FanstRA day 7: Coffee with whatcatydidnext

Coffee with whatcatydidnext :

When finally Caty appeared on Wattpad I was very pleased, I had read her Ricky Deeming story two years ago on livejournal ; a character from George Gently first episode. Fanfiction is for me a way to explore a character that is least shown and developed on screen, Ricky is where I started.

I’m too sexy for my gloves, too sexy for my bike, too sexy for the screen by far!

I had previously asked and explained the technically benefits which straight away went over her head. Of course was I tickled pink reading her commentary when she discovered she could be downloading a story via the application on her phone instead of the mobile browser!

LOL Kudos to Wattpad, recently a pop-up appears on your mobile screen with the option to open the story in the app, it can’t get anymore easy (sometimes it doesn’t link the first time)

What that means is that one doesn’t need internet access beyond the initial download of the story. And for those unfamiliar with how Wattpad works. Once you make an account and fan an author you will get notified when a new chapter has been posted. All that is needed is hit the update button on top of your library list and WOOSH you watch a new chapter streaming into your story. That singular moment one needs internet access.

When I contact her for a little chat she checked out my blog posts from last year, I almost forgot the most important question and discover some surprises!

whatcatydidnext: Hello sweetie, just been laughing at the vids. At the mo I’m sort of caught up in work stuff and quite exhausted by RL. I had an accident about six months ago and broke a couple of vertebra, still causing a bit of a problem. I can’t sit for very long, stupid really. And I don’t mind having a chat, but remember I do talk far too much.

Fanny: hope laughing is not painful with your injury 😦 I’m guilty of talking too much myself so no fear! Maybe we need to spike our coffee! How DO you like your coffee?

whatcatydidnext: It’s my firm belief that laughter cures ills, brings down tyrants, and if you’re really lucky, makes not winning the lottery easier to live with. It’s included in my physio therapy…
Ooooh, spiked coffee, delicious. At this point I should prob say clever things about ‘Arabica beans’, ‘slow roasting’ and the like, but in all honesty it’s two teaspoons of whatever instant you’ve got, a dash of milk, no sugar, thank you. Oh, have we started? I can do ‘sensible’?

Fanny: We have! And please leave sensible at the door & keep your madcap on!

whatcatydidnext: Good, because sensible can be a bit of a strain…

Fanny: LOL good thing me and sensible don’t get along very well either! Perhaps that’s why I loved The Road so much? If my memory doesn’t fail me (which it does often these days) it was my first fanfic .

WhatCatydidnext: Really, oooh, sorry. It was a wee bit umm…rude.

Fanny: LOL I’d call it straightforward 🙂

whatcatydidnext: Ricky is possibly my favourite RA character. We actually see so very little of him, but his personality is writ large, there’s just a feast of possibilities with him. I did go a bit OTT with the Russian thing, but it was meant to be a lot longer. Hari, Ricky, and Piri were supposed to go into a Cold War spy thing. Complete with daring escape over the Berlin Wall. But it became obvious that it was really a dysfunctional love story.

Fanny: I certainly wouldn’t mind reading a follow up on Ricky’s adventures LOL what a tease you are! I’m so glad you finally figured the app out on your phone! Can I feature you as my techy guinea pig? That was my main motivation for spreading the news in the RA fanfic world ; Wattpad’s mobile’s reading convenience .. meanwhile you have found your way around the community on Wattpad.

whatcatydidnext: Wattpad, what can I say? Interesting.
I do think they need to sort out their categories; the historical one is more hysterical than historical!
It’s my bugbear with this site, maybe I’m just too anal, but I do like things where they ought to be. It’s not history just because the women wear long frocks and all the men are knights. I think ‘The Tudors’ has a lot to answer for!

There is some excellent work on Dreamer fiction, so many really good stories that you don’t see anywhere else, it’s a shame. I can never fathom out how it works. Some writers are so good, professional quality in fact, but they don’t get mentioned in the blogs. Bookishy for instance, brilliant stuff…

Fanny: I remember the historical fiction category was created fall 2010 not long after Charlotte and other RA fic writers started posting. But as you say it’s not strictly monitored – not enough Wattpad ambassadors for that. How do other sites monitor those things?

whatcatydidnext: Lots of people put in stuff on willy-nilly though. It worries me, anything that’s as unregulated as it seems to be, is heading for something unfortunate. Copyright laws have ignored fanfics because no money is made, but once people are getting paid, however little, accountants will come out of the woodwork. Could spell the end of a very pleasurable activity.

Fanny: Anyway to get back on topic you choose to write RA characters with a dark slant versus a soft romantic one – particularly John Thornton in “Master of the Mill” was shocking! *note the hysteria in my voice* LOL

WhatCatydidnext: Oh, yes, John. I heard recently that it upset a few people. I’m so sorry about that, I just saw him as a man of the world. He kept his family inviolate, didn’t use his factory girls as a sexual resource, as some did. John was an honourable man, but he was very much a man. I just gave him an ongoing and fairly commitment free affair with the more than willing Ann. I possibly loosened him up a wee bit, in the book, he’s proud of his self discipline, but not self-righteous. I reasoned that it meant he had an outlet. I also thought a 30 plus male virgin living with his mum, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, would be more a candidate for a breakdown, than a romantic hero. As I remember Mrs G didn’t specifically make him a virgin, nor did the writers of the TV version. And darling do you think an inexperienced man could have kissed Margaret that way…Hmmm?

Fanny: LOL no that was not just a peck!!

whatcatydidnext: It was not! Took a lot of work to get just right if the interview was anything to go by.

Fanny: Yes! “that was a bit of fun” if I recall well, is what Danielle said 🙂 Actually I liked how you fleshed out Ann a bit – made her a perfect opposite of Margaret.

WhatCatydidnext: From the look on her face at the meeting on the street, the party, and then clinging to John’s arm outside the church? I just thought, she likes to be seen. Fanny with more umph! (If you’ll pardon the comparison dear?)

its whats under those pettycoats that matters

Fanny: btw I embarasingly discovered she’s not in the book while at a bookclub meeting – I obviously hadn’t made it to the end of the book then – though I had finished the book a year before – typical confusion between book & adaptation .. Anyway you’ve been writing a long time now I think and have been hoping to get yourself published. Best of luck for the future!

whatcatydidnext: An embarrassingly long time actually, I might get good sometime soon…Might have another go at the publishing thing. Might try Kindle, I do have a completed contemporary romance sitting in my dump file. Funnily, it’s not at all dark, rather fluffy in fact, and it ends happily. Now there’s a thing!

Fanny: self-publishing is the thing these days and with social media at your hand you would be iressistable not to buy 🙂 FLUFFY and funny you say? I don’t believe it!! LOL

I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or wordprocessing
What’s your preferred time of writing?

whatcatydidnext: Ummm, well, I write longhand in little notebooks first, then type it up, about four or five times till it sounds right. As I work early, late and night shifts, there really isn’t a preferred time, it’s just a matter of my head and the time being in conjunction.

Fanny: Sure! In hindsight I almost forgot one important question : what got you started with writing and is RA based characters your first foray into fan fiction ?

whatcatydidnext: I was talking to my sister about this a while ago; she said she could remember me writing a story for ‘The legend Jesse James’. It was a TV series starring Christopher Jones, in the early 1960’s I think. As I’m 59 now, I would have been in my early teens then. Took my time with that fanfic!

So, Christopher Jones actually started it, but it’s RA’s interpretation of the characters he plays that has fuelled my imagination. It wasn’t North and South that got me hooked, I had seen Robin Hood, thought his double act with Keith Allan was the most interesting thing in it.

GiZ, you’re gonna pay for that tooth!

Then I was off work with a cold and stuck being miserable in front of afternoon telly. ‘Moving On’ came on, and that last speech was a stunner. That was it, watched everything I could find. Then I came across Bookishy’s ‘Fallout’ on the net and discovered fanfics, it was all downhill from there…

take me with you

Romana55: John Mulligan : You’re heart is as black as night

Fanny: Wow! I had to sit on that info for awhile .. Mulligan was the drop that spilled your literary bucket .. again! Have to say that twinkle in his eye that completely died at that last scene … stunned me too. Would it be fair to say you are very skilled honing in to the dark side of things?
Have to say I’m not holding my breath for my youngest sister who entertained us with pages of storyboard about princes Gwendoline 🙂

whatcatydidnext: Keep your eyes on Princess Gwendoline, she might turn into something else!!! Don’t know about skilled, but I’m fascinated by what draws people together. Sometimes it’s not pretty, but these people fit, they don’t make each other happy, they make each other whole. And no bad boy is going to become a ‘new man’ for the love of a good woman. That’s a concept that has kept women marrying the wrong men for centuries. You can’t change a person, but they can grow. New experiences bring new insights, new understanding. I like to think my characters grow up as their story goes on. And I don’t think you can have a happy ending, as nothing actually ends. Personally, I want to know they’ll go on loving, having fun, building their lives, fighting fortune for their little bit of heaven, that’s not an end. I want to look through their eyes and see a future.
For some reason Harry Kennedy and John Standring, although they are utterly charming men, don’t ring my bells, too nice I suspect. I can remember someone once asking why Harry left London when he did, was he an accountant for a crime boss or something???? Sorry got carried away again…

Liked the vid, there’s a Nine Inch Nails one that I think says it all about Guy.

warning: explicit lyrics

Principessa55: Guy of Gisborne Closer Season 3 (Robin Hood BBC)

Fanny: Amen to that! I’ve heard some speculating about that too though in VoD he was still working in London on the weekends. The kindle project could easily get started after fanstRA – but what tickled me pink is witnessing when you discovered the use of the Wattpad app! LOL Finally the reason why I invited you and others before – how long have you been reading on your phone now?

whatcatydidnext: Seem like forever now. I remember you trying to explain it to me…I am such a technophobe. when I got the smartphone my son laughed and posted photos on Facebook of me using it! Mind you he did that when I shaved my head. I think they may have a book running on what MrsT will do next, where the pen. name comes from ;))

Fanny: Thanks for a great chat, look forward to spreading the news about your publication whether its wicked OR fluffy! I”m usually very sweet and nice but I can’t resist ending with a wicked fanvid 🙂

Kitsunify: No Regrets – Guy of Gisborne

Sunday, March 18th

Last, but definitely not least! Freeform: Agzyshares with us her favorite Armitage paper doll •Ana Cris examines Lucas North’s tattoos through Maori tattoo culture • Jas Rangoon premieres her new John Bateman fanvid • In fandom, jazzbaby1thinks RA fandom is just groovy! • C.S. Winchester asks “naughty or nice?” in a picspam • Mrs. E.B. Darcy thinks about Armitage’s future after TH to wrap up the Hobbit chain • Jo Ann offers the last King Richard Armitage post, on Richard III and the Tudors • Infanfic, Maria Grazia reviews and compares works by the authors she’s interviewed • Gratiana Lovelace wraps up the event with a guest post by Melissa the Mouse! • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day

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FanstRA day 6: Coffee with Womblingfree

Coffee with Womblingfree

I spotted Womblingfree on twitter via mutual friends much later after Spooks S9 aired and of course a new RA aka Richard Armitage writer on Wattpad had my fanfic feelers right away on alert. There are so many RA character based stories on Wattpad now I can’t keep up but I know there always is something to look forward to. I finally had a chance to read something by her when she posted Santa’s New Toy this past holiday season.

Fanny: What character did you meet first, but first how do you like your coffee?

Womblingfree: How do I like my coffee? Plentiful – I drink far too much of the stuff but am quite boring – white, no sugar!

First character I met – Harry Kennedy, and I thought “Mmmm, maybe…” I remember seeing ads for Robin Hood & Strikeback and thinking “Must watch that” but never getting round to it. Then Series 9 of Spooks started and I began to see the light!

phew! I didn’t bump my head!

Fanny: Yes, I did not see the light right away when I caught the first Season of Robin Hood on BBCA . That is quite a gap of time there between airing of Robin Hood or did you caught those adds for Season 3 perhaps? Did you also realize the same actor was in them?

Womblingfree: Yes – I realised it was him. He was kind of vaguely on my radar but not quite getting to ‘crush level’ for a few years. Then S9 Spooks started and I stumbled across a thread about him on a chat forum and after a few days of chat, reading interviews and lots of YouTube viewing l realised I had regressed to be about 13 again : )

Guess again who I am!

Fanny: Oh wow S9, you must have been in a mad rush catching up on Spooks S7 & 8 ! I know about the regressing – I’ve named it “aging in reverse” 😀

So would it be fair to summarize you got caught in the mad fan rush of anticipating what was to happen with Lucas? Is your screen name “womblingfree” a representation of Armitage Mania impact? 🙂

Womblingfree: I’d watched series 7 & 8 as well but for some reason, although I liked the character and RA’s acting I just didn’t get ‘that‘ feeling. I think the Russian dialogue in the first episode of S9, and perhaps the slightly ‘hunkier’ look in the wake of Strikeback might have tipped the balance a bit!

No, I’m not John Porter as Lucas under cover, I just borrowed his jacket

Womblingfree is my name by default really. It was a name I used on another site a couple of years ago so I used it for Twitter too and then it came with me when I signed up on Wattpad! (twitter log in feature on Wattpad)

..as for mad rush to catch up – the only other thing I’d seen him in was the Vicar of Dibley at that point – I really should have shares in Amazon now!

Fanny: The anticipation of Spooks S9 got me engaging on twitter with other fans – like you via an account I had made for another fandom as a way to follow updates. Lucas S9 character brought out a lot of feelings in the fans: Season 9 had him featured more and attempted to show more of the man behind the mask. Did you discover his character in Strike Back stirred similar feelings, since there is a similar contrast between physical strength versus emotional strength? Or perhaps a conflict about choices and decisions?

Womblingfree: Although their jobs are similar I’ve always felt that as men Lucas and Porter are very different characters. I like to think that Lucas/Bateman was not a bad man, but inherently weak, hence the Dakar situation and making a series a wrong choices from then onwards. I guessed the outcome a few episodes before the end of the series so although I was a bit deflated, I wasn’t too surprised.

my bloody nose is itching!

I had much stronger feelings about the demise of John Porter. I think there was so much potential to develop him further, and even though they couldn’t do that without Richard on board, to just kill him off as quickly as possible without tying up so many of the loose ends from Series One I felt was a real disservice both to Chris Ryan’s character and to Richard’s fantastic portrayal of him in the first series.

I only watched the first 40 minutes of Project Dawn and was thoroughly hacked off for a good couple of weeks afterwards, to be honest.

I may go backwards at some point and write my own version of what happened after Series One – I have an idea in mind but it’s on the back-burner at the moment.

Fanny: Oh that idea sounds good – let me know if I can help turn that burner on 😉 a little JP picture perhaps?? I think about Lucas/Bateman the same way – inherently weak – Hence I enjoy reading fanfiction keeping those characters alive – same for Porter : I happily live in denial of their demise.

Womblingfree give me a juicy ending! I’ll do whatever it takes!

Womblingfree: I haven’t really read any Lucas fanfic apart from The Gruinard Project, and haven’t felt inspired to write any either which is strange I suppose as it was ‘him’ that got me hooked.
I was just reading your blog about Lords of the North – it really is brilliant isn’t it? I’ve almost finished the first book in the series and was talking to a friend today about writing a short Uhtred fanfic at some point.

Wallpaper by Vivayn

Fanny: That is a fellow blogger who’s post I tweeted : yes Lords of the North is brilliant, even more your idea to write a short fic. I have to confess to harbor a wish for Monet fanfic – now that’s a crazy notion 😀

I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or word processing
What’s your preferred time of writing?

Womblingfree: I use my laptop, although I’ve always got a couple of notepads or folders to hand where I can make notes or sketch a rough draft if for any reason using the computer isn’t possible.

I tend to write late at night, as with a job & a family to factor it is tricky, particularly as I have to be on my own to write. I was lucky to be able to rearrange my working hours last year though, so now I have a day ‘home alone’ during the week. I try and get the household chores out of the way so I can use it for writing if I’m working on a specific project.

Fanny:Thanks for having a chat with me and wishing you lots of inspiRAtion!

Saturday, March 17th

It’s almost over, oh noes! In fandom, Phylly3celebrates her second blogiversary! • In the Hobbitchain, Antonia Romera compares trailers for An Unexpected Journey in three languages •CDoart‘s the King Richard Armitage blogger, writing on the relevance of the character in times of questionable justice • In fanfic, Jo Ann finishes her story • fedoralady traces the evolution of her “sloth fic” series • In freeform, Gratiana Lovelacerescreens her Armitage birthday vid • Fabo casts Armitage in Hollywood musical remakes • C.S. Winchester takes on Armitage in period costumes from N&S and Miss Marie Lloyd •Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day

FanstRA day 5 : Coffee with LadyBrandon23

Coffee with LadyBrandon23:

For the 5th day I had a chat with LadyBrandon23 who assures me to use her given name Emma or Emms which seems to be a nickname that is sticking

We must have met around the same time like Jule and Bee on twitter and one day we fell into conversation about a Lost in Gaskell version.

Fanny: With a chat one must have a drink 🙂 so, do you prefer coffee or tea in the morning?

I remember us joking about your Lost in Gaskell story on twitter so I’m guessing North & South was where you first met Mr. Armitage?

Emma: I need coffee with my job, training to be teacher as it helps me get through my day. Yes, I met Richard through north and south. Somehow the man had an effect on me, when watching his proposal to Daniella; it was so passionate and his eyes … I was a gonna lol

I must remember to bring my gloves, I must remember to bring my gloves, ..

FanstRA day 4: Coffee with Yelloweeee

Coffee with Yelloweeee

And today I’m chatting with a writer who shares a taste for coffee and whose enthusiasm jumps off the page 🙂

Yelloweeee: Hey. I remember all the various fun graphics blogs and fanfic marathons from last March, and even though I didn’t take much part in them, I enjoyed reading/looking at them!

Fanny: I’m about to finish my last drop of coffee 🙂 How do you like your coffee?
I clearly remember reading your touching short story My John. Was Thornton your first Richard Armitage character on screen?

Yelloweeee: I like coffee milky and warm but with a lot of flavour! It’s a great way to wake yourself up or wind down!

Thanks for your comment on “My John”, i am glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, Thornton was my first, and I have to say I hadn’t heard of RA before that. But as those four episodes played away on my screen, I slowly became caught up with his voice, his facial expressions, and he was getting handsomer by the hour!

Those ladies sure can write about me!

Fanny: Ive taken to Hazelnut coffee which can vary much by each brand in flavor. On occasion I even love the exotic flavors of chai!

You say Handsomer by the hour? LOL were you still breathing by the end?

Is this story your first foray in fanfiction?

Yelloweeee: My favourite coffee flavour is vanilla. I had it the other day with some extra cinamon…..that’s nice!!

And yes he seemed to grow on me a lot during the four episodes. When we first see him standing in the mill, looking way too serious, he didn’t seem that good looking, but then we get know him more and the reason for his attitude towards his workers, and you start to respect him. And then you see the good in his heart, and just how hard his life has been, and then he starts to fall in love and you are rooting for him just as much as he is. And then he gets rejected and your heart breaks with him, and then he is really down and……you get the picture!! LOL

Shall I stay or shall I go, will she have me or won’t she

I think by that last scene I was amazed at how gentle and caring he was with her, which was probably the icing on the cake, if you know what I mean. So after that I wanted to find out f there was anything else this really good actor had done, and hey presto!!

“My John” was the first ever time I had written something remotely fan-ficcy. Then “Milton’s Master” wasn’t far behind that. I had read various bits of fanfic on the net. C19 and the IMDB North and South boards . There was something I read that was really different. A short story about a situation where Margaret has died and John has a daughter he calls after her. And I thought “I want to write something along those lines.” So I did!

Yes, Fanny I love your purple dress!!! It’s such an enticing color, hope Margaret has some in her hope chest…

Fanny: Love Vanilla as a flavor & scent I might have to try that WITH the cinnamon and then of course top it off with whipped cream 🙂

So if your John story was a first fic thing am I to understand you are comfortable writing prose?

That story you mention sounds good! I would love to link to that. It’s fascinating how people can elaborate on a character and storyline in surprising ways sometimes.

Yelloweeee: Yup you should try it 🙂

Am I comfortable with writing prose? To be honest, it kinda just comes out when I sit down to write, so I suppose I only write things when I am comfortable anyways.

The link to the story I was telling you about is here …

You probably recognise the author.

Fanny: Haha yes I certainly do! And have added her too my favorites on fanfiction 🙂 but really it can’t be that simple to sitting down and getting comfortable? Here a chair … Get comfortable 🙂 what pic gets you going?? 😉 we do need an illustration ..

Yelloweeee:

Chocolateismydrug is great isn’t she? I love her stories!

Ok, maybe there is some more thinking involved than just getting comfy in chair and typing away! There is no picture in specific that inspires me, to be honest. It would usually be an idea of a scenario that comes into my head. I would elaborate on it in my head, and sometimes write a plan down. So once I have sat down to write, I already know what I want to happen in the chapter.

There is a fave pic I have of Thornton tho which is from the tea scene

Yelloweeee come back to me!

Fanny: Love that picture! You since started writing other RA character stories. I was wondering if there was a difference in writing another RA character.

Yelloweeee: Depends What you mean by difference? If you mean how I approach the writing then no, no difference. I would still think up a scenario and write it. Of course the characters themselves are different, and react in different ways to things, and the language they use will be different. Between John and Lucas, for example, there is a difference in them in my stories. With finding each characters voices, I think each one has a special place for me, if you know what I mean, so each one means something in the story I’m writing. It makes the visualization of them easier

Fanny: I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or wordprocessing. What is your preferred time of writing?

Yelloweeee: When I’m writing it’s mostly typing on Word, but there were a few times when I hand wrote it first.

I can only really write when I’m not disturbed, so in the night is the best, when the rest of the house is asleep!

Fanny: I loved our little chat, thanks!

Disclaimer: all picture captions by John Thornton

There is plenty more fun to be had in the FanstRA tagteams!

Thursday, March 15th

Half over, already! In King Richard Armitage,Servetus admits to (gasp!) stray thoughts while lecturing • In fanfic, Margaret Hale guestposts atJohn Thornton‘s on why she loves him • Jo Anncontinues her story • In freeform, Jas Rangoonjokes about potential reproductive partners for Mr. Armitage • Itsjsforme reveals another Guy of Gisborne PSA (still not safe for work!) • Gratiana Lovelace needs more help captioning “Whimsical Moments with Deadly Serious ChaRActers!” • Infandom, IngeD3 focuses on Ricky Deeming •Fabo confesses her Richard Armitage eyelash fetish! • In the Hobbit, it’s calories galore asAntonia Romera discusses fingerlicking at the Hobbit table • The Queen takes on Hobbit cakes• Rose Gisborne describes her Armitage day. Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day

FanstRA day 3: Tea with StelladelNord

Tea with StelladelNord

My next chat is with StelladelNord previously PoeticHeart, a very creative spirit. She is perhaps just as enigmatic as Lucas and I mean that in the best sense 🙂 her creativity can’t be contained. When I requested if she’d like to have a little chat her username; PoeticHeart shortly after switch back to an old favorite StelladelNord. Like Jule we met on twitter around the same time and I have a hard time keeping up with all her writing. She was so kind to take the time for a virtual chat over tea and assures me to use her nickname Bee.

I should note that fall 2011 she published her poetry on Amazon US and Amazon UK

Fanny: what drew you to Richard Armitage or RA, as we like to call him and what made you want to write, or in your case move to prose versus poetry 🙂
Bee: *smiles* Mine was simple…. I wrote my first fic based on a nightmare, Chloe was me and Lucas… well Lucas was a man I couldn’t see. 🙂
Fanny: And how do you like your coffee or is it tea?
Bee: I take my tea black no sugar 😉
Fanny:.. I’ll make myself a cuppa Rooibos – when I do have tea I tend to go herbal 🙂 You write mainly about Lucas – Writing comes fairly natural to you it seems like a release. How do you fit it in your shedule? What prompted you to post your stories on Wattpad.

Bee:  No, couldn’t write Thornton, I do mainly write Lucas North and of course the delightful Chloe. I found myself exploring another side of Lucas, the man who had a vulnerable side, a heart that beat for love and passion and need, there had to be more to the man that what was shown to us care of KUDOS and the BBC, they had created a complex man but only gave us one side of him, the side that was hiding from the pain he’d experienced from Russian, from Elizabeta… everything.

I fit my writing in much to the detriment of my sleep from around 2am onwards… I’m cursed, once I start, I don’t want to stop.

A friend told me about Wattpad – I’d originally posted on fanfiction but had problems with the actual account.

this story must be written or I won’t catch my ZZzzzzzz

Fanny:  It’s a common thing for creative spirits to work late at night – I believe the stillness of the night stimulates the creativity – so its not that you already suffer from insomnia ..

I’ve also wondered whether your role playing with Lucas North on twitter feeds into your story development.

Bee: I have no choice but to do it then, I’ve got two children and other commitments that keep me very busy.

No, the role play didn’t really contribute … although now Chloe is on twitter.

I’ve been searching for her voice to work on “Let The Rain Fall Down“. a story which I love but gives my creativity some hard work.

Fanny: With such a curse when bedtime stories come around you must fall asleep while reading! Hopefully you still nap along with the offspring once in awhile!

Is there an image of Lucas that  inspires you the most?

Bee: I will find the pic, well there are two…. and now it seems I’m writing Sir Guy 🙂

Fanny:  Amazing!! did he come in a dream too?

Bee: Actually, he came because I created a female character on twitter: Gwen Verrall to go against/with Guy and the story kinda appeared in my head.

Fanny: Can I presume you had seen Robin Hood before Spooks?

Bee: Actually no, funny story: I tried to watch it – made it through the first two episodes but the arrow shooting through to tell you locations drove me mental with the noise. I still have to see it completely. Does that make me bad, that I write a character I really don’t know that well?

Let’s make those wenches jump off their coaches!

Fanny: Oh I know they often scare the heck out of me!! Not bad, fascinating actually and you’re not the first to do that.

Bee: Oh FYI… I have a twitter account specifically for writing… its @_StelladelNord_ so if you want to know something catch me there too..

Fanny: (then I notice she had changed her username on Wattpad) For the duration of FanstRA who will you be for the sake of the readers ?

Bee: StelladelNord: Not changing, it has been a name that meant a lot to me ‘Star of the North’ due to my writing about Lucas and also where I come from, I’m a Northern girl in the UK.

Fanny: love the name too! Love Latin!! (now I’m singing “Life in a northern town” 🙂 i thought it would be neat to link to your Tales of Sherwood blog – it seems fanfiction in motion or am I mistaken.

Bee: It will be…. it was the person who writes Guy on twitter‘s idea. We’re working on the concept of making RP/writing/blogging all interactive.

Fanny: Thanks for having tea with me!  I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or word processing.  What’s your preferred time of writing?

Bee: For poetry I use pen and paper 99% of  the time and word processing for prose.  My preferred time of writing is from 1 am GMT onwards because it’s quiet.

Fanny: I recall you & Juliet collaborated on a Lucas fanvid & would love to mention it too – I’m sure I’ve got it in my library – just can’t recall the name at the moment

Bee: Juliet and I? Yeah there are two… I wrote the poem in the 1st video about 3 weeks beforehand. It was supposed to be a one off certainly not for that vid!

Lucas North/John Bateman “In Pieces”

 and

Lucas North “The Water”

I’m in awe of the creativity around here! Thanks for visiting, if you can still think after so much RA goodness go check out the other FanstRA contributors!

Wednesday, March 14th

F3 brightens up “hump day”! In fanfic, Maria Grazia presents an interview with Trudy Brasure and giveaway of her book, A Heart for Milton •C.S. Winchester helps new authors get their feet wet writing fanfic • In freeform, ChrisB continues the alphabet with “B is for Beard(?)? • jazzbaby1puts John Porter in the hands of Frank Spotnitz •Agzy outs Armitage characters as dog lovers • In fandom, fedoralady recommends the right tunes for your Armitage fanvid •In the Hobbit,IngeD3 reveals the deeper meaning of the dwarfs’ hoods • Ana Cris reflects on Armitage and Maori ceremony • In King Richard Armitage, Fabo offers some choices to play Anne Neville • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day

FanstRA day 2 : Tea with JuleWhatev

It is almost 2 years ago that I ventured onto C-19 and requested some writers to post Richard Armitage fanfiction to post on Wattpad.

Today an abundance of RA fanfic can be found on Wattpad tagged by genre & by character. (quick search versus story search is more effective – it will also show you there once was an RA club; now defunct)

I had been reading on Livejournal & fanfiction both very suitable for reading on a mobile browser. But Wattpad trumpted that experience by enabling off line reading through their app. Reading on PC just did not suit me and at the time the Proboards app fell short for reading the fanfiction posts, though those technical issue have since been resolved.

Wattpad still can’t trump C-19 or fanfiction for quantity when it comes to RA fanfic; often the convenience takes precedence for me.

These days plenty people read on mobile devices – the joy I discovered from reading classics from the project Gutenberg translated quickly to finding RA based fanfiction – I stopped reading magazines at the Hairsalon instead I’d be reading fanfiction on Wattpad. I can’t keep up with all the stories there are and look forward to moments of reading or chatting with the authors.

This series of informal chats is with people who have found their own way on Wattpad.

Tea with JuleWhatev:

Jule who’s first language is not English, pointed out that Jule is a common nickname in Germany for Julia versus Julie, Jules or the creative spelling, Jewels.

She was so kind enough to make time for a chat about her “scribbling attempts” as she calls them.

We met on twitter probably in the anticipation of Spooks 9 summer 2010.

Fanny: First off, would you like a cup of coffee or do you prefer tea? And was Lucas your first character?

decoding F A N S T R A V A G A N Z A 3

Jule: I prefer tea, have become quite addicted since coming here. thanks. I have been scribbling since I was very young, stupid stuff mostly, sharing with friends, no fanfiction, or rarely. So Lucas was not my first character, but he has become my favorite. There is so much background to explore with Lucas & spooks that gives me inspiration, it is amazing. And of course RA is acting very well in spooks, creating a very interesting character who I was not that willing to part with. 😉

Fanny: Am I to understand you saw Richard Armitage in something else first or was there another actor/character you wrote but didn’t post here. Lucas is most intriguing – any particular picture that gets you thinking & writing?

Jule: Well, I got to know spooks via my friends on twitter who couldn’t stop talking about it, and when I came to visit one of those friends I bought series 7, later 9 and 8. I think I was intrigued with Lucas from the moment the pull the hood from his face. His character is just fascinating right from the start. I think my inspiration is mostly from series 7 but I couldn’t pinpoint a certain picture, it is all too fascinating to me. I think I know series 7 by heart almost xD.

After I had watched spooks I started looking for other films / series RA was in, but I have not been brave enough to post pieces of Robin Hood or North and South scribbling.

Fanny: We have discussed on twitter how you’re also new to classic English literature since you are from Germany – do you think that affects your writing/fascination ? I for one, definitely look forward to your scribbling of those other characters! As for the picture; Since tea is your favorite we need to find Lucas with a cuppa or a kettle instead of coffee 🙂 Might you recall any scenes?

Jule: Well, I hope that me reading more english classics affects my writing in a way that it improves my understanding and my skills in expressing myself and making fewer mistakes in my favorite language. You certainly learn a lot from reading & watching films in English.
Well, the only scene I can recall is when Lucas is moving in and the old lady presents him with macaroons. He says he must have a kettle somwhere but the lady takes “a wind check on the tea” it is a great scene, though the kettle never appears, sadly. But I like seeing Lucas in this “normal” situation. Sadly I can’t think of any scene where he actually drinks tea…

let me see if I can dig up my teakettle

Fanny: I can also only recall that Lucas scene! LOL How long have you been studying English now which makes your writing impressive

Jule: Well, studying is the wrong word I think, had it at school since I was 11, but I read english books early, around age 13 and watched films and stuff. I just love the language, can’t explain why, but it is beautiful and picturesque in my eyes.

Fanny: I do know what you mean when you love a language, it doesn’t feel like studying .. Hard to believe you started reading after two years of instruction! Was it easy then to have access to English reads?

There is a simplicity & flow to the English language (speaking & writing) but it took me a while before I found it relaxing to read.

Jule: I first started reading in english with books I knew in german and learned a lot with that, harry potter was easy to read, the hobbit and lord of the rings more challenging but I loved the originals so much more than the trabslations and muddled my way through… was not so hard to get the books, family enjoyed giving me presents of english reads. got better and now reading english as fast and easy as german except for classics as older dialects, words and phrasings need a. bit more concentration. But I continue learning and that’s good. It’s the same with films and tv series.

Fanny: Languages continually evolve – painfully noticeable as I speak my mother tongue less –
I have two more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or wordprocessing
What’s your preferred time of writing?

Jule: Hm, the first question is tricky. I don’t think I prefer one or the other. It depends on which situation I am in. I tend to write in the evening or during the night, so I would ususally sit in front of my laptop and just type away for hours if creativity lasts. However, if an idea hits me I will scribble it down somewhere on the first scrap of paper I can find. I usually write shorthand notes then, or write complete scenes or dialogues that will later fit in perfectly with teh things I have written before. I might even write down an idea or a scene that comes much later in the story and then just put the note somewhere and get it out again later (if I can find it again) 😉 to finish the scene.
Hope that answered all the questions you had. Was definitely very interesting answering all of them and thinking about it more closely. Hope you enjoyed the little exchange as well. Thanks! 🙂

Fanny: I sure enjoyed our little chat, thank you for taking the time; Meanwhile happy writing to you and happy reading to us. Please visit Jule on Wattpad : http://www.wattpad.com/user/JuleWhatev or on twitter

Tuesday, March 13th

Yup, there’s more! In freeform: Melanie on why Harry Kennedy is the perfect man • Itsjsforme unveils Guy of Gisborne’s latest public service announcements (not safe for work!) • In fandom, Fabo on Richard Armitage’s statements about fans • Gratiana Lovelacerequests help captioning in “I’m Too Sexy for My T-Shirt!” • The Hobbit chain goes creative withThe Queen on Hobbit quilts • Mrs. E.B. Darcy on Hobbit action figures! • For King Richard Armitage, IngeD3 reviews the Michael Hicks biography of the fifteenth-century king • In fanfic,John Thornton on why he loves Margaret Hale •Jo Ann introduces us to a new Armitage character she knows we’ll love • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day

FanstRA day 1: My top AU/Crossover fanvideos

Happy FanstRAvaganza!! Sit down and relax! warning: NSFW : Richard Armitage in motion!

I’m picking up a thread from last year when encouraged by Frenz who’s fanvid love I share. It was a last minute thing, I noticed one or two are not even up on YouTube any longer, neither is one I wanted to include today. I’d like to update those but likely won’t have time by this posting!

For those not familiar with the fanfiction term AU: is short for Alternate Universe.

Crossover perhaps describes it better; it simply is picking fictional characters from different “universes” or settings and putting them together. But I DO promise NO slash in these listings. (My favorite is no longer listed on YouTube)

Enjoy !

One could argue that so many Guy of Gisborne and Lucas North videos are AU fanvideos as they choose different endings than the original characters.

Its with much gratitude and admiration I link to these talented vidders, hopefully you find a moment to hit thumbs UP

7. 19bt80 : The evolution of Sir Guy : this expresses what we are in anticipation for!

6. TheTeucner : Evil – Sheriff/Guy of Gisborne/Marian : not for the faint-hearted but for Sheriff lovers 😉

5. Blackcousins4life : Crossover (Guy/Marian/Henry/Anne) – Fight for Glory : Guy kills again but someone else!

4. MissDaydreamer101 : Someone Like You : I only came recently upon this pairing & i can’t help wondering how Arthur’s looks would have changed the dynamics in Robin Hood tremendously!

3: Georgette : Wait for me & I’ll be back (Guy & Marian in XXI) : a brilliant told story!

2: Fairykingdom86 : Soulmates Never Die : my first AU fanvid; the song a perfect match to the scenes

1: Summersparkle :

LOVE her style!! It was hard picking ONE : first I was so sure this was #1: I mean he IS all we need at times? 😉 or this : he would make us “Howl” 🙂 but who can deny Adam Lambert as a PERFECT singing voice for Guy: here “For your entertainment” 🙂

Too Rough for You – Anne & Guy :

Do you have any favorites? Feel free to add in the commentary & don’t forget to enjoy any, all of the blogtagteamers!

Monday, March 12th

In the beginning, Richard Armitage made scores of fans — and he keeps on making them! To kick off the fandom chain, Didion converts friends to Armitage love • Phylly3 reports on her fandom experiences • In the Hobbit chain, Ana Cris writes on her recent film location visit • Mrs. E.B. Darcy speculates about what our hero will do in An Unexpected Journey (spoilers!) • King Richard Armitage chain begins with Maria Grazia on a film adaptation of Richard III •Beginning the fanfic chain, fedoralady explains fanfic’s mainstream appeal • In the freeform chain, Fabo files an eyewitness report on Richard Armitage’s visit to U.S. accent school • jazzbaby1 wonders “what were they thinking?” re: Lucas North’s women • and ChrisB opens the Armitage Alphabet, with “A is for Action” • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day