Sid winner of Creative Turn, Female Character, Endearing Scene and Verbal Visualization

1. Tell us something about yourself.
Well, as all my TYR pals know, I am a rabid anglophile; I tend to put some reference to England in all my fanfic. I can't help it,
though believe me, I've tried. (It's a disease, I tell you!) I love to travel, I love to read fanfic, and I'm positively addicted to The
West Wing.

2. What got you hooked on TYR?
It was probably a combination of everything - the drama, the humor, the characters, the time period, and Kid (he's still my #1
favorite.) I don't remember exactly how I became obsessed, because it was a long time ago, during the original run of the show, but I do know that I was a devoted watcher despite my parents' protests (they weren't fans). I even started researching the PX at the library. I sort of forgot about it after the series finale, but then one day, when I was new to the internet and couldn't think of anything else to look up, I typed in TYR and discovered this whole new world. I would say that my "re-obsession" (if you will) definitely came about because of the fandom. Seeing so many people so excited and involved really hooked me in - and the fanfic was reason enough! :)

3. What kind of stories do you prefer? Romance, action, thrillers?
I'll read anything if it's written well, but I do tend to veer toward suspense/drama or romance. I have a soft spot for stories
involving unrequited love. I really enjoy stories where the author takes something you would *never* think of and makes it totally
believable. Any story where the author draws you in and makes you actually *see* the world they've created - those are my favorites.

4. What are you reading right now?
Currently I'm beta-reading two wonderful, fabulous stories by Laura B, and hopefully I'll be taking on another fanfic soon by an
author who may wish to remain nameless ;-) Otherwise, I'm re-reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and Land Girls by Angela Huth (some stories you just never get tired of).

5. Who has inspired you in your writing?
Many authors have inspired me, usually not only because of their wonderful stories, but because of a specific trait they have that I'm drawn to: Roddy Doyle has an absolutely amazing ability to tell a story through dialogue. Nick Hornby has the gift of wry, clever humor, and of really getting you inside the characters' heads. Douglas Adams can turn a phrase like nobody's business. There are many more. But really, I'm inspired by any author who can create a story and characters that you fall in love with. So I'm inspired by everyone from Harper Lee to John Steinbeck, Arthur Conan Doyle to Jane Austen.

6. Have you written other fanfic than The Young Riders?
I once took a stab at Northern Exposure fanfic, and also wrote things for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Going to Extremes (does anyone but me remember those shows?), but TYR is the only show I've done anything of any substance with :) Right now I'm obsessed with reading fanfic for The West Wing, but I know I couldn't do the show justice. Still, if I were to try fanfic for any other show, that would be the one!

7. What is most important in your life right now?
My friends, my family, and it sounds corny, but also finding a happy place - that's important to me now.

8. Where will you be in 10 years time if you get your way?
If I get my way, I will be living in Colorado again (though hopefully it won't take me 10 years to get back), married, and
writing novels....with a home in England, of course! I don't care about fame, but success would be nice. I'd like to be the sort of
author you can't wait to read more of. The sort that when you're finished with their latest, you can't wait for the next one. That'd
be enough for me.

9. Any current writing projects?
Well, I'm currently in Writing Limbo - aka HELL - and I have several stories I've picked up and put down again and again. Right
now I've got nearly the entire plot ready for a sequel to The Streets of London, and I've written some of it. But I'm having what I think of as "sequel jitters", and so I haven't gotten very far with it.

10. What advice do you have to give to other writers?
Do it - write it - don't be afraid! I truly believe the world in general, and the fandom in particular, will gain something from new
perspectives. Writing is a gift to other people. Share your world with us, let us see what you see! (Sorry. Got a little self-help-book there.)

11. A thank you speech, please.
(Ahem) This is all so unexpected! I would like to thank my director and my co-stars for being such joys to work with, and the
Academy for - Wait. Darn. Wrong fantasy. Although that mention of 'the Academy' is kind of appropriate, isn't it? ;-)
I'm thrilled I won *anything* at the AYRFs, and I sincerely thank those who nominated me and those who voted for me. I thank every person who has ever sent me feedback, because you honestly have no idea how inspiring it is to know people are actually enjoying what you've written. I especially thank my wonderful, priceless friends, who have always supported me and always made me smile; I thank Laura B, Lisa R, and Little Jen most of all :) And now I'll stop, because I'm getting horribly cheesy, and I
think the orchestra is starting to cue me off the stage...

Thanks for taking the time to answer this Sid!