Beth winner of original Poetry

1. Tell us something about yourself.
why do interviews always start off this way? i think this has got to be the hardest question in the world, but i'll give it a try. i'm 24 years old, and i've lived in maryland my whole life. i am an electrical engineer by career, but a writer/poet at heart. i love to write tyr fanfiction and poetry (when i have the time, the inclination, and the inspiration). i also love music, movies, useless trivia, summertime thunder storms, sleeping late, cooking, eating, talking to friends, and too many other things to mention. i'd better stop before i bore everyone.

2. What got you hooked on TYR?
fortunately, i managed to catch the very first episode of TYR when it was premiering on ABC back in 1989. i have to admit, the first two things that made me love the show were lou and the kid. i know, i know. for those of you who know me, i am an avid jimmyholic, but shamefully enough, it wasn't always that way. i soon saw the light of his jimmyness and have bid farewell to those kid-worshipping days forever. anyway, i fell in love with the character of lou. she was definitely a strong female role model, and i admired her courage and spunk...as well as the fact that she had six gorgeous guys in her immediate proximity. :-)

3. What kind of stories do you prefer? Romance, action, thrillers?
i like stories with a little bit of all of the above. for instance, every good romance needs some action where the main characters must endure a struggle or conflict in order for their love to shine through and make them better people for it in the end. just as with stories heavy in action, drama, and suspense, there needs to be some sort of tension breaker, i think, and romance seems to provide that. it allows you to feel for the characters more, and it definitely provides escape for the reader.

4. What are you reading right now?
right now, i'm not reading as much as i'd like. i'm supposed to be reading "land girls" by angela huth, but i haven't cracked it open.

5. Who has inspired you in your writing?
i've never really thought about who specifically has inspired my writing over the years. i think my eight-grade english teacher definitely inspired and encouraged me to write. and i think each book i've read over the years has in some way influenced me. as far as TYR fanfic, i think my main inspiration has been Joanna. her stories were some of the first i'd ever read, and i loved how descriptive she is when she writes. outside of the copyrighted TYR characters, they could definitely be novels on their own.

6. Have you written other fanfic than The Young Riders?
no. I don't think there is any other TV show i've ever faithfully watched and seen all the episodes. TYR is probably my favorite show of all time.

7. What is most important in your life right now?
friends and family are always number one, as well as striving for overall happiness in my life. i'm about to start a new job in a few weeks and i'm also looking to buy a house hopefully by summer (yikes! this grown-up stuff is scary!), and these things have definitely overwhelmed me lately.

8. Where will you be in 10 years time if you get your way?
if i get my way, i will have enough money to live comfortably while pursuing my dreams (whatever they may be). i don't want to have to worry about staying in a career just because it's lucrative. i hope to be able to live a good life while enjoying my true passions. i think that would include having found my 'soul mate' (if there is one) and starting a family. and writing TYR fanfic on the side, of course!

9. Any current writing projects?
well, it depends on the meaning of the word 'current'.
:-) i started two fanfics over a year ago that i have yet to finish and have not worked on in many months, though i've completed several others since then. so i supposed i don't have any current writing projects.

10. What advice do you have to give to other writers?
just keep writing, keep following your heart, and never give up! even if you get negative feedback or none at all, as long as you enjoy writing, never stop for anyone else.

11. A thank you speech, please
i'd like to thank the academy...no, seriously. i'd like to thank everyone who took the time to read my fanfic and poetry, whether they voted for me or not. thanks for the encouragement and feedback i've received over the years. and a special thanks to starbright and all the others who have put so much work into creating and maintaning the AYRF awards site. it's such an asset to the fandom, and i hope last year was just the start of a long-standing tradition. bye, y'all! ride safe.

Thanks for taking the time to answer this Beth!