Dear Readers,

Welcome, I hope you will enjoy this week's L&C Writer's Showcase. At the bottom of this web site you will find links 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.

This week's Featured Writer was another 1999 Kerth Award Nominee and Winner! Her fanfic, "Recognition (Truth & Justice) " won in the Best Original Premise category. She is a gifted writer who can weave her own magic for our heroes, Lois and Clark.

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

Personal Information

Author name
Carol Malo

E-mail addresses
Ccmalo@aol.com

Residence
Canada

List, AOL, or web affiliations
LOISCLA Fanfic List

Lois and Clark or Superman Status
When I was a kid, I read a few Superman comics but was never a real fan. Like most kids I admired the Superman character but he seemed a little "stilted". I Iiked the Lois Lane character because she was a lot more interesting and independent minded than most of the other female characters out there. I've seen 3 of the Reeves / Kidder Superman movies [ not S 3] but was disappointed because, after a promising beginning, they ultimately shoved the relationship away. The movies got pretty silly, too. Well, so did L & C, at times.

How long have you been watching L&C?
Since S1's 2 episode pilot, which I still think is one of the best "episodes". It set up everything so well, even suggesting Lois's initial attraction to Clark. What hooked me though, was the episode, "I'm Looking Through You"[correct title?] because it really established that the show intended to be as much about who Clark really was. Clark makes Superman interesting [as does Lois]. And, of course, the cast was terrific!

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
Since the first episode of Lois and Clark. I thought T.H. and D.C. were wonderful as Lois and Clark and I liked the way the show interpreted the characters.

How long have you been writing?
Define writing. many research essays in university and reports, etc. in my working life. Not what I would call "writing" but it does keep my grammar honest.

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
For about a year. My first story was posted to the fanfic archive [a wonderful place!] a year ago February.

What types of Fanfic have you written?
I haven't written a lot. 2 long stories which are combination relationship & investigation stories, some things for S6, and more recently a much shorter story set in the first year of L & C's relationship.

Most recent story posted? Where?
"Strange Visitors" which I posted to the fanfic list.

Favorite story you have written? Why?
I don't think I have a favourite story so much as "bits" of stories that I liked for one reason or another. I took the most care with my S6 episode, "The Last Time I Saw Elvis", because I found it more difficult to write a story with so much emphasis on Martha. I think it's better written than my other stories.

Current project/projects?
Last fall, I put aside the follow up which I had started for the Recognition stories. Now, I'm hoping to complete it.

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
So many!!! When I first discovered the fanfic archive I couldn't believe it. I think my husband was ready to dewire the house. Other writers have listed their favourite stories and whenever I've read those lists, I've thought , "Yes, I loved that one , too." So just assume all those lists! I do want to mention, however, Debby Stark's Dawning series because D1 was one of the first stories that I read and I've been hooked ever since. And this last year, there have been so many new authors who are writing great stories.

General Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
I wrote the first one mostly because I decided that I would like to contribute a story to the fanfic archive. I enjoyed other people's stories so much and was disappointed sometimes when there were no new stories in the archive. Then, the *obvious* thought flashed through my mind that there couldn't be any new stories if no one wrote any. So, I decided to try and then I found I enjoyed it -- I like getting inside characters' heads and working out the details of a plot. I like the surprises, too. Sometimes, unexpectedly a new character wanders across the page or someone does something I hadn't expected.

What about L&C and the characters do you like the most?
Just about everything. I like the slightly quirky dysfunctionality of Lois and the irony of the fact that the best adjusted and most "human" guy in the show is a space alien. I loved Clark's sense of fun. I really enjoyed the banter between L & C, especially in the first season. I like Ellen Lane -- she always said exactly what she thought and wasn't boring. Luthor's polish and his joy in being evil. Martha and Jonathan as anchors of humanity and good sense. Perry's Elvis stuff. Jimmy's enthusiasm.

How do you interpret them in your work?
I think what I wrote above answers this , too, although I haven't written Luthor - he's a bit daunting.

How do you feel about being nominated for a Kerth Award?
Really good! I'm very honoured to be included in the list, particularly when I see the caliber of the stories and authors nominated and I'm very grateful to those people who nominated my story. Thank you!

What story of yours was nominated for a Kerth Award and could you tell about it?
Recognition Truth & Recognition Justice. They're both revelation, early relationship stories but these themes are set in the midst of their investigation of a killing, political corruption, etc.

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
Recognition, again. This will be the last part, I think. I had originally intended it to be just one story, but there were loose threads at the end of it. At the end of the second story, there were still loose threads, so ..... Where do I see it going? Well I've outlined the whole story but I always find things change as I actually write. I know it's going to Kansas but I don't think that's what you meant.

What is your opinion about the following types of L&C fanfic's?
Action?
always like to see Clark in action as S. but I also like to see one of the other characters "in action" too. Action can be a great feature in a story but not as the main aspect.

Drama?
my favourite although I also really like "inbetweenies", but they aren't always drama.

Humor?
Very hard to do and sustain as the base for a story, particularly a long one. But a wonderful ingredient in any story -- can liven things up as much or more than an action sequence. This is why "Love as a Blonde" is so good.

Round Robin?
It depends -- A couple of my favourite stories are RR's , like "After *Glow*". They look like a lot of fun to write and I admire how the group can perform under pressure like that. I'm a little uneasy with the concept behind the SoulMate Chronicles, however.

Nfic?
It depends. Where the writing is good and the sex makes sense in the context of the story, then yes. Again, a couple of my favourite fanfics are in this category because they are wonderful stories about the L & C relationship.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
Sometimes I think so and then somebody like Wendy Richards takes the end of an episode and develops it into something wonderful or Jenni Debbage or Delaney comes along with an intricately plotted story or... and I change my mind .

What do you think makes the best story?
Anything as long as it's well written *and* the portrayal of L & C [and the other characters, too] are in character with the show. There have been some well written fanfics that had Lois or Clark doing something or reacting in a way that didn't seem plausible and that ruined the story for me. The best stories could be the ones I haven't seen yet -- maybe Caped Fear, maybe Demi & Kathy's 100 page unfinished story, maybe Dawning 23, maybe the next S6 episode, the next story on the fanfic archive ....

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
the fanfic archive, Pam Jerngian's site, Season 6

Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
the fanfic archive

Open Forum For Author Comments....
I never realized until I wrote my first story how important editors were. I sent my first story to Debby Stark and I was amazed at the care she took in going over the story -- pointing out things about POV that I'd never heard of before, parts that needed expanding or cutting, and also parts that she liked. I learned so much from her comments as I did from Chris M's comments on my first story. And I've been lucky to have Jeanne, Lynda, and Laurie edit my stories. They've caught not only my punctuation errrors and typos but more importantly, the plot holes.

Thanks Annie,
Carol