While Flat Out Dead in the Ozarks is my first fanfic, I have been interested in the fanfic phenomenon for several years. Last year, I set out to read every printed fanfic of Pride and Prejudice sold by Amazon.com. Scores of books and hundreds of dollars later, I am only beginning to figure out what is really going on here, why so many of us are compelled to continue the work of a favorite author or retell the story from an alternate POV. We really can't help ourselves; it's something that simply must be done. Someday in my spare time (Ha!), I'll make time to write an article about the significance, etc., of this literary form for a journal somewhere, but for now I'm having too much fun reading and writing fanfic to bother with a project of that type. However, if you have an opinion, observation, etc., that you would like to share, I'd love to hear it.

By day, I work as a professional medical writer, producing copy for patient education materials and TV and radio spots marketing 'elective' procedures (read: "Your insurance doesn't cover this") such as LASIK vision correction and cosmetic/plastic surgery, etc. By night, I like to use parody and humor to prod my good friend Sookie Stackhouse into all sorts of odd-ball situations. I love Charlaine Harris' delightful sense of humor, and I'm a fan of Alan Ball as well.

My husband of many years would tell you that I'm one of Garrison Keillor's nefarious "English Majors" who obsesses over language, word choice, grammar, etc. Sorry...I just can't help myself.

I am serious about wanting to hear from fanfic authors and readers as to your feelings and opinions on this fascinating literary form. I'm not much of a forum or discussion-thread person, so please e-mail me your thoughts when you're in the mood to share them.

Scookie/Cheryl