesbian subtext. A guy, lol. So i checked it out. I was hooked quickly, and it hasn't let up in 4 years. How did you discover fan fiction? After Ides of March I was devastated, and needed some people to talk to. So i went online for the first time, and found the Forum. Then it all happened so quickly. I found Xena fan fiction through searching under Xena. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] I got more subtext, and erotica. I got to really get into the characters in a deeper way. I read fan fiction every day for four years, and I still have a lot to learn. Why did you decide to start writing fan fiction? I have some stories and characters in my head that will not shut up. I have to write them or I will go crazy. {not really, but you get the point} How long have you been writing fan fiction? 2 years now. I belong to a writing list, and Caitlin's Chronicles has been a labor of love that has taken a year and a half to write thus far. If you've been writing fan fiction for over a year, what do you think of your earlier stories? Have your interests changed over time? I think I have become a better writer, with more depth. My interests haven't changed as much as they have deepened. What characters do you enjoy writing about? Xena of course, and Gabrielle. Caitlin's Chronicles is an Uber with Caitlin as a young Xena, and Killian as a young Gabrielle. I also enjoy writing Xena and Gabrielle. I am working on a story with several other Amazons of my own creation. I hope to have it out before I die. What do you find compelling about them? The depth of feeling inside of them. The way they love, the way they live, and the times that they live in. Killian being an orphan is a big deal for me. I am not an orphan, but i have big abandonment issues with my parents that I work out in stories. And Xena lives inside of me in a deep way. Caitlin has become a spiritual Warrior Guide for me. She is very important to me. Do you include sexual content in your stories? What pairing(s)? Why? If you don't, why not? Yes, i do. I connect Xena/Caitlin with Gabrielle/Killian. They love each other, and they nag me if I don't write sexual scenes for them. Do you enjoy reading stories with sexual content? Why or why not? Yes, very much. As a lesbian there isn't much out there in the way of fiction, or erotic fiction. I think adding a sexual element adds to the layering of a story. Gives you a lot more emotional juice to work with. Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? Yes, I do. I need help with sentence structure, and such. I also need to have another eye to edit, in case I get too redundant. What word-processing/editing programs do you use to write in? Do they include a spellchecker? Do you use it? I use Word 2000, and yes i use spell and grammer check all the time. Why? Because you can never be too careful in your writing. Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? Charmer, Dark Angel, Klancy7, Missy Good, Djwp, Gin Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? Yes, I have written to all the author's I have ever enjoyed. I believe in sending feedback, otherwise what are we doing this for? Actually, I would have to write whether I got feedback or not, but I certainly want Author's to know that I got something out of their work. Missy Good is the only Author who has never responded to me. I expect she is a busy gal, but i still read everything she writes. I got the best response from Klancy7, who I corresponded with, then became friends with. She is my beta reader for some things, and an amazing writer and woman. Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? I don't write with any more historical accuracy than the Xena TV show does. DJWP does a fantastic job with her historic pieces, and I learn a lot from her. What is your favourite euphemism for female sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? Center, bud, mound, flower, figures, I am blanking. I hate cunt, pussy, hole. What is your favourite euphemism for male sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? don't have one Do you write for any other fandoms? If so, what are the pluses/minuses of the Herc-Xenaverse in comparison? nope, just Xena Do you write Uber fiction? Why or why not? Yes, Caitlin's Chronicles is an Uber. I want to do more, because I can have more leeway with the characters. Now that both Hercules and Xena have ended, will you continue writing for the show(s)? Why or why not? Yes, I will write until I have no more in me. Which i hope is never. Is there any kind of Xena or Hercules fan fiction that isn't out there (as far as you know), but that you would like to see? (Pairing, genre, style, etc) More Najara with Gabrielle, And Alti with Xena. I am not writing them, but I would read that pairing. [Ashera: Alti with Xena. Funny, I was just thinking the other day about how I'd never seen such a pairing as well, and it seems like such a given] Any comments, questions, suggestions? Thank you for reading this. I really appreciate feedback, constructive of course. Ashera's Archive was one of my first finds, and one of my favorite places still. [Ashera: Well, thanks for hanging in there. Sorry for taking so long to post your stories :/]
 Writegirl submitted the story Love Remembered, a sort-of Uber (depending on your definition) that finds Gabrielle in modern-day Greece, along with the God of War. It's also a story that sets up for other possible pairings, something I hope that Writegirl follows through on, if she hasn't already. Writegirl, your e-mail addy doesn't work anymore. Please contact me if you read this. Tell us a little about yourself I'm a twenty year old college student from California. I like fanfiction, of course, outdoors, and just about anything with four legs.
How long have you been watching Xena/Hercules/Young Hercules? I started watching Hercules when it was two hour TV movies that came on every Saturday. I started watching Xena in the middle of the second season, but I never got into the Young Hercules. What got you into the show(s)? I'm a mythology buff, so something dealing with one of my favorite subjects was high on my list of things to watch, not to mention the fact that Kevin Sorbo and Kevin Smith were major hotties. When Xena came on my first thought was,'Thats the woman from Hercules in the Land of the Amazons!' I got into Xena because its pretty rare to find a strong female hero, especially before the Buffy craze, not to mention the story lines were out of this world. How did you discover fan fiction? Playing around on the internet with a friend. We were both into the shows and wanted to see if there was anything on the internet about the characters since we started watching later on. We ran across Ashera's Archive and tucked in. What started as a joke turned into a full on obsession. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] I thought fanfictin tended to be a little truer to the characters and their motivations than the show could be, since they had to worry about ratings and all that. I also wanted to see something that wasn't in the shows, continued journeys, relationships that were more than pecks on the cheek. most fanfiction isn't afraid to dig into a character and bring out things that just wouldn't have worked in daytime TV. Why did you decide to start writing fan fiction? When I discovered the lack of Gabrielle/Ares fanfiction on the net. I always thought they'd be a little more dynamic than Area/Xena. I also got a little tired of Ares being a hardass who never cared about anyone, so I tried to address those two problems in one fic, my first fic, actually. Since then all of my fanfiction has been in other fandoms, but I have a few plot bunnies jumping around my head for the Herc/Xena fandom. How long have you been writing fan fiction? For about four years, I think. If you've been writing fan fiction for over a year, what do you think of your earlier stories (or attempts at stories)? Have your interests changed over time? Has your style? I wish I'd known what a beta reader was back then, since I know my stories tend to have silly mistakes in them. I've become a little more introvert with the characters, trying to get inside their heads and let them tell me their motivations. My interest has changed only because I didn't get any feedback from my first story, so I tried to find an audience that would respond to what I was writing. What characters do you enjoy writing about? Characters that have been relegated to two-dimensional status. I've always enjoyed getting under a characters skin and finding out what makes them tick. What do you find compelling about them? That there's so much room for expansion. In the world of fanfiction you can make anything possible, and since they arent really established, anything you write has more weight that trying to rewrite a well established character. Do you include sexual content in your stories? What pairing(s)? Why? If you don't, why not? Most of my stories tend to have sexual content. In my other fandoms slash is the norm, mostly m/m pairings. In Xena I've only had time to write m/f pairing (Gabrielle/Ares). I think that sexual content, explicit or not, can add another dimension to a fic. It's not always necessary to write a full on explicit scene, but it can be called for if you want to show emotions, and lets face it, some of them cant be expressed any other way. Do you enjoy reading stories with sexual content? Why or why not? Yes. Call me crazy, but I think it adds an intimacy to the relationship between a reader and the character. Not all of us know what its like to fight a hydra or defy the gods, but we do know what its like to make love to someone you care for, or even someone you dont. Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? I've never used a beta reader, mostly because I never knew how to get in touch with one. Later, because I'm very protective of my work, and I feel that I can weed out things that need weeding, even though this isn't always the case. Also, its weird having someone going over your work for something other than entertainment, at least to me. What word-processing/editing programs do you use to write in? Do they include a spellchecker? Do you use it? Usually Microsoft Word. When I'm desperate or away from home I'll use almost anything though, and they usually have spell checker. I've had to use Front-page before, a real old version, and it didn't have spell check, so I got some critical reviews about my work. Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? Um, none in the Xena/Herc fandoms, but there have been some in others that have really set the standard that I judge myself by. Biblio in the stargate universe is one of those. The quality of her work, the way she writes the characters, it just blows my mind. Xochiquetzl- try saying that five times fast- is another in the stargate universe who really makes it a point to reach for the stars. If you're interested, you can find their work on Area 52: The HKH Standard. The two that I have to get on my knees and worship though are in the X-men universe : Alara Rogers and Valerie Jones. Both of these women have an insight into the characters that I have yet to see duplicated. They arent afraid to tear a character down, or build him back up. Their imaginations seem limitless, and even though they write in a fantastical fandom, they add so much realism to it that you can actually see what's happening, really happening down the street somewhere. They reside on www.alara.net. Ladies, I salute you. Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? Oh yes, I like to think I'm good at sending feedback, since I know what its like to put your work out there and get nothing in return. Most authors I've sent feedback to have been glad and sent me thankyou's, or gave me a shout out when they post another chapter. Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? Historical accuracy is very important to me, since I'm a history buff. I understand that their are times when you just cant, but when you can, I like to see some real history working in the background. It grounds works, at least I think it does, makes them a little less fantasy and a little more reality. What is your favourite euphemism for female sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? I dont really have a favorite, but I do have a least. Cunt. I really hate that word. What is your favourite euphemism for male sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? It's hard to write about the male without a snicker, but I'd have to say my favorite is erection, though it is hard to keep using it without feeling like you're setting up an erector set. Least favorite, cock. Do you write for any other fandoms? If so, what are the pluses/minuses of the Herc-Xenaverse in comparison? As you've read earlier, I write in a lot of other fandoms. Dragonlance, Wheel of Time, Stargate Sg1, X-men, Lord of the Rings, all of which are on fanfiction.net. Some pluses about writing in these fandoms is that the timeline is steady. No jumping a thousand years in a single day or putting the wild west in ancient Greece. Also, most of these are in their own worlds, so you know that they're independent of our own. Do you write Uber fiction? Why or why not? My one Xena fanfiction is uber, because I wanted to get Xena and everything else out of the way, The story would have been too long otherwise. Uber gives you a chance to have a lot more fun with characters. Now that both Hercules and Xena have ended, will you continue writing for the show(s)? Why or why not? If someone wants me to, why not? Is there any kind of Xena or Hercules fan fiction that isn't out there (as far as you know), but that you would like to see? (Pairing, genre, style, etc) I would like to see a non-violent Caesar/Xena pairing, since the show eludes to the fact that the relationship was something special for both of them. I'd like to see a little more depth in fanfiction, a little character dissection. Are you involved with any other areas of fandom besides fan fiction? Nope. What does fandom mean to you? Something extended beyond the consumer image. A fandom is accessible to all the fans, and responds to their will. Any comments, questions, suggestions? nope. Just want to say HI to everyone and I hope they keep up the good work!!!! :)
 Mary has submitted two stories that are part of a series: Warrior Princess of Sparta. Discovery and Loss and Changing the Stars are stories that create an alternate version of how Xena and Ares first met. Tell us a little about yourself My real name is Mehrnoosh…but my friends have adopted to call me Mary. I love fashion, but I make my own. I never allow myself to be ushered in a path that I don't like…at least I try to. I'm 17 and I live with my mom and stepdad. I do a lot of reading and poetry writing. How long have you been watching Xena/Hercules/Young Hercules? I've been watching the shows since I was about twelve or thirteen. What got you into the show(s)? I'm really into mythology of any kind. I don't like the Hercules series much, but I love Xena because I guess I find myself fascinated by such an intense female hero. How did you discover fan fiction? When I started to really get into the shows (and especially the Xena/Ares relationship) I went to some sites and saw that there were others who where taking the show where they wanted it to go. What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] With fan fiction, you can go places outside of the TV box…you can let your imagination soar without having to worry about the rating. When I read other people's fan fictions, I find myself open to other possibilities of the shows. Why did you decide to start writing fan fiction? I love to write and there was never a time (well, perhaps a couple of times) that I didn't wonder what would have happened if an episode would not have ended that way. I just wonted to see if others agreed with me…and I just wonted to have some fun with it. How long have you been writing fan fiction? How long have you been involved in fandom? I have but started to write fan fictions, but I have been reading them for about three years or so. What characters do you enjoy writing about? I love writing about Aphrodite, Athena, Ares, and especially Joxer. What do you find compelling about them? Their characters are just so exotic and one can definitely find possibilities in them. Do you include sexual content in your stories? What pairing(s)? Why? If you don't, why not? Yes, I do Xena and Ares ones…in the show, the sexual tension between the two just astounds me. And but the fourth and fifth season, Ares' character developed so beautifully and I just can't help wonder what would have happened if she had said yes. Though my writing is no so explicit as say it rated higher than R. Do you enjoy reading stories with sexual content? Why or why not? Sure…as long as the story does not rate NC-17. My friends hit me over the head for this, but I'm just not comfortable with such explicit writings. Do you use beta readers? Why or why not? Ummm, what are beta readers, I seriously have no clue! [Ashera: Check out the glossary] What word-processing/editing programs do you use to write in? Do they include a spellchecker? Do you use it? I use Windows word documents…definitely with spell-check. My teachers love my metaphors but they just can't stand my spelling. Who are the fan fiction authors that influenced you most, or made the greatest impression on you? Something Royal, definitely Carly, Lady Kate, Mark Annetts (A Good Day to Die) Silk (Ares' Chosen, Ares' Curse), Shipper Queen, Tango, Taleen…I'm sure I'm missing some people…their work is just…it just awakens you with a shudder of reality twisted with beautiful storytelling. Did you send them feedback? Have you ever sent an author feedback? If so, how did they respond (if at all)? I believe so…(I hope I did) and I did get some responses. Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? Umm, lets face it, the serious are very historically accurate. As long as it doesn't go way off as calling Aphrodite God of War or Athens a little village, I'm okay with it. What is your favourite euphemism for female sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? Never really thought about this. What is your favourite euphemism for male sex organs, if any? What is your least favourite? As long as it's not banana Do you write Uber-Xena fan fiction? Why or why not? I don't quite know what that means. Uber means extremely good/successful…I write in first person though. [Ashera: The glossary will come in handy again] Now that both Hercules and Xena have ended, will you continue writing for the show(s)? Why or why not? Yes, because I still find myself fascinated with the plots and where the stories can go. I don't like to think that it's over. Is there any kind of Xena or Hercules fan fiction that isn't out there (as far as you know), but that you would like to see? (Pairing, genre, style, etc) As far as I know, every single pairing is out there. Are you involved with any other areas of fandom besides fan fiction? Nope…I wish I had the time for it though. What does fandom mean to you? Being able to support something or someone that you like, even after others might have quit. Have you ever dropped out of fandom for awhile? Why? Yes, I do that during the school years, because I have such busy schedules with my classes and sports that I don't have time to sleep. How would your life be different if you weren't involved with fandom and/or fan fiction? I wouldn't be able to let out more of my imaginations, if I didn't write fan fictions. I would hate. Do you write fan fic with Ares or Iphicles as characters, or have you? How has Kevin Smith's death affected your writing, if at all? YES! Especially because I write Xena/Ares fan fictions, it doesn't feel as alive anymore because Kevin Smith played Ares to perfection and with him gone, it just feels a bit empty. But I try to keep his memory alive by my writing…that is all I can offer. Why did you submit to this archive? Well, I have been trying to send out my first story as much as I can so that I can get as many responds possible. When I stumbled upon this site, I said, lets do it! Any comments, questions, suggestions? Nope…I wish other sites would have a link to your site though [Ashera: Well, quite a few do. As for some 'others,' no comment ;)]
 A new author, Skylla has one new submission: By the Book, a humorous Autolycus/Caesar story that's also listed on the New Pairings page. Tell us a little about yourself Well, when I'm not eating one of Odysseus' crew for each of my six heads, I reside in New York, practice karate, and obsess over the best TV shows ever made. Three guesses as to which ones… What did you get out of fan fiction that you didn't get out of the show(s)? [if anything] Sex, for one thing. J Explorations of characters and relationships that the shows didn't explore, for another. Fan fiction also gives me something new to enjoy now that the shows have ended. What characters do you enjoy writing about? All of them, really, but if I had to choose… Autolycus was a lot of fun, because he's such a flamboyant character. I love writing with Caesar's POV, even though none of those pieces are going the way I want them to. The show makes him a little two dimensional, but his struggle for control is fascinating to write about. Gabrielle is fun also, because her psyche changes so much as the show goes on. I also enjoy writing about Aphrodite, because she is such a shallow character on the show; it's so much fun to make her deeper and smarter than she appears to be. Is historical accuracy important to you? Why or why not? In the end, not really, but I would love to explore some of the opportunities real history and real mythology provide. For instance, Aphrodite was a recycled image of the great goddess Astarte, and Cupid was a reincarnation of the god Chaos, who helped create the world. Caesar, instead of being the misogynist Xena portrays him as, was really surrounded by women all of his life – his father died, so he was very close to his mother, he used his relation to Aphrodite as part of his political platform, he had a daughter, a sister, and three wives, and wound up pairing up with Cleopatra before he died. The places that can go are endless. Do you write for any other fandoms? If so, what are the pluses/minuses of the Herc-Xenaverse in comparison? I've never written for any other fandoms, because none of them have inspired me the way Herc and Xena did, but I read a lot of others. The Herc-Xenaverse remains supreme over any other fandom so far. The sheer number of characters you can write about and explore is fantastic. The Herc-Xenaverse also has the advantage of scorning reality – anything can happen, which is a lot of fun for a writer. Do you write Uber-Xena fan fiction? Why or why not? Oh yes, and I'm working on a couple of pieces at the moment. My uberfic, unlike most others, doesn't really focus on the relationship between Gabs and Xena. That's included, but I want to see how all of the characters would act in the future, not just our kick-ass babes. Now that both Hercules and Xena have ended, will you continue writing for the show(s)? Why or why not? Certainly. I have to. Fan fiction is one of the main ways for me to express my love for the shows, which means I'll be writing until I stop loving it. Basically, I'm going to be scribbling my thoughts down for a very long time… Is there any kind of Xena or Hercules fan fiction that isn't out there (as far as you know), but that you would like to see? (Pairing, genre, style, etc) Ooo, what a great question! Yes, definitely. Gabrielle & Caesar is a pairing I'd just love to read. That probably puts me in the doghouse with all the subtexters, but I'm convinced there's chemistry there. I mean, really, did you see the look on Gabrielle's face when she first saw Caesar in the 'Deliverer'? Or the way she looked and sounded when she talked to him in 'When in Rome'? Sparks were flying! [Note from Ashera: 'Tis true. I remember that. Gabrielle says something about him to Xena, too. About how 'there's something about him,' or some such, the incinuation being that she can understand how Xena let him get under her skin. I'd like to read some Gabrielle & Caesar ;)]
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