Hello and welcome to our Immeritus MEMBER Blacklight! This feature puts the Blacklight on the some of our most memorable and talented members —and we're finding out more about what makes them tick. In our interviews, we ask for their views on the Harry Potter books and the fandom and learn what inspires their creativity. We're interested in their methods of working and their favourite characters. As Immeritans, they also have the unique opportunity to be able to answer questions about their favorite Immeritus memories and hang-outs. So if you are new to Immeritus, or an oldbie like our interviewee, enjoy the show!

This month, we bring you Dead_Sexy, better known as Dexy here on Immeritus and as dead_sexydexy on Livejournal. She is a Lucious Lucius Pimp Cane lover, teacher, mother, and all around fantastic lady.  When she's not keeping her own kids and Mr. Dexy in line, you can find her working on her poetry, keeping sirius_news running on Livejournal and Insanejournal, inciting laughter, and blowing up buildings in Las Vegas (just kidding!!!).  We recently caught up with her between her various duties and placed her in the Blacklight.  

I: Why did you read your first Harry Potter book?
D: I had been interested in reading the series since I'd first heard of it shortly after the publication of the first book, but didn't actually read Sorcerer's Stone until my oldest child started Kindergarten in 2002. My husband doesn't do well with traditional children's literature and he begged me to find something more exciting than "The Little Engine that Could." I bought all the HP paperbacks offered by the school's book fair that year. I read Sorcerer's Stone and Chamber of Secrets one chapter at a time as I read them to my kids. By the time I hit Prisoner of Azkaban I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I'd read it all. The same was true of each book since.

I: Which is your favourite HP book and why?
D: That's really hard, because I tend to think of the series as a whole more than individual books, but I'd have to say Prisoner of Azkaban. The Shrieking Shack is still my favorite part of the series by far. It was so well written. I was completely invested in Sirius as an amazing new villain on the scene, yet I was thrilled to discover he was one of the good guys. When I finished, I immediately went back and re-read, and every bit of the story still fit perfectly. I love it when there is such a major twist in a plot but so many tiny clues can be seen in hindsight.

I: What do you like most about the Harry Potter series?
D: I was first drawn to the entertainment factor of the series. JKR is an excellent storyteller and when I read, I am usually out to be entertained first and foremost. I also like stories that incorporate the Hero's Journey and this is a really wonderful modern adaptation of it. Throw in all the real life issues JKR includes such as parental deaths, neglect, abuse, bullying, jealousy in friendship, jealousy in love, differing social status, bigotry, difficulties with teachers, homework, cheating, first loves and heartbreaks, disillusionment with parental images, good vs. mean vs. bad. vs. evil, sudden death of a peer, sudden death of a parental figure, the death of innocents, alcohol consumption and abuse, alluded rape, attempted genocide; the series is a goldmine of chances to talk with my kids about nearly any topic as they grow and mature.

This same darkness extends to the themes that JKR uses in her work:  prejudice, loyalty and betrayal, murder, politics.  I like that because we live in a harsh world and people need to be able to experience some of the darker aspects of our world in a safe way.  They need good books about these issues.

I: What do you like the least?
D: Grawp. Him aside, I do wish the villains were more well-rounded characters. I understand why they're portrayed as rather flat—the series is from Harry's POV and he sees them as evil, nothing more. I rather like the villains and tend to secretly—well, not always so secretly—root for them. I like it when villains are interesting even though I know they're doomed.

I: Who's your favourite canon character to read about and why?
D: It's still Sirius after all these years, though Snape is very interesting too. I was hooked on Sirius in Prisoner of Azkaban when I thought he was a demented villain. I was obsessed with reading the book to find out what could have happened to turn Sirius against his best friends. When he turned out to be good after all, it opened up so many more questions. Why did he change Secret Keepers? Why didn't he suspect Peter? Why was everyone, Dumbledore in particular, so quick to believe Sirius was capable of such a horrific crime and just let him rot in Azkaban without another thought?

I was also drawn to Sirius as a character who struggled with depression, anger, and a feeling of impotence in Order of The Phoenix. He's a great example of an extremely flawed hero and I could examine those flaws forever. There is just so much we don't know about Sirius and the Marauder Era in general, so it's fun to speculate, form theories, and fill in the blanks.

I: What did you think of the Deathly Hallows’ epilogue?

D: I try not to if I can help it. Actually, I'm glad Harry finally got the life he wanted. I was just so bleary-eyed when I read the epilogue the first time, I was struggling to keep all the names of the new kids and who begot whom straight in my mind. It was the cheesy happy ending I usually like (in spite of my villain-rooting tendencies), but somehow in this instance I didn't personally need the epilogue for closure. I think that once I saw Harry lived through the final battle, I was certain he got the normal life he'd always craved.

I: What would you say to someone who referred to the HP books as childrens' books?
D: I'd say the HP series is one of those rare examples that crosses the age barrier. JKR has said in interviews that she had no particular age group in mind when she wrote Sorcerer's Stone and submitted it to publishers. I think it shows in all the various issues she opens for discussion throughout the series as well as how the characters really grow up. Many series in "children's literature" tend to keep the kids in a state of perpetual youth. Her characters grow up and have to deal with increasingly complex issues as they do so. Anyone can also check out the statistics for sales over time. The numbers of adults who buy the books and related products for themselves can't be ignored. *makes her Sirius Black and Lucius Malfoy action figures stop dueling and wave at the screen*

I: How do you view the gender divide in the HP series? Do you find the female characters as engaging, well-rounded and strong as the male characters? If not, why not?
D: With the exception of Hermione and perhaps Ginny later in the series, I do not find the female characters as well-rounded as the male characters. I see a little more depth of character development in Molly Weasley and Narcissa Malfoy in Deathly Hallows, but I wonder how much of that is me drawing from my own emotions as a mother. I believe the series being told from Harry's point of view has much to do with the lack of development regarding female characters. In my experience, real eleven to seventeen year old boys don't pay much attention to all the character traits of women (or most people) in their lives. While I do enjoy reading well-rounded female characters, I understand why female characters are written this way and it adds to the believability of the stories.

I skipped over the word "strong" until now. Though most of the females aren't well-rounded, I do think JKR does an adequate job of showing strength in her female characters. Looking at the younger generation, many of the Gryffindor girls give an impression of strength, especially the Quidditch players. Luna has her own special, if loopy, strength. I think most of the members of the DA, both male and female, show strength by simply defying someone as horrid as Umbridge. There are certainly weak or shallow girls at Hogwarts too, but last I checked, that's pretty realistic. Moving on to adult characters, I find all of the female professors we are exposed to except poor Trelawney to be at least fairly strong. McGonagall is certainly a woman I wouldn't cross. Molly shows a lot of strength as well, though I'm afraid only more *cough*mature*cough* readers may have realized this before the final battle scene. Narcissa may show the most strength of all by defying Voldemort with her actions at Spinners End and during the final battle. As a person who likes the villains to be interesting, that really pleased me.

I: When and how did you first discover Immeritus and the HP fandom?
D: I discovered Immeritus within a month of discovering fandom in 2005. After being devastated by Sirius' death in Order of the Phoenix, I began to troll the internet for clues about who'd be killed off in Half-Blood Prince. I mainly hit JKR's site and Mugglenet. One of the articles on Mugglenet was about fandom fiction. I thought about which Harry Potter character I would want to read more stories about and Sirius was the first name that popped into my mind. I raced back to JKR's site because I remembered Immeritus—The Sirius Black Fan club—had received her first Fan Site award and I thought, "What better place to find stories about him?" I was not disappointed.

I: What appealed to you most about Immeritus?
D: I liked how comprehensive the site was. I devoured several stories in the Fiction Forum and quickly began to check out the rest of the site: Art, Poetry, Academy, Chat... While it focused on Sirius, I found better discussion about all the books—including what might happen in Half-Blood Prince—here than I found anywhere else. I also liked the rules very much. (I tried to go to a couple of fan sites with open boards when I first started looking for information on Half-Blood Prince. They were scary. Very scary.) Posting my own thoughts and theories in a larger discussion as opposed to reading essays written by others appealed to me as well.

I: Did you like the questions you had to answer in your application to join the Club? Did you enjoy the application process?
D: Gosh, I remember coming into chat and telling Ife how evil my questions were! I even wrote poems about the questions and their evilness. Question #1 was the most evil because I felt the need to go back through every bit of Sirius in the series to that point. I marked every mention of him in each book and then read only those sections in order. It was terribly depressing. Truthfully, I loved my questions. It took me about 6 weeks to answer them between re-reading and doing additional research. I think the application process was wonderful. I really dug even deeper into my thinking about Sirius and what makes him tick. I came up with new realizations, theories, and opinions regarding many of the other questions in the join the club question pool as well.

1. Do you think Sirius may have missed out on important growth/maturation opportunities whilst in Azkaban? Was he in anyway lacking because of his experiences there, be it emotionally, spiritually, or mentally? How did this affect his post-prison life?
   
2. Was the death of Sirius Black a total surprise to you, or are you one of the few that can say you saw it coming? Tell us when you realized who it was going to be, how, and describe any suspicions you might have had while reading OotP. If it was a total shock, describe the times where, in retrospect, you really should have noticed something.

My answers.

The best part of the whole thing was Ife's final response:

"Dexy,

That is one of the most oddly done, best researched, most original apps I've read in a long while. I had so much fun reading it! We get a lot of good applications here, but few make me laugh out loud like that. So props to you... "

I: Which is the first forum you visit when you log on?
D: If I log on by hitting my favorites or typing in the address, I always go to News, then Poetry. I tend to hit Chat or the Burrow first when logging on through an e-mail notification.  

I: Which topics are your favourites (old or new)?
D: Old: The Limerick Thread
New: Art, Fic, and Poetry—the latest Challenge
Ask Me Anything is a newer favourite, even though I haven't posted in it.

I: What is your favourite non-forum area of the site e.g. gallery, translations?
D: Based on use, I'd say Immoogle. I use it at least once a day, usually more. After that, I'd say I frequent the Fanart Gallery most, but I use the Book Summaries, Thesaurus, and Glossaries too.

I:  What are your favourite memories of your time so far on Immy?
D: I am terribly afraid I'll leave something important out.

My first memory is actually joining the boards in August of 2005 so I could participate in the first poetry challenge ever. It was the Limerick Contest in honor of Immy's 4th birthday. Participating in that reignited a love of writing I'd forgotten/ignored for years.

I'm really proud of my Join the Club answers and honored that one was chosen for the notable application archive. I've enjoyed being on the Darkside for several debates too because I like to argue the least popular side of an issue just to argue. Also, as I mentioned before, I really am attracted to the villains in well-written stories. I think the Dumbledore vs. Riddle Debate was my favorite because I actually did not believe the stance I took when the debate started, but convinced myself of Riddle's supreme power. *mwahaha*

The Sirius Bachelor RPG was just amazing. Not many people know how I became involved in that fantastic project in the first place. I got a PM from Mum one day that read something like, "Sirius Bachelor, are you in?" My reply was, "Yes. What is it?" (It was Mum's brainchild, inspired after reading Tara's fic: The Real Reason that Dating Shows Didn't Make it to Britain Until the 80's.) That experience really helped me grow as a writer. I was forced to really get into my character and produce a lot of content quickly in order to keep the game moving.

I could probably go on forever, but I'll make the various exchanges and swaps in The Burrow I've been a part of my last thing. I love the card exchange because people's personalities come through in the cards they buy and make. The Secret Santa exchange is fun because I can stalk someone without feeling too weird about it in order to come up with a perfect gift.

More important than anything else is all the wonderful people I've met here. All the memories above are dear to me because they involved a great deal of interaction with other Immeritans. I decided to not even try to go into all the memorable chats I've had that were just plain fun, because there just isn't enough space.

I:  You've met some Immeritans in real-life. What was it like finally meeting people that you'd talked to online? How did you spend your time with them?
D: It was totally awesome to meet up with Immeritans. I remember my husband being a little concerned I'd be in for a letdown because people might be very different in real life. The opposite was true. It was amazing to put voices and faces with the names I knew so well. It really felt like old friends who'd known each other for a long time reuniting rather than a group of people meeting for the first time.

Mum was my first Immy meet. I drove about 2 hours to meet her at the DFW airport. Her plane was a bit late and the airport is so big we literally had 5 minutes, but it was still worth it and I'd do it again anytime.

I met Sboof just before heading to Lumos. We were total girls...browsed at the mall, watched Pirates of the Caribbean II, she used her Mary Kay skillz to do my makeup, and we ate way too much seafood. Oh, and we were total geeks and got on the computers in the hotel lobby to write RPG!

The bulk of my Immy-meetage was done when I got to go to Lumos where I met: Mag, Pen, Molly, Tara, Mum, Lish, Adara, Nadi, and Star. Memories include: ZOMGWTFBBQ!!1!!! (I still have the shirt), the slowest Chinese restaurant evar, cocktail party at our hotel room, blowing things up with my sooper sekrit powerz (kidding), accidentally terrifying Mag's friend, Scarah (not kidding), random cute men being random and cute, my first fandom concert, listening to Steve Vander Ark speak, doing Star Trek: The Experience with Adara, and getting upgraded to First Class on my plane ride home. Somewhere in there I did actually attend some really interesting sessions at Lumos.

I: When did you first discover fanworks and fanfics?
D: I first discovered fanworks when I was trolling about for information on who would die in Half-Blood Prince and I thought it was amazing. The sheer volume is incredible and I still can't get over the number of really gifted authors and artists in fandom. I think many people find it a bit odd that a group of fans would want to write and draw based on the work of other people, but it seemed totally natural to me. Perhaps it's because I'd been watching my children play HP/Star Wars variations for years already.

I: How would you say your work has improved since you first started out in the fandom and how instrumental has feedback been to that?
D: I think I've begun to find my own writing style rather than simply copying that of JKR. Feedback has been essential in my growth. I have found the feedback of beta readers and close friends to be most helpful for growth and change. Having people who aren't afraid to tell me when something is awkward or doesn't make sense is wonderful. Positive comments on posted pieces are nice too because it helps to see where I'm connecting with readers. I've not had many flamers, but they make me laugh.

I: Are there any topics which you think are taboo or out of bounds for the HP fandom? Are there any subjects that you personally would not address in your fanwork? Would you censor your work depending on who you thought your audience would be?
D: I think HP fandom has got a niche for just about any topic. As long as one is careful to post in a responsible manner (use proper warnings and post to appropriate communities/forums, etc.), I don't think anything is absolutely taboo. It's a very diverse fandom and I like that. So far I haven't come across any topics I'd absolutely refuse to write, though some would be more difficult for me than others. For readers, I'd urge careful notice and attention to all ratings and warnings. "Don't like, don't read" is a good rule to keep in mind.

I don't think I'd censor my work unless there was a really unusual circumstance that I have yet to imagine. I usually write for myself, label my work with appropriate headings/warnings, and post it in appropriate places. If I am writing to a target audience, I'm careful to keep content and ratings appropriate for that audience's age and preferences so censoring is not needed.

Much of my work is simply not appropriate for younger readers, end of discussion. If I censored some of my adult work, there would really be nothing left to read. I believe strongly in proper headings/warnings and placing adult materials behind cuts—or in the case of Immeritus, in the Restricted Section.

I: What genres have you worked in? Are there any genres you would avoid and if so, why?
D: As far as poetry goes, I've tried my hand at several forms and can't imagine avoiding any particular form purposely. I have to admit some forms look extremely difficult and I might try/fail at them. I remember attempting a ballad once, and it just wouldn't cooperate at all. It's probably pretty obvious that the limerick is my favorite general form and I've used it in rather unconventional ways through the years. My favorite form for romantic poetry is the Shakespearean Sonnet. The challenges here on Immeritus have been a real help in my growth as a poet. I always have intentions of researching and trying different forms, but I get busy with everyday life and don't do it.

For fiction writing, I've done a little bit of everything that can be done in a short story or drabble. I have several ideas for chaptered fics, but haven't taken the time to start any of them. My lower-rated works tend to have more fluff and humor than anything. I don't categorically avoid any genre, but I have to be in the mood to write certain types of fics, especially anything very dark.

I consider most of my adult fiction writing to be essentially PWP smut with a bit of a story frame tacked on. I hope to develop some of the chaptered fic ideas mentioned above into erotica that is plot driven.

I: Have you noticed a bias towards male slash in the HP fandom? If so, has this affected the kind of work you've produced (e.g. by making you less likely to write about/draw het or femmeslash)? What are your thoughts on the reasons for a mainly female fandom writing/depicting a lot of male slash?
D: There is a huge bias towards male slash in the tiny corner of HP fandom where I lurk. That said, now that I've been around a while, I can find quality stories of all types when the mood strikes. I really don't know about how the male slash bias holds for fandom in general, as fandom is insanely large. I don't let the bias consciously affect what I write, but I know it influences me. I write primarily for myself and I happen to enjoy het, slash, femmeslash, and all combinations of the three (I even like gen!). If I have an idea and time, I'm going to write it. If I finish the story/poem, I'll post it to various places where there might be other people who'd enjoy reading it. If I write femmeslash or a rarepair, I am not going to expect as much feedback as say, if I write Sirius/Remus. I do think the tendency towards male slash affects me because reading and viewing so much of it inspires plot bunnies in the same vein.

I really don't know exactly why there is such a leaning toward male slash in fandom, but I think it's hot. I think it's similar to men enjoying two females together. I also wonder if it's about women today coming to terms with themselves as sexual beings and feeling freer to experiment with things that might be considered taboo in some circles. Did I mention that it's hot?

I: Do you keep your fandom life separate from your 'real' life e.g. do friends and family know that you write? Why do you think so many people keep that divide - is fandom something people are ashamed of, in your opinion?
D: My husband is the only person who knows exactly what I write for fandom. My children are aware I write a lot and they know it's fandom-related, but nothing more than that. Because I work as a substitute teacher and teachers don't tend to find adults liking "children's literature" odd in and of itself, I have mentioned I write fandom poetry and stories when it's come up in conversation. Because I work as a substitute teacher, I will probably never reveal my fandom name or the places I post my work to any of my real-life friends or other family. I am not at all ashamed of what I write or do online, but I am well aware that a considerable portion of what I write is outside of what many people would consider the norm, fandom or otherwise. It's simply much easier to keep this facet of my life quiet.

I don't think most people are ashamed of fandom or their fandom activities. Most of us seem to consider ourselves to be some level of geek, but I think we're comfortable in our geeky skins. I think of fandom as a brilliant place to hide out from the real world for a while. I don't want to share this with the people I'm trying to get away from, and I think others might share that sentiment.

I: Who are your favourite fanauthors and poets?
D: I wanted to find a way to wiggle out of this because I enjoy so many different authors. Fandom is so huge and most of my experience is here on Immeritus, LiveJournal and InsaneJournal. I found Venivincere and Maeglin Yedi through the Blacklight Fandom interviews and enjoy their poems and fics very much. (I knew they were huge in fandom before then, but I'd never read them.) Amanuensis1, shaggydogstail, lupinslittlesis, pre_raphaelite1, snegurochka_lee, eeyore9990, and pretty much anyone who's a member of Daily Deviant are others that pop into mind without searching through my files. There are also many talented writers here on Immeritus that I like to read, and I am not going to list any names for fear I'd forget someone.

I: What do you like best about the fandom?
D: The people. I'd have moved on to focusing solely on my original work by now if I didn't have the personal connection to so many wonderful people through fandom.

I: Which real-life authors do you admire and have they inspired your own work/style?
D: That's really tough. I have very eclectic tastes and tend to read a wide variety of authors and genres. These are the people that popped into my mind first when I read the question, though it may not have been in this order: Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Shakespeare, and Christopher Moore. I could really go on and on, but then it'd just be a listing of authors I like, and that's a really long list. One common thread I see in the authors/poets on this list is they all "bucked the system" in one way or another. I really admire that they all stayed true to their own vision of what and how they wanted to write.

They have definitely inspired my style. In my poetry especially, I have consciously mimicked both Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss. I also tried to imitate J.K. Rowling's style pretty closely at times when I first started writing fanfic. Overall, reading so many authors who've carved out their niche in the literary world with such variety of style and content has made me unafraid to try anything that comes to mind when I write.

I: What prompted you to start creating your own fanworks?
D: The Limerick Contest here on Immeritus in August of 2005!

I: What preparation do you have to do to create your fanworks? How essential is it to muse on canon characters and storylines before putting forward your interpretation?
D: If I'm writing a character I'm very familiar with, such as Sirius, I don't always put a lot of thought into it beforehand. I just get the story out of my head and take care of any bits that seem out of character later during revision. If I'm writing a less familiar character for me, say Hagrid, I'll go back and re-read several sections of the series where he appears to get my brain wrapped around his character in general, manner of speech, descriptors JKR uses for him, etc. I actually have a list for Hagrid's speech so I can use the same spellings that appear in the books.

Another key is how canon compliant I want to be. If I want a fic to really seem like a part of the series we just didn't get to read, I am much more exacting in researching small facts and sticking to canon characterization. If I'm writing a cheeky poem or fluff fic, I might go more for a typical fandom characterization and not worry quite as much about canon details.

I: How would you describe your approach to writing? When writing poetry, do you find that your starting point is a couple of lines or an image? Do you muse on a specific theme or character before finding the words? What about when you’re writing a story; do you sit down and plot out an entire story before writing, write in stages as scenes develop, or just sit and write, for example?
D: My approach to writing, hmmm... I've said I write for myself, but actually I write to satisfy my muse. (My muse is interesting. I think muses are usually women. Mine's a man. He's a real SOB and has long blonde hair and a cane, but absolutely isn't Lucius Malfoy--or Jason Isaacs. His cane isn't the pimp!cane either. Go figure. I am not worthy of knowing his name, I hope I will one day. Maybe if I get some original work finished he'll tell me, but I doubt I'll ever know.)

When writing poetry, I tend start with an overall image or feeling I want to convey. I'll start with random phrases, lists of words that fit in with the tone I want, and lists of words that rhyme if they're called for. Eventually, phrases turn into complete lines. It's not uncommon for me to move lines back and forth to different spots while working on a poem. I also get stuck and have to just put the whole thing to rest for days or even weeks. It's amazing how often I've put something aside in frustration and have the answer smack me on the head when I re-open the file. Limericks are a whole different story and I'll address them later.

I do muse on themes and characters before writing. I'll often do that while I'm driving or waiting in line, or bored. I can write shorter poems in my head this way and I've written and revised fanfics in my head several times before ever having a chance to get a word written.

I am all over the place in my writing process. I've done outlines, let scenes develop, and just started writing to see what would come out. Sometimes it's because I'm following writing exercises from various books or articles as I try to develop my skills. I'm still looking for the method I'm most comfortable with. If I'm writing something longer, I tend to like a loose outline, because I still want to be free to go where the story takes me. I think the outline for me is more of a way to jot out any ideas I have so I won't forget them, but it's not a template I MUST follow at all costs. It's very interesting for me to study how different authors write. Stephen King just tends to write, no notes, no outline. JKR had a very specific outline and wound up having to re-write a large portion of Goblet of Fire when she didn't consult it closely enough.

I: You're famous for your love of Lucius and his cane; can you tell us how this came into being? Did you have a strong picture of Lucius when you first read the books, do you have a thing for dangerous-to-know men, or were you influenced by the delicious Jason Isaacs?
D: *Blushes* I don't think of myself as famous. My thing for Lucius and his cane started with the delicious Jason Isaacs in the movies without a doubt. (I loved him in "The Patriot" and "Peter Pan" as well.) I do have a thing for dangerous-to-know men, especially fictional ones. To be painfully honest, canon!Lucius is a rather disappointing and flat villain throughout most of the series. It all goes back to the story being from Harry's POV... Jason Isaacs gave my imagination the right fodder to fill in the missing canon as I saw fit.

I: Of all your work, which is your favourite piece and why?
D: I racked my brain over this one because I really do like a good deal of my work, and this one doesn't really count in my mind because it's closer to a filk (song parody) than an original work.

"Twas the Night Before Christmas, Immeritus Style" is probably my favorite because while I do primarily write for myself, I adore writing for other people too. I owe Immeritus and Immeritans so much for inspiring and encouraging me all these years. It was really exciting to create a big THANK YOU for everyone.

I: You’ve shared many wonderful limericks in the poetry forum; can you say what it is about this particular form that attracts you? Do they take long to write and where do you get all your ideas from?
D: I think limerick is my default setting. I first learned to write limericks as a sophomore in high school and it's just easy for me in a way that I can't fully explain. I've always had a really good grasp of syllable and beat that I guess is natural. I also love rhyming and making lists of rhyming words. Limericks usually don't take me too long to write, it depends on how many other things I'm doing at the time. I also like how short they are, I can compose one in my head while I'm bored and usually remember it long enough to scribble it down as soon as I get to some paper. My ideas come from all over—the HP books, other books, television, songs, random events happening in real life. I really think about the world from a Potterverse point of view far too much. I also like prompt tables, challenges, and requests because they provide ideas I might never have thought of on my own.

I: One of your fics was a Sirius Bachelor RPG spin-off, what made you want to fill a hole in the game with a fic? Do you find writing for an RPG similar to writing a fanfic? Why or why not?
D: In Sirius Bachelor, Sirius was a straight male looking for a female companion. The spin-off fic involves Sirius being secretly gay and already in a relationship with Remus. There was no place for such a storyline in our RPG, but I wanted to write it because it was such a fun idea. Once finished, I wanted to share it because several of the other players were Remus/Sirius fans.

Writing RPG is very different than writing fanfic. It's a more sparse form of writing. Once a general setting and tone has been established, it's all about communication between the characters and the action of the story. There's no need for all the description and detail that makes a good fanfic. It's really important to fight the urge to summarize all the recent events in your own words before moving forward with the action. It's also important to keep individual posts short. No matter how good a writer a person may be, RPGs are usually set up to be ensembles and it gets tedious for the readers and other players if one character constantly steals the spotlight. You also must also write only for your character in RPG, while you get to write all the characters in a fanfic. It's just bad form to puppet for other people too much without prior permission, even if you do have the perfect line for their character. That's very difficult to learn. We seemed to bend on that in Bachelor somewhat, especially as the game progressed, but I'd say that at least 90% of the time (hopefully more like 99%) Sirius or a Bachelorette posted with the other character speaking, each of us had actually written our own lines and PM'd them to the other for inclusion in a particular post.

I: What do you think about the fandom reaction to poetry in general; since you write both fic and poetry, and why do you think there is so little poetry in the wider HP fandom? Do you receive more feedback for fic or about the same?
D: I think many people, not just in fandom, are somewhat intimidated by poetry and a little afraid of it. It's no wonder when English Lit teachers often choose to focus solely on very difficult pieces that are full of language, symbolism, and references that are no longer a part of our common experience. Also, poets themselves are sometimes characterized as "deep" and "symbolic" people who'll just scoff if you don't understand their symbolism or meaning. Most of my poems have no deep, secret, symbolic meanings, so if anyone finds some, please let me know.

I do think an HP poetry community could survive—even thrive—in fandom, because there are too many brilliant people here who probably aren't turned off by poetry in general. I believe more people would give writing poetry a shot if there were a comm that provided regularly changing prompts, themes, and forms of poetry to try along with links to examples. I also think more people would make a habit of reading and commenting on poetry if it was posted regularly.

Here on Immeritus I think I receive similar feedback for fic and poetry. I've not searched much of fandom beyond LiveJournal and InsaneJournal, but I'd say we have one of the most active fandom Poetry forums anywhere and I'm very proud to be a part of it.

Elsewhere, fic gets more feedback.

I: You’ve written for many challenges on Immeritus and elsewhere. Is there a particular aspect of challenges you enjoy? Do you find that prompts give you rabid plot bunnies or that deadlines encourage you to be creative for example?
D: I like challenges because they give me an opportunity to try something different. Prompts almost always give me litters of rabid plot bunnies, even during the months I don't participate. The deadlines usually encourage me to actually write and finish more than anything. They also have encouraged creative editing, whether on a computer file or in my mind. The stories I think up usually start out two to five times as long as what eventually gets posted in monthly challenges.

I: Much of your work can be found in the Restricted Section. What, in your opinion, are some of the reasons that people create adult-themed fan works based on children’s literature?
D: Very good question! First, I don't think of the HP books as just children's literature. I think some of us who are interested in adult works just wound up combining two seemingly opposing interests in a rather unusual way. Honestly, I don't think I would have thought to do it if I hadn't found fandom.

The HP series aside, now that I'm in fandom, I don't have a problem with using any children's book as fodder for adult material. In "Pads I Am (how Sirius pestered Lily into giving James a chance)," I turned the Dr. Seuss classic Green Eggs and Ham into something that it was never meant to be. It was more naughty fun than I can say. I think people who aren't used to the idea of mixing children's literature and adult content need to understand that when I create such hybrids, I do not expect, intend, or in any way desire for children to read what I've created. I'm an adult who has fun creating and sharing my work with other adults.

I also think that for many of the fandom writers/artists who are younger adults, this is another way to explore their sexuality without the physical risks. They've grown up with the series and the characters have grown with them. It makes sense to me for young writers to take characters they know so well and place them in new situations.

I: Your fic Seduction is about how Tom Riddle tries to ensure that Slughorn never speaks about their Horcrux conversation. It’s a deliciously twisted seduction and shows Voldemort’s manipulative powers at their best. What gave you the idea for the story and how did you find writing such an unusual pairing? How did you find the Writers Workshop experience?
D: I got the idea for the pairing first. It was actually requested by a fellow Immeritan. The pairing was all I had to go on, so I just started thinking about what I could do with these two. I prefer Tom in character because he's just so beautifully evil, yet charming, charismatic, and quite handsome as a young man. Knowing I wanted Tom to be in character, I decided I really wanted to make the whole thing canon compliant. At that point I went back and re-read the end of Chamber of Secrets and all the pensieve passages in Half-Blood Prince. The Horcrux conversation stuck out as a place where Tom had made a mistake. I began to brainstorm and write out various continuations of that passage until I found something I liked and kept writing.

Writing for an unusual pairing was really fun. I know it's been written before, but I didn't seek out the few fics I recalled with a Riddle/Slughorn pairing because I really wanted this to be my take on them. Once I started writing, I really got interested in the pair and since it really left off without closure, I intend to continue it eventually so I can see how their relationship grows and ends.

I found the Writers Workshop experience immensely helpful. I'd started that piece with lots of insight into Tom's mind through his diary. I got antsy to finish and switched to really telling the story more than showing it. Going through the Writer's Workshop helped me to see that what I wrote was actually better than I remembered—all I remembered was feeling rushed and anxious to finish. More importantly, I was able to pinpoint the showing vs. telling issue and start planning to revise the work accordingly. I *still* haven't done that.

The Writers Workshop and places like it are valuable tools. They give a writer a safe environment to put work up for real constructive criticism. I really believe the more people who read and critique a work, the better.

I: What suggestions would you give to novices wanting to start writing?
D: Just sit down and do it! If an idea comes to you, write it out. It's all about being creative and waking up that part of your mind. The more you write, the better you'll get and the more you'll enjoy it. Don't worry if you don't think you're as good as your favorite authors or fanauthors. They weren't as good as they are now when they started either!

This is also pretty standard advice for aspiring writers, but it's true. Read! Read all you can in the genre you want to write, but mostly just read. I usually read for enjoyment and choose what to read according to my mood at the time. Sometimes when I'm writing though, I'll re-read certain passages where an author did a really good job writing something and try to pick apart just how they did it. (If I out and out copy their style in a passage or poem, I always give credit.) Re-reading passages also works if you remember something an author wrote you don't really care for. You can pick apart what was written and try NOT to make the same mistakes.

Finally, if you do finish a piece and want to share it, run it by a beta reader first. A good beta will not only help you find any grammar/spelling mistakes you may have missed, but will also point out any areas that need more work as far as description, plot, character development, etc. Even more important, a good beta will assure you that your work is not the worst thing ever written in the history of fandom and hold your hand while you post.

I: And finally, fill in the blank: Sirius is _________
D: Sirius is mine! Sirius is loyal, passionate, hotheaded, a little bit dangerous, forever alive in my heart, and totally smexxy.

We want to thank Dexy for taking the time to answer our questions and we hope that you all enjoyed reading our MEMBER interview. If you would like to review her Sirius fanfics here on the site, find her works in our fanfic forums. You can also find her on her livejournal here. If you want to comment on and/or discuss this interview please follow this link.