UPDATE 11/14/09: Updated some information in my fanfic segment and added a couple of things to my lists. So sad, so sad. Now I must sleep.

stats:

I am a what could probably be called a ‘starving artist’. I am gainfully employed, and even enjoy my work, however my employment is far from my "calling". I have always felt compelled to create. This is expressed in many different forms, but I like to think that my skills as an author by far surpass my other creative abilities.

I have many artsy hobbies including but not limited to: drawing, sculpting, sewing, jewelry-making and costuming. I separate sewing from costuming because in my little world I define sewing as making everyday things - like skirts for the little cousin who will wear nothing else! Costuming is much more fun - and also more expensive. Sadly I only get to do this when other people are paying me to make something or when I justify making something for the heck of it - which is seldom. I will freely admit that my drawing skills leave a lot to be desired, but for some strange reason people tend to respond fairly positively. I figure I must not be as bad as I figure myself to be in that department. My sculpting and jewelry-making is something that is fairly new to me, and I enjoy it quite a lot. It is not quite as expensive as costuming which means I can splurge a bit on some clay or beads and be perfectly happy - and my bank account thanks me too!

I have nearly completed my degree in music education. For as long as I can really remember I've sang in choirs and such. I do teach voice on a part time basis and voluntarily lead a couple of children's choirs. I am very involved in music of many different genres and quite frequently a song I'm singing, or studying, or teaching, or listening to becomes my inspiration for my writing.

My love is writing. I dab at everything from fan fiction to professional fiction and even a few editorial articles here and there for some minor (and unheard of) publications. At the present time I do not receive monetary compensation for my efforts, which is why I call myself a ‘starving artist’. Yes, this means I am one of those tired souls constantly striving for a book deal. And although I know it is a complete cop-out I'm going to say here that the writings I post to this site are far from my best work. I know this, however I look at fanfiction as an avenue of rest, so while I do strive for perfection I don't expect it from myself here. Or at least I try not to. I have moments that I obsess.

I currently reside in the central United States with my silver tabby cat, my younger brother and my octogenarian grandfather.

fanfic:

Tales of Symphonia-based

My most recent infection. I blame my brother and quite possibly my cat. I am also completely and totally in love with writing these little distractions right now. I have plans to attack all of the main (and most of the minor) characters at some point in time, but I'm starting with Kratos, Anna and Lloyd.

favs:

In no particular order: Kratos, Anna, Mithos/Yggdrasill, Lloyd, Colette, Genis, Raine, Presea, Martel, Yuan, Sheena, Zelos... really, just about all of them. n.n

Game-play wise I prefer to be Genis though I will play Raine if the need arises. I'm told that I tend to have Raine's personality. I do not have her lack of cooking skills; this is good as I am "head chef" in this household. I do have her ruin obsession if you apply this to architecture (especially in New England) and as I mentioned above, I am a teacher of sorts. The character I come the closest to physically would be Sheena... if she were blonde. And had blue eyes. And porcelin-toned skin. I guess that tells you how I favor her, huh?

Pairings are as follows: Kratos/Anna, Lloyd/Colette, Zelos/Sheena, Yuan/Martel. Other pairings I am a bit more open to - such as Presea, I like to pair her with Regal, but sometimes with Genis. Yet others, like Raine, I don't pair off at all.

FullMetal Alchemist-based

Also my brother's fault. And AS on Cartoon Network. I'm possibly more obsessed with this one than ToS, though it is safe to say the levels of obsession are pretty even right now. More distractions are always welcome here! I've been working on an AU piece that incorporates the manga/Brotherhood and the first anime series. Not long into it I discovered it is far more... labor intensive than I had first realized and have only been working on it in fits and starts. One day I hope to get the plot wrangled out and post the first chapter, but til then this notation in my profile will be all that exists to proclaim its existence! How sad!

favs:

A shorter list might be who I do not like, but I'm hard pressed there. I find almost all the characters intriguing on some level but my favorites would be: Hawkeye, Mustang, the Elric brothers, Havoc, Winry, Izumi, Envy, Scar, Lust, Breda, Falman, Gluttony, Pride(manga/BH), Wrath(manga/BH), Fuery, Mei Chang, Lan Fan, Ling... uh, do I really need to go on and list them all?

Pairing favorites at this time are: Roy/Riza, Edward/Winry, Ling/LanFan

Redwall-based

I really and truly do have a Redwall-themed piece to post! I do! I promise! I think it is gorgeous, but we'll leave the vote up to the public - if I ever get it posted! It will be few and far between, but there you have it.

favs:

OTTERS! I LOVE OTTERS! ~is all warm and fuzzy over otters~

Harry Potter-based

A note on What Might Have Been:

This piece was my baby and I'm sad to say that "What Might Have Been" will never be again. It is too closely related to another project I'm working on for me to continue to compose it. If any of you are horribly, terribly upset by this send me a message and I'll do what I can to comfort you in your time of grief. For those of you in mourning (ha!) take comfort in this: WMHB isn't really gone so much as it has drastically changed. For the better I hope.

NOTE 2/25/09 - most of you have no clue what that (~points up~) is about, but suffice it to say that the monster did exist and I'm leaving this here just in case someone comes looking for it. Don't think that'll happen, but... eh. ~shrugs~

There exist a couple of little one-shots in this genre and one day there may be more. If you know me well then you will know why I am all 'Harry-ed' out. One convention too many I suppose... The Potter-verse will always be my beginning, but I have to step back from it now.

favs:

The Marauders: Sirius, followed by Remus, then James... I don't think I count Peter, but he is of interest. Most of the writing I do for this genre is pre-Harry based stuff.

Star Wars-based

These pieces may or may not make a come back. I've not been the best fan (yeah, I really didn't care for the NJO books and jumped ship) and I don't think I can really write this genre as it should be. The multi-chapter piece here will stay up as it is the very first 'serious' bit of writing I wrote. I like to look back at it and smile. If ever I 'get back into' this I will perhaps dabble again... perhaps one day... in a galaxy far, far away...

favs:

Mara Jade - 'nuf said. :-)

books-and manga: (a small selection; mostly recent and all well loved)

Redwall series - Brian Jacques
Castaways of the Flying Dutchmen - as above
Harry Potter - JK Rowling
FullMetal Alchemist - Hiromu Arakawa
Marguerite Henry's equine inspired books
Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air, House of Many Ways - Dianna Wynne Jones
A Certain Slant of Light - Laura Whitcomb
The Fetch - Laura Whitcomb
Maison Ikkoku - Rumiko Takahashi
Twilight series - Stephanie Meyer
Graceling - Kristin Cashore
Fire - Kristin Cashore
City of Ember series - Jeanne DuPrau
Artemis Fowl series - Eoin Colfer
Tamora Pierce's work
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
Knight of Maison Rogue - Alexandre Dumas

movies, anime, tv series... visual arts: (recently watched obsessions)

Hayao Miyasaki:
My Neighbor Totoro
The Cat Returns
Porco Russo
Kiki's Delivery Service
Princess Mononoke
Howl's Moving Castle
Spirited Away
Nausicaa: of the Valley of the Wind
Ponyo

DeathNote
Fullmetal Alchemist
FMA: Brotherhood
Code Geass
Bleach

Pride and Prejudice (BBC with Colin Firth)
The Sound of Music
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
The Last Unicorn
Narnia

House

music: (very brief listing not touching on my choral and instrumental collections)

Sister Hazel
Nickelback
Sophie B Hawkins
Amy Grant
Enya
Taylor Swift
Fuel
Chicago

Flow
Homemade Kazoku
Orange Range
ENOZ
L'arc en ciel

random links:

For those of you who would like to know more about me, though I honestly can not fathom the reason why in all that. Also included here are links that I find of interest, mostly related to the genres I write for.

Tonga's LJ:

Note: I have a ToS filter on this journal, so if you are joining for ToS reasons please drop me a line so I can add you to the filter.

http://tngapch.livejournal.com/

Tonga @ deviantart:

Few items of interest for those of you who are ToS or FMA fans. I've got some costume pics up for Tales of Symphonia and Harry Potter. And some of my questionable drawings and experimentation with my wacom tablet. Questionable because I'm not very talented in that department. Experimental cause they look like a five year old did them... to me at least. I should probably stick to writing. n.n

http://tngapch.deviantart.com/

For more FMA:

http://www4.funimation.com/video/?page=show&b=280