|
|
Introduction (01)
Day's Head (02-197)
Day's Stories
Acknowledgments
Articles
Biography
INSIDE THE HEAD OF DAY
Introduction
[01] I happen to like this bard. Very talented and she picked October as a title, my favorite month. Now let us get to know this bard. Please read and feed.
Day's Head
Interviewer:
[02] Why did you start writing?Day:
[03] It wasn't a conscious decision. I didn't just decide one day to start writing, it's something I have always done for as long as I can remember.Interviewer:
[04] If you had to do it all over, would you be a bard? Would you write?Day:
[05] Absolutely. I derive so much pleasure from it on so many levels.Interviewer:
[06] Give us a brief day in the life of Day.Day:
[07] An ideal day would be like most people's days I'm sure. Getting up (reluctantly), getting dressed, going to work (reluctantly), coming home, figuring out what to do that evening etc. Then going to bed way too late.Interviewer:
[08] How do you handle stress?Day:
[09] Go into complete denial.Interviewer:
[10] Years from now, how would you want to be remembered?Day:
[11] Probably as someone who got the most out of life without hurting too many in the process.Interviewer:
[12] What is your pet peeve?Day:
[13] Stupidity.Interviewer:
[14] Who is Day?Day:
[15] If I only knew.Interviewer:
[16] Do fans expect too much from stars?Day:
[17] Less than a month ago my answer would have been no, but the reactions of some fans (Xenites) to the series finale have made me change my mind. It's understandable to be upset, but that doesn't justify personal attacks on stars or producers.Interviewer:
[18] What are your feelings on censorship?Day:
[19] I'm against it.Interviewer:
[20] If you can cure one disease, what would it be and why?Day:
[21] Cancer probably, because it's something that can affect us all.Interviewer:
[22] Do you believe in capital punishment? Why?Day:
[23] No. I used to, but now I'm very much against it. If you make a mistake and kill an innocent, you can't bring them back to life.Interviewer:
[24] What is the most sensitive part on your body?Day:
[25] I'm going to be coy and say my mind.Interviewer:
[26] What do you see yourself doing in the future? Future projects?Day:
[27] I will always be writing, but that aside I will be concentrating on getting a degree in journalism.Interviewer:
[28] How do you handle depression?Day:
[29] Get drunk, or call my best friend. Or both.Interviewer:
[30] What was the hardest thing you ever did?Day:
[31] Having to apologize to somebody. I'm not very good at that.Interviewer:
[32] What was the easiest?Day:
[33] Oh, too many to list.Interviewer:
[34] What advice can you give to future writers?Day:
[35] As much as it's possible, write for yourself, not others. If you're not happy yourself with what you're producing it takes all the joy out of doing it.Interviewer:
[36] How did it feel to be published?Day:
[37] N/AInterviewer:
[38] What has the show Xena meant to you?Day:
[39] It revived my interest in writing and then provided me with a lot of great, or mostly great, entertainment. Also, it enabled me to come into contact with a lot of wonderful people I wouldn't have even known existed otherwise.Interviewer:
[40] How do you feel about its end?Day:
[41] Slightly nostalgic, but it was time.Interviewer:
[42] What are your dreams? Hopes? Wishes?Day:
[43] I have many, some more within my reach than others, but the common denominator of them all is that they'll hopefully serve to make me happy in one way or the other.Interviewer:
[44] Who do you trust?Day:
[45] Very few, trust isn't something that comes easy to me. I try to trust people I love, though.Interviewer:
[46] If you are a parent, what is the greatest wish you have for your child?Day:
[47] N/AInterviewer:
[48] What would you say every writer needs?Day:
[49] Imagination. Imagination and discipline. You won't get anywhere without those.Interviewer:
[50] Do you believe in prayer? Explain.Day:
[51] No. I'm a practicing atheist.Interviewer:
[52] How do you feel about subtext?Day:
[53] Subtext was what attracted me to the show in the first place and it continued to keep me entertained until the very end. Personally, I have always seen them as lovers, but whether that love was expressed physically as well has never really mattered much to me. They loved each other, that's enough for me.Interviewer:
[54] What makes your best friend your best friend?Day:
[55] She is probably the one person I have absolutely no worries about trusting with my deepest, darkest secrets. It's hard to explain why, but somehow she just inspires trust in me.Interviewer:
[56] Could you or have you ever experienced, you or someone else reading one of your stories aloud in the public? What did/would you feel?Day:
[57] I would feel, and did indeed feel, completely embarrassed. Thankfully, I was too drunk to remember much. Thankfully, we all were.Interviewer:
[58] What's the most romantic thing anyone has done for you?Day:
[59] I have been fortunate to encounter many romantic people who have all been very creative, but I'll have to say that one of the most romantic things was a letter I once received.Interviewer:
[60] What theme would you like to tackle in your next work?Day:
[61] Probably something involving music, which is another passion of mine. Since I neither play an instrument nor am capable of carrying a tune, all there's really left is to write about it.Interviewer:
[62] What was the last thing that made you smile recently?Day:
[63] Something I read in an email.Interviewer:
[64] What made you angry?Day:
[65] I try not to get angry because it usually never solves anything, and in any case it can't have been that important since I can't remember what it was.Interviewer:
[66] You now have absolute authority over the world. Omnipotent in all areas. What's your first move?Day:
[67] To create equal rights for all, and then make sure they aren't violated.Interviewer:
[68] Do you have stalkers? If so, how have you handled them?Day:
[69] Does a disgruntled ex count? No, just kidding, I have never been stalked - not to my knowledge anyway - and if I were I'm not sure how I would handle it. Get my brother to beat them up probably.Interviewer:
[70] How would you categorize your best writing, and give the URLs for them if posted?Day:
[71] Imaginative, that's probably the best word I can come up with to categorize my work. Obviously, I think some stories are better than others but all of them are imaginative. Those I'm the most proud of are my uber stories:
When the Land is Dark: http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/DarkLand1.html
October: http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/OCTOBER1.htm
The Remuneration Series, which is a Conqueror story: http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/theremuneration1.htm
Interviewer:
[72] What stupid thing did you do as a teen?Day:
[73] I'm afraid I was a very sensible teenager, didn't cause much trouble. Fortunately, I have been able to make up for that in my early twenties.Interviewer:
[74] What, if anything, can stop you writing, if only for a while?Day:
[75] Fatigue, when I'm so sleep deprived that I can't think straight and have no choice but to go to bed. I prefer writing at nights and have watched quite a few sunrises that way, but I always end up paying for it sooner or later.Interviewer:
[76] In your opinion, do you fit your astrological sign?Day:
[77] Oh yeah, only too much, which is a bit of a bummer since I don't believe in astrology.Interviewer:
[78] What to you is the worst feeling in the world?Day:
[79] Inadequacy.Interviewer:
[80] The best feeling in the world?Day:
[81] When you love someone who loves you back. Doesn't get any better than that.Interviewer:
[82] Favorite song of the moment?Day:
[83] I have always at least ten favorite songs, but R.E.M.'s I've Been High, would be a definite candidate.Interviewer:
[84] What is the first thing you think of in the morning?Day:
[85] Right now, it's the woman I'm in love with, but I try not to since it's so very distracting.Interviewer:
[86] Is there one part of the writing process where you usually get stuck?Day:
[87] It's always a lot harder to complete a story than to begin one, but thankfully, I have never experienced getting truly stuck and hopefully I never will.Interviewer:
[88] What have you tried to change that, successful or not?Day:
[89] Whenever I fear that I might get stuck or am just being too lazy, I get someone to give me a kick in the butt (figuratively speaking of course) and that has always helped so far.Interviewer:
[90] What is gossip mean to you?Day:
[91] I detest gossip.Interviewer:
[92] Are people easily swayed by 'hearsay'?Day:
[93] Not all but some are. There are people who seem to believe that if something is repeated or mentioned enough it simply has to be true.Interviewer:
[94] What are your feelings about people who use others for personal gain?Day:
[95] It all depends on the circumstances and what kind of personal gain we're talking about. I'm sure we all to some extent, unwittingly or not, take advantage of each other, and I can live with that as long as it isn't done maliciously or with the intent to hurt.Interviewer:
[96] What is a hypocrite?Day:
[97] A person who breaks his own principles or standards as easily and quickly as he forces them onto others.Interviewer:
[98] What kind of doughnut do you eat?Day:
[99] I've never tasted a doughnut, they're not that common in my part of the world.Interviewer:
[100] Does the best writing flow for you, or does it come from rewrites?Day:
[101] It's always better when it flows, when that happens I almost feel like I'm "high" on words. But naturally, there are times when rewrites are necessary and sometimes they serve to enhance the finished product. However, usually I think rewrites are a pain in the a--.Interviewer:
[102] Which part of writing do you enjoy most and why?Day:
[103] Any part where it flows, when it comes naturally. And then I have to admit I am rather fond of the "The End" part of it all as well.Interviewer:
[104] How often do you think about a piece when you're working on it and when do you think about it?Day:
[105] I always think about the story/stories I'm writing, whether I'm currently working on them or not. The good thing about that is that it helps me to move the plot along and think of what's going to happen next. The bad thing is that it makes it difficult for me to unwind and fall asleep at nights when my mind can't relax.Interviewer:
[106] When someone walks into your bedroom, what are the first five things that they're likely to notice?Day:
[107] That I enjoy using the floor to store things, especially books, and that I have a tendency not to put the CDs back where they belong. What next? Probably that the windows need polishing and that I really should remember to make my bed. What the last thing would be I have no idea, maybe that it wouldn't hurt to water the flowers occasionally?Interviewer:
[108] Do you feel in control of your writing, or do your inspiration or characters carry you away?Day:
[109] Both. Sometimes I follow an exact plan and never stray from it. Other times I end up writing scenes or pieces of dialogue I never thought of until I suddenly had them written down.Interviewer:
[110] If you consider yourself to have a muse, what exactly do you mean?Day:
[111] Not a muse as such, but music, listening to music while I write, is a great source of inspiration to me. There isn't a feeling music can't evoke in me.Interviewer:
[112] Tell the truth--are you your favorite writer, or in your own top five? Why or why not?Day:
[113] I am most certainly not my own favorite writer and probably never will be. There are far too many writers I admire and think far too superior to me for that to ever happen. But that said, I do like my own writing and think it quite decent.Interviewer:
[114] Would the world be a better place if women ran it or would it be basically the same?Day:
[115] A better place? No. A different place? Probably, but not much. Power doesn't discriminate, it corrupts both men and women equally - albeit in different ways.Interviewer:
[116] What is your favorite spot where you live now?Day:
[117] A small lake not far from here. A great place to go for a stroll.Interviewer:
[118] What books are you reading now? What about it/them is holding your attention?Day:
[119] I haven't had the time to read much lately, but I am currently rereading Lord of the Rings to get into shape for the upcoming movie. But with the way things are going, the third movie will be on video before I'm done.Interviewer:
[120] What would your friends say is your worst trait?Day:
[121] Self-reliant to the extreme. Incapable of accepting any help.Interviewer:
[122] Do you type with your fingers on the right keys?Day:
[123] Most of the time.Interviewer:
[124] What is the longest any plant in your home has been with you?Day:
[125] Umm... it'll be too embarrassing to admit that.Interviewer:
[126] Do you have any particular bedtime rituals (glass of warm milk, etc.) that you follow every night?Day:
[127] Nope. I just collapse into bed, close my eyes, and hope for the best.Interviewer:
[128] If you find a spider in the bathtub, do you help it out or squish it?Day:
[129] Were I still living at home I'd call my mother who's an expert at rescuing spiders, but I don't have the patience myself (and don't really care to either) and usually just kill them.Interviewer:
[130] What was the last thing you bought that you really didn't need?Day:
[131] Probably a CD I didn't really like.Interviewer:
[132] Have you ever smoked cigarettes--explain.Day:
[133] Yes, but only for a very short period of time. Why? I was curious I guess.Interviewer:
[134] Who is your favorite Greek God?Day:
[135] Athena. But if you're talking Xenaverse then it would be Aphrodite, she was hilarious.Interviewer:
[136] Why do fools fall in love?Day:
[137] Because it feels great and it's a respite from reality, which we all need at times.Interviewer:
[138] Do you keep a diary and if so what do you call it? If so, what effect has it had on your writing?Day:
[139] When I was around 11-12 years old I tried to keep a diary, but I never knew what to write in it and didn't really feel the need to either so I gave it up.Interviewer:
[140] How has online writing affected your life and how you see yourself, your goals?Day:
[141] It has definitely made my writing, myself, more disciplined, but otherwise it hasn't really affected me or any of my goals. (Except taking up a whole lot of time all of a sudden.) It has brought differ ent perspectives into my life, but ultimately it's the same as it was when I first began writing fan fiction.Interviewer:
[142] What skill would you like to have that you don't have now?Day:
[143] I would love to be able to draw, sing or play an instrument, but I'm afraid that I never will. Either because lack of talent or time, or both. Probably both.Interviewer:
[144] Who is your real life hero and why?Day:
[145] My Dad is my hero. Why? Because he is my Dad. Nuff said.Interviewer:
[146] What fan fiction story touched you so much that you still remember it vividly?Day:
[147] Oh, it's been a very long time since I last had the time to read any fan fiction myself, but I used to be quite the avid reader and have read so many great stories. I was very impressed by the Nano Series by Jules Mills, http://ausxip.com/bards2.html#julesmills but the story that has touched me the most was probably Ravages of Spirit by Pallas http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/r/ravages.html - and I still haven't forgiven her for ending it that way.Interviewer:
[148] If you could only choose a single climate with no variation would you prefer it to be sweltering hot or freezing cold?Day:
[149] Freezing cold.Interviewer:
[150] What is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them?Day:
[151] Their eyes. Always their eyes.Interviewer:
[152] Have you ever done something that accidentally caused something really bad to happen to someone?Day:
[153] Unless you call a broken arm something really bad, then I haven't.Interviewer:
[154] How is $25 well spent?Day:
[155] Adding another CD or two I've always wanted to my collection.Interviewer:
[156] Would you rather live in a sociable suburb, or alone in the deep woods?Day:
[157] I'm a loner and enjoy solitude, but maybe living alone in the deep woods would be a bit too much even for me.Interviewer:
[158] What literary character did you most identify with as a child?Day:
[159] A character called "Erik". Was the main character in a couple of Danish children's books I used to love. And yes, I'm Danish.Interviewer:
[160] What is the source of your inspiration?Day:
[161] Hard to say exactly and there are bound to be more than one, but music is definitely among them.Interviewer:
[162] Where do your ideas come from?Day:
[163] Everywhere. Things I read, see, hear, experience etc. And of course, some are created in my head with no apparent inspiration.Interviewer:
[164] What do you find most satisfying about your job?Day:
[165] The job I have right now is just to earn money, to sustain myself until I one day - hopefully - become a journalist.Interviewer:
[166] What are the three things you enjoy most about writing?Day:
[167] 1. Losing myself in the story, the characters, etc. 2. Being told that what I do is good and having people come back for more. 3. Looking back at what I have already written, feeling like I have accomplished something.Interviewer:
[168] What were your favorite book, TV show, and movie when you were a teenager and what do you think of them now?Day:
[169] Favorite books must either be Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, or The Alexander Trilogy by Mary Renault. I have liked so many TV shows it's hard to pick, but L.A. Law and Hill Street Blues were great favorites of mine. Movie? Could be The Deer Hunter, could be another one. All of the above I still like, although some of it only in small dosages.Interviewer:
[170] What's your idea of a perfect world?Day:
[171] I'm not sure I can describe that in only a few lines, so I don't think I'll try. However, should I do it, the words "equality", "respect", and "empathy" would have prominent places.Interviewer:
[172] How real is your fiction to you?Day:
[173] Probably a lot more real than it should be at times.Interviewer:
[174] What Disney character do you most identify with and why?Day:
[175] My favorite Disney character would have to be Darkwing Duck - he's hilarious - but I honestly can't say I identify myself with him. Even my delusions of grandeur pale in comparison to his.Interviewer:
[176] Who do you read for inspiration?Day:
[177] Anybody who can write a good story and can make me forget everything around me.Interviewer:
[178] What's your favorite website?Day:
[179] It varies, but right now I'm rather fond of Mighty Big TV's website http://www.mightybigtv.com where they make fun of the most popular TV shows. Fanfic-wise, I think Lunacy's Fan Fiction Reviews http://lunacyreviews.com/ is a good place to start. I don't always agree with the reviews, but with so many links you're bound to find something you like.Interviewer:
[180] When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?Day:
[181] I decided in the fourth grade I wanted to be a writer. I'm still aiming for that.Interviewer:
[182] What are the limits in sacrifices for true love?Day:
[183] I'm not sure. I think it depends on who you are.Interviewer:
[184] If you could interview your favorite author, what questions would you ask? And, WHY?Day:
[185] I don't have a favorite author, I have several, and I think my most important question would apply to all of them: How do you manage to write as wonderfully as you do? And my reason for asking it would be that I want to know how to become a better writer myself. And my next question would probably be a request for them to sign a copy of their work.Interviewer:
[186] What makes a great kisser?Day:
[187] Love.Interviewer:
[188] What have you learned from your animals?Day:
[189] Never to cross the street when there's a bus heading toward you.Interviewer:
[190] Does our society glorify violence to the point we have become desensitized to it and the consequences?Day:
[191] I'm sure we have become desensitized to some degree, but fortunately most people are still capable of distinguishing between fiction and reality. It's the small group that isn't that's the problem.Interviewer:
[192] What is your motto?Day:
[193] "Reality can be beaten with enough imagination." I wish I knew who came up with it, but I don't.Interviewer:
[194] What do you think we take too seriously as writers?Day:
[195] Ourselves. Our egos.Interviewer:
[196] What questions should I have asked? Then answer them.Day:
[197] Do you honestly think I'll volunteer any more information than absolutely necessary?
DAY'S STORIES
Marion's e-mail address is: dayzell@hotmail.com
Day's site is: http://ca.geocities.com/dayiobserver/frontpage.html
Summaries & Ratings
The Amazons' Boy
Classic Xena and Gabrielle story and my first attempt as a fan fiction writer. I've always loved Amazons and in particular Ephiny, so what would be better than writing a story involving them. The story is very long and took me about three and a half months writing, but in the end I'll have to say it was worth the sleepless nights and the stiff necks I suffered because of it. It begins shortly after Xena and Gabrielle have returned from India when they suddenly come across an old friend of the warriors. A man who seems to have his share of skeletons in the closet and a unusual connection to a certain Amazon Regent. There's violence in this story, quite a lot, but it isn't that graphic or painted out into every little gory detail. (That would take too long, anyway). As always in my tales, Xena and Gabrielle are more than friends, if you get my drift, but it isn't too graphic either.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/TheAB1.htmCareless
I was in a rather strange mood when writing this story. It's not really fan fiction as such, but just something I felt like doing.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/careless.htmOctober
An uber story I started a couple of months ago and then simply didn't have the time to finish. However, as I re-read it one day, I liked it too much to just leave it buried on my already crowded hard disk, so I decided on a different approach where I'll post small parts once every week instead of the usual thirty or forty pages. The story is about a the young lawyer, Sarah Kingston whose life is turned upside down when she meets the enigmatic and reticent student, Terri. As time passes, Sarah becomes more and more involved in Terri's life, something which both brings her happiness and pain, and she has to realize that sometimes even love might not be enough. There won't be much violence in this story, if any at all (except some emotional cruelty, I suppose). There's sex in this one, too. Surprise, huh? And it's a bit graphic here and there, but not messy at all.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/OCTOBER1.htmOde To Literature Just a little thingy I felt like writing. Very harmless actually.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/Ode.htmThe Remuneration
I read an excellent Conqueror story by Dark Angel called Chattel and it prompted me to write this one. Besides, I've always loved Conqueror stories and I've always known I'd write one eventually. However, that it should take me this long I didn't know. I suppose you could say that if you have a thing for happy endings and refuse to read anything else, you should stay far away from this one. It's one of the more harsh stories I've written and it's as graphic as it can get. The setting of the story is that the Conqueror's slave (guess who that might be?) gets one wish for her birthday, and Gabrielle takes her up on the offer. http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/theremuneration1.htmThe Remuneration II
Obviously, a sequel to the first and one I really hadn't planned on writing, but as people wrote me and asked for one, I started to think that there might be some possibilities in writing a second installment and since I can't seem to stay away from Conqueror stories anyway. There's no happily ever after ending in this one either and like the first, this tale is also graphic. There's a bit of violence, but it's hardly more than two lines.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/TR2.htmlThe Remuneration III
Third part of the series and a part which caused me a lot more problems writing that I'd originally anticipated, but eventually, and after a lot of thinking and good advice, I got it done. This story depicts the events of the Conqueror's and Gabrielle's first meeting, and as you can imagine it isn't all love, peace,and harmony so if you had any difficulties stomaching the two first stories, or didn't read them at all, you probably should stay away from this one. It's graphic, but not as much, or at least not quite as much, as the two previous tales. (Everything is relative,isn't it?)
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/TR3.htmThe Remuneration IV
This part was a real pain in the a-- to write and it refused to do as I told it. I plotted and plotted, drafted and drafted and was basically going crazy which is why I finally said, "To h--- with it all! I'll start watching Buffy instead!" Nah, just kidding, I wouldn't go that far. However, I wanted to get the story out of my system and hopefully now I have so I can concentrate on the, hopefully, much more pleasant task of writing part 5. There's no violence or unnecessary cruelty in this story.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/tr4.htmSymbiosis
A Xena and Gabrielle story, but not quite in the usual setting. Basically, I wanted to try something else, and since I'd just finished The Amazons' Boy, I really didn't feel like writing another lengthy epic and this is the result. There's no violence and there's no sex either.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/Symbiosis1.htmWhen the Land is Dark
My second attempt at uber and one I have great hopes for. It'll be long, I know, but in the end, I hope it'll be worth it. It better be, cuz my necks already hurting. It takes place in a futuristic Europe where there are no countries anymore, and everybody is govern by a single entity called the Council. We meet the main characters of the story the first time while they're still in their teens, living a secluded and hard life in one of the many camps run by the Organization, a resistance movement fighting the Council. Their lives consist of daily military training and classes, all preparing them for the time when they'll join the Organization in its fight against the council leaders. As they grow older and set out on their separate paths, they learn that everything might not be as they've been told, and in the end there'll be hard choices to make between what they love and what they believe. Oh, before I forget. There's both sex and violence in this one.
http://ca.geocities.com/dayliobserver/DarkLand1.html
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, 61-66,68-76
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: TITANS (07/107)
Least favorite episode: LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (100/510)
