Dear Readers,

Welcome, I am glad you have chosen to drop by and read this week's interview. I hope you enjoy it and you will come back week after week. Also, you will find links to past featured writers at the end of this interview. Just click on the writer's name and you will be taken to their interview.

This week's Featured Writer is a 1999 Kerth Award Nominee. Her exciting fanfic "Tomorrow's Past" was nominated for Best Episode Adaptation. She admits she only started writing because of the unsettling feelings the series finale rose within her. But that was just the catalyst she needed embark on a journey of writing L&C fanfic.

Now without further ado I am proud and honored to present this week's Writer in the Writer's Showcase ...

Personal Information

Author name
Karen Ward

E-mail addresses
ward8120@mach1.wlu.ca

Homepage
Well, I don't have one of my own, but my good friend, Mandy Crustner, has very graciously donated some of her internet space to house my fanfic. You can find my existing fanfic, previews for some of my upcoming projects, not to mention Mandy's wonderful work, at her

Homepage
http//members.spree.com/sip/mandy0924/lnctnaos.htm

Residence
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (during school months)
Wiarton, Ontario, Groundhog Capital of Canada (on holidays and in the summer)

List, AOL, or web affiliations
LOISCLA-GENERAL-L
Afolscslife

Lois and Clark or Superman Status

How long have you been watching L&C?
I got hooked part way through the original airing of the episode "I've Got a Crush on You" and was completely obsessed by the airing of "The Smart Kids".

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
There exists a rather embarrassing photo of myself depicting a 4-year-old me clad in a bathing suit with a silk scarf tucked under the shoulder straps and draped over my back as a makeshift cape. Apparently, I had been "flying" through the house "faster than a speeding bullet". Anyhow, this photo provides proof that I have been an obsessed fan of Superman for at least 16 years, if not longer.

How long have you been writing?
I started writing at the age of 6 months (approximately -- I don't remember exactly) when I first learned how to grasp a writing utensil. By 4 years of age, I was writing actual words -- actually, make that one word "Karen". I wrote my first short story at the age of 13, and haven't looked back.

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
Let's see . . . I've been writing L&C fanfic for about 2 years now. I hadn't intended to write fanfic, but I was so disgruntled with the series finale that I just couldn't sit by passively and let the memory of the final scenes of "The Family Hour" eat me alive. I subsequently sat down and wrote "Tomorrow's Past" within a week of the airing of "The Family Hour". I then proceeded to spend the next year and a half editing it. I had only planned to write the one fanfic, to cure my distress over the season finale; however, as I'm sure many other authors have experienced a similar phenomenon, I just couldn't stop once I got started. In the process of writing "Tomorrow's Past", ideas for other fanfic kept popping into my mind and wouldn't leave me alone until I put them down on paper. I've now have three other fanfics in the works.

What types of Fanfic have you written?
Umm . . . I'm not sure what "type" I'd classify it as. It's a combination of drama, action/adventure, and most definitely romance, but I also like to mix a little bit of comedy in whenever possible.

Most recent story posted? Where?
I've most recently posted "Nightmare on Hyperion Avenue" to the Fanfic List. However, after receiving an abundance of constructive feedback, I've gone back to the drawing board with it. I hope, "hope" being the operative word, to be finished very soon, though.

Favorite story you have written? Why?
I would have to say "Nightmare" is my favourite story because it gave me a chance to explore some dark issues with our favourite couple. I got to delve into L&C's psyches in the face of a traumatic experience. Overall, I found it to be a very eye-opening process.

Current project/projects?
I'm currently working on the finishing touches to "Nightmare" as well as a collaborative effort with my good friend, Mandy Crustner, that's presently called "A Marriage of Convenience". I've also got the plot fleshed out for another fic which will be called "When the Night Falls" and is an alternate ending to the first season episode, "All Shook Up".

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
Oh, goodness. There are just so many! I hate to pick favourites, but I'd have to say my *very* favourite fanfic author is Debby Stark. I can't get enough of her Dawning Series! I also have to mention the fantastic work of Mandy Crustner, LabRat, Wendy Richards, Carolyn Schnall, Sheila Harper, Kathy Brown, Chris Mulder, Nekanuq, Erin Klingler, CC Malo, B. B. Medos, Margaret Brignell, Jeff Brogden, Zoomway, Demi, Sandy McDermin, Phil Atcliffe, Jenni Debagge, Delaney, Julie Mack, LadyBiker, Peace, Piper, and many more people who I'm sure I must have forgotten to mention!

General Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
Well, the only thing I can think of is that I'm just a glutton for punishment. ;)

What about the L&C and the characters do you like the most?
I think the thing that first attracted me to L&C was the dramatic irony. I found it infinitely amusing that Clark Kent paraded around as Superman in front the whole world, unbeknownst to anyone, particularly Lois. However, my appreciation for the characters goes far beyond simple amusement and is much to complicated for me to even attempt to put into words. All I can say that I love them as if they were my own family.

How do you interpret them in your work?
I try to make the personality of my characters as consistent as possible with that of the show. Why tamper with perfection?

How did you begin writing in general?
I began writing when I was forced to do it in school. However, I quickly found that it was something I enjoyed doing. I could create my own world, my own circumstances, and control everything that happened in that world. I also found it to very therapeutic as there are many things that I could never find the words to say out loud, but could express over and over again in my writing.

How do you feel about being nominated for a Kerth Award?
Very excited! :) And very honoured! :)

What story of yours was nominated for a Kerth Award and could you tell about it?
My story "Tomorrow's Past" was nominated for Best Episode Adaptation. Let's see . . . I wrote it in response to being very unsatisfied with "The Family Hour", as I said before. The circumstances the show's writers left me with, however, were no picnic to figure a way out of. I took on the challenge whole-heartedly and am fairly pleased with the results.

Have you ever been nominated for the Kerth Award before?
If so, please name the fanfic and tell something about it. Nope, this is my first time! :)

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
I'm now working on writing two stories and fleshing out the plot of another. "A Marriage of Convenience" and "When the Night Falls" (which is the one still in the plotting stage) will both explore alternate beginnings for L&C, while "Nightmare on Hyperion Avenue" picks up at the end of "Tomorrow's Past" and explores a traumatic event in the lives of our favourite couple.

What is your opinion about the following types of L&C fanfic's?
Action?
Great!

Drama?
Love it!

Humor?
Makes me laugh every time!

Round Robin?
Those RR writers never cease to amaze me!

Nfic?
This is the only type of fic that I'm wary of. I'm a firm believer that the "n" in fic is only necessary when the circumstances warrant it for literary effect. That said, I'm pleased to add that most L&C nfic writers know how to use the "n" tastefully.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
Goodness, no! The world is full of infinite possibilities. No matter how much literature the human race turns out, we'll never cover it all!

What do you think makes the best story?
Hmm . . . that's a tough one. I don't think it's possible to determine a "best story". Every story is unique in its own way and there's just no comparing them.

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
Yep! Make sure you check out Mandy's page! It can be found at Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
Goodness . . . I don't know. From me, I guess. Email me personally and I'll gladly send you the latest version of any story I have.

Open Forum For Author Comments
I just want to thank all those FoLCs out there for being such a supportive and encouraging group (especially those who nominated me for this Kerth Award <g>. I also want to extend a special thanks to Annie for putting up this wonderful web page.

My warmest thanks go out to those special FoLC friends of mine that have encouraged me endlessly, through actions more so than words, to keep writing. These special people have shown me many times over that being a FoLC is about much more than simply obsessing over a television show. In case y'all haven't figure out who you are, thanks Mandy, Carolyn, Irene, and LabRat! :)