TrekGirl welcomes m. c. moose.  This author readily agreed to be interviewed by me and what do I do?  Take about a month to get the finished article up is all!  I'm bad, I know. :-(

At any rate I do hope that you find this interview has been worth waiting for.  Personally, and I'm biased of course, I think that you will.
 

TrekGirl asks:

How would you describe yourself?

I'll leave that to the reader's imagination.

How long have you been writing?

After a twenty-year hiatus, about two years.

Would you share some of the reasons for that, and after so long without writing what, specifically, drew you back to it and got the creative juices flowing again?

I stopped writing when I was in college, when it was clear that I wasn't Pulitzer prize material (which was the only sort of writer my college encouraged) and focused on science instead.  Strangely enough, fanfiction lured me back to writing.  It looked like such a fun sandbox, and the other kids playing there were kind and encouraging.

What is your preferred fandom and why?

All my fanfiction has been Janeway-centric, but I enjoy reading other Voyager stories and some DS9 as well.  I've not explored TNG or TOS fanfiction much because there are only 24 hours in a day.

If this is not part of the previous answer, why write about Star Trek?

It's a great sandbox to play in -- a wonderful setting, filled with interesting characters.

Who are your favourite characters and what drew you to write about them?

Janeway (obviously).  I think it's fair to say I'd been waiting thirty years for TPTB to give her to us.  I enjoy writing almost all the Voyager characters, although I admit I have a hard time finding some of their voices.  Q and Boothby are hoots to write.

If you write relationship pairings (e.g. J/C), which pairing is it and how would you describe the relationship in canon and in your own fictional interpretation?

In my stories, I assume Janeway has developed a closer personal relationship to Chakotay than canon admits, and I acknowledge the canon relationship of Paris and Torres.  Generally, though, romantic relationships are not the focus of my stories.

As Janeway is your favourite character, how do you think she, as a female captain, has been written throughout the series by TPTB?  How does her development compare, do you think, to her male Trek counterparts?

I think the writers face an inherently difficult task -- writing a 24th century Starship captain who happens to be a woman for a 20th/21st century audience who finds such an idea rather remarkable.  It's difficult for them to write a woman captain as the non-issue it should be.  The fact that Janeway is a woman should be no more notable than the fact that Sisko is African-Amercian, and both should be less notable than the fact that Picard has a French name yet a British accent.

Do you subscribe to the theory that Janeway's character has been written erratically over the last couple of seasons, or do you think it's all part of  TPTB's wisdom to demonstrate the isolation of command?

I think it's admirable for TPTB to explore the issues associated with the isolation of command, but frankly don't feel they've done a very impressive job.  The DS9 writers did a better job with Sisko.  They captured his initial bitterness (toward Picard) and skepticism (toward Bajoran religion) as well as his obsessions (with Eddington and Dukat), yet made it all play within the context of being a dedicated and admirable Starfleet officer.
The Voyager writers haven't been as successful, I don't think.  We still don't fully understand the extent to which Janeway feels she must maintain "a captain's distance" (nor why she feels this way, given Voyager's extraordinary circumstances).  I'm willing to accept that Janeway might battle despair and depression (as shown in "Night"), but not for the reasons given, nor to have her demons purged by one good battle with the Malons.  You can't handle Janeway's depression (or Torres' survivor guilt) in a one-shot episode -- these are problems that require long-term exploration/resolution.

Also with the recent addition of the holodeck character, Michael Sullivan, as a
companion, what do you think this says about Janeway and or the Voyager writing staff?

I think TPTB opened a can of worms they're ill-prepared to handle.  There's a
ton of potentially challenging issues here (from the status of holographic beings to whether Janeway's use of a hologram reaffirms or denies her humanity), but
the writers prefer to deal with Harry kissing a cow.

What do you think makes for a good story?

Oh, many things can.  Some of the best fanfiction stories are quiet character pieces, other are rousing adventures.  And I think most of us even enjoy the better written PWPs.

When you read another author's fan fiction what do you look for?  Are these elements to be found in your own work?

I'm a stickler for accurate characterization.  Unless the author is intentionally exploring alternate universe versions, I expect the characters in the story to act like the characters we see in the show (well, they can be more interesting and multidimensional, but still).  If Janeway comes off as a love-sick teenager, my teeth start to hurt.  If writers want to invent new characters, that's fine.  I don't dismiss every original character as a Mary Sue.  But don't reinvent the established characters.  That's just jarring to the reader.  Yes, I try to write the Voyager characters accurately.  It's up to the reader to decide whether I succeed.

Do your stories have a theme, such as loss, belonging, abandonment etc.  What are they?

A number of my stories deal with the theme of redemption.  Most explore personal growth and discovery.  I heard someone on the net complain that the crew of Voyager were going to return to the Alpha Quadrant completely unchanged by their Delta Quadrant experience.  I hope that's not true -- it would be a tragedy if it were.  A few of my stories are just silly.

I'd like to share an example of your writing style, please choose a scene from one of your completed works and describe what you are trying to achieve in the snippet (dialogue or narrative direction).

Well, this is a bit long, but what the hey.  It's from "A Single Act of Compassion," a backstory I wrote based on the anecdote Janeway told Seven in "Prey."  My goal in this and the other two stories of the trilogy was to give a little more insight into how Janeway became the commander, and person, that we see on the show.

From "A Single Act of Compassion" ....

        McCloskey and Nyugen took the two forward transport pads; Janeway and Muus occupied the back two.  The middle two stood empty.  She and Lars made a point of not looking at either unfilled slot.  This formation put one of the two security ensigns at point.  Technically, that should be Janeway's position; she was ranking officer.  But it would be blind adherence to protocol to put a junior-grade lieutenant trained in science in command over two ensigns trained in security.  Nobody in the group wanted to die over a point of protocol, so McCloskey or Nyugen took point; the science officer and engineer brought up the rear and did as they were told.

        Her group was the first one out: alpha group.  They beamed to a location some two hundred meters southwest of the compound.  Janeway hated this part of the perimeter; it was filled with rock formations and low cliffs, a perfect place for enemy troops to secure themselves.  Especially this time of day, as the long shadows faded into dusk.  Well, at least they'd get this part over with first, she mused.

        The foursome didn't make it thirty meters before they were attacked.  As they passed a low out-cropping of rocks, two Cardassians jumped on McCloskey and Nyugen.  The action stunned Janeway for an instant: why the hell hadn't the Cardassians just shot them?  They could easily have killed all four of them.  Recovering quickly, she raised her rifle and shot the attacker who was bludgeoning McCloskey.  Her energy beam caught the enemy soldier in his shoulder.  Before she could re-aim, her rifle was ripped from her hands.  As she started to turn, the rifle stock crashed against the side of her face.  Her head exploding with pain, she fell to the ground.  She felt a hand grab the nape of her uniform.  As it started to pull her up, she clawed at the ground, snagging a fist-sized rock.  She twisted against the hand that held her, and pushed with her right leg to add to the momentum her assailant was providing.  Janeway slammed the rock against the Cardassian's temple.  He howled in surprise and pain, pushing her away.  She spun from his grip and used the motion to deliver another vicious blow, this one to the back of his head.  The man crumpled to the ground.

        She looked around frantically, and realized she was blind in her left eye.  But with her right, she saw Lars pinned to the ground.  A large Cardassian was straddling him, choking him; Lars flailed at the man's hands, struggling to breathe.  Janeway stumbled towards them, picking up a larger rock in transit.  She wielded the rock over her head, and slammed it down on the attacker's head.  As the Cardassian slumped to the ground, Lars rolled away gasping.  Janeway straddled the fallen Cardassian and pounded the rock against his head.  The man spasmed, then lay still on his back.  Janeway raised the rock again, and brought it down on the man's face.  His nose cartilage and cheek bones collapsed in a sickening crunch.  She raised the rock over her head again.  The Cardassian appeared to be dead now, but she wanted to be absolutely certain.  This time the rock's blow reduced the man's face to a bloody pulp.  Once more, she raised the rock overhead; she needed to know beyond any possible doubt that this Cardassian would never harm another Starfleet officer.  No matter how many fucking soldiers the Cardassians had on this goddamned planet, this bastard would never hurt Lars again.  Would never hurt her, would never hurt... would never hurt anybody, ever again.  Not if she could help it.  The rock fell again.  And again.

        She heard the discharge of energy weapons behind her and vaguely recognized them as Federation, not Cardassian.  Good.  At least she wasn't going to be shot in the back while dealing with this Cardassian slime.  As she dutifully raised her rock overhead, she felt it yanked from her hands.  She turned to protest, but was pulled roughly to her feet.  "Come on," Lars urged hoarsely, "time to go."

        Janeway resisted his pull.  "My rifle," she objected, not wanting her weapon to fall into Cardassian hands.

        "Rhohana's got it," Muus assured her.

        Still, Janeway pulled away from him.  "McCloskey.  Nyugen," she insisted.

        "Got them, too.  At least their bodies.  Don't think they made it," he rasped.  "Come on!"

        Janeway stumbled against him.  He wrapped an arm around her waist, and they staggered towards the compound.  It was probably three hundred meters to the closest entry.  Once inside, Muus moved them towards the infirmary.  Janeway simply followed his lead.  She was feeling disoriented, and found it difficult to keep her legs working.  It took most of her concentration to remain upright.  Twice an officer from Rhohana's group approached and offered help, but Lars waved him away.

        They reached the infirmary, and lurched towards the closest biobed.  As Lars heaved her onto the bed, Janeway heard his grunt and labored breathing.  Clearly, he was hurt; he shouldn't be lifting her.  Damn, he was a stubborn man!  As she rolled onto her back, she heard Hong's angry voice, "Report!  What the hell happened out there, Lieutenant?"

        Thinking he was talking to her, Janeway tried to rise.  Muus's hands and another pair pushed her back down.  "Alpha group was attacked, sir.  Looked like an ambush," Rhohana replied from across the room.  One of the hands on Janeway's left shoulder was removed; a moment later she felt a hypospray again her neck.

        "Damned right we were ambushed!" Lars cried hoarsely.  "We didn't get fifty meters!  Those bastards were waiting for us, knew we were coming!"

        "Is that true, Lieutenant?" Hong asked.

        "Hard to say, sir.  Could've just been bad luck," Rhohana said.

        Janeway struggled to follow the men's conversation, but whatever was in that hypospray made her mind foggy.  And there was a distracting voice inher left ear.  It sounded like that woman again.  "Hold still, Lieutenant.  There's a lot of damage here.  Looks like we're lucky, though... I think I can save this eye."  Good luck, bad luck... when had her life come to be defined and dictated by luck, Janeway wondered.

        "Fuck your bad luck, Rhohana," Lars seethed.  "I'm getting tired of being a goddamned target!"

        "Ensign, I know you're upset, but you are addressing a superior officer..." Hong warned.

        "Gentleman!" the woman's voice was suddenly louder and more forceful.  "If you must have this conversation, please hold it elsewhere.  I'm trying to treat a patient here."  There was an awkward silence, filled only with the hum of medical instruments; Janeway saw a blur of motion as Lars moved to join Hong and Rhohana.  "No, Ensign, you stay here," the woman continued.  "When I'm finished with the lieutenant, I need you to escort her to her bunk.  And I want to treat those contusions and check out your trachea.  I don't want your windpipe collapsing on you in your sleep."

        As the woman left her side to tend to Lars, Janeway couldn't help but be impressed with how effectively she'd diffused the situation.  Apparently, the woman had skills beyond her medical ones.  Under different circumstances, this might well be someone Kathryn would like to know.  Under the present ones, she just wanted to get the hell out of the woman's infirmary.  "Come on, Ensign, up you go," the woman coaxed Lars onto a nearby biobed.  Janeway floated in a fog and listened to the woman treat Muus' injuries.  "There.  That should feel better," the woman's soothing voice drifted over.  "But I want you and the lieutenant to take it easy.  No patrol duty tomorrow for either of you."

        "I think we can comply with that, Doctor," Lars replied.  "We don't have enough of a group left to mount a patrol, anyway," he added bitterly.

*****

        Janeway woke in the middle of the night.  She'd fallen asleep almost as soon as Lars laid her on her bunk.  But now she was wide awake, the same as most nights since they'd arrived at the outpost.  She'd hoped tonight would be different, that the drugs the woman had given her would let her sleep through 'til morning.  Instead, they only served to keep her mind fuzzy as she lay maddeningly awake.  In some ways, she found the drug's effect pleasant.  It took the edge off her pain.  It took the edge off of everything.  Usually, she disliked the narcotic effect of painkillers.  She hated the sense that she was no longer in command of her faculties, the sense that she wasn't fully in control.  But now the sensation was rather enjoyable.  For a moment, she considered it might be nice to spend the rest of her time on this planet like this.  She shifted on her bunk, guiltily aware that this wasn't a very healthy thought.

        "Kathryn, are you awake?" Lars asked softly.

        "Sort of.  I find it hard to stay asleep."

        "Me too.  I keep thinking about things.  I was thinking about earlier... about what you did out there."

        Kathryn shut her eyes, wishing the action could send her back to a somnolent state.  She did not want to think about what she had done out there.  But Lars interpreted her silence as consent to continue.  "I wanted to thank you.  You saved my life."

        He was right, she realized.  Even if her methods were deplorable, the end product was highly desirable.  "I'm glad what I did had that outcome," she hedged.  "I didn't want that Cardassian to hurt you."

        Lars was quiet for several moments.  Janeway thought perhaps he had gone back to sleep, but finally he spoke again.  "I was thinking about Uzuti," he said.  "I was thinking, if she had to die on this mission... well, perhaps it's best she died when she did."

        Janeway swallowed past the lump in her throat.  "Why would you say that?" she asked.

        "Because I wouldn't have wanted her out there with us today.  I wouldn't have wanted her to... she couldn't have saved me, Kathryn."

        "Lars, that isn't true.  She would have done anything to protect you," Janeway insisted.

        "No.  I don't think so.  Don't misunderstand me.  She would have tried to help.  But she wouldn't have been able to.  Not out there.  She couldn't... she couldn't have done what was necessary."

        Janeway considered Lar's analysis.  Perhaps he was right.  Still... "What I did out there," she confessed.  "It wasn't necessary.  Not... not all of it."

        Again, Lars was quiet for several minutes.  But this time Janeway knew he wasn't asleep.  "No, perhaps not."  Another moment passed.  "But it wasn't unnecessary, either.  You shouldn't let it plague you.  Not while you're trying to sleep.  And certainly not while you're out there; thinking about it could get you killed... Promise me you won't think about it out there... Kathryn?"

        Janeway rolled onto her side.  "All right.  I promise," she replied.  Lar's concern was touching, really.  But it seemed sadly misplaced.  As far as she could determine, she was already dead.  And Michael Hanson was right: she had gone to hell.

.... End of Scene

Definitely an improving writer (at least I hope so).  I think the only time an author is a "finished article" is once they're dead.

How do you keep improving your skills, what help did/do you have?

I keep trying new things, writing in new genres.  To some extent, the simple act of writing helps one improves.  Honest feedback from readers helps even more.

Do you consider beta readers a help or a hindrance and what do you expect from them?

I couldn't live without beta readers.  I expect (and get) different things from different readers.  Some (e.g., Jen Ferris) are simply marvelous at spotting wooden dialogue.  Others (e.g., Ragpants, Laura Taylor) are top-notch editors at heart and help me fix clunky language.   And a few (e.g., NODA) have been there since the beginning, providing encouragement.

Is professional publication your goal or are you just having fun?

I think it's usually the case that people would love to get paid to do something they enjoy doing for free.  Well, maybe that's not the case for  sex.

Which of your own stories would you recommend to the Internet reader and why?

My most ambitious work is the Tapestry Trilogy, but it's more for Janeway fans.  All three are backstories, filling in what Jeri Taylor's "Mosaic" missed.  A good, lighter intro to my work is the Boothby Trilogy.  These three stories are short, and deal with Janeway's relationship with Boothby from the time she was a cadet until after Voyager's return (okay, I cheat).  If a reader wants a straight Voyager story, I'd suggest "Up 'Lifting Conversation" or "Should Have Stood in Bed."

You have a chance to recommend another fan fiction, not your own, what would it be and who is the author(s)? (consider any pairing or characters)

Gosh... where do I start and I do I end?  With apologies to my DS9 buddies, I'm going to limit my suggestions to Voyager.  For Janeway (and Chakotay) fans  Peg Robinson's and Macedon's Talking Stick Circle stories are must-reads, as is L. R. Bowen's Cardassian Mask.  Go read all the stories by Your Cruise Director and Laura Williams, then hit the JetC17 page and read those authors (yeah, I'm a member, but I'd recommend the writers in this group even if I weren't).  Head to August's page, read her stuff and all the islands, then go to the 1001 Voyager Nights page and read those authors.  If you're not exhausted and your eyeballs haven't exploded, come back and I'll point out some hidden gems in the a.s.c. archive and some promising new writers who popped up after 1001.

If you're a P/T fan, start with DangerMom and Jamelia, then hit up the P/T archive.  JuPiter station is a good place for J/P people to cruise.
For J/7, go to Gina Dartt's page, read her stories and follow her suggested links.  Reverend Jim's archive services the J/T crowd.
For m/m slash, ask somebody else.  I think YCD has some suggested sites.
For J/Everybody-and-their-Dog, there's Nova D.'s Mistress Janeway (though I swear when Janeway was seducing Kim, I kept flashing back to "The Graduate").
Okay -- DS9  after all -- go to Laura Taylor's page, read her stuff, follow her links to Marlissa, et al.

Any other comments?

No, after my above responses, I think I've already managed to offend everyone.

Would you recommend this exercise to another author?

I always recommend exercise.

Is there a question that you wished I had asked, if so what was it?

Hah, I'm not falling for this one -- I read ahead!

m. c. was smart enough to avoid what would have been my final question; "Now, answer your own question!"  Can't blame a girl for trying though. ;-)
Thank you very much, m. c., for sharing your thoughts with me.  I think readers might find your opinions insightful.

-- Well, I'm sure they'll find them opinionated.

And there's nothing wrong with that!
 

The featured author's recommended own work :
The Boothby Trilogy, Up 'Lifting Conversation, and Should Have Stood in Bed

E-Mail the featured author :
m. c. moose

The featured author recommends *you* read :
    m. c. suggests you start here, and then make up your own mind ...
The Definitive Guide to ST Fanfiction site
 
 

 Complete the Circle