Katerine
Shadow of a Dark Queen

2) Writing Philosophy. (basically what you think makes a good story)
Planning, foresight, details and thorough descriptions are what I think goes into making a good story. Foreshadowing is also important, along with leaving room for future developments and for leaving hints for readers to contemplate. I believe that an attempt should be made to generate active as opposed to passive readers who can engage with the story and ponder what has happened, what might happen next and in the distant future.

3) What makes a great Hero?
In my opinion, a great hero should be a round character that is methodically developed so as to capture a multifaceted personality. Like Greek tragic heroes, a great hero should have his/her ups and downs, have strengths and weaknesses, moments of glory for good actions, moments for bad actions or good actions that have soured. The tragic flaw is not real, its just a mistranslation that has been perpetuated, the Greek word that has been mistranslated actually just means 'a mistake' or something akin to a mistake. A good hero need not be jaded, but they should demonstrate the full breadth of human emotions from elation and euphoria to frustration and rage.

4) ... Villian?
While outright violent and aggressive villains are needed, I think a better villain is someone who manipulates and plots…spreading their influence clandestinely. An even better villain is someone that appears to be the greatest of heroes. Deception and betrayal mark a good villain. A good villain is someone who is not necessarily devoid of emotions or sympathy, but someone who is cognizant of the fact that they have transcended moral restrictions that most people abide by. They know exactly what they are doing and how it is affecting the world. They either believe that their way is the right and true way, or they don't care about whether their actions are right and true so long as it serves their purpose whether that is a desire for power, vengeance, or a spiritual/faction agenda.

5) How do you get yourself in the mood to write?
I inspire myself by reading the work of others or my own previous work. I get excited about possible future plots and I have an imagination that always needs to be attended to in some form or another (movies, games, writing, daydreaming etc)…this gives me the energy to write.

6) What authors influence your work?
Certainly Robert Jordan…Raymond E. Feist, Sophocles, Aeschylus, and several people from the site.

7) Which is the enemy of humankind? Smooth or Crunchy peanut butter? Why?
Both, but crunchy is definitely the worst of the two…so tasty and addicting yet so bad for you.

8) If a publisher came to you and wanted to publish something you wrote, what would you write about?
Something I've only dabbled with. A book/s of my own creation centering on an evil sorceress who will ultimately plunge the world she inhabits in darkness through her actions. She will then move on to another world, many worlds and then transcend mortality to traverse the metaplanes to further strengthen the power of the dark supernatural entity she serves.

9) How do you overcome writer's block? (some of us could use a few pointers)
That's a difficult question to ask…but plotting with other people or just discussing ideas with friends is the quickest way for me to overcome writer's block…it doesn't always work, but it always gets me excited…after that it's a matter of sitting down with enough time to write.

10) IF you could live in any time period which would it be?
The future…I want to see what happens to humanity up the point when the sun expands and grows to encompass Earth (incinerating Earth in other words). Where will we be, what will we know…what will the discoveries of physicists lead us to?

11) Which is the better pratical joke, a whoopie cushion, a joy buzzer or a rubber chicken? Please explain.
Mmmm, joy buzzer…I think people would expect it less…some people would automatically feel the whoopie cushion and jump back…course if you caught them tired, they might just collapse into the chair, and that could prove for a funny reaction.

12) If you could co-author a novel with any author, who would it be?
I think Raymond E. Feist…but a few writers at the site would also be great.

13) What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?
Anything to improve hygiene.

14) What music do you like to listen to while writing?
Usually something meditative or calm to keep me focused. I have also been known to write while 'watching' TV. I don't usually watch, but use it for background filler.

15) What are you currently reading?
The Trojan Women, Social Psychology 8th Edition, On Collective Memory, Conversations with God, and The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood.