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Apr. 28th, 2006 10:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
floatingleafIt's "interview time" again.:) I've been asked some interesting questions by slesia. Of course, if anyone else should wish to be interviewed by me, the offer is still open.;)
1. I have read some of your stories and have found them extremely charming. How did you come across slash fiction and what touches you so deeply about A/L?
First of all, thanks for the lovely compliment. *blushes*
I discovered slash fiction through Anne Rice, who is one of my favorite authors. I was browsing around online, looking for some fanart, and stumbled across a website with extremely erotic vampire slash stories. It was a moment of stunning revelation... lol. I mean, I was already wondering why I liked the homoerotic parts of Anne Rice's novels so much... but these fanfics were far more explicit, and made me realize I have a frighteningly intense craving for m/m romance that goes all the way.:P
As for A/L... there are many reasons why they became my favorite pairing - some of them probably unconscious, since I couldn't quite figure it out myself at the beginning. I never read the books, and I didn't get crazy about the movies when they first came out. It was through online fanfiction that I became enamoured of the characters. There is something very powerful and alluring to me about the dynamic of this relationship, as it is often represented in fanfics. Maybe it's the "forbidden passion" thing, maybe the subtle blurring of the line drawn between friendship and love... and maybe just the amazing chemistry of two attracting opposites, who seemingly have nothing in common... and yet so much. I guess I could write a thesis on that... but I'd rather read some porn.;D
2. I seem to understand that you live in the Chicago area. My partner (Rona) goes there often because of her work and adores it. I can't quite get what it is that fascinates her so much. What would you say you love about it?
What do I love about Chicago? Hmmm... not much, I guess. It has a certain industrial grace, so to speak, if you are a big city person... which I am not. Even though I thought I was... back in Europe. But European cities have a certain charm that I just don't see on this side of the Atlantic (except for New Orleans... but that's another story). And Chicago is, for the most part, plain and dirty - except for the few well-groomed tourist attractions. Actually, I live in the suburbs - and lately I don't even venture into the city that often. I guess I have seen everything that was worth seeing there; the rest is just a chaos of ugly buildings, traffic and noise that I find depressing. Oh, and the climate is horrid too - either too cold or too hot for most of the year. So no, I am definitely not in love wih the place. I got used to living here, and it gives some opportunities that allow me to earn my own keeping - that's all.
3. Does the 'real world' know that you are gay? Why yes/no?
The part of the real world that really matters, like closest family and friends - yes. The rest, like co-workers, distant relatives and other casual acquaintances - no. But they usually don't even know whether I'm single or not or what kind of music I listen to - because I'm a very private person around strangers. You have to know me for a long time to see the 'real' me - unless I met you online.;P It's just so much easier to open up through the computer screen, somehow... Anyway, friends and family know, because I couldn't hide such an important part of myself from anyone I want to have a real connection with. Actually, it's a sort of a litmus test of how much I care about someone; if I decide they can know this, it means I really want to be friends.:) And if I think they should, for whatever reason, remain ignorant, we will probably never discuss anything more personal than the weather.;)
4. Do you have a particular author/book in which you feel you can always find a tight hug and complete understanding? Who/which?
One author or book? I don't think so. But there are a few writers whose way of thinking seems very similar to my own, and whose empathy sometimes astounds me... like Sara Maitland, or Jeanette Winterson. Or, lately, Amelie Nothomb.
5. You seem to me to be a hopeful and, deep inside, positive person. Do you recognise this in yourself?
Now that is very interesting indeed, because so many people perceive me as a total pessimist. I have a feeling that I've been depressed/depressing for most of my life, for various reasons - except that it wasn't really me. I've just let others influence me too much; first my mother - who is a major drama queen, creator of darkest scenarios imaginable - then my first girlfriend, who was severely unbalanced and dragged me along on her rollercoaster of emotion until I no longer knew what was real anymore... Now that I am single, living on my own, I find myself surprisingly stable and satisfied with life in general (even if like to whinge and grumble from time to time, just to make myself feel better ;). So what's the conclusion? I just can't let anyone negatively disposed get close to me emotionally ever again, and I'll be fine. Which is probably the main reason I don't seem to have the energy for dating - I'd rather enjoy my own peaceful company than risk the sad story of others dragging me down repeating itself yet again... lol. So it would appear that my positivity is somewhat fragile - since I don't seem able to impart it to those in need. Maybe I really am monumentally selfish - or maybe I'm just one of those people who were meant to live alone...
slesia. Of course, if anyone else should wish to be interviewed by me, the offer is still open.;) 1. I have read some of your stories and have found them extremely charming. How did you come across slash fiction and what touches you so deeply about A/L?
First of all, thanks for the lovely compliment. *blushes*
I discovered slash fiction through Anne Rice, who is one of my favorite authors. I was browsing around online, looking for some fanart, and stumbled across a website with extremely erotic vampire slash stories. It was a moment of stunning revelation... lol. I mean, I was already wondering why I liked the homoerotic parts of Anne Rice's novels so much... but these fanfics were far more explicit, and made me realize I have a frighteningly intense craving for m/m romance that goes all the way.:P
As for A/L... there are many reasons why they became my favorite pairing - some of them probably unconscious, since I couldn't quite figure it out myself at the beginning. I never read the books, and I didn't get crazy about the movies when they first came out. It was through online fanfiction that I became enamoured of the characters. There is something very powerful and alluring to me about the dynamic of this relationship, as it is often represented in fanfics. Maybe it's the "forbidden passion" thing, maybe the subtle blurring of the line drawn between friendship and love... and maybe just the amazing chemistry of two attracting opposites, who seemingly have nothing in common... and yet so much. I guess I could write a thesis on that... but I'd rather read some porn.;D
2. I seem to understand that you live in the Chicago area. My partner (Rona) goes there often because of her work and adores it. I can't quite get what it is that fascinates her so much. What would you say you love about it?
What do I love about Chicago? Hmmm... not much, I guess. It has a certain industrial grace, so to speak, if you are a big city person... which I am not. Even though I thought I was... back in Europe. But European cities have a certain charm that I just don't see on this side of the Atlantic (except for New Orleans... but that's another story). And Chicago is, for the most part, plain and dirty - except for the few well-groomed tourist attractions. Actually, I live in the suburbs - and lately I don't even venture into the city that often. I guess I have seen everything that was worth seeing there; the rest is just a chaos of ugly buildings, traffic and noise that I find depressing. Oh, and the climate is horrid too - either too cold or too hot for most of the year. So no, I am definitely not in love wih the place. I got used to living here, and it gives some opportunities that allow me to earn my own keeping - that's all.
3. Does the 'real world' know that you are gay? Why yes/no?
The part of the real world that really matters, like closest family and friends - yes. The rest, like co-workers, distant relatives and other casual acquaintances - no. But they usually don't even know whether I'm single or not or what kind of music I listen to - because I'm a very private person around strangers. You have to know me for a long time to see the 'real' me - unless I met you online.;P It's just so much easier to open up through the computer screen, somehow... Anyway, friends and family know, because I couldn't hide such an important part of myself from anyone I want to have a real connection with. Actually, it's a sort of a litmus test of how much I care about someone; if I decide they can know this, it means I really want to be friends.:) And if I think they should, for whatever reason, remain ignorant, we will probably never discuss anything more personal than the weather.;)
4. Do you have a particular author/book in which you feel you can always find a tight hug and complete understanding? Who/which?
One author or book? I don't think so. But there are a few writers whose way of thinking seems very similar to my own, and whose empathy sometimes astounds me... like Sara Maitland, or Jeanette Winterson. Or, lately, Amelie Nothomb.
5. You seem to me to be a hopeful and, deep inside, positive person. Do you recognise this in yourself?
Now that is very interesting indeed, because so many people perceive me as a total pessimist. I have a feeling that I've been depressed/depressing for most of my life, for various reasons - except that it wasn't really me. I've just let others influence me too much; first my mother - who is a major drama queen, creator of darkest scenarios imaginable - then my first girlfriend, who was severely unbalanced and dragged me along on her rollercoaster of emotion until I no longer knew what was real anymore... Now that I am single, living on my own, I find myself surprisingly stable and satisfied with life in general (even if like to whinge and grumble from time to time, just to make myself feel better ;). So what's the conclusion? I just can't let anyone negatively disposed get close to me emotionally ever again, and I'll be fine. Which is probably the main reason I don't seem to have the energy for dating - I'd rather enjoy my own peaceful company than risk the sad story of others dragging me down repeating itself yet again... lol. So it would appear that my positivity is somewhat fragile - since I don't seem able to impart it to those in need. Maybe I really am monumentally selfish - or maybe I'm just one of those people who were meant to live alone...
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Date: 2006-05-02 01:05 am (UTC)