Hi. My name is Zaira, or at least that's my alias under which I write.

In real life I'm a lawyer, specializing on family law. But I've loved writing since childhood and often wrote stories about my favourite characters of books or TV-shows. So you could say I started writing fanfiction before I knew there was something like that or that people could publish their work on the Net and others would be interested to read it. I mostly wrote for myself because I wanted another, better ending, a different turn, or simply a story not yet to be finished at all.

I always loved reading stories, loved walking through them along with the characters, and in writing what I later found out was fanfiction I could create new paths for them. Erasing what I hated. Continueing what I liked. Honestly, that's the only power I'm interested in having. ;-)

THE STORIES I'M WRITING :

You might have seen that there is some variety in the fandoms for which I'm writing, but right now I'm concentrating on my Harry Potter fics. It's the reign of the muse really. Writing HP fan fiction happened rather unexpectedly. Of course I loved HP, and gorged down each book without ever stopping to even go to the... - you know. But I never read any fanfiction until very recently. And now I'm writing it. Stranger things happen. My main complaint about the HP books was the tragic and useless death of Sirius, my favourite character. I honestly cried for a day (I'm a little embarassed to admit that). Therefore that will not happen to him in any of my fics - no sir!

The Promise: When I started writing this I had no idea where this would be going. I was thoroughly disappointed with a lot of stories in the 'Sirius-rescues-Harry' setting and wanted to write a more realistic take on it and hopefully an original one. I hope I have achieved that. It's completed now, and I'm glad and proud and sad all at the same time, and of course I have like hundred more ideas and can't let go and therefore I will write a sequel: 'The Heart's Desire'.

FAN ART: One of my readers, the wonderful, talented Inigeshi has made a picture for this story. It's Padfoot and Harry and really cute! Check it out: http://deathjunke.livejournal.com/25600.html

The Heart's Desire: So, the sequel is up and in progress. It's a full fledged story, people, not just an extended epilogue, so please don't start crying out for the happyend just yet! I actually might have ideas for a third part, but I won't decide until this one is done. If there is an interesting plot to write I might do it.

More FAN ART!! Once more Inigeshi did a beautiful picture for one of my stories. All you Sirius-addicts out there? You don't want to miss THAT!! You can find it here: http://deathjunke.livejournal.com/29935.html

NEW: There is a new picture for this story arch. This time it is Sirius with Harry. Herbologist was so kind and made this great sketch. Thank you so much! You can find it here: http://herbologist.deviantart.com/art/The-Godfather-143697470

Finding Felicity: Another project that started with 'There has to be a better way to tell such a story'. No offence, but there are a lot of stories with HORRIBLE OCs as Sirius' love interest. Now I finally know what a 'Mary Sue' is. Honestly, if I read one more time the description of such a girl on the first page telling me how slim she is, followed by detailed description of her clothes, I'm gonna scream. So I set out to write the OC who wouldn't be the perfect know-it-all and can-do-it-all. I really have a great story planned, unfortunately it seems I have to fight my co-authors reputation. Not much people are reading it. Give it a chance, will you? Updates are somewhat slow between, but they are coming.

Hurt And Comfort: In the last year I became a huge fan of Buffy & Spike fanfiction - what can I say, I just love my bad boys. I finally found that unexplored subject that bugged me to write one of my own. It started out as an experiment, and right now I'm a little stuck. Also my Beta for this fic vanished without a trace. Still, not abandoned! I hope to get the muse running some of these days.

Claudia's Chronicles: The first story that I really put a lot of effort and thought in, and that became important to me, was this fic settled in the universe of the TV-show ''Highlander". I'm writing on that one since I was like 17, which is a few years past. I loved the possibility to take my characters to any time and any place, and then I really liked Methos. ;-) It's like a huge arch and I have parts done, but I need to fill the awful many holes in it.

What I like to read (and observe with my writing):

My favourite HP characters are Sirius, Remus and Harry. I like Marauder Area fics, First War fics, Harry/Sirius/Remus bonding and – yes, I openly admit it – Sirius/Remus slash.

But I don't get to read as much as I used to before I started posting my own stories and started to put more time into writing again. And yes, I feel the pressure of my readers out there. ;) I also feel like it's easier for me to write when I don't read too much other stories about the same characters. So right now it's mainly the few WIPs I have on alert and the beautiful Ocean's 11 stories of otherhawk and InSilva. I'm also really pickish with what I read. There simply is stuff that interests me more than other. And then there are three things I can't do without:

I like good characterization. If I read fanfiction, I want to read about the characters I love, not just someone who looks like them but acts totally different. I know it can be difficult to capture a character, but often author's don't even try. Of course everybody is free in their imagination, and when you want to fantazise about a lovey-dovey Snape, feel free to do so. But for me fanfiction is about the characters. If a fanfiction author is not true to character, he should better write something else. And while characters can be seen differently, I feel they have an essence you can't ignore. Or is you do, you don't really write fanfiction. Even if you write a story that's really AU and create events, that explain why the character would act/feel different, when he is totally turned upside down, I fail to see the point really. One that really bugs me: Considerate, caring Snape, affectionally taking care of Harry. Where the hell did he come from? And where the hell did the idea of Snape being sexy come from? Rowling describes him as unpleasant and greasy! I like Alan Rickman a lot too, but he's NOT Severus Snape. (rolls eyes)

For the very same reasons I don't like many pairings. Even if Harry and Draco were gay they would hate each others guts, people! Nothing in the book makes me believe that Draco wasn't an annoying bastard. There are ridiculous pairings out there, and while it's nice to have a laugh about it, aI feel that unfortunately many authors are really serious about them...

I like realism. Solutions dropping from the clear blue sky? Not my thing. One of the basic rules of writing is that you have to give your characters motivation. They need a reason to act the way they do, you simply wanting them to is not enough. That's what I don't like in a lot of Spuffy fics. Buffy and Spike simply jump into bed because they can't fight the magnetic sexual attraction they felt when first laying eyes on each other, totally ignoring all issues of Slayer versus vampire, Buffy being sixteen and unexperienced, or the notion of plot development.

I like plot development. I like authors who take their time to create a story, develop the characters and built up the plot. I like when they realize they have told the story, therefore not dragging it out for the hell of it. I likeif they have the courage and patience to face the issues. Most people love happy endings. But it's not worth a thing if the path there is wide, straight and smooth.

REVIEWS: -- Please do!!

I'm an avid receiver of them, and it's almost pathetic how happy they make me. Therefore, I am a busy reviewer myself. I don't have that much time to read, but when I do and like a story I review, and not just the typical one-liner of 'Great, update soon!' either. I sometimes even review for stories that seriously bug me, but try to always stay polite. ;)

So if you like any of my stuff, please let me know. If you don't like it, tell me why. Feedback is the inspiration for every author. So with the moment you take for leaving a review, you can do your part for a quick update!

Plagiarism:

"The use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work."

Please don't do it. Writing a story is giving a piece of yourself. Seeing someone take it and violate it and carelessly take credit for your effort is really hurtful. It happened to me, and I felt like shit. It nearly put me off writing and posting. I'm glad there were so many people who gave their support and encouragement. Thanks to you all!

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