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
Amy Lauters

E-mail addresses
alauters@uwm.edu; laut0026@tc.umn.edu; alauters@yahoo.com

Residence
Falcon Heights, Minnesota (Was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, until this past June 1)

List, AOL, or web affiliations
My nick is Harmony, on the boards or IRC.

Lois and Clark or Superman Status

How long have you been watching L&C?
I started watching L&C when I got home from work on TNT in 1997, after it went off the ABC originally. I was both a reporter and a newlywed, and I always liked Lois Lane. It became a natural part of my day to come home from the paper, flip on the set, and catch L&C before going out to cover some city council or school board meeting.

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
I watched the Christopher Reeve movies as a youth. In fact, the first time I went to the theater by myself - that is, without parents, but with friends - was to Superman III. But even before that, I watched Justice League cartoons on Saturday mornings. My sister and I would take turns pretending to be Wonder Woman, and pretending to be other characters - like Superman - was all part of that mix. I've gotten more into Superman since I fell in love with L&C.

How long have you been writing?
It feels like forever. My sister bought me a diary for my seventh birthday, and I got into the habit of writing things down. I did some creative writing, poetry and short stories in middle and high school, but journalism attracted me pretty much immediately. I wrote for my student newspapers, was editor in high school, and went on to get an undergraduate degree in print journalism. I worked as a reporter in a small daily newspaper for four years, then went back to school to get my master's degree in mass communication. I'm working on my doctorate right now. I kind of got away from creative writing while I was writing for the paper, because that kind of writing requires less creativity and more rigidity in terms of style. I ran into real trouble with that when I went back to school, because I had to write "academic" when I was used to writing "journalistic." Starting to write creatively again with L&C was a whole new challenge, as my GE s can attest.

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
Three years; three stories. I started writing my first, Night Terrors, after an afternoon of daydreaming where I wondered just how much influence Lois' interactions with Lex had on her subconscious. Before I was introduced to L&C fanfic, I didn't know people actually wrote these kinds of day dreams down! I was very excited, because I've been the kind to fill in the blanks and make up stories about my favorite shows for years.

What types of Fanfic have you written?
Right now, I've really only focused on one type, a sort of beyond-the-fifth season story with a strong A plot and lots of WAFFS. I've been toying with the idea of writing more mushy stuff, but I really like fantasy stories where the characters interact with each other as a natural response to the action. I love romantic stories filled with angst, but I'm not sure I'm ready to write them yet. )

Most recent story posted? Where?
I have Night Terrors and its sequel, Time Elapsed posted on the Archive at www.lcfanfic.com. I've started a third story, posted in parts on the old boards, with a working title of Time Elapsed II. I've been on hiatus from writing since April, when my grandmother died. Graduation, moving to a new city and settling into a doctoral program have pretty much taken up all my time.

Favorite story you have written? Why?
I actually like Night Terrors, I think because it was the first stab at creative writing I'd taken in more than a decade. It was fun to realize I could do it. I also had a character who was really a caricature of an old, icky boyfriend in there. He was really fun to play with.

Current project/projects?
I'm working on TE II again, and I've got an idea for a Christmas story I'd like to work on.

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
Oh, boy. Irene Dutchak's Firestorm series is fantastic, as are Jenni Debbage's stories. I don't think anyone could go wrong with a Wendy Richards or a Nan Smith story, either. Pam Jernigan's written several great stories; my favorite, I think, is Tryst.

General Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
I think reading it inspired me to write it; that, and I felt I should give it a try, if only to give something back to a community that's really given me so much. I love the idea that I can control these characters (most of the time; Lois can be pretty insistent) and mold their environment. Plus, it's just plain fun, and a definite change from the other kinds of writing I do.

What about the L&C and the characters do you like the most?
I love the interaction between L&C. I particularly like Lois; I guess I always have. I like that she's a take-charge, kick-butt, take-names-and-get-the-story kind of person. I know she as a character influenced my own decision to go into journalism. I like how pairing her with Clark showed people that women don't have to lose themselves to a relationship, but can be a force for equality. Lois was the real superhero, I think. I also love Perry White. I had an editor just like him. He was great.

How do you interpret them in your work?
I see Lois as a strong figure with courage and a lot of heart. She has the ability to bury her feelings if she needs to - and she does, dealing with the kinds of stories she does - and the brains and intuition that make her a great journalist. I see Clark as Clark, a strong, good match for Lois, with a heart as big as hers. His extra abilities I see as a tool for them both to use to further the greater good - and get the stories.

How did you begin writing in general?
I think I answered this.

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
Right now, I'm still working on TE II, which might be the longest story I've written so far. They seem to be getting longer and longer. ) My master plan is that it will become part of a universe that will include several stories -- but a lot of it will have to wait its turn behind my academic work.

I've also got several vignettes in my imagination that I really should write down.

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

Drama?

Humor?

Round Robin?

Nfic?
It's all great.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
No; there's always room for more. We're only limited by our collective imaginations, and since there are so many of us, we'll have no end of material.

What do you think makes the best story?
Strong A-plots that let the characters react naturally to the action.

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
http//www.lcfanfic.com/stories/2000/niterror.txt

Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
The Lois and Clark Fanfiction Archive.

Open Forum For Author Comments