Sir Terry Pratchett: on writing Good Omens with Neil Gaiman

I love the whole interview but this little snippet most of all:

Terry: “You can usually bet, and I’m sure Neil Gaiman would say the same thing, that, uh, if I go into a bookstore to do a signing and someone presents me with three books, the chances are that one of them is going to be a very battered copy of Good Omens; and it will smell as if it’s been dropped in parsnip soup or something in and it’s gone fluffy and crinkly around the edges and they’ll admit that it’s the fourth copy they’ve bought”.

You can never own enough Good Omens copies.

Ok. So we know Terry confronted Daniel in the sauna for several reasons, most of which was to show Daniel “I still got it, baby” - and let’s face it, Terry’s always made it a point to be creepy and inappropriate to friends and foes alike.

In Mercy, do you think Terry burning down Mike’s store was HeyThisIsBusiness!Terry, or Jealous!Terry?

Either because he’s paranoid Mike has an attraction to Daniel, or he knew for a fact Mike did during TKK3 (never mind Mike would never act on it now, being a good man who is loyal to and in love with his wife, the daughter of the man who saved his life).

Either way, now it’s clear he has to send Mike a message to stay away from what’s his — because Terry is irrationally paranoid and will not stand anyone trying to steal his boy from him (hell he thinks Daniel’s own children are a threat to their life). Did Barnes really think that giving him that lawyers’s number was going to get him into Danny’s bed? But clearly Danny forgave Mike if he went to him for help. Why forgive Mike and not him?

One thing’s definitely consistent in canon/fiction: Get in Terry’s way of getting to Daniel, and suffer the consequences.

I kinda hope Terry “interrogates” Daniel about the men in his life down the road. I’m sure he’s been wondering how much of a rival for Daniel they really are, and why Daniel was so willing to forgive everyone but Terry.

It’s still so odd that the writers decided a sauna of all places would be a great place for that confrontation.

I don’t know if this means they are aware or it just proves their complete lack of self awareness 🤔

Consider to, that they never show Terry below the waist with the towel around his shoulders - leaving us to wonder if Terry is, in fact, striding in with his wang out - like a peacock strutting - I mean if it’s proportional (which I think it is) - total power move.

Then poor Daniel (Ralph) in his bathrobe done up to this throat (bless).

That’s what drives the boys crazy Daniel - like Victoria times when you’d show ankles and men would lose their minds.

Said it before and I’ll say it again: Always down up like some vestal virgin - like a Victorian maiden of good breeding.

We know Terry wanted to be Daniel’s friend - bless that TIG interview - and the apology was sincere.

So it must sting to know that not only would he not even hear Terry out but that he forgave every one else - and to his mind, probably for worse offences.

I mean to Terry’s view - he says his behaviour was unacceptable but look at what Mike did - he terrorized and laid hands on Daniel (Terry never touched Daniel) but Daniel accepted HIS apology.

So I think some of the hurt and jealousy did influence his decision to burn his business down.

It is endlessly fascinating to me - Daniel’s capacity to forgive those who apologize (and those who don’t even though they should cough cough Johnny - you almost killed the boy and no, it’s not a joke) no matter what they did to him.

Chozen tried to kill him and Mike stranded him at the bottom of a cliff plus a bunch of other brutal stuff.

No amount of physical harm was ever done by Terry - at the point it time when he tried to apologize - Terry never laid a hand on him.

But he did something that I assume Daniel thinks is much worse.

Terry did something to him no one else did.

Terry lied to him.

I used to think that was it - that was the difference between them - no one else lied to Daniel (although I guess Mike is a lie by omission in a way) BUT I think now, that there is more to it - it’s that Terry made Daniel face a hard truth- there is, without a doubt, a little cobra Kai in him.

You liked it.

And the truth is - Terry was right - Daniel did like it - he was raving to Jessica all the stuff he could do and how it was so different from miyagi. He was on some sort of high in that scene.

He realized it was wrong after and is guilty, but in the moment he 💯 liked it.

This is also confirmed in CB when he talks about being SEDUCED by cobra Kai and how it felt.

There’s always been a little cobra Kai in you.

Daniel strikes first.

He knows there is no such thing as a fair fight.

There is so much anger in him.

Arguably capable of murder (re: end of season 3) and also ask if Miyagi why he didn’t commit murder against Kreese - they’re in a park of full of witnesses and murder is wrong Danny-boy.

ALL Cobra qualities.

Terry also made him think he was a friend - which, considering he is never really shown to have many friends - that must have hurt.

I mean Daniel says you tortured me - but let’s be honest - all his men have - Chozen tried to fight him to the literal death - but the key to my theory is what he says to Terry in the mini Mart - you turned me into something I’m not.

And Terry - no he’s not having that - he’s not letting Daniel try to lie to himself or to Terry - to try and hide behind that.

Succinctly pointing out - no, I didn’t - that anger was always inside you - you just don’t want to admit there was always a little bit of cobra Kai in you.

That hits a nerve - Daniel just staring - shouldering past Terry.

What more could he say?

Hard to counter the truth.

How big a problem is racism in modern football?

Racism in football is a longstanding issue that has yet to be eradicated. The sport, which is beloved by millions around the world, has been marred by instances of racist behaviour from players, coaches, fans, and even governing bodies. These forms of discrimination not only hurt the individuals who are targeted, but also harm sport as a whole and the communities that support it. This begs the question what is being done to tackle it?

One of the most prominent ways in which racism has manifested itself in football is through the use of racial slurs and other forms of verbal abuse directed at players, coaches, and officials. 

In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile incidents, including the case of John Terry, who was accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand during a match in 2011. More recently, in 2019, Raheem Sterling was subjected to racial abuse by a spectator during a match against Chelsea.  

As football fans, we need to take greater responsibility. It can be just as bad not calling out this behaviour. So, I question why this behaviour is not being reported and called out as frequently as possibly it should be. 

Perhaps we should consider some form of incentivisation e.g. encouraging fans to report instances of racism by offering a drink. Do you think this would make fans more likely to report racist behaviour?

Another form of racism in football is discrimination in hiring and management. There is a significant lack of diversity in coaching and management positions. 

A study by the Sports People’s Think Tank found that only 4% of professional coaches in England are black, despite the fact that 28% of professional players are black. 

This lack of diversity in leadership positions perpetuates stereotypes and discrimination against black players and coaches. Having said this, it is challenging to arrive at possible solutions, although steps are starting to be taken as I will illustrate later. 

Racism in football is also a manifestation of the racism within the societies where sport takes place. Football clubs can act as symbols of a community, and racist attitudes that are present in a community can be reflected in the attitudes of the fans and officials of a football club. 

Racism can also be found in the way the media covers football. Raheem Sterling spoke out against the media and stood up for his Manchester City colleague  Tosin Adarabioyo when the Daily Mail portrayed him in a very different manner to another white Manchester City youngster Phil Foden. 

It is clear from this example that Adarabioyo was portrayed negatively for buying a house for his family for a large sum of money, when they were happy to show Foden as a hero for the same thing. 

Racist stereotypes and biased representation of players can contribute to discrimination and prejudice. How are newspapers such as the Daily Mail  allowed to get away with this with no form of punishment or sanction? 

To eradicate racism in football, a multifaceted approach is needed. 

One important step is to address racist behaviour when it occurs. This includes holding individuals and groups accountable for their actions and imposing penalties when necessary. This could include fines, bans, and other sanctions. 

Furthermore, it is crucial to raise awareness and educate individuals on the issue of racism, as some may not recognise the harmful effects of their behaviour.

Another important step is to increase diversity and representation in leadership positions within the sport. This can be achieved through initiatives such as the "Rooney Rule", named after NFL team owner Dan Rooney.  

The ruling requires teams to interview at least one person of colour for head coaching and senior football operation vacancies. This will ensure that all voices are heard and will help to break down the stereotypes that have long been associated with football.

In addition, FIFA and other governing bodies of football should also play a leading role in addressing racism. This could include creating and enforcing stricter policies on racist behaviour, promoting diversity and inclusion, and providing resources for players, coaches, and officials to report racist incidents. 

Moreover, creating partnerships with anti-discrimination groups, promoting anti-discrimination campaigns, and fostering a sense of community ownership in football clubs can help to combat racism. This can be achieved through fan engagement initiatives and supporting local community groups that promote diversity and inclusion.

Finally, it is important to recognise that racism in football is a symptom of a larger societal issue. Racism in football cannot be fully eradicated unless it is addressed in society as a whole. It is essential therefore that all people work together to combat discrimination and prejudice in all forms, both in the world of football and beyond. 

In conclusion, racism in football is a serious and ongoing issue that must be addressed. It is not enough to simply condemn racist behaviour; real action must be taken to educate, raise awareness, and stand against racism.

Thanks for reading and please comment on whether you think enough is being done to combat racism, and if not, what you think should be happening.

N0923346

"Looking Back" at Cinéma Vérité

The cinéma vérité documentaries of the 1960s, namely “Primary” by Drew Associates and “Dont Look Back” by D.A Pennebaker, are revolutionary for not only the way that they document the events in front of the camera, but the technology they used to do it. Both of these films would not have been able to exist without portable, lightweight cameras and syncable audio, as the entirety of their footage is based on unstaged things happening when the camera just happens to be there rather than structured interviews and dedicated filming sessions. The equipment that made this type of filming possible was created for this exact purpose, made quiet, small, and portable in order to travel around with the subject of the film. P.J. O’Connell wrote about this, saying “almost all the Drew-Leacock-Pennebaker equipment was based on pre-existing equipment…By adapting equipment, rather than designing it, Drew and his associates had cut months, probably years, off the development process and saved significant sums of money.” If it weren’t for this method, the tech needed for these films would probably have not existed by the time of the Democratic Primary of 1960 or the Bob Dylan tour of 1965.

Additionally, what makes these documentaries so special is that for both of them, it seems that the subject(s) never even notice that the camera is there. That’s not only because of how these cameras were developed, but because of the style of filmmaking of the time. As Louis Menand writes, thes films occupy "an unusual place in the history of documentary…made at a moment when the onstage/backstage distinction on which [their] fly-on-the-wall method depended was starting to collapse.” Both documentaries show their subject(s) while they’re “on,” whether it be performing or giving a speech to thousands of people. This is how the general public remembers them, as it’s how they’re best known. But “Primary” and “Dont Look Back” each go behind the scenes, letting us see the process Dylan goes through while writing a song or the stress that Kennedy goes through waiting for the next county to be called. 

When examining “Dont Look Back,” these behind-the-scene looks are a rare treat intermixed between long clips of Dylan performing. As Richard Porton writes, “as captivating as these concert excerpts are for Dylan fans, the film remains a Direct Cinema classic because of its unflinching, if good-humored, glimpses of the behind-the-scenes machinations of the tour— particularly Dylan’s often acrimonious exchanges with the press.” An especially memorable scene comes when Dylan verbally spars with Terry Ellis, a science student who is seemingly attempting to conduct some sort of interview or Q&A session with him. After a few questions Dylan didn’t seem to appreciate (“What about before you had your friends?”) and an attempt to connect with him on a deeper level (“What’s your attitude on life?”), Dylan fires back with a litany of questions of his own. “What good is it for me to get to know you?” “Aren’t you an artist? No? What are you?” “What don’t you know that you want to learn?” He then equates Ellis to other interviewers after he says something he doesn’t like, saying that “I never said that. You’re misquoting me already. See, that’s another journalist thing.” What’s particularly interesting about this whole back and forth is that despite Dylan’s seeming lack of trust or appreciation for press, he pays no mind to the giant camera filming the entire exchange. This is a nonverbal way that Dylan is expressing that this documentary avoids his typical lack of faith in the social institution that is journalism. However the documentarians went about obtaining the ability to film Dylan, he obviously appreciates what they’ve been doing or otherwise they’d be being treated the same way.

“Primary” on the other hand, is almost entirely behind-the-scene looks. You hear the occasional speech by Kennedy and Humphry, but often, the camera cuts away right before they get on camera or utilizes unique shots that we wouldn’t have seen before. With this, the documentary provides a true insight into things that had never truly been seen before, instead of simply a different lens on famous appearances by the two Senators. “Primary” avoids the lack of faith in politics by embodying the “fly on the wall” technique. There’s no interviews that could sway the audience one way or the other, the amount of footage between JFK and Humphry is nearly 50/50, nothing that could create bias. It’s just an edited-together package of true events from both of their campaigns. And while each candidate may have been holding back while on camera, its clear that what they were saying wasn’t untruthful.

  -Haley Ruccio

  Pennebaker, D. A., Chris Hegedus, and Richard Porton. “The View From Backstage: An Interview With D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.” Cinéaste 41, no. 3 (2016): 24–33. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26356423.

Drew Associates. “Cinema Verite.” drewassociates.com/cinema-verite/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.

PIC DAY

PIC DAY - https://keywestlou.com/pic-day/I rarely go out in my old age. It is not my age actually that is the reason. COVID did it. I was fearful of becoming infected. Became a recluse. Stayed in. Did not go out except for doctor and hospital visits for 342 days. Now, I can't kick the habit. I did go out last thursday evening as I mentioned the other day. Dinner at Antonia's with Dan and Lisa Riordon of Skaneateles, N.Y. Dan and Lisa have been Key West visitors for 18 years. Generally, the month of January. Now, January and February. Die hard Syracuse fans. They owned and operated a restaurant in Skaneateles for years. Sold it 3 years ago. A tough business. Now enjoying life. I had not been out in more than 3 weeks when we had dinner at Antonia's. The smile on our faces tell the story. We had a wonderful time! I promised them we would go out again this week.     Picture #2 relates to another blog I wrote last week. The one where I was best man at Bob and Helen Marks' wedding 42 years ago in Maine. I mentioned I had hair at the time. Something lacking at this stage of my life. Several wrote and asked if I had any photos showing hair. I recalled Bob and Helen's wedding photo and had them send it to me. I was 47 when the photo was taken. Look at the that full head of hair! Amazing! I was also thin. No more.     Syracuse/Notre Dame last night. A great game! Syracuse won 78-73. The victory itself not the story. it is the way Syracuse achieved the victory. Syracuse was behind by 4 at half. No big deal. It was close most of the first half. Notre Dame is a 3 point shooting team. All 5 players pop up the 3's. They were dropping like rain drops. All over the place. Notre Dame made 15 3 pointers during the game. Notre Dame could not miss. Especially in the first 8 minutes of the second half. With 12 minutes remaining, Syracuse was down 12 points. On its way to losing. Even Boeheim thought so. In his post game interview, he said, "Heck of a comeback, we were in jeopardy." Boeheim's coaching genius came into play at that point. He put 4 freshmen on the floor and went into a full court press. Turned the game around! Notre Dame lost its cool. The freshmen began making Syracuse 3's. Most people are unaware what a bee hive of Ku Klux Klan activity Key West was 100 years ago. The story. The Ku Klux Klan was established in Key West in the early 1920's. Always a reason for something to occur. In this instance, Key West's Black community was organizing. The white population feared the activity. Marcus Garvey, a black man and international figure in the national black equality movement, visited Key West. Garvey was in effect the Martin Luther King Jr. of his day. Key West leaders gathered together to establish the Klan in the Keys. Charles Ketchum of Key West became the Grand Dragon for the State of Florida. Key West became the headquarters for the State organization. Its offices were located on Eaton Street. Violence and terror erupted in South Florida under Ketchum. Florida experienced more lynchings per capita than any other State in the Union. Hard to believe such occurred. Key West today is the Home of One Human Family. A 2022 Syracuse University study found that a taxpayer in the lowest and middle income brackets was five times more likely to face an audit than a member in the highest bracket. The millionaires, billionaires and corporations do not face the same abuse. On this day in 2009, Pilot "Sully" Sullenberger performed the "Miracle on the Hudson." By so doing, he averted a major disaster. His heroic display of skill and composure responsible.. Sully was piloting a US Airways flight which collided with a flock of geese. His engines failed. The plane was carrying 150 passengers and 5 crew members. Sully safely landed the plane on the Hudson River. An impossible feat. All lives were saved. Sully became an instantaneous American hero. Deservedly so! Wear long pants, sweater or jacket and go to the gardens later today. A treat of treat awaits. Terri White sings! Enjoy your Sunday!      

Thomas was asked in an interview if he believes Terry is redeemable and what he says is very interesting.

1. This gives us a bit of context of what his motivations will be and are next season. He's doing this because he wants to impact the kids and give them tools that will help them thrive in society. The original reason why he and Kreese made Cobra Kai in the first place.

2. He says that he's had a lack of love, which makes sense now why he's so devoted and dependant on Kreese. He'll do anything to get love from someone and now that Kreese is gone, I wonder how that will affect him.

What are you're thoughts on this?

The idea that Terry truly wants to continue what he and Kreese started is interesting. I assumed he took Cobra Kai as more of a fuck you to Kreese - forcing Kreese to watch Cobra Kai be successful without him. Terry still believing in their goal gives this an emotional twist, and directly contradicts his statement about cutting Kreese out of his life lol. Seems like a way to keep Kreese's memory going.

Terry's always been distant from Cobra Kai, even though he's co-founder. Now it's all his and we'll see how it's shaped in his vision. I wonder if it will deviate from the original philosophy. A lot of CK ideology seems based around his and Kreese's traumas: The idea you're never safe, you have to hit first, mercy makes you vulnerable, which gets you killed. What specific fears is Terry going to bring?

The lack of love makes me depressed for him. Kreese was his only source of comfort, then he was alone for 30 years, and when Kreese came back, Kreese wasn't willing to be open again. Terry's going to spiral now. He's always had everything, been able to buy everything, but love.

Big thanks to wonderful Brazilian friend, Isa for helping me to translate. Here's full translation from interview last night or early this morning.

Fabio: Hello guys, today i brought an interview with the author Luke Arnold, who wrote The Last Smile in Sunder City. Hello Mr. Arnold. Thank you so much for accepting answering this interview. I normally start asking the interviewed introduce themselves. Could you speak to us a little about you?

LA: Hello Fabio and everyone in Brazil! Until some years ago, my main profession was acting. always balanced that with writing and movie production, but I officially became an author last year. The Last Smile in Sunder City is my first romance of a detective series ongoing that follows Fetch Phillips, a [i really forgot this word but i'll edit in a sec] in a fantasy world where magic has died.

Fabio (Q1): I imagine that many authors influenced you during a long time, right? Could you tell us if there was an specific author that "caught" you to the fantasy world and influenced [your] writing?

LA: Most of what i "digested"[?] as kid came more from movies and video games, than books. i think i had some mismatches [?] with fantasy stories that seemed unreachable [?], until i found Terry Pratchett. The book series "Discworld" were a perfect mix of comedy, adventure and heart to invite me to the gender and made me search for me.

Fabio (Q3): The majority of people that I know here in Brazil, know you especially for your role in Black Sails (an excellent TV show). Besides actor, director, script writer, now you are an author. Do you believe that this previous jobs made easier when to write "The Last Smile in Sunder City?" (in the sense of world-building, creativity, script, etc)?

LA: There's many abilities that you need to be an actor, but a comprehension of the story and the character is essential, be you working in a quite easy job or a great epic like Black Sails, you need to know how tear apart a script, understand its place in history and make clear and specific choices. I worked in many excellent and terrible projects and read thousands of incredible and terrible scripts, in which probably helped me to prepare to write my own stories.

Fabio (Q4): And speaking of Black Sails, it's impossible to not make some connections when reading. Fetch is an ironic character, with a past that torments him, and others characteristics. When reading, i constantly compared him to Long John Silver. So the question is... had Long John Silver an influence in the creation of Fetch Phillips?

LA: I started to write "The Last Smile in Sunder City" when I was working on Black Sails, so I'm sure there was some elements that appeared [not voluntarily?]. Naturally, there'll be a little of me in both characters. People certainly will find some parallels, even thought it isn't intentional. To me, Silver knew the world he lived was unfair, so he was capable of not being guilty and do what needed to save himself. he put his past by side with the objective of going ahead. fetch is linked to his past - obsessed by it- and being smashed by the weight of his own fault. I think Fetch could learn a little from Silver.

Fabio (Q5): One of the main characteristics of this first book is the world-building. You created a fantastic world. It was hard to imagine it, or there was parts more difficult to create?

LA: Having ideas is the easy part, but to choose the scenario that better adapts to the characters and themes can be more difficult. I can always imagine Fetch wandering on Sunder's streets, finding in various ex-magical creatures, but I try to present him to the enemies and allies that will bring up his internal conflict. Sometimes, I have to resist in rushing some new creation, if that isn't going to add nothing to add to Fetch's journey at that moment.

Fabio (Q6:) Despite being a world with magical creatures, much can be associated with human problems. Do you believe that we can associate the end of magic with what human beings are doing to the earth itself in real life?

LA: There are definite parallels with climate change, but I have always seen the death of magic as something more personal and internal. I think the world (our world) is a really magical place. We all see this when we're younger, but then we make certain choices, we're led down certain paths, and we're often removed from that magic in adulthood. There is more than one theme at stake in these books, but Fetch's struggle to open up, forgive himself, be part of his community and find happiness is reflected in the world without magic more than any comment on industrialization.

Fabio (Q7): Another association I couldn't stop to do was imagine a book adaptation, with you playing Fetch. There's any possibility of having the book being adapted in the future?

LA: I would love to see these stories adapted in the movies and TV. At the moment, I'm focusing more in the books, trying to put the maximum of story on the paper before that happens, but would be a dream to see Sunder City come to life in the screen.

Fabio (Q8): This is your first book here in Brazil, but the sequel was already released. What we can expect from this sequel?

LA: In the first part, Fetch is fight to survive every day, oppressed by guilty, addiction and lack of hope. In "Dead Man a Ditch", Fetch is hired to investigate a murder that seemed to happen with magic. knowing that magic disappeared six years ago, he's forced to question himself if this darkness could have some secrets.

Fabio (Q9): Another thing I would like to ask is about the future works. Recently I saw that you were finishing the third book of Fetch's series, right? For what I searched before, it would be two books, but this third book appeared. It was already planned, or it appeared with time? Do you have other works, Fetch's or different others in mind?

LA: These are the histories of a detective, instead of parts of a traditional fantasy series. Each book is built around a case which Fetch is hired to investigate. I always planned to write a lot of books, each one like a auto-contained [translation: CSI episodes?], built in search of a final epic fantasy that will come when the time comes.

Fabio (Q10): To end, I would like to thank you again for accepting to answer, congratulate you for the book and I would like to know if you could leave a word to all your readers and fans from Brazil?

LA: Thank you for your fantastic questions, Fabio. I thank all my fans from Brazil. Thanks from supporting my career so much and my first book! i was planning to go to Brazil before COVID-19 changed everything. But i'm hoping for the that I'll finally can visit your beautiful country.

Source: Fabio Pedreira

Old School X is a project interviewing X-Files fanfic authors who were posting fic during the original run of the show. New interviews are posted every Tuesday.

Interview with VivWiley

VivWiley has X-Files stories at more archives than I could list, but you can find the biggest collection (30 stories) at AO3. She's been prolific and around the fandom for a long time. I've recced some of my favorites of her stories here before, including Autumn's Threshold and Equilibrium. Big thanks to VivWiley for doing this interview.

Does it surprise you that people are still interested in reading your X-Files fanfics and others that were posted during the original run of the show (1993-2002)?

It does and it doesn’t.  As someone who is always discovering new shows and new fandoms, I know that one of the first things I do is go hunting for the related fic.  I love the ways that fanfic can fill in missing gaps, give us other POVs, and just generally help us see characters that we love (or are growing to love) in new lights. The X-Files, in particular, left so many freaking plot holes and jumps in logic, that I suppose it’s logical that people newly discovering TXF would gravitate to the fic.

What do you think of when you think about your X-Files fandom experience? What did you take away from it?

First, I should say that my “fandom” experience was really limited to the fanfic for TXF.  I didn’t get involved in discussions about the actors, the show runners, etc. Nor did I go to any of the conventions.  But, from the fanfic experience, I remain astonished by how many smart, funny, wonderful women I met (sorry, guys, I know you were out there, but I mostly didn’t get to know you), and how many of them are still close friends. My life would be infinitely less interesting and rich without all those friendships.

I also took away from that experience a confidence in my own creativity that I didn’t previously have.  I have done a great deal of professional writing throughout my career – policies, reports, protocols – but TXF fic writing allowed me to exercise a whole other part of my brain and heart.  It was fun and also felt like another way of learning and building a skill set I’d lacked.

Finally, I say that it was an early exposure for me to both the good and ill that online communities can foster.  There so many amazing acts of kindness and support.  One of my friends organized the Beta Readers Circle, a group of volunteer fic editors who would read and help you with stories on everything from grammar to “is this character acting in character” questions.  I both used and volunteered with the BRC. On the flip side, some of the discussion threads on the email lists could get a bit ugly.  Forerunner to the comment threads on today’s posts. So, humanity in a nutshell, right?

Social media didn't really exist during the show's original run. How were you most involved with the X-Files online (atxc, message board, email mailing list, etc.)?

I initially discovered XF fic through a Washington Post article that was trying to drum up interest in the World Wide Web (as it was then talked about).  Every week, they featured a list of “hey you might find this cool/interesting” sites, and one week one of the sites they listed was the Gossamer archive.  I dove in and emerged utterly hooked.  I also discovered one of the early fic mailing lists (the name of which now escapes me), and from there I began sending feedback, which allowed me to start building relationships with authors, etc.  I later joined other mailing lists like Scullyfic, Sparky’s Doghouse, etc. I never connected with atxc or the message boards, really.

What was it that got you hooked on the X-Files as a show?

The characters! Particularly Scully, at first.  It was clear from almost the beginning that the “story arc” (or the notion that there actually was an arc) was pure fiction, but I loved the relationships between the characters, the nuances that so many of them had, and the interplay of the notion of skeptic-believer could have.  And, of course, later on, Skinner was a personal favorite. [Lilydale note: VivWiley wrote a number of really great fics featuring Skinner.]

What is your relationship like now to X-Files fandom?

In many ways I think about TXF and TXF fandom in the same way I think about fond memories from high school or college.  Something that helped shape who I am today, in ways that aren’t always straight-forwardly apparent.  I still don’t really get involved (or care TBH) about the lives of the actors, the politics of the show construction, etc. I keep in touch with a large number of fandom alumni, and we will still occasionally reference the show, but our real-life connections have long-since overtaken TXF as our common denominator.

Were you involved with any fandoms after the X-Files? If so, what was it like compared to X-Files?

I read and wrote in several other fandoms post-XF, but nothing ever grabbed me in the same way, and I certainly never found the kind of real community that I did through XF.

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters? Why?

I think I’m drawn to characters who are human – flawed, nuanced, neither purely good nor purely evil – and who are ultimately driven by higher principle or purpose, even as they make mistakes along the way. From early days, King Arthur was a particular favorite, as are Raederle from the Riddle Master of Hed series (Patricia McKillip), Sam Vines (Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series), and Codi Noline (Animal Dreams, Barbara Kingsolver).

Do you ever still watch The X-Files or think about Mulder and Scully?

I did watch the most recent reboot/seasons of XF (and try not to think of them too much as I don’t need that kind of stress).  I do think about Mulder, Scully and Skinner on occasion.  Sometimes when the news reports something particularly weird or absurd, I wonder how Mulder and Scully would react to that, or amuse myself by thinking about how Skinner would be clenching his jaw and subtly undermining the current misuse of federal law enforcement resources.

Do you ever still read X-Files fic? Fic in another fandom?

I still read a lot of fic.  I kind of cycle through fandoms.  I read a lot of Marvel stuff, but have gone through other fic cycles.  I tend to find an author I like and then follow them into other fandoms.  That is, if I can find characters and stories in those fandoms that call to me.

Do you have any favorite X-Files fanfic stories or authors?

I’m a really old school XF ficcer, so some of the folks who drew me into the genre were writers like Madeleine Partous, Parrotfish, Meredith, MustangSally, Rivka, etc.

There are so, so many other writers and authors I could mention, so I think I’ll just stick to some of my early favs.

What is your favorite of your own fics, X-Files and/or otherwise?

In XF, my favorite is Equilibrium.  It was the most plotting I’d done, and one where I wrote from several POVs and where I had to really let the characters tell the story. In order to avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that there was a moment where a character did something I thought was really stupid, and I actually quit writing the story for about a week during which I argued with the character.  Then I had to go back and just let the story unfold. It’s the only time I’ve ever actually shed tears while writing a scene, but at the end of the day (end of the story?) it was the correct decision for the story I was writing.

Of other fandoms in which I’ve written, I think Fieldstripping (Farscape) and Gravity is not Responsible for your Fall (Firefly/Serenity) are ones where I felt I got it most “right.”

Do you think you'll ever write another X-Files story? Or dust off and post an oldie that for whatever reason never made it online?

I actually have a long Skinner-related story that I’ve been threatening to write for about 10 years.  I have it 80% outlined and a very clear picture of the first and last scenes…. I just need to find the energy and focus to sit down and start writing.  I think I finally tracked down all my old fic and it’s posted up to AO3.

What's the story behind your pen name?

Which one?  Ha!  I’ve had a few.  Viv Wiley is a weird one – it just sort of came to me while driving one day.  Not entirely sure where it came from, just settled into my brain while at a stoplight in Northern Virginia (where I was living at the time).  I ultimately consolidated all my fic under that name.

Do your friends and family know about your fic and, if so, what have been their reactions?

Some friends and family know.  I’m judicious in who I tell.  I think people find it surprising, and of course, up until 5 years ago or so, I’d have to explain what fanfic is to most folks.  Now it’s so mainstream that I think if I were to tell someone new about it they wouldn’t be that surprised.

Is there a place online (tumblr, twitter, AO3, etc.) where people can find you and/or your stories now?

Everything is on AO3 under VivWiley

Is there anything else you'd like to share with fans of X-Files fic?

At the end of the day, what I care about is stories.  I think about the Doctor Who quote:  We’re all stories in the end, just make it a good one.  I am so grateful for all the nooks, crannies, and giant chasms of plot holes that the XF writers left for us to fill in.  Through that filling in, I discovered so many other wonderful stories, and wonderful writers and people.

(Posted by Lilydale on September 8, 2020)

Another Sir Terry Pratchett interview on the details of writing Good Omens with Neil Gaiman. (More about this process x).

Question about how he goes about collaborating with someone else (Neil Gaiman).

Terry: “You make them do what you want”.

You can ignore this if you want. I just wanted to go on a positive rant about the Good Omens book, and how fucking great it is and why

After reading Good Omens (cover to cover) 5 times in 6 months, back to back, I can honestly say, it’s my second favorite book of all time, beat only by Fahrenheit 451 (which is just an utterly fantastic book). I had decided to buy the book for myself last December after watching the show a bunch of times, not to far from Christmas, so I considered it a Christmas gift to myself. I began reading it as soon as it showed up, cause I’d bought it off of Amazon. And instantly, it just pulled me in. (Also, ironically, a few hours after it arrived, my family and I went to one of the local chapels downtown, to enjoy a night of carols, and I’d taken the book with me. Felt a little blasphemous, sitting in that chapel, reading Good Omens, but I didn’t mind) As soon as I finished my first read, I turned back to the front cover, and started the whole thing over again. I started taking it to work with me, and I’d read it during very slow hours. I reread that book 3 times at work. (Everyone I work with grew kind of attached to the sight of me reading my Good Omens book behind front desk, and they always got exasperated, when I told them I was starting over again) After only 6 months of owning the book, I’ve read it 5 times, and I’d technically started a 6th, because I wanted to read it out loud to my brother. But we both kind of gave up on that. I just can’t stop reading it! It’s such a unique book! The tone of Good Omens is unlike any book I’ve ever read. It’s funny, but also very serious, but also action packed, but very calm all at the same time. I’ve never seen a book use footnotes, aside from textbooks, and in such an amazing way. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett thought out so many details of this book. The characters are so well thought out, and some of the most unique characters I’ve ever seen. It handles religion both respectfully and humorously. As an Atheist, I was really concerned about the religious aspects of Good Omens, both the show and the book. But the show handled it so well, and the book was no different. The theological discussions the characters have are very deep and thought provoking, and the jokes are incredibly funny without being offensive. There are some very very small aspects of the book I don’t like, but it’s literally a sentence here, or a line of dialogue there, and it truly is a product of the time, not the authors. There are just, so many random parts to this book, enough to keep me both entertained, and interested, wanting to see what crazy thing happens next! The language used in the book is very intellectual at times, and incredibly adult, intellectually speaking. But at the same time, there are whole pages where the writing is very word vomity (for lack of a better term). But it never deters me from the book itself. Maybe it’s my ADHD, but it’s always the same places where I just get lost sometimes, not understanding what the hell is happening. But, it just adds to the book, instead of taking away from it. It’s just such a great book. I’m honestly kind of sad that I’d never even heard of Good Omens until May of last year, when every other post on my Tumbr dash was about Good Omens coming to Amazon Prime. I kind of wish I’d read the book before watching the show. There’s something beautiful and just, chaotic about the book, in the best way possible, and I love every part of it. I’ve only had my copy for 6 months, but I’ve  read it so many times, taken it to work so many times, that the front cover has so many bend and folds, the spine is very worn, and there are a few small tears here and there. I was a little upset the first time I bent the front cover, straight down the middle because it had gotten a little messed around in my bag. I wanted to keep it in really good condition, because I like to pride myself on the condition of my books. Most of them have any bends, and the most read ones are very well taken care of. But after a while, I found I didn’t care. The condition of my Good Omens book is a tribute to how much I love it, and how many times I’ve read it because of how good it is! This book is honestly a classic, and I know I’ve only had it for 6 months, but I could tell, after my very first cover to cover (kind of, because there are a couple of interviews with Neil and Terry at the end of my book, but I don’t usually read those) read through, I knew I was going to love this book for a very long time. And I still think that. Here’s to hoping that one day, I’ll get to read this to my kids (when their like, 12, cause this is a bit too adult for a 5 year olds bed time story)