Maria Alexander

answers the Usual Questions

Maria Alexander

According to her web site, "Maria Alexander writes pretty much every damned thing and gets paid to do it. She's a produced screenwriter and playwright, published games writer, virtual world designer, award-winning copywriter, interactive theatre designer, prolific fiction writer, snarkiologist and poet. "

Has your interaction with fans, for example, at conventions, affected your work?

I don't know if it has ever affected my work, but it certainly affects me personally. I spend a lot of time alone writing about the adventures of my imaginary friends, never knowing if anyone else will like much less love them. When someone tells me that they enjoyed a story of mine, I feel more "Yay!" and slightly less weird.

Is there any particular incident (a letter, a meeting, a comment that stands out?

I once found a blog entry from a young woman who had read my short story, The King of Shadows. It had ripped open her heart in much the way it did mine when I wrote it. Reading her experience of the story was cathartic.

Do you have a favourite author or book (or writer or film or series) that has influenced you or that you return to?

Clive Barker has probably watered the most ground in my creative landscape, but Guillermo del Toro's films have left deep footprints. Lately, however, it's been Michael Marshall Smith. I love in his books how he peels away the onion layers to reveal the rotting core. And the whole time, that bastard makes you laugh. I don't think he's capable of writing a disappointing book. If he disagrees with me, I'll just have to get him drunk and kick his ass.

Who is the person you would most like to be trapped in a lift with? or a spaceship?

The Tenth Doctor. But seriously, if I was stuck in the lift for just a few hours, I could hang out with Twenty Years Older Me. I suspect I would be interested to hear what she has to say. She'll also need to use the bathroom before I will, which should be terrifying and entertaining to behold. (Hmmm. That answer managed to remain rather timey-wimey.)

Who is the person you would most DISlike to be trapped in a lift with? Or a spaceship?

Ann Coulter. I just could not live with that much hate for any length of time.

What would you pack for space? (Is there a food, beverage, book, teddy bear, etc that you couldn't do without?)

If I completely lost my mind and agreed to go to space, I would have to take my laptop and the Internet because we have a nutty, symbiotic relationship. My swords, too, particularly my iaito, which I love, love, love with samurai sauce on top. I also can't live without tea and the complete works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If Douglas Adams is to be believed (Oh! And Douglas Adams' books!), I'm pretty sure the former doesn't exist in space. So, not going. Nope.

What is the most important thing you would like to get/achieve from your work?

A deep sense of connection with people. I think that's probably the best thing any artist could achieve.

What is the special satisfaction of your work?

I'm especially satisfied that I'm not going to prison for killing, maiming, robbing or kidnapping anyone, either human or supernatural. Or for turning anyone into a homicidal unicorn. My sins are numerous but mostly literary.

submitted by Maria Alexander

14 August 2014

For other answers to The Usual Questions Click here

Just the facts:
Born: I was born under the Royal Star, Regulus, in the San Francisco Bay Area. One day I'll return with my dragons to reclaim my throne.
Resides: Los Angeles, I'm afraid. Today, I was driving up the 405 freeway alongside the Ghostbusters car. And I didn't think that was weird at all.
Bibliography/Awards:
My bibliography and awards can be found at The Snark Cage

Web site:
www.MariaAlexander.net

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