The opinions expressed in this chat are not necessarily those of The Other*Worlds*Cafe or America Online. RELM Muse: Hi Shadow! OnlineHost: Maybeeso has entered the room. Shadowjakk: Hi Muse! CRETENHOP: I always wished there was a sequel to it though CRETENHOP: hi Shad RELM Muse: Hi Maybee! RELM Muse: Nancy is having trouble getting online. Shadowjakk: Hey, CRET! CRETENHOP: hi Maybee Maybeeso: Hi Muse RELM Muse: I'm talking her through changing the AOLnet numbers. Shadowjakk: Hi Maybe, Mara. MaraJade7: Hi Shadow! Maybeeso: Hi Cretenhop MaraJade7: Tell her we all say hi! Maybeeso: Hi Shadow RELM Muse: She says Hi! back! She's trying desperately to get on! RELM Muse: May, have you read any of Nancy's books? Shadowjakk: Tell her not to lose any sleepless over it. OnlineHost: Phx8 has entered the room. Shadowjakk: Hey, Ph. RELM Muse: Hi Phx! Phx8: Hi! Maybeeso: Just the Beggers in Spain CRETENHOP: hi Ph OnlineHost: Nankress has entered the room. RELM Muse: Welcome Nancy! Shadowjakk: Hi Nancy! CRETENHOP: hello Nancy! MaraJade7: Hi Nancy! Welcome! OnlineHost: Yeho 999 has entered the room. Maybeeso: Hi Nancy! RELM Muse: Hi Yeho! Shadowjakk: Hi Yeho. OnlineHost: JJ Brannon has entered the room. RELM Muse: Welcome to the Other*Worlds*Cafe's chat RELM Muse: with SF author Nancy Kress! Nankress: Hi! I'm finally here! Shadowjakk: Hi JJ. Yeho 999: Hi Shadowjack! RELM Muse: Hi JJ! RELM Muse: Do you have questions for Nancy Kress? RELM Muse: You're in the right place! Join the O*W*C RELM Muse: for author chat! Yeho 999: Ms. Kress, what did you write? RELM Muse: Nancy just made it online, Nankress: sO i'M NEW AT THIS--WHAT NOW? RELM Muse: Yeho, let me IM you with a link to that info: Phx8: Well... what IS the airspeed of an unladen swallow? :--) OnlineHost: BLR WIZ has entered the room. RELM Muse: LOLOL RELM Muse: Hi BLR! RELM Muse: Does "Beggars in Spain" ring a bell? RELM Muse: We're chatting with the author, Nancy RELM Muse: Kress, tonight in the Other*Worlds*Cafe! Nankress: Hi all OnlineHost: JJ Brannon has left the room. OnlineHost: JJ Brannon has entered the room. Shadowjakk: Hang on, JJ. RELM Muse: Nancy, thanks so much for coming! Nankress: I'm glad to be here. CRETENHOP: ah....where to begin RELM Muse: Folks, we don't want to overwhelm Nancy with questions, so let's try to ask them.. BLR WIZ: Hi Nankress, JJ, Yeho, Phx, May, Shadow, Mara, CRE, Muse RELM Muse: one at a time. I'll start: RELM Muse: How did you start writing? Shadowjakk: Hey, BLR. Yeho 999: cool! Can I have your autograph?? Shadowjakk: Probably by printing. Yeho 999: aww... Shadowjakk: Followed by cursive. Nankress: I was pregnant with my second child and going nuts. So I started writing stories. JJ Brannon: Gee, everyone was crowding the doorway at once! RELM Muse: LOL Shadow OnlineHost: T83BIRD has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi T8! RELM Muse: Welcome! Want to be a writer? RELM Muse: Nancy Kress is our guest author in the Shadowjakk: Hi T8. RELM Muse: O*W*C tonight and she frequently teaches RELM Muse: on writing! T83BIRD: Hi, all. Hi, Nancy BLR WIZ: Hi T8 Nankress: Is this always this chaotic!!! RELM Muse: Did you sell the stories right away? Phx8: Muse, would it be a good idea to use protocol? CRETENHOP: what kind of stories did you start writing at first? MaraJade7: only when we have an author T83BIRD: No, Nancy. Usually it's more chaotic than this. RELM Muse: Well, it's usually semichaotic, but we have a lot of folks coming in. Nankress: It took a year of trying before one story sold, then another year before the next... JJ Brannon: It's the Subway Car Effect RELM Muse: Phx, let's try it without protocol for a bit first. T83BIRD: The Chaos Theorists took their cues from us, Nancy. Phx8: Where did you 1st publish? CRETENHOP: LOL Shadowjakk: Chaticians call it semichaos theory. RELM Muse: LOL Maybeeso: lol BLR WIZ: LOl T83BIRD: LOL Phx8: 'chaticians'- that's good! Nankress: I first published in GALAXY. They were on the verge of bankruptcy and had stopped paying au Maybeeso: As opposed to demichaos? Nankress: thors but I didn't know that. RELM Muse: LOL Not an auspicious start! Phx8: Second time? Shadowjakk: That's a semi-circular path to madness, Maybe. Otherwise known as demi-lunacy. Nankress: It took me three years to get my $105. RELM Muse: CRET wanted to know the types of stories you wrote at first. RELM Muse: Wow. But at least you got it. Maybeeso: LOL Shadowjakk Nankress: The stories were SF right from the start CRETENHOP: lets go alphabetically... ok,lets start with the c's......... RELM Muse: What's the name of the first published story? Nankress: "The Earth Dwellers." It's terrible. JJ Brannon: Was Fred Pohl editor back then? OnlineHost: Yeho 999 has left the room. Nankress: No. Jim Baen. This was 1976. I like the idea of a semicircular path to madness. RELM Muse: LOL But it sold. How did your writing get better? OnlineHost: MaraJade7 has left the room. Nankress: Practice? Luck? Clean living? No, not that. RELM Muse: But in here, I think we more often take the great circle route Shadowjakk: LOL T83BIRD: As long as it's a great circle. RELM Muse: LOL T83BIRD: GMTA Muse RELM Muse: Yep. Nankress: What does GMTA mean? RELM Muse: Great Minds Think Alike Shadowjakk: Great Minds Think Alike. CRETENHOP: did you find alot of adversity ,what with you gender being non-male and all? Nankress: Ah. T83BIRD: LOL Shadow Nankress: No adversity due to gender. After all, if SF can accept three-headed green aliens, it had l OnlineHost: MaraJade7 has entered the room. CRETENHOP: LOL RELM Muse: Hi again, Mara! Shadowjakk: Re's Mara T83BIRD: Hi Mara Nankress: less trouble than most accepting females MaraJade7: Hi guys! CRETENHOP: I see your point RELM Muse: Yeah, but the three-headed green aliens were probably using Puppetmaster pseudonyms. Shadowjakk: I think most male editors find 3-headed aliens less threatning to the status-quo, though. Nankress: SF is a good place for women to be, I think. Very open. RELM Muse: What led you to teaching on writing? Shadowjakk: They're less prolific, too. Nankress: I have a degree in education--I like teaching. I used to teach the fourth grade. RELM Muse: My mother used to teach fifth -- for 20 years. T83BIRD: That means they're more pro choice, Shadow. RELM Muse: How did you come up with the idea for Sleepless? Shadowjakk: That *has* changed. There seemed to be a conscious Shadowjakk: effort in the 70s and 80s to bring the ratio up to a more Shadowjakk: even level among the sexes on the production end in SF. CRETENHOP: that was you!? I thought you looked familiar! Nankress: It's a good age. But tiring. I moved on to college teaching, then adults. I like doing Cl Nankress: Clarion T83BIRD: Nancy, I used to teach Creative Writing here at Bloomsburg University of Pa. Phx8: <--- HS Eng and SS, 9th and 10th Nankress: The problem with teaching undergraduates is grading creative work. By what standards? OnlineHost: MaraJade7 has left the room. T83BIRD: Agreed. It's not easy. Shadowjakk: What standards? Purely arbitrary, of course. Or have Shadowjakk: things changed since I went to college? CRETENHOP: I taught a class in creative loafing....nobody showed up though RELM Muse: Clarion is more selective than college courses, though. Nankress: Back to the gender issue. SFWA, by my count, is between 35 and 40% female RELM Muse: LOL Cret! So they all passed? RELM Muse: Is that active members, Nancy? CRETENHOP: you betcha!...I was never so proud! T83BIRD: Not always arbitrary, Shadow. One can check on the six "elements" of fiction. Nankress: No, it's all types T83BIRD: Character, plot, setting, style, form and theme, Shadow. Nankress: What are the six elements of fiction? RELM Muse: Um, plot, character, theme,.... Nankress: OOps. You just saif]d RELM Muse: setting RELM Muse: Oh, T8 answered! Phx8: F-i-c-t-o-n.... that's 6 RELM Muse: I'm not sure I would have remembered form. RELM Muse: LOL CRETENHOP: ouch! Nankress: I only think consciously about some of them. RELM Muse: Nancy, as to gender and SFWA, I was wondering if the female members.. Phx8: How sad... my first two nominations for elements would have been sex and violence RELM Muse: had sold at the same level as the male members -- in other words, are they.. RELM Muse: as well-known/published. Shadowjakk: LOL, Ph. T83BIRD: Agreed about thinking consciously, Nancy, but my students were beginners. RELM Muse: Phx, maybe you need a sub! Phx8: lol Nankress: After I went through the SFWA directory, I went through the awards list for 25 years. We wo Nankress: won 40% of awards. Fits. RELM Muse: Yep, that's good to know. RELM Muse: Which of your books is your favorite? Nankress: I think STINGER, my latest OnlineHost: JDipale has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi JD! RELM Muse: Welcome to the Other*Worlds*Cafe's chat RELM Muse: with SF author Nancy Kress! T83BIRD: Hi JD Maybeeso: Gotta run, good seeing you Nancy Shadowjakk: I've noticed that. There's been a heavy bent, recently, towards feminine trophy bearers. OnlineHost: Maybeeso has left the room. RELM Muse: I don't have that yet -- waiting for SFBC to buy it. Nankress: Bye OnlineHost: Gandalara has entered the room. T83BIRD: Nite Maybee RELM Muse: Night, Maybe! RELM Muse: Hi Gand! RELM Muse: Do you have questions for Nancy Kress? RELM Muse: You're in the right place! Join the O*W*C Gandalara: Hi ya RELM Muse: for author chat! Phx8: Nancy, did you ever go through Clarion? T83BIRD: Hi Gand CRETENHOP: Plot line of "Stinger"? Shadowjakk: Hi Gand, JD. BLR WIZ: Hi Gand, JD Nankress: No on Clarion, altho I taught it five times. RELM Muse: However, one of the cats just knocked MAXIMUM LIGHT off the bookshelf. JDipale: HI! Just had dinner with George Foy...and now Chat with Nancy Kress....LIFE IS GOOD! RELM Muse: LOL JD! Nankress: STINGER is about the introduction of a genetically altered malaria into the US...It only col Phx8: I liked Foy's book, "Night Shift"- and I'm not usually a fan of cyberpunk Nankress: colonizes sickle cells. RELM Muse: So it predominantly affects blacks & jews? JDipale: Hi nancy! Loved Maximum Light CRETENHOP: interesting Shadowjakk: Interesting. Particularly as the malaria zones on the US are widening each year, lately. Phx8: That's what I'm wondering, Muse T83BIRD: Anyone see the AP dispatch about genetically altered heart muscle? Shadowjakk: Yes, T8. RELM Muse: Yes, I did, T8. And on embryonic neural cells. Nankress: Thank you. Mostly b;lacks. The CDC and FBI are under tremendous pressure to solve and stop RELM Muse: Maybe I won't fall over so much. JJ Brannon: Thalassemia, too. OnlineHost: Bryman1984 has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi Bryman! RELM Muse: Does "Beggars in Spain" ring a bell? RELM Muse: We're chatting with the author, Nancy RELM Muse: Kress, tonight in the Other*Worlds*Cafe! Shadowjakk: Hi Bryman. T83BIRD: Hi Bryman Bryman1984: Hello Room JDipale: Beggars Ride was a great book to end the Trilogy.....UM, is it a trilogy??? Bryman1984: do any of u got waveman Nankress: It's a trilogy. No more Sleepless. I got tired of them. T83BIRD: I think "Beggars" is a superb concept. Bryman1984: Waveman is cool Nankress: Thanks!! RELM Muse: No, Bry, you might try the PC for that. :) This is a science fiction discussion group. RELM Muse: LOL Nancy! How did you get the idea for the Sleepless? JDipale: TIRED, of sleepless! HA! Gandalara: At least she didn't name it Sleepless in Spain Nankress: I need 10 hours of sleep a night, and I really resent it. I wrote the book from envy RELM Muse: LOL JDipale: LOL, me too! T83BIRD: Or Beggars in Seattle, Gand. Gandalara: LOL Bryman1984: What do u mean by when u say you might try to pc for that RELM Muse: I'll IM you. OnlineHost: Bryman1984 has left the room. BLR WIZ: LOL CRETENHOP: I loved "An Alien Light" Nancy...what was your inspiration for that work? Shadowjakk: Personally, I've always resented having to sleep. I Shadowjakk: thought it was a great foundation for fiction. Phx8: Nancy, how many hours a day do you write? T83BIRD: I agree with CRET on Alien Light. Nankress: A life-long inyterest in violence RELM Muse: Why violence? Shadowjakk: That would be Bill Gates' contract law-firm at the moment, T8. Sleepless in Seattle. RELM Muse: LOL T83BIRD: LOL Gandalara: Oy Nankress: Why does it exist, in evolutionary terms? What's the point? I took 600 pages to find out. JJ Brannon: Nancy, you say science fiction. But your grasp of biology is impressive. How do you remain JJ Brannon: current? JDipale: Nancy, did you really sign the books for the Easton JDipale: Press' Signed Science Fiction series, or was I taken for JDipale: a ...ride? Shadowjakk: It's a simple concept, but one that I don't recall ever having seen explored in any depth. CRETENHOP: I thought the incapacitating pieces of cloth was a wonderful device! Nankress: I read journals and I bug people with scientific training, such as my husband. RELM Muse: Okay, I think we have three questions up now -- the first is Phx's on.. RELM Muse: how many hours a day Nancy writes. Nankress: Yes I signed the Easton Press books, and I had the writer's cramp to prove ut! Phx8: Muse, I'm impressed! JDipale: THANKS!! RELM Muse: Why? I'm paying attention. Nankress: I write about four or five hours a day, five days a week. Phx8: Your kids must be out of the house RELM Muse: And you answered JJ's and JD's. Nankress: My kids are grown, but I have part-time stepchildren. RELM Muse: What's it like having two authors in the house? JDipale: I'm not being sexist, but, as a female, did you find it difficult first being published? Nankress: We argue a lot about what REAL SF is. BLR WIZ: What authors do you read when not writing? Gandalara: LOL RELM Muse: LOL We do that here, too. T83BIRD: We argue about that here too, Nancy. Nankress: Ursula le Guin is my favorite SF author. I also read a lot of nonfiction Shadowjakk: We have, roughly a gigabite of logs devoted to that speculation, Nancy. T83BIRD: gmta again Muse Phx8: She's here in Portland. A fine woman Shadowjakk: With a 'y". Nankress: I've only met her once. RELM Muse: Going to Orycon this weekend, Phx? Phx8: Yeah! RELM Muse: Cool! You'll have to bring us a report! Nankress: I'll be in Philcon Phx8: It was great last year RELM Muse: JD, Nancy answered that earlier, saying she didn't. T83BIRD: Please, Phx. Right now I can't go anywhere. Phx8: Do you like doing conventions, Nancy? JDipale: OH, thanks Gandalara: Nacy - will you be at NasFic or AussieCon? Gandalara: gads. Nancy. RELM Muse: I decided not to go to Philcon this year -- I'm going to a bead show the next weekend .. CRETENHOP: LOL RELM Muse: instead. I met a lot of my SF friends at Bucky, so now I'll meet beading friends. Nankress: Aussiecon is uncertain yet. It's so FAR. I love conventions: they're both sociable and tac CRETENHOP: ug Nankress: tacky Gandalara: LOL RELM Muse: LOL T83BIRD: LOL Gandalara: Tacky is good Nankress: Tacky is very good BLR WIZ: Tacky is good. Fans need to stick together. RELM Muse: LOLOL Shadowjakk: LOL JDipale: I like Tacky! Gandalara: Speaking of tacky - how was your Halloween costume? T83BIRD: As long as we're not all made of ticky tacky. Nankress: I won a prize for cutest costume! Gandalara: Yay! T83BIRD: And we all look just the same. BLR WIZ: Congrats... RELM Muse: Cool! T83BIRD: Good o. CRETENHOP: tacky is good ...I have clothes made out of alot of velvet Elvis's Nankress: I went as a French maid Phx8: ooh lah lah Gandalara: Should put a picture of it up on your web page. RELM Muse: And I'm sure Charles appreciated it. Nankress: No pictures. I actually looked ridiculous. But it was fun, and I got to carry a feather du Nankress: duster Shadowjakk: LOL Phx8: Nancy, do you have a webpage? RELM Muse: One of my favorite of your stories is "Dancing on Air." How did you get the idea.. Nankress: Yes. On sff.net. But I didn't make it--a talented fan made it for me. RELM Muse: to tie in ballet and animals? Nankress: "Air" grew out of a life-long love of ballet. Nankress: The dog was an afterthought RELM Muse: Phx: http://www.sff.net/people/nankress/ OnlineHost: MaraJade7 has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi again, Mara! Phx8: thanks Shadowjakk: Re's Mara MaraJade7: Hi, y'all. Computer problems RELM Muse: Isn't ballet a kind of violence? To the dancers? Gandalara: Phx - sff.net is a wunnerful place to get lost for a weekend T83BIRD: Hey Hey Mara Phx8: Yikes, Muse! T83BIRD: URL's are one of Muse's specialties, Phx. RELM Muse: Phx, they have to stay at a very low weight, they distort their feet, have.. Nankress: Yes. Ballet is very debilitating. The great Suzanne Farrell had a plastic hip by 40 Phx8: Gand, I don't have the software for it yet. Dad-blamed complykated tiknology RELM Muse: tremendous pain, etc. MaraJade7: So, what's the topic of discussion of the moment? Gandalara: LOL RELM Muse: Mara, we're talking about Nancy's story "Dancing on Air." CRETENHOP: Nancy, I also LOVED your comments in th book "The Best Of Science Fiction T.V." OnlineHost: Xenofire has entered the room. Nankress: I wasn't in that book! RELM Muse: Hi Xeno! Gandalara: Hi Xeno RELM Muse: Welcome! Want to be a writer? RELM Muse: Nancy Kress is our guest author in the RELM Muse: O*W*C tonight and she frequently teaches RELM Muse: on writing! T83BIRD: Hi Xeno Phx8: I knew an Olympic Ice Skater. She took drugs to prevent growth. Partner died of a heroin Phx8: od RELM Muse: LOL CRET! Better check! T83BIRD: Nancy, do you have a favorite "SF" TV show? Xenofire: hi. hi. hello hi there how are ya RELM Muse: Yes, and I'm glad they're raising the age limit for gymnasts, too. CRETENHOP: alot of comments are attributed to you in therre Nankress: I almost never watch TV. But I liked what PBS did with le Guin's "Lathe of Heaven" T83BIRD: Good choice. RELM Muse: I wish I could see that -- apparently there's no copy for sale. CRETENHOP: Honest ... Gandalara: Been trying to find a tape of that OnlineHost: JDipale has left the room. MaraJade7: Nancy, what other SF books/authors are you a fan of? OnlineHost: JORKENS has entered the room. Nankress: Did they quote stuff I said in other interviews? Xenofire: never heard of it RELM Muse: Hi JORK! RELM Muse: Welcome to the Other*Worlds*Cafe's chat RELM Muse: with SF author Nancy Kress! Gandalara: Hi JORK! T83BIRD: Hi JORK CRETENHOP: no ,but ill give you an example..... OnlineHost: JDipale has entered the room. CRETENHOP: about the show "Starlost"..... RELM Muse: Nancy, did you see Mara's question about other books & authors of which you're a fan? RELM Muse: Hi again, JD! Gandalara: re's JD JDipale: Hello T83BIRD: Hey Hey JD MaraJade7: Heyla, JD! Nankress: I like Gene Wolfe, Anne Tyler, Somerset Mauigham, Bruce Sterling, Charles Sheffield, Toni Mo Nankress: Morrison OnlineHost: JORKENS has left the room. JDipale: Such a friendly room...I should get disconnected more often! CRETENHOP: ..."to call the Charectors two dimentional is to exggerate by at least one dimensional" Nankress: Maureen McHugh RELM Muse: LOL JD Xenofire: Nancy do you experience the same thrill meeting another auther that say I would MaraJade7: I know the feeling - i was disconnected thrice! Phx8: Sheffield's making huge strides in his writing ability CRETENHOP: "Dimension"....sorry RELM Muse: I liked the end to the Heritage Universe! Nankress: Phx8--elucidate? JDipale: Me too, MUSE!!! Phx8: Uh RELM Muse: LOL Phx Nankress: My favorite Sheffield is BROTHER TO DRAGONS RELM Muse: While he's thinking, Nancy, did you see Xeno's question? Do get get a thrill... OnlineHost: Araiused has entered the room. RELM Muse: meeting other authors? RELM Muse: Hi Ara! Gandalara: Hi Ara! RELM Muse: Do you have questions for Nancy Kress? RELM Muse: You're in the right place! Join the O*W*C RELM Muse: for author chat! T83BIRD: Hi Ara JDipale: I LOVED Brother To Dragons! MaraJade7: Heyla, Ara! Nankress: Not any more, alas. Araiused: Evening, all. CRETENHOP: hi Ara RELM Muse: Why not? And why "alas"? Just too commonplace? Shadowjakk: Nancy, did you base your governmental model in BIS Shadowjakk: and its sequels in part on the Ottoman Janissary Shadowjakk: system? Your description of the Mules brought that to Shadowjakk: mind when I first read the books. Xenofire: do you find that their down to earth or aloof, or is it dependent Phx8: Well, I'll say it. Charles Sheffield's first books were strong on hard sf, weak on Phx8: characterization. Nankress: Authors aren't very different from readers. Both are more different from normals than they Nankress: are from each other MaraJade7: Allright - I've got to go. Thanx, RELM muse! Thanx, Nancy! Phx8: His recent books are much more developed in that way. Characterization is difficult RELM Muse: Night, Mara! Come again soon! Araiused: Night, Mara Xenofire: ah i see T83BIRD: Nite Mara Shadowjakk: Night, Mara. MaraJade7: G'night! Thanx, y'all! Gandalara: Night Mara OnlineHost: MaraJade7 has left the room. Nankress: Night Mara JJ Brannon: Night, Mara. T83BIRD: Indeed it is, Phx. OnlineHost: TAMirabile has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi TAM! RELM Muse: Does "Beggars in Spain" ring a bell? RELM Muse: We're chatting with the author, Nancy Nankress: Charles says he's not interested in characterization. This is why we argue RELM Muse: Kress, tonight in the Other*Worlds*Cafe! Araiused: Hi, TAM CRETENHOP: hi Tam Shadowjakk: Hi TAM! T83BIRD: Hi TAM Gandalara: Hi TAM! Xenofire: I must say that Im not familiar with your Xenofire: work although I wouldnt mind trying it Xenofire: out, do you writr only SF JDipale: Hi TAM JJ Brannon: I cam not to skewer Sheffield but to honor him.. Gandalara: Shame on Charles then, Nancy RELM Muse: Ah, now, see, I'm on Charles' side. I often say in here that a good technical trick is.. RELM Muse: better than good characterization. RELM Muse: Xeno, I'll IM you with a link to her biblio. Shadowjakk: LOL...and you're often disagreed with. TAMirabile: Hi, Muse, Ara, Shadow, T, Gand, JD! Nankress: Never! Gandalara: And I'll take characterization over pages of science anyday TAMirabile: Hi CRET Nankress: SF should have BOTH OnlineHost: Bryman1984 has entered the room. Shadowjakk: I'm afraid I'm a characterization junkie. OnlineHost: Bryman1984 has left the room. Araiused: Charles' books are fast paced, is that the technique trick? Phx8: lol, Nancy. At first, I thought description could sub for char., but a writer depends on it Phx8: to carrry the story TAMirabile: Hi Nancy, glad I didn't miss you Phx8: Both- that's true in sf RELM Muse: Yep, I am. :) But Charles and I work(ed) in similar fields, so I suspect we may be... RELM Muse: similar in our preferences. CRETENHOP: back in a moment Phx8: I'd better pipe down... Nankress: It's fun being married to someone with different opinions OnlineHost: CRETENHOP has left the room. JJ Brannon: How can they say Charles fails in characterization? Is it the accent? T83BIRD: I agree, Nancy, that SF should have both. Nankress: Charles says, what do you work in MUSE? BLR WIZ: Do you mean that Charles likes beading? Shadowjakk: Characterization applies to milieu as much as it does an Shadowjakk: individual, though. Many settings lack personality. Gandalara: LOL BLR Araiused: LOLOL, BLR. TAMirabile: LOL BLR Phx8: The reader needs to sympathize, or id, or feel strongly about the character RELM Muse: I'm retired on disability now, but I used to be the chief design & test engineer for.. RELM Muse: the communications software on the Tomahawk cruise missiles. I was an expert on.. RELM Muse: comm software for computerized weapons & intelligence systems. Phx8: Wow, Muse! Araiused: Charles' Heritage Universe is interesting. Is he going to carry on the series? Nankress: Sounds very esoteric RELM Muse: Well, it was more fun than staying home. Xenofire: well after reading your Biblo, courtesy Xenofire: of relmmuse I am impressed, and I Xenofire: certainly will check you out Nankress: Charles says he doesn't know about more Heritage universe Phx8: Nancy, ever consider collaborating? OnlineHost: DreamMindr has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi Dream! RELM Muse: Welcome! Want to be a writer? RELM Muse: Nancy Kress is our guest author in the RELM Muse: O*W*C tonight and she frequently teaches Shadowjakk: Hi Dream. RELM Muse: on writing! Phx8: I never could understand how two people could work together on the same book T83BIRD: I like her as she is, Phx. Hi Dream Gandalara: Hi Dream! Nankress: We don't want to. Styles too different. DreamMindr: Hi all! TAMirabile: Hi, Dream! Araiused: Hi, Dream! JJ Brannon: Let's talk about Nancy's fiction -- not Charles ' [even though I'm a fan of his] OnlineHost: CRETENHOP has entered the room. Araiused: Nancy, just been told that Gene Wolfe is your favourite author. He's mine too! RELM Muse: You've rewritten a lot of fairy tales for the Datlow/Windling anthologies. RELM Muse: What's the attraction there? JJ Brannon: Nancy, does plot control character or vice-versa? RELM Muse: Hi again, CRET! RELM Muse: Yep, JJ, I'm hoping to get Charles in for his own chat! T83BIRD: Hey Hey CRET Xenofire: Nancy do or have you read any of Ann McCaffery's books Nankress: Ellen Datlow asked me to. Also, I loved fairy tales as a kid Araiused: Has Gene Wolfe been your inspiration, Nancy? T83BIRD: Nancy, I also used to teach Literature for Children. Glad you do that. Nankress: Plot vs. character--I just wrote an entire book on the subject! DYNAMIC CHARACTERS, Writer' Nankress: Digest Books RELM Muse: T8, these aren't generally children's fairy tales. Araiused: I know, Nancy, I read your articles in Writer's Digest religiously. T83BIRD: Sorry, Muse. Didn't know. Nankress: No. Jack goes up the beanstalk to make love to the giant's wife T83BIRD: Ah, so. Nankress: She is, of course, rather large RELM Muse: Yeah, I'm in the middle of BLACK SWAN, WHITE RAVEN right now, so I haven't gotten to ... T83BIRD: Interesting, anyway. BLR WIZ: Sounds Kinky....... RELM Muse: yours in this book yet. RELM Muse: Ellen is a big believer in adult stories. RELM Muse: Nancy, what are you writing about now? Nankress: I'm doing an off-world far future book with aliens. All the skiffy tropes Phx8: Nancy, do you favor any particular sf mag at this point? Nankress: I like ASIMOV'S Phx8: I'm just curious- why that one? CRETENHOP: hi T8 T83BIRD: Hi CRET Nankress: Good characterization. And so discussions ARE circular after al... RELM Muse: LOL Phx8: lol Xenofire: nite guys Shadowjakk: has anyone picked up the movie option on BIS? T83BIRD: Nite Xeno RELM Muse: Night, Xeno! OnlineHost: Xenofire has left the room. Nankress: Once, but the option expired. Araiused: Nite, Xeno RELM Muse: Have you had interest in other stories? T83BIRD: I would love to see BIS in film. Really. Nankress: TV interest in OATHS AND MIRACLES, but that fizzled, too. I don;t much believe in it JJ Brannon: Nancy, do you think we'll have major life extension in our lifetimes? Nankress: Not major. But we may see the first beginnings of it T83BIRD: Oh, JJ, I certainly hope something like that will happen. DreamMindr: One form of life extension would be to reduce the amount of sleep we need. Phx8: Life extension? I'm still thinking about feather dusters... Nankress: LOL Phx8: :--) Gandalara: LOL BLR WIZ: LOL DreamMindr: I was incredibly jealous when I read BIS. TAMirabile: I don't need a major one---just one to hold on til the next one RELM Muse: LOL TAMirabile: LOL Phx Shadowjakk: You, too...Dream? Phx8: Right, Tam T83BIRD: Phx, I want Bonnie to be able to live long enough to someday get a new left leg. OnlineHost: RhoadKyll2 has entered the room. DreamMindr: Yes, I can't get by without 5 hours a night. RELM Muse: Hi Rhoad! Araiused: Hiya Rhoad! RELM Muse: Welcome to the Other*Worlds*Cafe's chat RELM Muse: with SF author Nancy Kress! T83BIRD: Hi Rhoad Gandalara: Hi RHoad! RhoadKyll2: Greetings & Salutations. Phx8: Understand, T8 TAMirabile: Hi, Rhoad! Nankress: Five hours is all you need? I'm jealous JDipale: Hi Rhoad! Phx8: Words don't really work there, T8 Shadowjakk: Morpheus is Lucifer's lieutenant. OnlineHost: FranMan50 has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi Fran! RELM Muse: Do you have questions for Nancy Kress? RELM Muse: You're in the right place! Join the O*W*C RELM Muse: for author chat! FranMan50: Hello relm Araiused: Hi, Fran! T83BIRD: Thx anyway, Phx Gandalara: Hi Fran T83BIRD: Hi Fran DreamMindr: Shadow, don't talk about my minions! FranMan50: Hello room RELM Muse: Nancy, which cons do you go to on a regular basis? T83BIRD: Ah, she's a pro going to a con. Phx8: lol Nankress: Philcon. Balticon. Often Worldcon. The rest are more variable. I really liked Confluence JJ Brannon: Three card monty, Spanish Prisoner, salted mines RELM Muse: LOL Shadowjakk: LOL T83BIRD: LOL BLR WIZ: LOL RELM Muse: Nancy, have you ever had trouble finishing a book? Nankress: Yes, when I first started writing. Not now that I'm full time. There is an economic impera Nankress: imperative RELM Muse: Do you outline first? T83BIRD: And is it categorical, too, Nancy? RELM Muse: LOL Phx8: Good questions, Must Nankress: I can't outline. If I do, I no longer want to write the book JJ Brannon: LOL OnlineHost: Margaeli has entered the room. RELM Muse: Hi Marg! RELM Muse: Does "Beggars in Spain" ring a bell? RELM Muse: We're chatting with the author, Nancy RELM Muse: Kress, tonight in the Other*Worlds*Cafe! Araiused: Hiya, Marg! T83BIRD: Hi Marg BLR WIZ: Hi Marg Margaeli: Evening, BeMused one!!! Araiused: LOL, Marg. RELM Muse: So what happens when you get to a point where you don't know what happens next,.. Shadowjakk: Hi Marg. RELM Muse: but you have to finish the book? Margaeli: Evening, Roomies!!! Margaeli: Shadow!!!! LTNS. TAMirabile: Hi, Marg! JJ Brannon: Nancy, do your characters lead you blindfolded through a minefield? CRETENHOP: well folks, I must mosey on. Nancy, it's been great having you here. thank you Araiused: See ya, CRET. Nankress: Yes. Or else give back the advance, which is unthinkable because it's spent Shadowjakk: Night, Cret. T83BIRD: August Wilson once said that you don't put words in your characters' mouths, you listen. Araiused: Writing a book is like walking through a minefield? RELM Muse: Night, CRET! Margaeli: LOL Nancy!!! JJ Brannon: Night, Cret. T83BIRD: Nite CRET Margaeli: Adios, Cret Gandalara: Bye CRE, Hi Marg Margaeli: Are we in protocol? TAMirabile: Night, CRET Margaeli: Heya, Gand!!! Shadowjakk: No, Marg. Phx8: contocol DreamMindr: Nancy, I have to ask this. What's your opinion of Robert A. Heinlein? RELM Muse: Nope, Marg, we're just being polite. Margaeli: Oh good!!! OnlineHost: CRETENHOP has left the room. Nankress: I'm not a big Heinlein fan. T83BIRD: Marg, we're not in proto col, we're already in col. Margaeli: LOL T8 Araiused: LOL, T RELM Muse: LOL Gandalara: Why, Nancy? Nankress: I don't like his female characters or his political slants. RELM Muse: Ha! She's on *my* side! DreamMindr: Somehow, I didn't think so. :) I don't think Lazarus Long would get along with Jennifer. Shadowjakk: Entirely understandable. Gandalara: Ah. Common complaint. Margaeli: T8, reminds of college chem when we studied Margaeli: hemi-acetyls, which the prof preferred to call Margaeli: *half-acetyls* Nankress: Actually, nobody gets along with Jennifer T83BIRD: LOL Marg DreamMindr: Yes, Nancy, and you just wouldn't kill Jennifer off. Shadowjakk: And this makes her an entirely believable character. Phx8: I have to go. Nancy, thank you for your time. Enjoyed the chat. Nite, all RELM Muse: Night, Phx! T83BIRD: Nite Phx Margaeli: Adios, Phx Araiused: Nite, Phx! Gandalara: Night Phx! Nankress: Troops, I think I have to say goodnight. We're leaving early tomorrow for Philcon TAMirabile: Night, Phx DreamMindr: Night, Phz! OnlineHost: Phx8 has left the room. JDipale: Nite Nancy! Shadowjakk: Thanks, nancy! T83BIRD: Nite Nancy and thanks. DreamMindr: Good night, Nancy! RELM Muse: Thanks for being with us tonight, Nancy! We really appreciate it! Araiused: Nite, Nancy, thanks for coming. Margaeli: Nancy, nice to meet you. TAMirabile: Thank you for coming Nancy. Good night! Nankress: Thanks for having me! Gandalara: Thanks, Nancy! And have fun at the Con! RELM Muse: Come back sometime, when you need a break from writing. BLR WIZ: Night Nancy & charles Araiused: Nite, Charles. Gandalara: ::::Applause for Nancy:::::: OnlineHost: Nankress has left the room. TAMirabile: ah Night, Charles FranMan50: <(-_-)> use the force Nancy. JJ Brannon: Night, Nancy. See you at the Adam's Mark. Araiused: Neat, Fran. T83BIRD: Iggy Squid sends regards, Nancy. RELM Muse: LOL Fran! Margaeli: <-----imagining the O*W*C as inspiration for some poor author OnlineHost: JDipale has left the room. RELM Muse: Well, that was fun. Araiused: So, what have we learned? DreamMindr: Actually, I believe Muse did get into one of Alan Steele's books. RELM Muse: She likes to write. Araiused: Squidly inspiration, Marg? RELM Muse: Yep, Allen based a character on me. Margaeli: Dream, I wondered about that myself. T83BIRD: It COULD happen, Marg. After all, you people inspired me to write OUR ORBIT. TAMirabile: Marg, I think if you looked at it from the right skewed TAMirabile: angle it might be a good inspiration BLR WIZ: That different authors can live together...... DreamMindr: Ara, doing your Mike Brady impression? OnlineHost: FranMan50 has left the room. Shadowjakk: I need to go eat and sleep. Night, all! Good one, Muse! Margaeli: ADios, Shadow RELM Muse: Night, Shadow! Araiused: Nite, Shadow! Gandalara: Night SHadow! T83BIRD: Nite Shadow TAMirabile: Night, Shadow DreamMindr: Night, Shadow. Araiused: What is so impressionable about Mike Brady? RELM Muse: Which of Nancy's books do you guys like? Margaeli: Muse, do you have a subscription to LOCUS? T83BIRD: BIS and Alien Light, Muse. DreamMindr: He's so unimpressionable that he's impressionable. RELM Muse: No, and I should. I hear Eugenia had her picture in there with her costume. RELM Muse: Why, T8? Gandalara: Um, I don't own any Kress books :/ RELM Muse: Gand! T83BIRD: Unique concepts, Muse. Gandalara: Or Sheffield books. Araiused: Mea Culpa, I haven't read her books yet. Margaeli: <----read interesting column in this month's LOCUS on Margaeli: sci fi/fantasy/speculative fiction RELM Muse: Gracious. Go get some! Araiused: But I've read her short story which appeared in the old OMNI. DreamMindr: I don't think I've ever asked this, but... Has anyone here actually... Gandalara: Two weeks until my next big book buying spree DreamMindr: borrowed an SF book from a library? Margaeli: LOL Gand!!! Next payperiod, eh? T83BIRD: No. Araiused: Me, Dream, especially the out of print books. RELM Muse: Not recently, Dream. Our library's SF is mostly my castoffs. Gandalara: I did, Dream. Lo-ong time ago BLR WIZ: Not for a few decades, Dream Margaeli: Dream, all the time!!! DreamMindr: As opposed to filling box after box with the stuff. RELM Muse: Marg, she's going to Loscon. ;) Gandalara: Marg - next con and dealer's room :) DreamMindr: Marg! You're on my side on this! Margaeli: LOL Muse!!! Margaeli: <-----always goes to the library; still has a teenager & a budget RELM Muse: Now, Dream, you fill shelf after shelf! Araiused: Dream, me too, I borrow SF books from library all the time! DreamMindr: Well, Muse, maybe one day the library will name its SF section after you. RELM Muse: Naw, I'm a Yankee. DreamMindr: OK, Ara. That's 3. DreamMindr: LOL, Muse! T83BIRD: I don't have access to a library with lots of SF books. Araiused: Neither has my library, but it does have BARSOOM :) BLR WIZ: I have the 1st book that I ever bought. Tom Corbett Stand By For Mars Gandalara: Last time I went to pull a SF book from the library shelf, I Gandalara: opened it, and it had the remains of my old book plate in Gandalara: it. RELM Muse: LOL Gand! Araiused: SF is all lumped together with other fiction. T83BIRD: LOL BLR WIZ: LOL] Araiused: Gand! DreamMindr: LOL! Margaeli: can't you just hear Tammy Wynett singing.....~/o.....stand by your mars.....o/~ RELM Muse: Do you think developing Sleepless would be a good idea? Gandalara: And I didn't even remember owning it :) T83BIRD: figures Araiused: Sleepless in the O*W*C? DreamMindr: I found an old book on sale at the library. It had very old notes stuck in it. TAMirabile: zLOL Gand DreamMindr: Very eerie. Gandalara: As long as we don't expect the story to carry onto the film, Muse. RELM Muse: Well, I meant in real life, not as a movie. :) Araiused: Like an unsolved mystery, Dream. DreamMindr: Yes, Muse. I have too much to do to waste time sleeping. Gandalara: Ya know Hollywood would massacre it. RELM Muse: But what about the difference between the Sleepers & the Sleepless? Gandalara: Ah. T83BIRD: What doesn't Hollywood massacre, Gand? DreamMindr: I couldn't bring myself to say it when Nancy was here but... BLR WIZ: Thats why it should be done by an independent film company. DreamMindr: Nancy is doing a far-future, off- world SF book? RELM Muse: That's what she said. What's wrong with it? Gandalara: That's what she said DreamMindr: Perhaps FEMINISTS OF DUNE? Gandalara: :::thwap::::: TAMirabile: aack Dreaam T83BIRD: Ick, Dream. Margaeli: LOL Dream!!! Araiused: ::ink squirt:: RELM Muse: LOLOL Margaeli: Dream, probably just as well left unsaid earlier!!! DreamMindr: LOL Araiused: She doesn't strike me as a feminist. Margaeli: <----hubby says it's only rude if you say it to their face RELM Muse: Well, I suspect she's interested in women's rights. DreamMindr: Ara, have you read Beggars? Araiused: Not yet, Dream. T83BIRD: Do, Ara. Do. Araiused: OK, T, because you say so :) DreamMindr: All her key figures are women. Gandalara: I read the short stories about it in the zines. BLR WIZ: All women have figures, some are better keyed. RELM Muse: LOL T83BIRD: LOL DreamMindr: LOL Araiused: LOL, BLR. Gandalara: Oy, Blr :) DreamMindr: BLR, I almost wish you said that earlier just out of morbid curiosity as to what Nancy would Margaeli: TTFN; needs to check email for SPAM DreamMindr: have said. RELM Muse: See ya, Marg! Gandalara: Night Marg! T83BIRD: Nite Marg Araiused: Where is Kak, isn't he a Nancy fan? DreamMindr: Night, Marg! Araiused: Nite, Marg. TAMirabile: Night, Marg RELM Muse: He is, and I thought he'd be here. DreamMindr: Kak was probably sleeping. :) BLR WIZ: I was trying to behave myself, Dream... RELM Muse: But he may be thinking he can come in at the last minute and take over. DreamMindr: Somehow appropriate. T83BIRD: And certainly not in Seattle, Dream. RELM Muse: Dream, I went to sleep while I had my hair cut today. Stephanie had to wake me up. DreamMindr: I had my hair cut today too. For the first time ever, we were in synch. RELM Muse: Don't you think the difference between Sleepless and the rest of humans... Araiused: LOL, Dream. RELM Muse: would damage society? Gandalara: Hair cut!!!! :::runs away screaming::::: RELM Muse: LOL BLR WIZ: LOL TAMirabile: I'll take Gand's hair cut---I'm about overdue again DreamMindr: Muse, we turn everything into an excuse for bigotry. Araiused: Meaning the Sleepless are looked on as vampirish? T83BIRD: My late father would have said, "Get 'em all cut," Gand. Gandalara: LOL RELM Muse: I don't mean just bigotry, but what if the Sleepless and the Donkeys had.. TAMirabile: Yes, Muse, it's the same as with the telepaths RELM Muse: some kind of disease? What if they stopped caring about the Mules? Gandalara: Sleepless people will have the same problems getting acceptance, just like clones. RhoadKyll2: night all RELM Muse: But clones aren't smarter than their creators. Araiused: Nite, Rhoad Gandalara: Night Rhoad T83BIRD: Nite Rhoad TAMirabile: Night, Rhoad! DreamMindr: If we make an effort to improve genetics for everyone, it could help. DreamMindr: Otherwise, it will be divisive. T83BIRD: Sleeping only if and as long as you wanted to could be great. TAMirabile: The sleepless would have to care, at least for a while TAMirabile: because they would be so outnumbered RELM Muse: Right, but the Sleepless were based only on who could pay for it. DreamMindr: I found Beggars quite interesting, but I couldn't figure out a viable solution to its... DreamMindr: social problem. Gandalara: I *like* to sleep. RELM Muse: Yeah, me too, Gand. ;) TAMirabile: Me too, Gand BLR WIZ: :) Araiused: Me too, Gand, and perchance to dream ;) Gandalara: LOL Ara RELM Muse: I dunno, I dreamed last night and it was weird. Araiused: You can get such good story inspirations in dreams :) T83BIRD: "....to sleep, perchance to dream./Aye, there's the rub." TAMirabile: It was the hair cut that did it DreamMindr: Muse, Dreams are my province. What did you expect? Araiused: LOL, TAM. T83BIRD: Do you have a Dream Catcher, Dream? Araiused: Hi Vingo RELM Muse: Dream, I think it mostly came from watching Charmed last night. ;) DreamMindr: No T8, but I remember my dreams. RELM Muse: Hi Ving! T83BIRD: Hi Vingo RELM Muse: Welcome! Want to be a writer? RELM Muse: Nancy Kress is our guest author in the RELM Muse: O*W*C tonight and she frequently teaches RELM Muse: on writing! TAMirabile: Hi, Ving! RELM Muse: Oops, Nancy has had to leave! I'll have to stop clicking on those welcomes. :) Gandalara: I had a *really* wierd dream last week that involved certain Gandalara: people from this room. It bothered me all day. And that's Gandalara: all I'm gonna say :) Vingo65: hi all Gandalara: Hi Ving! RELM Muse: Eeeeek! T83BIRD: Ouch, Gand RELM Muse: Right now we're just chatting. TAMirabile: That's not nice Gand Araiused: Gand, now I'm going to be as curious and as catty. BLR WIZ: Sounds interesting Gand. T83BIRD: Maybe we T83BIRD: 're better off not knowing. TAMirabile: That does not assuage the curiosity bump, T T83BIRD: True, but I'd rather not suffer from knowing, TAM. T83BIRD: Not speaking for anyone else. TAMirabile: Are you assuming then that it would be something you would not want to know? hmmmm Araiused: I'm just curious, she's still Nancy Kress not Nancy Sheffield? T83BIRD: Could be. Gandalara: As far as I know, Ara DreamMindr: I've got to sign off. Night all1 T83BIRD: Nite Dream Araiused: Is this JJ's first time in this room? ;) Araiused: Nite, Dream. TAMirabile: Night, Dream T83BIRD: BTW, all: Bonnie COULD, just could, come home tomorrow or Saturday. Araiused: Good, T1 Gandalara: Yay, T! TAMirabile: Heyyy, T!!! BLR WIZ: We are praying for her, T8 T83BIRD: thx all Araiused: uh oh Gandalara: oops. Gandalara: PARTY! BLR WIZ: We lost the host. Party... Toga, Toga, Toga Araiused: Did Muse fall asleep? :) TAMirabile: HOOOO HA T83BIRD: As long as it's not Tora, Tora, Tora, BLR. Araiused: LOl, T. BLR WIZ: LOL TAMirabile: LOL T Gandalara: And that's a buncha bull Araiused: ::Iggy squirting ink around::: Gandalara: :) T83BIRD: LOL Gand TAMirabile: LOL Gandalara: Here she comes T83BIRD: "She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes, when she comes... Araiused: Maybe Spirit jumped on the keyboard. BLR WIZ: Leno set up a hidden camera to see what his cat dose when he is not home.... Gandalara: LOL BLR - what'd he find out? Araiused: And what did his cat do? T83BIRD: What did the cat do to the camera? BLR WIZ: Party..... Araiused: LOL, T. Gandalara: Hmmm, Muse must be getting the stop sign :/ T83BIRD: AOL punting hosts. Bad news. Araiused: AOL is full of stop signs - wonder what they're doing. Gandalara: I can't keep my TP on the roller anymore because of my cats. T83BIRD: LOL Gand BLR WIZ: They love to unroll that Gand.... Araiused: TP? Gandalara: They make nests :) TAMirabile: They probly think you put it there for them to play with Gandalara: toilet paper Gandalara: Ara! You never TP'd a house when you were a kid???? Gandalara: Hi Muse! T83BIRD: Hey Hey Muse RELM Muse: Well, that was interesting. Cleared out the guests, too! BLR WIZ: Then when you go to use it, it has all these holes in it. Araiused: Re's Muse. TAMirabile: YAYYYYYY! She's back BLR WIZ: Re Muse BLR WIZ: Casually kicking the catnip under the couch.... Araiused: I TP'd my bed, Gand. TAMirabile: Trees, Gand RELM Muse: Yeah, and I had to reboot the computer, and the first time I signed on, I stuck on ... RELM Muse: getting into the room! RELM Muse: Uh oh. My words aren't coming up again. RELM Muse: LOL BLR! You're watching Leno, too. BLR WIZ: That was ROFL Muse T83BIRD: ICU Muse Gandalara: Trees? You TP's trees?? TAMirabile: not lately---but we used to---look really neat T83BIRD: Howabout TP a tepee? Araiused: Is like tree being mummied, TAM. Gandalara: TP'd houses, trees, bushes, soap and peanut butter on the windows :) TAMirabile: LOL fun throwing the roll up in the branches TAMirabile: peanut butter on windows----ewwwwwwww Araiused: Gand must have a fun childhood. BLR WIZ: I'd never waste peanut butter like that..... BLR WIZ: You put it on the door knobs. Gandalara: LOL TAMirabile: lOLOL T83BIRD: LOL Araiused: ickie, BLR. BLR WIZ: Gone are the good old days. Halloween, we used walkie talkies to keep tabs on the police. Gandalara: Muse? Can you see this? TAMirabile: LOL T83BIRD: LOL BLR Araiused: Muse is still here? TAMirabile: She's being awfully quiet TAMirabile: ooops T83BIRD: Ghost of Muse? Gandalara: When I was in my teens, I had a black horse. Would put Gandalara: on a sheet and terrorize the little ones :) Araiused: Thar she blows! Gandalara: I loved growing up in a small town :) TAMirabile: LOL Gand--- BLR WIZ: Yes Gand, the things we did then, today they would put you away for. Araiused: I wonder how Gand looks like .. headless. T83BIRD: Grew up in one but wasn't born there or related to anyone, Gand. TAMirabile: My favorite was the neighbor who set up a grave with a TAMirabile: speaker and talked from the house window with a mike T83BIRD: LOL TAM Gandalara: Just imagine me cackling at the same time. It was wondrous fun :) TAMirabile: LOLOL T83BIRD: LOL Gand BLR WIZ: No wonder you have strange dreams :) Araiused: This is Gand's other side. Gandalara: ROFL! Araiused: LOL, BLR. TAMirabile: Other? Araiused: She has many sides? Gandalara: Shhh TAM. :) I'll never get another roommate again. :) TAMirabile: dunno---this is the "normal" one T83BIRD: Sure, Ara. Your side, my side, and the right side. TAMirabile: ooops Araiused: I thought your room mates are cats, Gand :) T83BIRD: Hey Hey Hey Muse RELM Muse: Okay, I'm back with AOLnet. AOL dropped the TCP/IP connect three times! Araiused: WB, Muse. BLR WIZ: Ouch Muse TAMirabile: Muse!!! Gandalara: Hi Muse. I'll send it again :) RELM Muse: Thanks, Gand! Araiused: Good ol' AOL, kicking the rivals. Araiused: Screen lag? BLR WIZ: That sounds painfull. RELM Muse: LOL And I see there were 5 people here at 11:45, everybody must have left. Araiused: Uh oh. Gandalara: Hello Bees. T83BIRD: Hi Bees TAMirabile: Hey, Bees! RELM Muse: Hi Bees! BLR WIZ: Hi Bee BeesAreUs: sup all Gandalara: Free food? Sure, Bees. RELM Muse: Gand, I just read about your cats. I think I still have my TP shield, I'll.. TAMirabile: I had a tuna sandwich RELM Muse: send it to you. None of these kitties are mean with the TP. Araiused: Order at the bar. T83BIRD: George has never done that, Muse. RELM Muse: I had Popeyes chicken. mmmm Gandalara: LOL Muse! Never knew there was a shield. RELM Muse: Hi Wolf! Araiused: Hi Wolf. Gandalara: Hi Wolf RELM Muse: We're just chatting tonight. :) T83BIRD: Hi Wolf TAMirabile: Order? I'll have a Gargle Blaster RELM Muse: Yeah, it's plexiglass, and you can get to it, but the cats can't. Wolf359: Greetings all! TAMirabile: Hi, Wolf! Araiused: I wonder what cats see in TP rolls? RELM Muse: Well folks, you were great tonight! Thanks for staying when I got punted! BLR WIZ: Thanks for the chat Muse..... Gandalara: Well, it's time to go. Thanks Muse! Night All! RELM Muse: My time is up, but feel free to stay and chat! Araiused: Nite, Muse, thank you! OnlineHost: Gandalara has left the room. RELM Muse: If you have any problems, use keyword: NOTIFY AOL Araiused: Nite, Gand! T83BIRD: Gotta go. Lots to do in the coming daylight. Thanks Muse & all. 'Nite. TAMirabile: Thanks, Muse. G'night RELM Muse: Have a good night! RELM Muse: See y'all tomorrow!