Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Lois & Clark The New Adventure of Superman Writer's Showcase. At the bottom of this web site you will findlinks to past featured writers. Just click on the any writer's name you might have missed or want to read again and you will be taken to their interview.

Now, in keeping with Annie's famous words, without further ado I am proud and honored to present this week's Writer in the Writer's Showcase ...

Annette, Labrat, Kaethel, Avia

Personal Information

Author name
Chris Carr

E-mail addresses
c.carr@virgin.net
chris@carr55.fsnet.co.uk

Residence
UK

List, AOL, or web affiliations
I'm a lurker (and very occasional poster) on the fanfic list. I've got out of the habit of checking Zoom's mbs over the last few months, unfortunately - and even when I was following them regularly, I could barely keep up with all the postings there!

Lois and Clark or Superman Status

How long have you been watching L&C?
I went to a Star Trek convention in 1994 and was lucky enough to see the pilot there, several months before it got broadcast on TV in England. I was hooked, right from the start.

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
Oh, a long time. I used to like the comics and the films with Christopher Reeve in, but I went off these incarnations of Superman as soon as I saw Lois and Clark.

How long have you been writing?
Well, I used to enjoy composition in school; does that count? I had my first fanfic story published in a fanzine, um, about fifteen years ago. (Of course, it was pre-LnC.) It was really bad and I'm embarrassed by it. I think I've improved since then; I hope so, anyway!

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
Since 1999. Well, I started jotting down ideas before that, but it wasn't until spring of that year that I summoned up the courage to post anything to the fanfic list. Everyone was so nice to me there that I was encouraged to keep on going. )

What types of Fanfic have you written?
Do you mean any fanfic, or just Lois and Clark? If this means any, then I've also written Star Trek (yes, the really bad stuff I mentioned early was a Star Trek story), Star Trek The Next Generation (not quite such bad stuff), Due South (there are a few DS stories of which I'm almost proud) and Lois and Clark. I've also written a couple of short pieces of fanfic for a series that I would rather not admit to, at least not in public. Fortunately, since they are written under a pseudonym, anyone reading this will be most unlikely to ever connect me to them! (But I bet you're curious now!)

Most recent story posted? Where?
Love, Loyalty and Luthor Learning Curves II. It's on the fanfic archive as well as being at Annesplace.

Favorite story you have written? Why?
Learning Curves. Why? Well, because it is the longest, most complicated story that I have ever written. It's actually the length of a (shortish) novel. When I finished it, I felt a real sense of achievement and thought, wow, did I really do that?! Since my ambition is, one day, to write an original novel, it's nice to know that I can manage to string together the required number of words for something other than a PhD thesis!

Current project/projects?
An Extraordinary Man. Unfortunately, a combination of Real Life and writer's block has meant that I haven't made much progress on this one in the last few months, but I do intend to finish it, one of these days. The story deals with one CJ Kent, a man who has been kicked around by life. One day, just when he is at his lowest ebb, fate, in the form of H G Wells, intervenes. CJ is whisked away to Lois and Clark's world where he finds out about his origins, develops powers, and... Well, anyone interested in finding out what happens next will just have to wait for the finished version.

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
Anything angsty! Actually, there are so many great fics out there that I don't want to give a list; I'm sure to leave someone out. Basically, I would say, anything that has won or been nominated for a Kerth.

General Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
Argh!!! What a question! Okay, let's see if I can come up with a half-way intelligent answer to this.

When I was a kid, I used to lie in bed and write stories in my head just before dropping off to sleep. Most of the time, these tales would revolve around the adventures I would have, or about what I would do when I grew up. (As an aside, I would like to point out that I never did fulfill any of my then ambitions. I have not married a prince, become a super-model, made a best selling single or become a millionaire. Curiously enough, I don't think I ever fantasized about doing a PhD and lecturing to students...)

Sometimes I would rewrite TV episodes in my head. So, when I stumbled upon fanzines, when I was about eighteen, I guess it was almost inevitable that I would end up putting pen to paper.

As you can see from what I've said above, it isn't just Lois and Clark that has made me want to write. However, all the shows that I've dabbled with have had one thing in common; there is something about the characters who, by the way, are almost always outsiders of one sort or another, that fascinates me. The episodes leave me wanting more, more, more!

What about the L&C and the characters do you like the most?
Another hard question. I mean, it's so hard to put my thoughts into words here! It was Clark's character which fascinated me most, at least to begin with. He is, superficially at least, confident, laid back... a nice guy. But, beneath that veneer, he is unsure of himself. He's lonely. He's searching for something - or rather some*one* - who will make him complete. (Don't you just want to hug him? To make it all better?)

And then he meets Lois Lane.

Over time, I've got more and more intrigued by Lois (particularly first and second season Lois). She's hard-bitten, tough as nails. She doesn't need anyone in her life. Or so she likes everyone to think. But she, too, is searching for someone. She, too, wears a mask. Of course, she looks in the wrong places before she realizes that Clark Kent is the man for her, but...

So, I guess it is the combination of romance, humour, angst and anguish that attract me to the series. Plus, of course, there is the knowledge that no-one is going to come to any serious harm during each episodes. It's good, escapist fun - usually, anyway. Oh, and the fact that Dean Cain is easy on the eyes doesn't hurt much, either.

How do you interpret them in your work?
I have a feeling that my previous answer goes a long way to answer that. I can't really think of anything to add.

How did you begin writing in general?
Again, I think my previous answers have covered that ground, too.

How do you feel about being nominated for a Kerth Award?
Delighted! Not only does it mean that people have read my stories, but it also means that, whoever nominated them, has enjoyed them, too. (Thanks, guys!)

What story of yours was nominated for a Kerth Award and could you tell about it?
Last year (for the 2000 Kerths) four of my stories were nominated. (None won, though!) They were Counting The Ways / Best Bargain - two very short vignettes, pure WAFFs; I wrote them to see if I actually *could* write mushy stuff. Au Revoir, And Not Good-bye - an in-betweenie for the episode Big Girls Don't Fly. So... That's What You've Been Hiding - an episode re-write of Resurrection's B-plot.

Have you ever been nominated for the Kerth Award before? If so, please name the fanfic and tell something about it.
Last year was the first time that I'd been eligible. This year's nominations haven't opened yet. It would be nice to *be* nominated again, but with so much great fic around, I'm not holding my breath.

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
I've already told you about An Extraordinary Man. After that, I want to write the third (and last) part of Learning Curves. I've got the title and plot worked out; just have to write the thing! *Then* I have another story in mind where... Again, I've got a plot worked out, but I'm not saying anything more.

What is your opinion about the following types of L&C fanfic's?
Action?
Good, so long as it isn't *all* action. I like to have some B-plot in my stories. Mind you, I wouldn't want to read a story that was unmitigated fluff; B-plot only stories are okay so long as they really do have a plot to them. If they don't, I get very bored, very quickly. In general, I think the best stories have a combination of A- and B-plots.

Drama?
Good. Well, actually, usually excellent. These tend to be long; gives the reader something to get their teeth into.

Humor?
I'm less keen on these. The trouble with humour is that it is such a personal thing. What is someone's rib tickler might leave someone else really cold. I've read some good comedy stories, but other's just don't work for me.

Round Robin?
This depends very much on who has written them, and who has edited them. I wouldn't actively seek out Round Robins to read, but they can be fun.

Nfic?
Well... Okay, I confess, I have been known to read this. However... I don't like Nfic for the sake of nfic (or, perhaps I should say, nookie in search of a plot). If the story is really good *and* the nfic is an integral part of the story then, okay. Otherwise, I would prefer to stick with PG stories.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
No, I don't believe that everything has been done. However, I'm not going to tell you what is left, because the ideas that I have I want to use, myself. ;)

What do you think makes the best story?
Now, this is just spooky. Or else I talk too much. I'm not sure which. As with several of the other questions, I've pre-empted this one with a previous answer. In summary, I would say a mixture of A- and B-plots, with a liberal dash of angst and a happy ending.

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
No, that's okay, thanks!

Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
Either on the pg part of Annesplace or on the fanfic archive.

If anyone wants to read some of the Due South stories I've written, they can find them at Fraser's Library

http//www.mindspring.com/~hisown/

(The URL worked last time I checked, but that was a while ago.)

Just remember, if you read these, that they were written several years ago. Oh, and I can't guarantee that the email addy on them will be one of the current ones listed above.

Open Forum For Author Comments
I don't have much to add, other than to say that I think Lois and Clark's fans are wonderful, warm and welcoming people. I've made some great friends through the fanfic list and I'm very happy to be a part of this community!

I'd also like to say that I have read fanfic for several other series, and each time I do I am struck by the quality of writing of LnC's fanfic writers. In part, I know this is because the GE's at the archive are doing a sterling job, but I also think that LnC writers actually strive to be better than those in many other fandoms. We set high standards for ourselves and we usually manage to live up to them. (Plus, we really are a talented bunch, aren't we? ) ) Kudos to everyone.

Oh, and a hearty thank you to all the other fanfic writers who make reading such a pleasure!