If last week's guest on The Readers' Choice, Merry, is known as the Queen of Feedback, our guest this week is deservedly known as its king. Although he tends not to post feedback publicly very often, there can't be many fanfic writers around who have not received one of his long, thoughtful and complimentary analyses of their fic. He's a powerful Muse motivator, and dear to the hearts of Lois and Clark fanfic writers everywhere. He is...

Whereabouts in the world are you?
Wheeling, Illinois, USA

How long have you been a FoLC?
1993, Since the first episode

What drew you to Lois and Clark?
At the time it was the latest version of the Superman legend on TV. I wasn't specifically interested in the Lois & Clark dynamic but I really enjoyed the Pilot and the treatment of Clark as the real guy with problems like the rest of us. I even forgave Dean for the brown eyes! (LOL!)

When did you first discover fanfic?
Actually it wasn't until the show ended its first run, so that would be around 1997-98. I wasn't on the internet until that time so I was never exposed to it.

What's the very first fanfic you read? Do you remember what your first thoughts were about the concept of fanfiction?
"CARRY TIGER TO MOUNTAIN" by Debby Stark. I'm trying to remember but I think it was that fan fiction allowed me to delve deeper into characters I had come to know and love and to find out so much more about them than would ever be shown on television.

What are your favourite sites for reading fanfic?
The Lois and Clark story archive, of course. For years that was my main source of fanfic. Now it is a combination of the archive and Zoomways message boards.

List some stories you'd recommend to other readers.
"Meet Me In Kansas City", "Heaven's Prisoners". "When Friends Become Lovers", ANYTHING by Wendy Richards or Nan Smith, "Burnout", I could go on and on, but you get the idea, basically "the classics"!

A new story goes up on the Archive or MBs. You drop everything - and we mean *everything* - to read it. So who would it be by? <g>
Without a doubt, Wendy Richards. I don't think I've ever read a story of hers that has disappointed me. How she continues to turn out great story after great story that she does is just amazing. FoLCdom is a better place because of her work..

What type of stories do you most enjoy reading, and why?
LONG ones! Actually long stories with a good solid A-plot and some nice B-plot moments where the author really takes the time to explore not only the characters but the situations they have put the characters in.

What's your opinion of:
Drama? I love a good dramatic story, when it is told well I find myself experiencing events right along with the characters and the whole range of emotions is experienced.

Action? A good tight action story is a delight to read, especially when the author takes the time to make the action as real as possible given the unreality of the universe it takes place in.

Romance? Romances are really nice to read as a change of pace from strict dramas or action stories. I'm partial to getting together type stories and revelations, and the longer the better as well.

Tearjerkers? Unlike a lot of other people, in my opinion, and I think unlike a lot of males, again in my opinion, I like a good tear jerker. I've been know to tear up a time or two when the story is so well told that I couldn't do anything else. I can even handle deathfic, again as long as the story is told well.

WAFFy vignettes? With regards to WAFFy I think a vignette is the only way to take it. WAFFy in much bigger doses than vignette size might be a bit too sweet.

Elseworlds? I find them very interesting, as long as the characters are reasonably true to what they should be or a compelling reason for the change is made. Having Lois or Clark as a doctor or novelist is not that farfetched so who is to say that things couldn't happen that might make them change careers.

Alternate Universe/Beginnings? Stories of the Alternate Universe as portrayed on the show really show the talent of the writers of fan fiction. To flesh out not only the character of Alt-Clark but to fill in all the details of his world and make it different enough so that it doesn't seem like our world but not so different that we can't accept it is a fine line to walk. So many of our best writers have excelled at that challenge that I feel the Alt-Universe is just as real as our L&C universe. With respect to alternate beginnings I did mention "Meet Me in Kansas City" as a story I'd recommend, didn't I? I hate to sound repetitious but as long as the story is well written I find alternate beginnings to be interesting exercises in "What If" thinking.

Other (if we've failed to include your favourite type, here's your chance to set the record straight <g>)? I guess the only thing you haven't covered is Super futures. I've found some of my favorite stories to be about Lois and Clark's descendants, either their children or other future great grandchildren.

I guess you could say I love all genres and you would be right. The only type of story I really have a problem with is New Krypton stories where Lois doesn't wait for Clark. To me that goes against everything I think Lois Lane is about during that period in her life and it seems so out of character that the stories hold no interest.

Can you choose one, possibly two, stories you'd consider personal favourites, and tell us what you like about them?
Wow, tough question. I really don't want to hurt the feelings of any authors by limiting my choice like that, but, if I had to choose I would take the two longest stories I read at the beginning of my fanfiction "career". Those stories would be "Meet Me in Kansas City", and "Heaven's Prisoners". These two stories I think would be considered required reading for anyone new to fan fiction. Both are extremely well told, both explore Lois and Clark's feelings for one another in totally different ways, but both pull the reader in and make them care about the people and what happens to them. I know that "Heaven's Prisoners" was the first story that caused me to choke up when I read it. Even now, probably four years later, I can still remember my emotions when reading that story. That is what fanfiction is all about.

Has everything been done in L&C fanfic? Are there any unexplored scenarios? Or doesn't it matter? <g>
Well, as our favorite couple said, "There are no new stories, only new angles." So there probably aren't many unexplored scenarios but I don't think it matters. A perfect example of this from my perspective would be rewrites of "That Old Gang of Mine". There must be 15 - 20 stories based off that one episode but if a new one came to the boards tomorrow I'd be there reading it.

If you could be your favourite author's personal Muse, what would your dream story premise be?
I'm sorry to say that I have nothing for this question, I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a writer. (LOL)

In your opinion, what makes for the best story? What ingredients, in your opinion, are essential to your favourite type of fanfic?
I think that has been covered above, but I think a well written story, with good solid action, a good romance as the backstory and a believable conclusion, not necessarily a happy ending, are what I like to read most, and if the story is 300 pages or better, I'm in heaven because I never want a story like that to end.

Any other comments you'd like to make?
I'd like to take this time to thank all the authors, web site operators, archive volunteers and anyone else I may have forgotten for making Lois and Clark fan fiction available to me and everyone else. Without these wonderful people I would not have had as many enjoyable hours spent with Lois and Clark, nor would I have been taken on so many adventures and I look forward to the prospect of many, many more.