McShep Match Team War 2009 Interview with neevebrody
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | McShep Match Team War 2009 Interview with neevebrody |
| Interviewer: | |
| Interviewee: | neevebrody |
| Date(s): | August 9, 2009 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Stargate Atlantis |
| External Links: | Team Interview: neevebrody: mcshep_war, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
neevebrody was interviewed in 2009 for McShep Match.
It is part of this series: McShep Match Interview Series.
Excerpts
How long have you been writing fan fiction and/or making fan art and/or whatever else (vids, knitted goods, pornographic gingerbread cookies)?
I'm a late bloomer – began writing fanfic in mid 2007, so not very long at all. I've always been artistic/creative, everything from painting to crafts to decorating and now I've discovered the wonders of Photoshop!
I started out reading in the Harry Potter fandom, which led me to slash, which led me to SGA. I write predominantly in SGA, but have written SGA RPS, Harry Potter (Snape/Black), Primeval and Oz. I love small fandoms and odd pairings and write Brendan/Vincent (two Flanigan characters), Brendan/Emmett and I've written a few Lionel Thayer stories. Just recently, I wrote my first Numb3rs fic as well. However, I consider SGA my fandom home.
What do you enjoy most about SGA and/or SGA fandom?
I came to SGA through the fandom, so I brought a lot of my preconceptions to the show once I started to watch. I loved how watching helped to flesh out what I had only imagined in my reading and was blown away by how close the two meshed. I've never really participated in another fandom, so I have nothing to compare, but the SGA fandom is so loaded with talent – artists and authors alike – that each story and each piece of art is like a free gift every day. Plus, I've met people through the fandom I would never have known otherwise, people who have become a huge part of my life. The intelligence and savvy of everyone involved, from the authors/artists to those who just read and comment, is just amazing. God, so many wonderful brains I'd love to stomp around in. Seriously, just look at the combined teams for this year's Match! Fic, meta, rants, opinions… they've all given me a different angle with which to look at myself, my perceptions and life around me. Where else could you get all of that??
What draws you to the pairing, what do you like and dislike?
First and foremost, their easy way with one another. Their banter, their fussiness, their little endearments that seem to come to the fore when they're around each other and the way they talk about each other when they're not. Their respect for one another and their love for and dedication to Atlantis. As I said, I fell in love with the pairing before ever seeing the first episode, and any feelings I brought with me were only cemented by seeing the characters on screen and by the way in which Flanigan and Hewlett chose to portray them.
I always feel like you 'get' John more than a lot of writers. Is that because there is some aspect of his character that you particularly identify with/understand, or is it the challenge of opening up such a complicated character through a story?
First, I'm quite flattered by that. Let's look at John: takes it on himself to be the strong one, the protector; cares deeply but isn't always able to express himself; despite being a bit of a loner, craves companionship and love; willingly puts away his own desires for the sake of others; has been hurt in the past by family and possibly someone else; decisive; takes action when something needs to be done, damn the torpedoes and never looks back… Hmm, my answer would have to be… both. I do identify and I love miring myself in John's psyche – pushing him or bringing some minute or intricate part of him to light – whether it's facing his own fears or admitting he has feelings or coming apart in Rodney's arms. It is a challenge to do these things and keep him John Sheppard. I go to a somewhat familiar place when I try to step into John's boots during a story, and the thing I like best is to watch him break, even if just a little, to lose that precious self control either in anger or ecstasy. I don't see John as a superhero, I see him as a man, flawed as we all are – even and especially when he tries to hide it, and that's what I attempt to write.