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Yay! This interviewing thing is too much fun.

linnet_101asked me...

1. What fic are you currently working on?

Well, I have 27 stories with me on my work computer, which is a fairly reliable indicator of all the ones I've recently opened up and chipped away at (oh gods). I have about seventy-odd unfinished ones on my home computer. *stabs self* But the one I'm most actively writing is an angsty space pirate fic, post-apocalypse, where the original team have been stranded off-world, and are the only survivors of Earth, and they're all traumatised and not getting on, and Jack's gone kinda cruel, like he was in Shades of Grey but for real. All kinds of fun. I'm praying I'll get it finished by next week. I've got about another 3,000 words to write, I think.

2. What is one childhood dream that you would still like to fulfil?

Writing my Novel. I had a plan: age 17, I would have written my novel, and get published. Age 19 I would find my true love, get married, and start having babies.

Uh, it wasn't much of a plan, but I'm about ten years behind on it. Except for the finding-love-at-19 thing, which seems to be working out.

3. What is your favourite Jack/Sam moment from Stargate?

Hm. I think it has to be the bit in Divide and Conquer, where they're trapped either side of the force wall. It's so tragi-romantic. Oh, and the bit in Beneath the Surface where they're talking together, and there's just a long, slow pan in, and she puts her head on his shoulder - that's adorable. "I'm just sayin'." (I can't pick just *one*, apparently.)

4. You suddenly get dragged on stage at a Karaoke competition, what are you singing - and what was the audience reaction?

*faints ded*

Actually, I've done karaoke. I sang 'Talking In Your Sleep' by Crystal Gayle, mostly because a) I knew the words, and b) I could hit the notes. Well, I thought I could hit the notes... The audience was very encouraging, but I suspect it was just out of politeness - I know I didn't do very well, I can hear when I hit a bad note, and I hit a lot of them. Also, I sang 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' on a home karaoke thing, and did really well - I can sing that, for some reason. But I don't think it'd go down well at a competition. So I think I'll sing... 'Close To You', by the Carpenters. Again, I know the words and can hit the notes. At least, I can in the shower. *g* I like singing, but I try not to inflict it on anyone beyond my nearest and dearest. I would expect the audience reaction to be polite applause.

5. What are your top 5 names for any hypothetical children you might have? Boys and Girls

Ooh. For girls... Laurel is currently my favourite name for a girl (as in the tree, not Laurel & Hardy). Also... hm. Elinor, I like a lot. And Marion. And Robin, as a girl's name (yes, Robin Hood fan, can you tell?). And Poppy - but I don't think I'd choose that because it's been one of my nicknames. But I think it's sweet.

For boys... I've not got so many ideas for boys' names, 'cause I always wanted a little girl. I do like the name Jonathan / Jack (I tried not to, but...). But not Richard, because the shortenings are all horrendous. I also like Zachary, although it might be a bit cruel to give a kid a name like that. Jasper, too - cruel but I like it. Sean is nice. And, er... Thomas. It's cute.

edit: And holdouttrout asked me...

1. What's the best present you ever gave?

Hmmmmm. I like giving presents, but they're such a balancing act... I think the present I'm proudest of was a Secret Santa one, strangely enough. The office manager at a place I worked at a few years back was pretty much hated by everyone – me included, most of the time, but I could see she was a pain because basically she was just a bit screwed up. She'd put loads of effort and stress into organising the Christmas party. I made sure I got her name for the Secret Santa (I had charge of the name slips, so cheated), and gave her some massage oil, a book of massage instruction, and a note to say that this was for her boyfriend to use on her. I think she cried. She'd been expecting something horrible – which she probably would have if 90% of that office had been assigned as her Secret Santa. There was a pretty cruel sense of humour in that place, and most of the Secret Santa presents were practical jokes of some kind. So I felt I'd done good.

2. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream and why?

Chocolate Fudge Brownie. I love that it's got squishy brownie bits in it. Actually, I prefer the frozen yoghurt version, but it's as near as dammit to the ice cream as to make no difference. I never used to like chocolate ice cream when I was a kid, but then the stuff I remember from back then didn't taste of chocolate much – more chocolate-flavour.

3. Did you ever make Jello just because you were feeling nostalgic for Sam/Jack? If so, which flavor?

Ack! Are you spying on me?! *g* Yes, I must admit, I may have made jello partly because of Sam/Jack. But also 'cause I like jello. Red jello, because that's the only vegetarian one I can find. They don't do blue. Red was always my favourite, anyhow.

4. Do you have any old ~~skeletons~~ fandoms in the closet? What are they and why did/do you love them?

I think I've owned up to most of my fandoms. Hm, ones that I haven't mentioned.... Sledge Hammer! I used to love that show. I tried to write fic, but it was horrible – because it's so much of a parody already, it's not so ficcable. I loved it because it parodied all the cop shows / movies that I watched with my dad when I was a kid, and which I sort of loved, but also saw the funny or less likeable side of, because my mum hated them. Sledge Hammer! was packed with jokes – some so fast and subtle that you hardly saw them – I loved that. Oh, and I wanted Sledge and Doreau to live happily ever after, but then I'm a sap – I always find someone to ship.

5. If you could have anybody write you a letter saying they like your writing, who would it be?

Ooooh. Good question. I think... Margaret Atwood, or Terry Pratchett. I think that either of them would send me into orbit for weeks. Oh, or Diana Wynne Jones, because I just worshipped her books when I was a kid, and I sort of write a bit like her. Only not a fraction as well.

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Oh, good answers!

I have to admit, every time I pass the Jello aisle, I think about picking some up. Then, of course, I remember that I already have some at home, and proceed to return home and not make it. It's a vicious cycle.

I pretty much always find someone to ship, too. Maybe in a vague way, but I'm a huge sap.

And good authors! I recently discovered Diana Wynne Jones. I know I'd read something by her when I was younger, but I hadn't read much before I *read* "Howl's Moving Castle." Her books are just...fantastic. (Writes note to self to read more)

Oh how I loved Howl. I still kinda do. If I could meet one fictional person, Howl would be it. I recommend... actually, I recommend all her books. Although I've not read them all, I must admit - she's a) prolific, and b) sometimes hard to find. Ooh, The Merlin Conspiracy is a good one. And Fire & Hemlock. Oh, and her Tough Guide to Fantasyland (a kind of encyclopaedia of fantasy novel cliches, in the style of a tour guide) has me laughing like a drain. "Beer always foams and is invariably delivered in tankards. The Management is not concerned with the taste of it. That is your funeral. Armour is, in the opinion of the Management, cheating. Torture is obligatory at some stage in the Tour."

I loved Fire & Hemlock. I had maybe heard of Tam Lin in passing before, so I was horribly confused until the end. But she creates such lovely protagonists! Howl is just a kick, and the main character is often so very flawed in odd ways.

She is hard to find, or at least many of her books are hard to find. I see the same ones on the shelves over and over, and I *know* she's written lots more.

I shall have to hunt down the Guide. Because really: Armour = cheating. That's just...so true.

Tamora Pierce is the only fantasy author I can think of that regards armour as necessary--as in, revels in all the heavy, claustrophobic, sweaty details. ;-)

And, oh yeah, I think Tamora Pierce (from what I remember of the Alanna books) describes armour well. The only other time I remember coming across it was the Dragonlance ones, on Sturm. But I think they pretty much skimmed over it.

I come across a lot of her books by accident more than design. I was so glad when they started reissuing them, fairly recently, because before that it was nigh-on impossible to find anything other than the more popular ones, and she's written dozens and dozens.

The Guide is hilarious if you're a fantasy fiction afficionado, as I think you are. It has a section on the importance of Cloaks, and the fact that coats with buttons are for wusses, because apparently no one in Fantasyland will wear one. Also colour-coding. Green eyes = magical, brown hair = good, ditto blue eyes... And so on. It's so very well-observed. She's clearly read a lot of the stuff - especially things like Dragonlance, and the David Eddings books. Oh, and the inevitability of eating Stew. Cracked me up.

Chocolate Fudge Brownie.

I knew I liked you. I *love* that ice cream. Ben & Jerry's, my friend, Ben & Jerry's.

And I would be terrible at karoake. I wouldn't even try. You are very brave. ;)

Oh yes. Ben & Jerry's indeed. *doesn't hug it, because teh sticky* They keep coming out with new flavours that I want to try. Bastards. *g*

I'm shy in theory, but oddly bold about getting up and making an idiot of myself. I didn't used to be. I think I'm okay nowadays with doing things like that if I know I can laugh at myself. It's when I have to be sincere and serious that I freeze up.

I never used to like chocolate ice cream when I was a kid, but then the stuff I remember from back then didn't taste of chocolate much – more chocolate-flavour.

I'm reminded of the kids in Good Omens marvelling at the mystical American 31 Flavors: there aren't 31 flavours of ice cream in the entire world!

Also ... interview me please! Though I'm no longer procrastinating so it might take me a while ...

I so recognised that, when I read it. I was in awe of Baskin Robbins 31 Flavours when I was little. Chocolate, and vanilla, and strawberry, and...? Not so long ago, America seemed so glamorous. *g*

Love Good Omens, Crowley and Aziraphale in particular. Good Omens was why I chose the name Pepper, in fact. The little girl who is War. "There are only two ways a child can go with a name like Pippin Galadriel Moonchild, and Pepper had chosen the other one..."

And you already asked me to interview you, chuck. I put some questions in the previous post. *pokes you with not very sharp stick* That's the trouble with me making multiple posts in one day, I know – the older things get relegated. And it's given me a chance to think of some better ones...

1) If you met one of SG-1, what would you want to ask him/her?
2) What's the best present you ever got?
3) What's your favourite drink? (alcoholic or non)
4) If you had to time-travel 100 years into either the past or the future, which would you choose? (I know you're a history bod, but 1907 sounds a bit more recent than you go for.)
5) (Stolen from linnet_101, 'cause it's such a good question) What is one childhood dream that you would still like to fulfil?

I so recognised that, when I read it. I was in awe of Baskin Robbins 31 Flavours when I was little. Chocolate, and vanilla, and strawberry, and...?

Heh. I did, too, because when I lived there, nobody had heard of Ben & Jerry's yet and there was one Baskin Robbins in Leicester Square and that was about it for the whole country. I was in serious withdrawal, especially out in the hinterlands. Though occasionally you could find good gelato.

And you already asked me to interview you, chuck.

Not only had you already asked me, I had already answered them but not posted them yet. Am moron.

Oh, yes, that Baskin Robbins in Leicester Sq, I know it well. It seemed so exciting at the time. You can get lovely honey ice cream somewhere out on the coast of Wales, too, which was about as exotic as it got, twenty years ago. It was extremely lovely ice cream, though. I wonder if they still do it. Might have been Aberystwyth... Or Aberaron...

And, hee! Now you have two (or one-and-a-half) sets of questions from me. Feel free to ignore second lot, then.

"angsty space pirate fic, post-apocalypse"

It sounds like the fic equivilant to ice cream with chocolate brownie in... you think you have to choose, then you realise that its all in one little pot...

And Terry Pratchett is the twisted author of all twisted authors.

(although Zachary - I have to snigger when I think of the poor kid trying to learn how to spell his name...)

Ah, lovely Terry Pratchett. He so funny. Love the wizards - particularly the Dean and the Archchancellor. The boyf. and I take it in turns to read one aloud, once in a blue moon, and there was a bit in Soul Music (the Archchancellor's experiences with his new bathroom) that had us laughing so hard we couldn't speak for about ten minutes.

Ah, Zachary... cruel but funny. Also, if he was naughty, "Zack!" would be good and sharp for yelling.

(And yay to your description of angsty space pirate fic!)

*dies laughing* I've always said that I want a collie called Zac! And also, Zack is basically Jack, you realise?

And B.S.Johnson *dies*. The hoho in the Patrician's garden always makes me howl with laughter... because my uni actually has a haha, and people do fall down it.

*wanders off to find her dried frog's pills, and to look for 'Born to Rune'*

Born To Rune! Yes! ROFL

There's a play, Arcadia, by Tom Stoppard, where they talk about hahas - always makes me laugh:

A: "...I think he's in the ha-ha."
B (unexpectedly): "Ha-HA!" (emphasis on the 2nd 'ha')
A: "What?"
B: "I always thought it should be pronounced ha-HA! Because when the ground suddenly gives way beneath your feet, you're not going to go 'ha-ha', are you? You're going to go 'ha-HA!', or more likely 'Bloody 'ell!'"

(And, bollox, you're right, Zack=Jack.)

Born to Rune and the fake fake beards..

And ROFL. Although, I'd like to add two more possible responses to falling in a haha - a) "I'm drunk, aren't I?" (err... yes) and b) "Did I jump all the way across?" (you're lying at the bottom of it, take a wild guess...) oh, the fun and games...

Hehehehe... That's an evil, evil thing for a college to have. A Student Trap.

yay Space!Pirate fic!

I can't wait until they all get unveiled - which reminds me that I have to actually finish mine off :P

And I love the name Elinor too!

Elinor is lovely, isn't it? I like old-fashioned names.

Argh. Must work on my fic. I've told everyone about it, now, so I feel obliged to finish it and make it good, and at the moment it's a bit... brief.

Am so looking forwards to everyone else's, though. I hope there's lots.

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