Introduction (01)
Cynthia's Head (02-80)
Cynthia Online
Acknowledgments
Articles
Biography

Introduction

[01] Cynthia Ward Cooper has been a part of Xena fandom since before the dinosaurs. She joined the Whoosh! team when she accepted the editorship of the original Xena FAQ, which Whoosh! adopted in December 1996. Eventually, she took over the primary coding for the journal after Beth Gaynor retired, and subsequently became a member of the Whoosh! Executive Committee. Cynthia has toured the country's Xena Fests, giving a fantastic multimedia demonstration of how Xena was influenced by Hong Kong cinema. Her latest Xena-related feat has been authoring the very popular Rittenhouse Beauty and Brawn series Xena trading cards.

Cynthia's Head

Interviewer:
^[02] Who is Cynthia?

Cynthia Ward Cooper:
^[03] Cynthia is restless, resourceful, shy, creative, smart, happy, vulnerable, ambitious, funny, nurturing, passionate, opinionated, dorky, impatient, intrepid, silly, laid-back, inquisitive, tolerant, optimistic. Oh, and left-handed.

^[04] I'm on the Whoosh! Executive Committee, and have been the Xena FAQ editor (among other things) since 1996.

Interviewer:
^[05] Why and how did you get started with Whoosh!?

Cooper:
^[06] I was a Xena fan from the start, and subbed to the Chakram and Xenaverse lists when they first began. Kym [Taborn, publisher of Whoosh!] used to send Xena media reports to the lists every day, and I thought that was cool, and wrote and told her so. Soon after she started Whoosh!, she obtained a rudimentary Xena FAQ that had been kind of floating around, and asked for a volunteer to maintain and expand it. I got the job, and well, I never left. I've been involved with Whoosh! since the third issue in one way or another. I've been a coder, an editor, and a reporter. I complain about it constantly, but Kym always manages to suck me back in. She likes to call me "the Michael Moore of the Xenaverse," whatever that means.

Interviewer:
^[07] What do you like most about the Xenaverse?

Cooper:
^[08] It was such a wonderful social experiment! The Web (which to most people was the Internet) was still in its early development when the show began, and Xena fandom became one of the first true Internet-driven entities. We had great access to the production staff and the actors in the early days, which was unprecedented. On a more personal level, I've made several really good friends through the Xenaverse, and have had my mind opened and my horizons broadened by the people here. It's been a wonderful experience, truly.

Interviewer:
^[09] What do you like the least?

Cooper:
^[10] The loons. It's unfortunate that a few sick people can give the entire group a bad name. And the politics in the Xenaverse were ridiculous for a while, though that seems to have calmed down.

Interviewer:
^[11] Why do you think the show Xena: Warrior Princess meant so much to so many people?

Cooper:
^[12] It mattered because it initially centered on a strong woman who not only didn't need men, but who regularly kicked their -ss-s! The presence of Gabrielle was genius--more viewers identified with her than with Xena, and her growth was fascinating to watch. The relationship between them was a beautiful thing on many levels. I loved the show for those reasons, and for the shards of mythology and history. And it was fun not knowing what kind of episode you'd be getting from week to week--action, or drama, or comedy (back when the comedies were funny). It was a versatile, courageous show. I don't know that we'll see its like again soon.

Interviewer:
^[13] Do you feel in control of your writing, or does your inspiration or characters carry you away?

Cooper:
^[14] This is probably a first for this series, but I'm not a fan fiction writer! I'm strictly non-fiction. Full disclosure: I don't even read fan fiction. Still want to talk to me?

Interviewer:
^[15] Sure I do! So, how do you decide what to include in the FAQ?

Cooper:
^[16] I built it from what I was given, though it's kind of taken on a life of its own. The basic info is still there, but some of the show's crises (Lucy's horseback accident, the Krishna controversy) provided pages of their own. I've gradually been expanding the characters page, and sadly, diminishing the pages devoted to merchandise and fan links. It's an organic little part of Whoosh!, and very dependent on fan input. If you ask me a question, I'll probably add it to the FAQ at some point.

Interviewer:
^[17] Is there anything you won't put in the FAQ?

Cooper:
^[18] I want the content to be directly related to the show. So I don't put things in if they're too peripheral. Right now, I'm trying to decide whether to include a Lord of the Rings-Xena actor list, for example.

Interviewer:
^[19] Give us a brief day in the life of Cynthia.

Cooper:
^[20] I live in the middle of downtown Dallas, so it's never dull--or quiet. I usually awaken around 8AM to feed the cats. If I can get away with it, I go back to bed for another hour or so, then walk down to Starbucks for cappuccino. Answer e-mail, make phone calls, work on projects, then go into work. I get home around 6, walk half a mile to the gym and work out, come home and eat, do some more work, then read or watch TV or whatever. I'm usually in bed by 1AM. Weekends are a little more exciting.

Interviewer:
^[21] What is your motto?

Cooper:
^[22] "Think in geologic time"--it helps me remember to keep things in perspective.

Interviewer:
^[23] What makes a great kisser?

Cooper:
^[24] Well, awareness of the other person is a nice start…Don't laugh! I'm serious!

Interviewer:
^[25] What opportunity are you most happy that you seized?

Cooper:
^[26] I've never been afraid to take risks. A couple of years ago, I was absolutely miserable--I hated my job and the people I worked with, I'd just been through a horrific breakup, and, well, you get the idea. I was sitting in my favorite coffee place (cappuccino seems to be a recurring theme in my life), and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to have a job where I could sit here and do business? Wouldn't it be wonderful to not have to be in a job I loathe, reporting to someone I don't respect?" So I quit the job, took on a couple of part-time gigs, built my reputation, and now, that's exactly what I do! It's a lot of work, and paying bills can be scary sometimes, but I love the fact that my success or failure is largely up to me.

Interviewer:
^[27] Whom do you envy?

Cooper:
^[28] I really try to not envy anyone. When I'm feeling down or dissatisfied, I try to remind myself that even on my worst day, I'm still more fortunate than 99% of the people in the world. That said, I'm only human, so of course, I have my moments.

Interviewer:
^[29] What would you say is the greatest evil?

Cooper:
^[30] Lack of education, which is indirectly responsible for most of the world's problems.

Interviewer:
^[31] If God gave you the ability to cure one disease, what would it be and why?

Cooper:
^[32] Much disease stems from the extreme overpopulation of the earth. Gaia theorists believe that epidemics such as AIDS and smallpox are the earth's attempt to throw off some of the parasites (i.e., humans) that are sucking it dry. I guess if I could appeal to the Divine for an improvement in this area, it would be to ask that reproduction be slowed down. The rest would eventually take care of itself.

Interviewer:
^[33] What is your favorite footwear of choice?

Cooper:
^[34] Flat-heeled clogs that I can slip into and out of easily. I go barefoot whenever possible, and sit cross-legged at the computer, so easy access is a must!

Interviewer:
^[35] What did you think of the ending of Xena?

Cooper:
^[36] I wrote an editorial for Whoosh! on that very topic. Overall, I thought the ending was fitting, though I didn't like the fact that it wasn't any better thought out than it was. Mostly, I didn't like the way that Akemi was just tossed in there. We should have known of the character beforehand--that was disrespectful to the fans. Those quibbles aside, I didn't have a problem with Xena dying for something she believed in--she was a warrior, after all, and the "greater good" had been a recurring theme since the first season.

Interviewer:
^[37] What do you think of Shakespeare's work?

Cooper:
^[38] It's one of the finest accomplishments of Western civilization--whoever wrote it.

Interviewer:
^[39] What is poetry for?

Cooper:
^[40] Poetry enables the writer to express thoughts and feelings in a way that prose doesn't. It liberates the spirit.

Interviewer:
^[41] What is your favorite kind of lighting?

Cooper:
^[42] Indirect, diffused. Appropriate to its location.

Interviewer:
^[43] What is your most cherished bodily function?

Interviewer:
^[44] My ability to reason.

Interviewer:
^[45] What does the word 'family' mean to you?

Cooper:
^[46] Family sticks with you no matter what. You don't have to pretend around them--they love you just because you exist. They nurture and encourage you, but they also kick your b-tt when you need it. I'm very lucky to come from a large extended family--my parents were both from families of eight children, so I have a couple of dozen first cousins. I'll never be alone!

Interviewer:
^[47] What does the word 'friend' mean?

Cooper:
^[48] There are different types of friends, which is as it should be. Some are casual friends with whom you can go do fun things without any deep connection. There are the friends you might not see or talk to often, but still know they're there--that's very comforting. Then there are the ones you've known forever--they've seen you at your worst, and vice-versa, and you love each other in spite of (or perhaps because of) all the garbage. Those friends are rare and precious; they're like family.

Interviewer:
^[49] What have you learned from your pets?

Cooper:
^[50] To be more instinctive. I tend to overthink at times, so watching my cats just react instinctively is really inspirational.

Interviewer:
^[51] What attracts you in a mate?

Cooper:
^[52] Someone who has a beautiful soul, who's funny and wise and comfortable with himself, who's interested in living rather than just existing. Someone who makes me laugh instead of cry. Perfection is by no means a requirement. And hey, if I don't ever find that person, I'll be fine. Solitude doesn't frighten me.

Interviewer:
^[53] Is the glass half full or half empty?

Cooper:
^[54] Half full, definitely! I'm eternally an optimist.

Interviewer:
^[55] What would you like put on your gravestone?

Cooper:
^[56] Um, "She did no harm"? I don't know. I want to be cremated, so it's moot anyway.

Interviewer:
^[57] What household chore do you hate the most?

Cooper:
^[58] Vacuuming!!! It's a hassle to get the vacuum cleaner out, and it raises dust and makes me sneeze.

Interviewer:
^[59] Does it seem like the gay community clings too harshly to icons? How do you think the icon (star, actor) should handle this? Can it be too much?

Cooper:
^[60] I don't know that they're any more guilty of such adoration than the mainstream audiences--it may appear so just because gays have so few worthy icons. I would hope that the actors would be proud to have had such a positive impact on the gay community. I wish everyone--Hollywood, America, the world--would just get over this queasiness about homosexuality and let it be. As it is, everyone is hurt by the prevailing attitudes, whether they realize it or not.

Interviewer:
^[61] Do fans expect too much from stars?

Cooper:
^[62] Most of them are very reasonable in their expectations. But there's always that fanatical fringe element that takes it way too far and gets all the press, unfortunately.

Interviewer:
^[63] Do fans matter?

Cooper:
^[64] They matter tremendously! That's another gift I've received from the Xenaverse--a real understanding of fandom. To that point, I had never been an avowed fan of anything, thinking it meant giving up the ability to disagree. Xena fans have shown me that it's possible to love something and still be able to question it--and in some cases, even be able to change the thinking of the creators. I've been so impressed with the fans.

Interviewer:
^[65] What did you want to be when you grew up?

Cooper:
^[66] "Rich, famous, and adored by millions." That was it. I had no idea how I was going to achieve it. Now I'm glad it didn't happen that way--I wouldn't be a major celebrity now for anything.

Interviewer:
^[67] Tell us something about yourself that many might not know.

Cooper:
^[68] I can name all fifty of the United States in alphabetical order.

Interviewer:
^[69] What family member would you like to show off the most?

Cooper:
^[70] As I said, I come from a huge family, so it's hard to choose! My brother, who's adventurous and is totally unafraid of trying new and different things. My father, the most moral person I know. My mother, who worked within traditional gender roles to become an overachiever in her own right. My cousin Jennifer, who has worked so hard for the wonderful life she has. My cousin Carron, who's so passionate about the things she believes in. Each of them is a part of me.

Interviewer:
^[71] What happened the last time you were sick?

Cooper:
^[72] I stayed home, watched DVDs, and drank the Chinese herbal tea that Kym sent me--it really worked!

Interviewer:
^[73] The way the world is going now, do you fear what will happen?

Cooper:
^[74] Sure, I do, especially with the current administration. I saw that Nostradamus special with Orson Welles as a kid, and the whole "Middle Eastern man in the blue turban" bit scared me silly. As long as patriarchal governments dominate the world, we'll never be what we could--should--be.

Interviewer:
^[75] What is the best feeling in the world?

Cooper:
^[76] There are so many… Being outside after a storm, when everything is so clean and clear. Surrendering to love, and realizing that the other person feels the same way. Pushing yourself physically or mentally and exceeding your expectations.

Interviewer:
^[77] What is the worst?

Cooper:
^[78] Realizing that a person you love isn't the person you thought you knew.

Interviewer:
^[79] What are you working on now?

Cooper:
^[80] I'm writing the text for the 'Beauty & Brawn' Xena trading cards for Rittenhouse. It's a lot of work, but I think the cards are going to be great. They're focusing on characters this time, which is my favorite aspect. [UPDATE: the cards were released on 12/1/02, and quickly sold out, to great reviews]

Cynthia Online

Cynthia's official website: Original Cyn Designs
Cynthia's e-mail: cyn@originalcyndesigns.com
Cynthia's Blog
Xena + Hong Kong Connection (Cynthia assisted Laura Irvine with some of the content on this site)
Cynthia's articles on TravelLady

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Kamouraskan for the beta.

Articles

L. J. Maas and Murphy Wilson [Amy Murphy]. One Step Beyond ... Uber, That Is. WHOOSH #49 (October 2000)
The "Inside the Head of..." series in Whoosh issues #58, 61-66,68-75

Biography

Amy Murphy
Amy Murphy resides in Indiana, and is an avid reader of Xena: Warrior Princess Fan Fiction. If it exists in the Xenaverse, chances are she has read it! Murphy has also tried her hand at writing fan fiction, turning out two very nice pieces that reside on a couple of web sites throughout the Xenaverse.

Favorite episode: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE (24/124)
Favorite line: "I Have Many Skills" Various episodes
First episode seen: THE TITANS (07/107)
Least favorite episode: LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (100/510)