NOTE: Are any of my readers artists in any ways? I'm putting together a "scrapbook" featuring all of my non-novel length fan fiction (ex. no Where Your Book Begins nor probably Beauty from Pain) along with any fan art that is created for them. I plan on making a few sketches, paintings, etc., but since I'm not a real artist, can I beg for some of my most loyal readers (and the new readers, too, because you are just as precious to me!) to either contribute fan art to their favorite story or spread the word around so that I can have truly decent artwork to put in my "fan fiction scrapbook?" Thank you all in advance.

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ME
I'm a 22 year old girl, I was born and raised in Upstate New York, and I am a senior humanities major (with a concentration in literature) at an itty-bitty Christian college which is also in Upstate New York. I consider myself to be a Christian as well as a more liberally leaning moderate, which makes for some awkward tension on this campus at times. I have opinions and I am not shy about sharing them, though I try never to get into people's faces about them, mostly because I despise the people who do it to me and because it's just plain rude.

I was born with a disease known as hypermobility syndrome which causes its sufferers to have incredibly lax and loose joints which can be injuried very easily and, as a result, tend to swell and cause considerable pain. Around the age of 5, I presented with symptoms of fibromyalgia (waking up in the middle of the night, screaming from the pain in my legs), a horrible disease which affects just about every system in the body, but especially causes the patient to suffer from often times unbearable pain and overwhelming fatigue. The disease went undiagnosed, though it continued to worsen and spread throughout my body to affect other areas as I grew older, until I was 20 years old. Even at that time, I did not receive proper treatment and still do not receive the treatment recommended for patients such as myself who have been stricken with severe fibromyalgia.

My disease has made me very sympathetic and compassionate towards other people suffering from health (physical and mental) problems, which has in turn helped me to draw some inspiration for my writing. I have seen so much darkness and pain in my life that using my personal experiences for inspiration has become somewhat of a calming activity.

I love to read and write, they were my first love and passion, way back from when I was a little girl. My second passion is music, though it has taken a much lesser role in my life due to my illness (I was once a music major, able to competantly play 3 different instruments as well as sing operatic soprano). Nowadays, I settle mostly for listening, finding new music, and singing softly along to the songs I love best. I really love to play with my pets (our family dog, a black lab/German shepherd mix, Nickel, and my albino chinchilla, Henry) and I love spending time with my friends. I like to do crafty things like knitting, scrapbooking, painting, coloring, sewing, etc. I'm not terribly athletic, due to the fibromyalgia, though I used to be and would like someday to be able to play tennis like I did when I was on my high school's varsity team. I also used to enjoy swimming, hiking, baseball, and volleyball. I like to do a lot of low-key things because I'm turning slowly from a loud, always on the move person, to a more quiet, reflective person.

MY FICTIONWORLD
I believe that everyone has their own little world of fiction up inside their heads, filled with their favorite (and least favorite!) characters, places, plots, etc. It's only natural that everyone bring their own worlds to the page each and every time they sit down to write, no matter what kind of fiction they're writing.

My current fandoms, the ones that I am actively participating in (reading and/or writing), include: Baby-Sitter's Club, Harry Potter, Across the Universe, Monk, Psych, House, ER, Law & Order: SVU, CATS

I have some absolute favorite characters of all time, though I will admit that I can become attached to pretty much any character, if just given enough time. These characters, however, are the ones who are always in my head, always perched on my shoulders, always begging me for new stories and sharing new plot bunnies with me. It's probably because we're in love with one another, but maybe love is just a one way street?

Kristy Thomas - ever since I began reading The Baby-Sitter's Club when I was maybe 8 years old, I fell absolute in love with their president, Miss Kristy Thomas. She's bossy, take charge, and a complete idea machine. There's nothing you can do to shut this girl up or stop her from being amazing. I absolutely loved that about her. When I grew older and read some of the later books that came out when I was in middle school, I realized that Kristy was also an incredibly sensitive and thoughtful friend, who just didn't know how to show that she loved people sometimes. It struck me how closely connected, personality-wise, Kristy and I were and ever since, it's been a match made in Heaven.

Mary Anne Spier - she is the equivalent of my fictional best friend (and I'm sure she's a lot of other girls' as well). She's always struck me not as a whiney, whimpering little thing, but as a girl who happens to be shy and easily emotional (like myself at times), but who has enough inner strength to beat anyone necessary down. I feel warmly comfortable with her character, like I can trust her with anything in my life, including my life. She's one of those friends who I weep when she's away and laugh when she's near. I love her so much that I'm just so happy and glad that AMM gave the world Mary Anne for us to get attached to and love properly.

Mark Greene - when I started watching ER, I was drawn to Noah Wyle's cute, bumbling John Carter first and foremost. However, as time wore on and Carter began to grow cynical and jaded, I found myself turning to my one, steady favorite character: Dr. Greene. He was sturdy and I felt like I could rely on him and, as a preteen into a teenager who was constantly ill, it was comforting to see an emergency room physician who was so gentle, caring, and reliable for his patients. I began to wish that I could have Dr. Greene for my own doctor, I came to admire him so much. Needless to say, when season 8 rolled around and Dr. Greene departed from ER, I was absolutely devastated. I cried for hours, couldn't go to school the next day, and refused to watch ER for months afterwards.

Hermione Granger - Harry Potter came out when I was 11 and I began reading when the kids were 11 as well. I grew up alongside of the world famous trio and, even though I felt myself closely related to tomboy Kristy Thomas, I had to admit that I was a lot like bookworm Hermione Granger as well. I loved how strong, smart, and funny she was. I loved that she knew exactly how to put those boys into their places each and every time. I loved that she wasn't afraid of anything, but when she was, she pretended not to be. I loved that she stood up for what she believed in, even if it made her unpopular or look ridiculous. Hermione was the perfect little nerdy, feminist, bookworm that was curled up inside of me, cautious to come out.

Scarlett O'Hara - Gone With the Wind's starlet, Scarlett is my perfect herorine because she is the epitome of a bratty little bitch who always gets her way, no matter what. The best part about Scarlett is that she doesn't just whine and simper to get what she wants- she marries men she doesn't love, she fraterizes with the enemy, she tells people off in a big way. She doesn't let the fact that she's a girl in the 1860's South stop her from getting what she wants and doing what she will with it. Not to mention the fact that she's built strong to survive and built to endure even the most difficult pangs of heartache.

Just in case you're curious, here's an ever-growing list of my favorite couples (because I know that I enjoy reading over who every one else adores, too):

Carter/Lucy (ER)
Sirius/Lupin (Harry Potter)
Jude/Max (Across the Universe)
Ron/Hermione (Harry Potter)
Turk/Carla (Scrubs)
Lassiter/Shawn (Psych)
Neville/Luna (Harry Potter)
Mary Anne/Logan (BSC)
Shawn/Juliet (Psych)
Mark/Elizabeth (ER)
Darcy/Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice)
Doug/Carol (ER)
Christian/Satine (Moulin Rouge!)

MY FANFICTION & WRITING

Completed Works
A Kitten Tale - CATS
A Little Conspiracy- CATS
Mistake- CATS
Control - Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Doesn't Work Well With Others- Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Drunk- Harry Potter
Musing- Harry Potter
Regret- Star Wars: Episode 3
Halloween Night- Harry Potter
Glass Jar- Harry Potter
Downtime- Harry Potter
Loss- Harry Potter
Never- House, MD
Comfort- House, MD
Dear Stacey- Baby-Sitter's Club
Where Your Book Begins - Baby-Sitter's Club
Silence - Law & Order: SVU

Works in Progress
A Human World - CATS
Mystery Cat- CATS
Fade - Baby-Sitter's Club
Beauty from Pain - Baby-Sitter's Club
numerous little short stories from varied genres

Hiatus
Sick Days- House

NOTE- I am now posting all of my old, old fanfiction, from back in the days when I was a rabid CATS fan. I'll post information (including the year I wrote and first published it) with each story.

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I enjoy receiving reviews, private messages, and emails, I really do. I firmly believe that a writer is only as good as the reflection upon criticism that he or she takes, so I encourage any and all of my readers to tell me what they think. Even if you think that I'm an arrogant, self-absorbed, stick in the mud, let me know. If I get enough messages like that then I know for sure that it's time to take a serious inventory of my writing and see what needs to be taken back to the drawing board. Otherwise, I really do love hearing from people who have read anything that I've written. I do try my best to get back to everyone as soon as I can, but with my illness and other demands, it's sometimes hard to do so, something which I hope most people will be able to understand. Anyways, please contact me, I would absolutely love to hear from you and hear what you think. Thanks again for reading all of this and for reading any of my writing!

~ The Lady Elizabeth ~

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