Sisters in Smut Interview with Kristen
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Sisters in Smut Interview with Kristen (Kristen K2) |
| Interviewer: | Sisters in Smut |
| Interviewee: | Kristen |
| Date(s): | 2001 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | The X-Files |
| External Links: | Interview with Kristen |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Sisters in Smut Interview with Kristen was conducted in 2001.
It was part of a large project conducted by members of the Sisters in Smut archive, an X-Files archive with a focus on the character Walter Skinner. See Sisters in Smut Interview Project.
Excerpts
What was your first experience with fanfic?
Hmm. I think I stumbled across it via Metacrawler, and I have no idea what I looking for at the time. I was new to XF fandom in general (hadn't really liked the show, so hadn't done any looking for fansites). But I came across something, and now I can't even remember what it was, and I was completely astonished. It had never even *dawned* on me that people wrote stories based on TV shows. And it made me see the XF in a whole new light. After that, I was hooked. :)
What was your first encounter with X-Files fanfic?
I started with XF. Couldn't tell you the name of the story if you held a gun to my head. But it must have been a great one, or it wouldn't have held my interest for very long. :)
How long have you been a fan of the show?
Well, as I said, I was never really a true-blue fan. I've never taped it, and I didn't know anyone who did. My husband was the original fan; monsters and suspense freak me out, so I used to watch it on Sundays with him, with one hand held over my eyes. *g* But I'd say we've been watching it pretty regularly since probably around season 3 or so. The FX channel has been a wonderful source of seeing all the eps I missed in their first run.
What is your favorite X-Files episode and why?
As a Skinner fan, I'd have to say Avatar, because it gave us a peek at the man behind the AD title. As a Skinner/Kim Cook fan, I like SR 819 the best. A lot of my fics have them getting together after that episode; it seems like a natural moment for it to have occurred. Ever notice that when he collapses in the FBI office, it's in *her* office, and not his own? And she's the one person he mentions individually when he's recapping his day to Mulder. Plus she does have a scene in it, which is probably the longest, and the most we've seen her.
But as a Krycek fan, I'm also partial to Requiem, and to Terma/Tunguska. I had to break down and buy the video of the T/T. If only they sold Zero Sum/Avatar/S819 as a set, I could die a happy woman.
What made you into a Skinneroticist?
Have you *looked* at the man? Of course you have. But beyond his impressive physique, Skinner has been characterized as a man of great dignity, honor, intelligence and courage. And a hidden sense of fun (see Hollywood AD for proof). All very sexy qualities. He cares deeply about the people working for him, he wants to make a difference and fight the good fight, and he was married to the same woman for a long time. Again, very sexy. He's got communication issues, and he's flawed in many ways, but he sticks to his guns, and he goes out of his way to see things through. And let's not forget, he's darned easy on the eyes. :)
What are your top five all-time favorite stories?
1. anything by Rachel Anton - she's written some amazing, amazing Scully/Krycek fic, and has currently branched out to Doggett/Marita. I think I'd read the phone book if she wrote it.
2. Xanthe's "Blindfold". One of the first stories I'd read that hinted at a possibility of a Kim/Skinner connection.
3. DashaK and Gwen's "In the Closet". Another Kim/Skinner inspiration, although I'm fairly certain that wasn't their intent. :)
4. Batela's "One Night in Heaven". And that's one I've been highly remiss in sending feedback on, which is awful, because it's the primary reason I ever tried my hand at a Kimfic.
5. Xanthe's "24/7" series. So out of left field for the genre I usually read and write, but it's an astonishingly realistic, and true, look at Skinner and Mulder. Made me realize that you can take Skinner out of canon-based scenarios, and still have the Skinner we all know and love.
What was the first X-files/Skinner story that you wrote and what inspired it?
The first I did was something never posted, and never will be. It was a Skinner/Sharon Skinner saga, looking at their whole marriage. It's really awful, as stories go. I barely knew canon, and it's full of all kinds of terrible writing. It will never leave my hard drive, I think.
The first I wrote that I posted was Secret Admirer and Secret No More, which remain one of my favorites. It was inspired by the poem "Phenomenal Woman", which is found in the story, and by the final scene of Requiem, where Scully tells Skinner she's pregnant. The camera cut away, so we didn't get his reaction, but it got me wondering: what if he had always wanted children? And how could that come through, while not upsetting the who's-the father-of-Scully's-baby apple cart? Giving Kim a daughter, and showing how she becomes an avenue for both Skinner and Kim to find some well-deserved happiness, seemed like a logical choice. I've still got some half-completed sequels to that I want to get to, eventually.
Do you write for other fandoms? Which ones?
Nope. XF is my baby, although I'm considering branching out to West Wing.
Do you write anything other than fanfic or are you planning to?
Not really. When I started writing fanfic, I tried to convince myself that I was only practicing for "real" writing. But I've come to realize I don't want to write an original novel. I'm perfectly content to play with Skinner and Krycek and the rest of the XF gang as long as I can think up stories for them.
How do you feel about fanfic in general?
I think it's a wonderful outlet for creativity, and community. I've made some great friends because of it, and it's helped me feel fulfilled in a way that was lacking in my real life. People have many different reasons for writing fanfic, and they're all valid.