Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Writer's Showcase. I hope you will enjoy what you find here and come back time and again.

This week's Featured Writer is a talented writer. She worked diligently to make Season 5 a reality and through her tireless efforts it was a big success. This gave the fans of Lois and Clark who were hungry for a continuation of the series something to look forward to week after week.

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

Personal Information

Author name
Leanne Shawler
Volterra on irc

E-mail addresses
volterra@sd.znet.com

Homepage
http//www.znet.com/~volterra/leanne.html

Residence
Born in NSW, Australia, now living in San Diego, CA

List, AOL, or web affiliations
? I'm a member of LOISCLA. I used to be on the Fanfic List, but no more. I hang out on #loiscla on IRC, during the day mostly. I co-ordinated and wrote for S5 -- episodes which were put on the website kindly administrated by Alyssa as well as posted all over the place, as well as initiating the first Kerth Fanfic Awards, again helped out by some wonderful folcs!

Lois and Clark or Superman Status

How long have you been watching L&C?
Well, the first time I saw it -- I caught an episode of "The Witness" from season one in a Welsh B&B. "This is silly," I thought and flipped over to "The Man from UNCLE". Did I say silly? *grin* Back home, I caught the end of the pilot. The line that hooked me "Just a guy in a pair of tights and a cape." The fact this show was making fun of the mythos pulled me in. I discovered Clark Kent and the romance triangle/rectangle later.

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
I watched the Christopher Reeve movies, but weren't really grabbed by them I guess Lois & Clark is the beginning of my being a fan of Superman -- but really it's Lois & Clark that interests me, not the superhero.

How long have you been writing?
Since I was a kid. Silly little short stories about monsters ... in later years became bodice rippers :)

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
I started around 1995 -- just after I joined LOISCLA

What types of Fanfic have you written?
Just about all kinds from very silly short shorts ("X & Y Equals?" and "Rex") to rewrites of episodes, in-betweenies, an nfic, and full length episodes for S5.

Most recent story posted? Where?
"First Impressions" a Soulmates story set in Regency England. It can be found on my home page -- and in the fanfic L&C list archives. This was the story I had a stack of people "publicly" edit. The edits are up there as well. One of these days I'm actually going to re-rewrite it!

Favorite story you have written? Why?
This is a toughie I'd have to say it's a toss-up (this does not mean "throwing up" in Australia, btw) between "Another Bolt Out Of The Blue" and two of my Season 5 episodes "From the Ashes" and "A Matter of Trust". I know the last one was certainly the hardest for me to write. The Season 5 episodes are my favourites, mainly because a) I brought Lex back and b) the creation of an original character, Beth. "Another Bolt..." is a favourite because it's my only nfic and I had the two of them literally bouncing off the walls! It was fun to imagine and fun to write!

Current project/projects?
I have a story finished that I need to re-edit. As it may reflect on the opening episodes of S6, I'm holding onto it until they've aired. That'll be out in the New Year sometime.

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
My husband Dan's fics of course! Others include Sheila Harper (I was *so* thrilled to have her on board for S5), Pam Jernigan (I love her President Kent series), Sandra McDermin (she of the wickedest humour!) ... and there are so many other wonderful authors out there ... but I think if I had to choose, it would be those guys.

Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
Sheer magnetism. One day I found myself going "what if?" and writing it down. I've been writing these "what ifs" for various tv series for a while, most of them inside my head. Rhen's fanfic list gave me an outlet to inflict them on other people!

The great thing about writing about fanfic is that the characters are already there -- the show has given us their likes, and dislikes and they are so compelling that one simply has to write them into some situation, just to see how they get out of it!

What about the L&C and the characters do you like the most?
Well, of course there's the romance between Lois & Clark. I love how feisty Lois can be, just about everything about Clark (even his sulks) and the way the two of them work together. Lex is my particular favourite (which is why he was brought back in S5) -- not so much Mr. Bald, Insane Guy -- but the debonair Season 1 character. I can definitely see how Lois could become attracted enough to the man to marry him. Thankfully, she had no intentions of being a kept woman!

How do you interpret them in your work?
Interpret them? Umm, they talk to me and I write it down. Well, most of the time! *grin* Sometimes, they clam up -- which usually means I'm taking them somewhere they don't want to go -- the end of "X & Y Equals?" was like that Clark was dragging his feet because an empathy with his offspring. Fortunately, the offspring backed him into a corner where he *had* to react.

How did you begin writing in general?
Since I was eight, I guess, I've been writing down stories and putting them into books I would put together with illustrations (very poorly done, I'm no artist!) More often than not, it was story ideas that never got written, but who knows? I may get back to those ideas :) Dreaming them is half the fun!

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
I started to get involved with S6 but simply ran out of time to give it my best. And believe me, S6 deserves (and has, imho) the best.

I'm also working on rewriting a Regency romance I wrote about 8 or so years ago, and working on an online serial idea -- but the crux is -- do I put it online or try to sell it? Decisions, decisions. At any rate, I'm having fun designing the site and putting the characters together. (I believe this is called procrastinating!) I'll probably write the stories and try to sell them first ...

What is your opinion about the following types of L&C fanfic's?
Action?
Constant Superman stuff is ho-hum. The action *has* to pertain in some way to developing the characters. Sheila Harper's stories are excellent examples :)

Drama?
Again, there has to be a meaning, or a reason for why this is happening. Even a short story like "Molly" (I think it was called) where Clark's daughter is killed, addresses the issues of grief in some respect. And you know, Sheila's fics also fall under this category she seems to embrace every aspect of fic categories within a single story!

Humor?
These are a lot of fun (obviously) -- the best of them are the ones that slyly allude to previous happenings on the show, such as the Cheese of the Month excuse :)

Round Robin?
Not for me. I have tried them as a writer (not recently in L&C fanfic, but in another fandom) and as a reader. I'm not a "write on demand" writer unles I'm in the mood -- and that mood usually means some sort of way out hijinks or what have you! When I was in high school (year 10 on), two friends and I wrote these long sagas in class -- they were a great deal of fun to write (hey,anything's better than calculus!) and as I ended up with them, they're fun to read back -- but mainly because of the memories they bring back, the jokes and secrets we shared -- they certainly have very little literary merit!

Nfic?
I've written one. And every time I say that, it astonishes me. Why haven't I written more? I have in other fandoms. I'm not a compulsive reader of nfic-- in fact the idea or premise (or if I know the author's writing already) has to interest me before I read it. If it's something a little different, then I like.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
Aren't there only supposed to be 12 Universal Plots or something? So in that case, yeah. But in fact, each writer brings a new slant on L&C, that I don't think we'll ever stop writing about them. What is left? Why whatever comes out next week :) Not to mention S6 :)

What do you think makes the best story?
First and foremost, one that has Lois & Clark (and the other characters) *in* character. For me, no matter whether it's a short short or an epic ongoing novel, it also has to be well-written. I haven't time to plow through unpolished stories (unless they really hook me in, of course) -- I usually end up mentally editing them rather than reading for enjoyment.

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
Geeze and I didn't choose just one, did I :) OK, I'll link to "From the Ashes" http//www.tempus.simplenet.com/season5/episodes/ashes.html

Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
As my stuff is no longer on the Fanfic Archive (with the exception of my S5 episodes), you can find my writing on my fanfic pagehttp//www.znet.com/~volterra/fanfic/fanfic.html and on the S5 site http//www.tempus.simplenet.com/season5/

Open Forum For Author Comments
First, I'd like to thank Annie for sending me a questionnaire. I'd've thought all the Kerth Award winners would've got in before I did! (Hmm, maybe they did! *grin*)

My last fanfic, yet to be released, has put the lid on my Lois & Clark fanficcing. I can't see myself writing any more Lois & Clark fanfics. Perhaps when people have read the story, they'll understand why. (Or maybe they'll ask, why in sam hill did she write that??? I had to, my dears, it was forced upon me!)

I've become heavily involved with "The Big Valley" fandom -- introducing the concept of nfics to ladies mostly older than I has been fun, let me tell you! And of course, I'm trying to be good and write some 100% original stuff for a change, instead of borrowing other people's creations! Now that I've said that, I'll probably come up with some L&C idea I *have* to get down .... (longish pause) .... Nope, not yet!

I've met some wonderful FoLCs over the years (one of them being my husband!) and I certainly don't intend to vanish off the face of L&C fandom! The group is just too wonderful for that! I have to say my best writing experience has been with the S5 group. I also gained a real respect for the script writers -- who work under much tighter deadlines! Not only did we accomplish and finish a season, but I learnt a lot about writing with a wonderful bunch of people, who put up with my nagging and created some beautiful stories. Once again, thanks you guys!

Oh and this weekend, the last two edits will be up for "First Impressions" will be up on my website this weekend -- a great chance to see how one of the Fanfic Archive editors work (Lynda is *great*) and a compilation of Sandy McDermin's edits as well.

Leanne Shawler aka Volterra on IRC (volterra@sd.znet.com)
Web Design http//www.znet.com/~volterra/design/webdesign.html
Home Page http//www.znet.com/~volterra/leanne.html
Midnight Dreaming The Original Anthony Warlow Home Page
http//www.zweb.com/volterra/anthony.html