Twenty-Seven Grilled Bards and One Reviewer: DJWP

Interviews by Fans
Title:	Twenty-Seven Grilled Bards and One Reviewer: DJWP
Interviewer:
Interviewee:	DJWP
Date(s):	August 16, 1998
Medium:	online
Fandom(s):	Xena: Warrior Princess
External Links:	full interview is here, Archived version
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Twenty-Seven Grilled Bards and One Reviewer: DJWP is a 1998 Xena: Warrior Princess fan interview at Whoosh!.

Series

For others in this series, see Whoosh! Interview Series.

Some Excerpts

It was actually reading fanfic that inspired me to try my hand at it. My inspiration has been the many other bards in the Xenaverse.

I love watching the show, but when I stumbled upon the fanfic, it was as if an entirely new world opened up to me. I was inspired by the many great fanfic stories to give it a go.

I feel that Xena: Warrior Princess is as much a story about romance between two women, as it is action/adventure. The relationship is the thing for me. In fanfic, the relationship can go where it hasn't been able to go in the show.

At this point, I need this for my own sanity.

I wish a lesbian relationship could be as open and wonderful in modern times as I am writing it in pre-Mycenaean times. The truth of the matter is, in a Bard Day's Night, Sappho was the Greek equivalent of a rock star -- her poetry loved and honored throughout the known world. In modern times, her poetry has been all but destroyed and her name buried. In fact, many people who wrote me about ABDN indicated that they hadn't known Sappho was a real poet at all.

Xena and Gabrielle can love one another in pre-Mycenaean times. But in modern times, on television, they have to cleverly disguise it. In fanfic, I can throw the disguise away. Why would I want to write a story that is a reflection of lesbian life in modern times -- where I would have to hide it.

I leave the subtext for TPTB.

My definition of an Uber Story is a story with Janice and Mel in it. I will probably never write an Uber Story.

Writing fanfic has given me great satisfaction. It has been a creative release for me and has given me acceptance in the great world of the Xenaverse, as well.

And I can't forget to mention the wonderful project I am involved in, "The Bitter Treat". This project has been so much fun and such a creative challenge -- I thank TPTB everyday for The Bitter Suite and for embracing The Bitter Treat the way they have.

I've have met and made some great friends through all of this. I've gone to some incredible parties! I've had some incredible parties! And I intend to have more! :-)

It's a wonderful Xenaverse, and I'm proud to be a Nutball.