Oh my, so much to read and I daren't breathe until I am sure I can do so without shaming myself in this fine company!
Such wonderful work you have all have crafted. I am filled with both enthusiasm ( as in "let us have at it!") and some trepidation. I hope my absence from collaborative writing will not betray me or the fine tale that is emerging.
I will endeavour to read the entire thread, and make notes, over the weekend. But, true to form, I have time right now to answer that questionnaire. Always time to talk about myself (self deprecatory grin bright for any who peep through the monitor screen)
Name (that you go by) : Karen, but I also have a stage name of Sahlah
Age: 31
Occupation: Emerging Author - first novel (fantasy) at publishers as we speak. To feed myself and my creative soul, I am also a Middle-Eastern Dancer. I work in a music shop too.
Future Aspirations: Get this bloody tale out of my head, into books, on the shelves and into people's hearts before all the characters drive me completely bonkers!
Goal in life: Live it like you'll never have a second chance
Short term goals: Survive the editor's knife without dissolving into precious diva tears and running to my therapist. Get a signed publication deal that will not drive me into pennury for the next 15 years.
Passion: Writing, most definately, but also music and dance
Hobbies: Swimming, ashatanga yoga (necessity for maintaining flexibility), pilates, sky diving from time to time (nothing improves your perspective on life on the ground like hurtling from 14,000 feet above sea level towards it)
Famous for (brag about yourself): Been nominated for a national dance award this year that I have not the faintest hope of winning. I'm just pleased it wasn't the Arabic Commediene of the Year Award, or special recognition for circus antics. A fair dinkum Middle-Eastern Dance award - bizzare but true.
Fave book: Hmmmm. Tolkien's works is a given.... Ulysses by James Joyce, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Inferno by Dante, Fury by Salman Rushdie, The God of Small Things... and anything involving psych thrillers and serial killers (my dirty little secret )
Fave movie: Star Wars (the first 3 - though that shows my age), Monty Python's Flying Circus, Dead Man Walking, Mystic River, Shrek
Fave sport: Rugby Union, but in a trip to the States in December 2003 I discovered the joys of Ice Hockey and now I am addicted to that.
Fave store: Music and book shops never fail to suck me into their vortex and chew up whole hours of my life.
Fave music: I simply adore arabian music, but aside from that I'm a clasical muso with strong Alternative, Indi, Rock tastes. DOn't mind the occassional rap or hip hop but I LOATHE with unashamed fervency the barest whiff of commercial, main stream music.
What you can't stand: I'm best known for my inability to tolerate fools. But I must state what I mean by that. I can be very patient, especially when I know the other person is trying as hard as they can. But, if they are simply being ignorant, arrogant and foolish, then hell hath no fury.
What you plain dislike: Hatred, Shania Twain, Intolerance, Cruelty
Who you admire: I still am an ardent admirer of the brave man who stood in front of a column of tanks in Beijing, white plastic shopping bag in hand and the bodies of the slain and injured lying bleeding around him.
What you most love to do: Honestly, eat and sleep
Your self-confessed flaws: Impatience, bearing grudges, rashness, pride pride pride and of course, hand in hand with that, sheer bloody minded, muleish stubborness
What intrigues/fascinates you: This is fairly evident in my writings, but I am fascinated by evil. I am intrigued by how it is portrayed, dealt with, described and measured. I am fascinated by how people respond to it, in particular the phenomenon of demonisation and the creation of "monsters". Slinky's also fascinate me.
What scares you: I am a raging arachnophobe, which made for an interesting interlude in the theatre's around the time that Shelob was rampaging over the screen, in 30foot colour and surround sound. Complete strangers found me clinging to them with unprecedented familiarity, peering from behind there shoulders like a timid mouse. Suffice it to say that the trailers for the film 8 Legged Freaks were enough to reduce my knees to jelly. Then again, try living with the most toxic spiders in the world and see how much you like them. I see my fear as rational and hence not a phobia. It's survival, I tell ya, when a bird-eating, barking pre-historic left over of a spider has set it's sights on you in your very home!
Quotation to live by: "No worries" It's a sarcastic thing with me, as I am a confirmed worrier.
Value-specific:
What do you want most in a friend? A true heart.
What do you want most in a teacher? Inhuman patience
What do you want most in an ally? Someone to check me before I stride off to do battle over some thing or another and ask me "You sure this is a good idea?"
What do you want most in a team-mate? Complete and total submission, of course.
( I should warn you that prior to writing, I was an Industrial Psychologist who specialised in corporate Human Resource Management. My professional idol was none other than Catbert, of Dilbert Fame, and to make matters worse I worked in the Financial Services Industry!)
What do you want people to remember most about you? There was a chick who knew how to laugh and knew her way around beer.
Writer-specific:
Your favorite work you've written so far: Hmmm..... this questionnaire? In truth, I think it would have to be my manuscript though the Editors might have a thing to two to say about that before all is said and done.
Your favorite character so far: I have an evil character that I adore. I love writing her, I love thinking for her, and its because she's a 3 dimensional, understandable evil that is accessible and not some alien monster thing. You'll meet her soon, I hope, at your nearest book store. (I know, I'm a tease as well as a know it all smart alec)
What you plan to write soon: The second novel, for the tale is bigger than one book
What inspires you to write: Human nature and the great "What if" premise that underlies all speculative fiction.
What makes your writing stall: Lack of vision and time, lack of focus and determination, and I'm a shocking procrastinator too from way, way back.
Do you get writers' block and how do you overcome it? Sure do. I find I try to go back and work on concept developments - characters, histories, geographies, politics, culture and so on. After about 5 minutes, I go make coffee and play with the dog.
Middle-Earth specific:
Your favorite ME character(s)? First Age - Fingolfin, Maedhros, Maglin, Turin Turambar. The rest pale in comparison to those for me. I'm a silmarillion gal.
What do you like about them? There is a tragic nobility, a distant air of fairness in the face of such foulness, of courage, strength and frality wrapped in the elvish characters of the First Age. I'm an Elf junkie at heart. I adore Turin Turambar, all the despair and darkness, failed joy, hopelessness.... a tragedy indeed. He'd be my favourite over all.
Your favorite moment(s) from the Trilogy? The Prancing Pony Inn, The Bridge of Khazad-Dum, The Rangers of Ithilien
Your favorite plot twist(s) from the Trilogy? Of all, Gandalf's fall and return. I remember clear as yesterday where I was when I first read he fell as a child (on the trampoline at home on the farm on a sunny afternoon after school). Tears ran down my childish cheeks and I had to put the book down and weep. My parents were mystified. Happened all over again when he reappeared. I was certain it was Saurman. On that occassion I capered with childish glee, tears of joy. My parents decided it was time for Ritalin and therapy.
Looking at your personality as it is, what race do you belong to in Middle-Earth and why? Probably a hotheaded Elf who joined Fingolfin and Finarfin in their exodus from Eldamar. Failing that, by appearance I'd have to say Rohirrim, but pursuits, I'd have to say Harradrim (Arabic influence, and somewhat fiesty spirit)
What race would you *like* to belong to in Middle-Earth and why? Well, I think facial hair would itch abomidibly, so not the Dwarves. Probably Elf or Numenorian. Still, being a contrary and peverse soul, I wouldn't object to being Khandese or Rhunic
What place(s)would you live in Middle Earth and why? Simple, that one. Ithilien. Has the best library around.
Where would you want to visit? Edoras, Minas Tirith, Lothlorien, Mirkwood. I hear Thraduril throws a high time of a party.
How would you travel? Well, I'd start on horse back but given as it's been so long since last I rode (and I nearly always end up loosing a battle of wills with a mountain of horse flesh that weighs at least 4 times what I do) I'd invariably end up on my own two feet.
Besides the usual camping & travel stuff, what single special item is in your knapsack and why? My zills. I can write in my mind, and spin verbal tales, but I must dance and with zills I can create my own accompaniment to free that side of my character.