Congratulations Jace and Elisha!

Superstar Magazine Cycle 1

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1. The Legends of Ithorea Prologue gives us a small glimpse into the world you have created. What is it that fascinates you most with this genre of writing?

What has always made me love the fantasy genre the most is that anything is possible. You are never limited to certain things, and you can do just about anything without people going ‘huh?’ Well, they probably would, but at least you can blame it on the genre and not just your story. You can create your own worlds and give it your own laws about how the world would work.Every world has its legends. This is ours.” What has always made me love the fantasy genre the most is that anything is possible. You are never limited to certain things, and you can do just about anything without people going ‘huh?’ Well, they probably would, but at least you can blame it on the genre and not just your story. You can create your own worlds and give it your own laws about how the world would work.Its just a very good way to let your creative side out, to allow you to create something that probably wouldn’t be possible in every day life. Also, fantasy doesn’t always mean you have to go extreme. Sometimes you can have just normal, everyday characters getting to see some not so normal and everyday things. Fantasy doesn’t always have to mean dragons and unicorns, but hey, they are pretty cool to put in. You want a quick end for your villain; bring out a dragon, and voila! Extra crispy.

2. What story or series, if any, inspired you to write this story?

I have always loved fantasy stories for as long as I can remember. As far as just regular readings, books such as Harry Potter always captured my attention as they drew me into their worlds for as long as I had the book open. Apart from that, I think the one series in terms of Sims that had always inspired me to continue writing Legends was “The Sorcerer’s Eye” by Darla. I remember, when I had first started writing my story, I had just read hers and was in complete awe with it. So much so that I bugged her like crazy to help me. She has always been a major support throughout the entire process of creating the world of Ithorea.

3. What would you say to readers who don’t usually read fantasy stories to convince them to give yours a read?

I cannot really offer any words that would convince anyone to read my stories. I wrote this story because I love the genre to a point that I wanted to take the ideas that have always been buried in my mind and put them up to a place where others could have a chance to see them as well. I think the fantasy genre has always been a very difficult genre for people and I am very happy that it’s starting to get some recognition now on the exchange. All I can say is that this story is very close to my heart, and I just wanted to share it with others; so if you have a chance, please do give it a try.

4. With so many characters in your story how do you, as the writer, keep them all straight?

Characters have always been a very important aspect that I look upon as a writer. No matter how insignificant they may be, each character has a role to play, and so I find it very important to make sure that they stand out. For my main characters, I always take a lot of time before writing my series to try and find out what kind of person they are, how they react to certain situations. Sometimes a little planning ahead of time can save a lot of trouble later on. You are able to better identify with your character and know how they would react to things that happen to them.

For Legends, I put a lot of thought into my characters, especially the main protagonists. Each has their own strengths and flaws, which will begin to show as they progress through their journey. It’s easy for me to remember who everyone is because often times I make a character map if I do notice there will be a lot of characters to deal with. It just really helps keep everything in order and a useful tool to look back to when you might have an off and on appearance of a specific character.

5. Chapters 1&2 are already on the exchange. How many chapters to do plan in all?

This was actually the very first series that I planned the story to the very end. There is still a lot of adventures Archisha and the others are about to go on, so the chapters will range from about 9 to 10 chapters total, depending I guess upon how certain situations are written out.

Twenty-One…a story about good vs evil, an impossible love and of course vampires. But Ana has given us more than just another vampire teen romance story. She has woven for us a tale where ordinary meets the extraordinary. Written in first person this story gives us a personal look into the mind of Emma. thrust into a world she had no idea existed only to find a love she never expected. Whether you love or hate vampire tales you will be drawn in by the superb writing and unique story telling ability of our talented Ana. If you haven’t read Twenty-One before now…what are you waiting for?

1. Your title is not the usual title readers would associate with a story about vampires. . Was this intentional?

I think it was in a way. Way back when I was thinking up names for this story, everything I tried that was vampire related sounded horrendously lame and irrelevant to the story. I didn’t want to actually find something that told you it was about vampires, but told you a little something about the context. I woke up one day and was like “Forever 21″ but that was the name of a store… I chose 21 because not only did it have a really short acronym so I could write it 230489324 times, but it just seemed right.

2. What is it about vampires that intrigues you the most? The least?

I love the concept of having immense power over someone, or having the immortality to transcend humanity itself. Both of things just… call to me. I think for some people when they read about vampires, they can forget the easiest about reality. Also the whole sophisticated view of the vampire really gets me. I like to portray the smooth talker rather then the oopsie-daisy clumsy person. But seriously, I don’t want to sleep in a freakin’ coffin. Come on. I don’t like that. And also how the sun and fire affects the vampire (getting my main facts from Anne Rice).

3. We’ve got good vs evil and what appears to be an ill fated love between two opposite characters. Do you believe good always conquers evil and in the end love conquers all?

In the end when it’s all said and done, I do. But in every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, for someone’s heaven means someone else’s hell, it’s all a matter of time. I like writing happy endings. Or maddening cliffhangers but that’s another story.

4. There has been an overwhelming outpouring of affection from you readers for Seth and yet I find the way he toys with Emma’s feelings makes me dislike him rather than love him. Which was your intention, for your readers to love him, or to hate him?

Huh! You’re definitely the first person to point that out to me. I never realized I wrote it like that. I definitely intended it to be the opposite, to love him. Mainly because I wanted people to be in the first person mode along with Emma when they read the story. Also I wanted people to hate Aaron but I guess I like writing him too much to really make him all that hateable… yet. I’m working on that.

5. Emma is thrust into a world that would make most of us cower in fright…is her bravery unusual or something you believe lives deep inside all of us?

Well in chapter 7 she does have to deal with some of that - Aaron’s controlling her but he isn’t doing all of the work, he’s just helping plant the images. Emma’s frightful realization that it really, in her words, “is all happening” is what was in her conscience all along - she just tried her hard not to believe it. Mind over matter is an extremely strong thing in anyone, on the other hand - her bravery is a little unusual only because her will is, that and her stubborn personality. Also ignorance can be such bliss in times like that.

5. Is your next chapter already written and if so would you care to give us a little sneak peek?

Haha, usually by this time I don’t have anything written, but a recent vacation allowed me to write a little… =] I’m not one for spoilery but I like this chapter too much to keep it all under my sleeve.

My mind ran blank. Sure, everything else was working into overdrive, but in my head there was nothing. After a few seconds that seemed to last hours, a final word escaped my lips.
“Why,” I whispered, my voice was shuddering so bad. “Why in hell would you do this.”
“Why?” Aaron regarded me with a perfectly guilt free countenance. His smile turned my insides. Slowly, like a snake poised to attack, he lowered his body so his eyes were level with mine. They were an absolute brown, strengthened in anger and joy.
Ever so slowly he leaned in until his face was the only picture I could make from this chaotic cell. His breath was warm on my face. I held my breath.
“Because I can,” he muttered.

Thank you Ana for your great answers to some tough questions. Jae

Continue reading to learn a little bit more about what makes this great addition to The Hangout tick.

What’s your favorite activity you’ve participated in at The Hangout?
My favorite activity that I have participated in would have to be DAGDD (Do A Good Deed Day). Being on the DAGDD team (though I may have been slacking on my duties a bit lately), led by Vi, has been a wonderful experience. Critiquing stories is very valuable to a writer, and it is also a way to help new writers progress by giving them outside view points. Though having many fans telling your story is “great” or “wonderful” makes many people smile, a critique of your story can be very helpful in further improvement. Hopefully many people will be participating in the DAGDD’s to come.

One of the reasons you were selected as our December Outstanding Member is your willingness to help others, especially some of our newer members. How do you find the patience and motivation to keep helping, even if it means you have to repeat yourself a few times?
Well, we were all new at one point. =] I myself have been at the Hangout for over a year now, so I mostly know my way around, so I try to spread this knowledge out to others. However, it makes me smile when someone takes my advice or uses the cover or avatar I made them. I always become a bit happier with myself knowing that I have helped someone else. Also, when the karma system was removed, it really showed me who would help others out of the goodness of their hearts, and who did it for karma points. It also made me feel a little less guilty knowing that I was only helping someone because I wanted too, not for a karma reward. And of course, I know that if I help someone, they will go on to help someone else. It’s all about spreading the love. =]

What do you enjoy most about The Sims 2 and why?
I love to be in control. There’s nothing like feeling you get when you have absolute contorl over a situation. Which is why I cannot play video games, because I have absolutely no idea how to use to controller. But in the Sims, I get to have absolute control over everything, down to what they look like, who they marry, what clothes they wear, their interests…the list goes on and on. Being in control just gives me a thrill, even if they are truly just pixels. Also, there is lots of variety. I can make Sally be a top model, and Joe be a bum who sits at home all day. That way I never get bored!

Are you looking forward to the Sims 2 In Season Expansion Pack? Why or why not?
Yes, it’s just what I’ve been looking for. It ads even more variety into the game, depending on what season it is. Though TS2 has days and weeks, I’ve always wanted to see things change throughout the year. I also hope that there are specific days that are specified as “Thanksgiving” and “Christmas” and so on. However, it may not show up in the game, as many people around the world who celebrate different traditions play the game. Anyway, in a nutshell, yes, I am looking forward to it.

What is your favorite way to spend your free time outside of the Sims 2?
Well, school has been taking up a lot of my time lately, so I don’t have much free time anymore. However, besides the obvious answers, such as sleeping, reading, watching TV, going out with friends, etc, I really enjoy playing soccer. I play on a club team in the fall and spring, and play Varsity soccer for school over the winter. I actually just had practice in the rain, which turned out to be a lot more fun than I was expecting it to be. On the other hand, I really enjoy scrapbooking, though I haven’t had much time to do so since the summer. It definitely let’s my small, “creative spirit” run free. Plus, I enjoy looking back on memories. But most of my free time at home is either spent playing the Sims 2, or chatting at the Hangout!

If there was one thing you could change or add to The Hangout, what would it be?
Quite a tough question, as the Hangout is such a wonderful place already. However, I would really love the see the Hangout Chat come back. Though I am not a frequent visitor, I believe it would spark more people’s interest into posting at the Hangout, and help older members regain interest. It’s a great way for those who wish to get to know others better than they would not be able to do otherwise. Besides this, I have run out of suggestions. =]

Thanks to those who nominated me, and I hope that we can all work to make the Hangout a fun and enjoyable place. Happy Simming!

Thank you, Emily, for the great interview and for everything you do for us!

From the Author:
Kaitlin is young women determined to be independent. Kane is a drifter determined to remain a bachelor. When spontaneous circumstances bring them together watch the sparks fly. But the question is: will the sparks ignite or be smothered between two willful souls

What led you to choose a Western Theme for your story as opposed to the more popular teen romance theme that seems to dominate the exchange?

Despite the fact that I am a teen myself, I am much more comfortable writing Western Romances. Partly because the majority of the romance novels I have read are historical, and a good number of those are Westerns. The 1800s American West is just a perfect set up for romance. There’s the beautiful and innocent female who spent much of her late teenage years waiting for a husband. There’s the rugged cowboy with a husky voice, charming smile and rugged good looks. How could someone not see a story brewing there?

You have to love the cc creators who make our stories come to life but even with cc some scenes are still tough to shoot. Which scene would you say was the hardest to stage and why?

Pretty much every scene from the first chapter was incredibly hard to create. My collection of old-fashioned walls and objects was much smaller than the one I have now. Plus, I had to get the fact across that Kaitlin’s hometown was a rather desolate one. Not just any old town, but a mining town. If anyone noticed, I repeated two or three walls throughout the entire chapter.

Do you gear your stories towards what’s currently popular on the exchange or just write what you love and hope for the best?

From what I’ve learned, the Exchange is extremely fickle. Look back 3-6 months back, and you’d find stories of a completely different genre dominating the top 100. In previous stories I attempted to gear toward the current Exchange’s top genres and it’s no surprise that my stories were seriously lacking. I promised myself before starting The Western Diaries (and with all stories after) that I would write a plot because I want to write it. Either I get lucky, and my story plans fit in with the general public’s, or I get not so lucky and my story doesn’t catch on. Better than creating a mediocre piece that even I, the writer, don’t approve of.

I know you toyed with the idea of killing off Kane (love the name by the way) what led you to decide against it?

A weak heart. Kane is just about the epitome of my dream guy. Charming, clever, brave… and quite a looker. Not to mention, he’s the light of Kaitlin’s life. I couldn’t be so cruel as to kill him off. Also, for anyone who doesn’t read mainstream romance novels and wouldn’t know… the hero is never killed off. It’s a big no-no. He may be injured. He may be crippled for life, blinded, scarred, but he is still alive. Oh, and of course there would be quite a few fans that would never forgive me if I had!

It took your story awhile to get recognized by the exchange at large as is true of quite a few well written stories out there, what do you think you could have done differently to have had more mass appeal? Or is that something that is really not important to you?

I would be a huge liar if I said that mass appeal isn’t important to me. I love writing, but if I was never recognized by anyone for my efforts, I would be sorely disappointed. I’ve thought alot about it, but I don’t think I could’ve done anything to give WD earlier mass appeal. As far as the general community was concerned, I was a new author without a reputation, with a story surrounding an unpopular time period (relative to other stories on the exchange). Of course I could’ve written the first chapter better, taken better photos, but other than that I think I did all I could. And as in “mass appeal” I wasn’t exactly looking for high ratings, but more the general enjoyment of all who read it.

If you could go back and change one thing about your story what would it be and why?

I probably wouldn’t have Kaitlin change hairstyles all the time. Yeah, trivial I know, but even now it bothers me. In one scene its in pigtails, the next down and wavy, in the next stick straight. Most women can’t change their hair that quickly nowadays, let alone back then!

Thanks Slice for the wonderful interview…..Jae

Overview from the author:
“Blair knew that you could never hold onto something that doesn’t belong to you and so he lets go. Now it is time for Blairs story. After the consequences of following through with the bet which he lost, Blair tries to repair his reputation by trying to win the lead role in an upcoming movie. Trouble is, he has to learn how to dance and it doesn’t help that there are others trying to snatch the very role off him and that his instructor hates his guts.

Chase was reunited with her prince at the end of the Confessions of an Obsessed Fan. But she soon realises that It isn’t easy living with a superstar. Every where you go you are under the spotlight. Unless of course the media doesn’t know that you exist…”

Top of the exchange and holding….what do you think it is about this story that has captured the hearts of the readers?
I’m honestly still astonished by how well this story has been received. People would be saying to me, “oh… it’s at the top of the exchange,” and it seems like I am always the last to know. It’s really flattering of course although I don’t really have any secret recipes. I am just a story teller who wants to share a little tale with my readers. My stories are always connected to a part of my heart and that’s where I try and write from. I always give my all in doing the best that I can and I enjoy what I do. That’s really the gist of it I suppose.

Although you’ve set this up as Blair’s story it seems to me that it is just as much a story about Chase…was that your intention when you began writing How to Marry a Superstar?
When I first began planning this story Chase only made a small cameo appearance. However I received many comments from my readers asking me what happened with Chase, was she going to be a star, how was her life afterwards with J.T. and I realized that there was still so much of their story to tell. I started brainstorming and thought about just what it would be like to be dating a superstar and suddenly a whole new storyline emerged.

You seem to prefer first person when writing. What are the challenges and advantages of this form of writing compared to writing in third person?
Writing in first person makes me really connect with my characters. I try and imagine myself inside their heads and they write the dialogue for me. I also feel that by showing it from their perspective, it allows the reader to gain a better understanding of the character’s motives and I always find it quite interesting how one view themselves is so very different from how others see them and this allows me to play with that concept. The challenge is that sometimes I find it a little difficult to connect with the characters particularly the men. I’m always a little worried about portraying the mind of the opposite sex and I don’t think Blair would like me too much if I make him sound like a girl.

Your pictures are little works of art. How important do you think they are in telling your story?
Firstly, thank you for the compliment. Secondly like my writing, the pictures are just ways for me to express my story to my readers. I never really thought to make them outstanding or anything. I always imagine my scenes playing out as movies in my head and I just tried to recreate those scenes into Sims form. I’d take pictures, play around with them in Photoshop and a few hours later, oh, there’s that image from my head.

Where did your idea for Blair’s story come from? Was it inspired by anything in particular or something you’ve had in the back of your mind for awhile?
Blair’s story was inspired by well, Blair. He demanded that I create a story for him after Confessions ended and who was I to resist his charms and persistence? I am after all only human. There are of course other inspirations for the story. I had always enjoyed reading celebrity stories, especially those that I roll my eyes at and yet can not resist reading about. It’s always made me wonder about the real life of those celebrities. Are they really just attention seekers or is there something deeper. How much pressure is there in being a celebrity? What exactly is the cost of fame and how much do people really know about you? This made me think about my favorite novel Pride and Prejudice. About how often we only see slices of a person’s life and already make assumptions of who they are. How pride can often come in between people and hinder the truth. This is definitely something I hope to develop further into the story.

We want more…so give it up…what’s going to happen in chapter 2?
Well, you will learn a lot more about Charlotte and this would further test the strength of J.T. and Chase’s relationship. Blair would be demonstrating his persistence but in all the wrong areas resulting in an interesting encounter between Audrey and him. Do stayed tuned in though because things are definitely just beginning to get interesting!

Thank you, Itsumee, for the great interview, and thanks to Jae for coming up with such interesting questions!

Your clothes are always so colorful and exciting. How do you come up with your ideas, do you get inspiration from magazines or fashion shows or is it just what comes to mind?
Most of our inspirations came from pictures. It’s really difficult to create pictures by ourselves, so we termly buy some magazines of vogue and fashion, and then find out our favorite styles from them. On that base we add our own design to make our clothes.

Do you look at any other skinners for inspiration? If so, who?
The skins that we’ve made are not as many as clothes, hairstyles and furnitures. Actually I’m crazy about some skin-creators, such as Louis and Glance. The skins made by Louis are very delicate, and Glance always offers us very vivid and lifelike skins.

When did you start making custom content for The Sims, and how were you introduced to the world of custom content making?
I entered the SIMS world in about 2003. I began to play SIMS1 in the year 2001, but I didn’t know that I could use DIY objects until 2 years later. And in the year 2003, I found some tutorials about how to make DIY objects, then I began to learn them. So when the SIMS2 was released, I was competent for creating objects for this game. And I’ve been loving the game so much!

What would you say the most important aspects are for a successful Sims 2 site?
Well, I can’t say for certain. After all, Peggysims2 is only a private website. But on my ground, I think the quality of the objects is key to a sims2 site. And of course there are many sites full of perfect creations. All that I have to do is to make every object reach the top standard. If not, how can I make sure that most visitors of peggysims2 would approve and accept my works?

How do you determine what is free and what is pay?
The objects on which I spend the most painstaking effort are defined as Donation Objects.

How long roughly do you spend on your custom content designs that you make?
Maybe you have noticed that our creations are very delicate. Perhaps I insist on perfectionism, so I always spend a lot of time on every item! For example, to make a hair, it usually takes 30-40 hours to find out proper materials and get the picture ready, and then I will enter bodyshop for dozens of times! So on average I will spend 35-40 hours on one hairstyle. But I do not spend so much time on clothes. Average per week I can finish 3 clothes.

What programs do you use to make your meshes, and what’s the basic process you go through to complete a project?
Here are the software and programs that I use:
SIMPE - It is used to export files;
Photoshop - It helps me to make textures;
Milkshape3D - I use it to make a mesh;
By the way, Juice doesn’t use Milkshape3D,but he uses MAYA to make a mesh.

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to make their own meshes?
Oh, why give up? The job is so interesting! Of course the beginning is very tough. Every time when we look back, we always find our initial meshes very terrible. However, to keep trying is the most important, isn’t it? What’s more, you can gain a feeling of achievement from it! You bet!

What’s your most favorite thing you’ve created?
To me, every new item is satisfying. But as time goes by, more and more new creations will come out, and then I will forget the former ones, and transfer my favor to the brand-new ones! Well, you may say that I am fickle in affection.

What is your favorite site to download custom content from?
Well, just in random! I’ll visit every site that I’ve met! I do so for fear of using the same materials with others. As a result I purchase some magazines, and then incorporate my own inspiration with them.

Have you ever had an idea for custom content but it turned out horribly wrong? If so, what?
I hardly have such experience. I won’t treat any object in haste. And I won’t stop mending them until I’m satisfied with them. But once I gave up a clothing mesh which I had mended tens of thousands of times, just because it didn’t reach my standard. And this situation was caused by the software which was not as easy to operate as other ones that are used to make hairstyles and furnitures.

What kind of things do you like to do outside of The Sims? Do you work or go to school?
I’m not a student any more. I graduated from my university in the year 2003. And Juice is in my age. We met each other from the internet.
My hobbies are wide, including drawing, reading, traveling, shopping, singing, playing games and so on. However, I am up to the ears with dealing with my site. Scarcely I have any spare time to do other things. Now I’m looking forward to a long long vacation!

Thank you so much for your time, Peggy!

Introduction from the author:
“Mika Tanaka is a nineteen-year-old girl on the run from the Imperial government, who wants her dead because of a strange celestial prophecy. Seeking solace, she hides out aboard the Phoenix, Ash Barton’s ship full of eccentric, anti-Empire renegades. Follow the romance, drama, suspense, and mystery as the crew tries to find their places amidst a hostile universe.”

Tears of the Phoenix–which came first the title or the story?
As most of my stories go, the title was definitely a last-minute thing. In fact, I had already written most of the first chapter before I decided on a title. It went through a few preliminary titles, such as “ultraVIOLET” and “See You, Space Cowboy” but none of them fit as well as “Tears of the Phoenix.” According to mythological legend, the Phoenix’s tears possess great healing powers. And since the crew often sacrifices themselves for the good of the resistance, they definitely live by that principal of healing through tears. Also, the ship is called the Phoenix, so I was able to tie it on lots of levels.

Some parts of your story, especially chapter 10, reminds me of the old star trex series…first are you a fan of that series and if so did the series influence or inspire you to write this story? If not, then what was your inspiration for this story?
I actually am a pretty big fan of Star Trek, particularly The Next Generation. It definitely did help shape what my idea of science fiction is, as did Star Wars and my principal inspiration, Joss Whedon’s Firefly.

This story has it all…action,adventure,romance, sci-fi…which is your favorite genre and why?
It’s really hard to pick a favourite genre, because I honestly love all sorts of fiction! But if I had to pick, I’d say romance, because I feel like it’s the fundamental emotional connection between the characters that makes a story so unforgettable. The love the characters have for each other, which in turn the reader feels vicariously for them too, is what brings the story to life. And who doesn’t like reading about the power of love? In this scary world, it’s nice to have that to hold onto.

If you had to kill off one member of the beloved crew who would you sacrifice and why?
Oh gosh, what a question! As lots of people probably know, I’ve been toying with the idea of killing off a major character for some time now. And though I am absolutely attached to my characters, death is an inevitable part of life, and it would only deepen the storyline if I had to bring in an element of coping with grief. The only reason I’ve been leaning towards giving Mika the axe is because the prophecy states that before the Empire can be defeated, one of the twins must sacrifice him/herself. But since that sacrifice isn’t necessarily defined as dying, it doesn’t seal Mika’s fate. (Unless I want it to, that is.) We’ll just have to see what happens.

You’ve stated there will be about 20 chapters for this series, anything else in the works for when you’ve finished it?
Oh yes! I’ve got two main ideas in the works, the first of which being a teenage comedy/romance, which will star a cast of demons, so it’ll have a darker edge to it. The second idea, which I’ve actually already started writing in novelized form is a vampire story, called Loathesome Rapture. It follows a young woman as she falls in love with a vampire and is seduced into a world of darkness and bloodthirstiness, losing her humanity as she becomes more and more like the creatures she used to hunt. It’s definitely a human nature piece, and I’m excited to perhaps one day make it a published novel. (Although considering I’m only about 15,000 words through it, I’ve got a long way to go.)

Care to give us any hints as to what is in store for chapter 11?
Sure! I apologize for the ridiculously long amount of time it’s taken to get this chapter out, but I’ve been really busy with the challenging junior year of school. I’m about half way through the writing, so maybe I’ll even get it out tonight! To give you a little preview, chapter 11 will wrap up the current possession story arc, and the questions chapter 10 left you with will be answered. After that, I might take a little hiatus from Tears of the Phoenix to focus on Loathesome Rapture, but when I get back into TOP, prepare for a new character and new controversy! (And some much-prolonged romance too!)

Thank you, Faye, for the great interview, and thanks to Jae for coming up with such interesting questions!

Introduction from the author:
“It’s when you look back at those times… when you had your first peanut butter and jelly sandwich, the first time you rode your bike…I was there with you, watching you, witnessing your every move. Remember those times?
Peanut Butter and Jealousy follows a tale of two best friends who were friends since their first peanut butter and jelly sandwich (which means, since they were very young). It also follows their life: their ups and downs, their friendly fights, and their thrills and chills. As we move on, we are transported to the neighborhood of Tattletale Village, where the two 14-year-olds currently reside in the pixilated world of The Sims 2.”

And now on to the interview that I know you’re all dying to read!

Your pictures are a big part of telling your story, how much time do you spend on your pictures compared to writing?
To tell the truth.. I spend a LOT more time on the pictures rather on the writing itself. (Well, mainly because I’m too much of a lazy arse to get my butt up and load up my game to take pics. =P )

Writing a whole chapter of PB and J takes me an average of 2 days, whereas the pictures would take me two weeks to perfect. I can say the gap’s really far. It’s like a 10 to 90. I’ll admit, the pictures are one of the reasons my latest chapter got delayed. =P

You have quite a loyal following of readers, do you think it is your writing or your pictures that draw the most members to your story?
I… think it’s a combination of both. I really don’t know, gaah, I wish I could read minds. All the feedback I recieve centers on both pictures and writing equally. Sometimes it just plain confuses me. A lot of people say “Punki, you relate to the teenage life so well” and “Punki, teach me those poses” all in one post, I definitely think it’s a 50/50 stance. Balanced. I’m so undecided on this. o.O

Which character of your story do you relate to the most and why?
It has to be Miranda. She’s the mirror of myself. Except she’s (a LOT) prettier, angstier, and more slender than I am (because I’m chubby. *pouts*). Plus she has freckles! I don’t have freckles. And she’s tanned and a little over five feet tall. Whereas I stay at 4 feet and eleven inches.

The reason I relate to her most is because I’ve been in her place. I’ve been caught busted writing romantic diary entries about my best boy bud. One of my best boy buds dumped me in one snap for another girl he barely even met. I’ve been in her shoes. I know why I can’t beat up the girlfriend of my best friend, I know how it feels to try and force yourself not to like someone. I mirror my life in hers. Only difference is, I add bizzare twists here and there. Like Candice meeting up with Miranda in the balconies, and being ambushed in the locker room. =P

Basically, almost all the things happening to Miranda’s happened to me. All the emotions she’s feeling and her inner thoughts? It’s like my diary a couple of years ago. That’s why I love my little Rinnie so much! ^___^ *hugs Rinnie*

Which of your characters do you like the least and why?
I used to say I hated Kameryn. But you want to know what I really think of him? Fine. I like him.

I actually really, really, dislike Kana. She’s a mirror of all the annoying people I’ve come across with. Online, offline, real life, not. That’s why she pisses me off quite a lot. I always connect her with stupid idiots I know. Yet she was always there whenever Miranda would need comfort. It’s like several people I’ve met… annoying, stupid, and just a plain nuthead. But in the end, they’re the one to comfort you and bring some smiles into your face when you need it.

And I think I ruined a bit of PBJ’s plot with my answer above. Just pretend I didn’t say anything! *whistle*

Every story has to end eventually–how difficult will it be for you to leave these characters behind?
I would be in pain. Miranda, Kameryn, and Candice have been with me since the original Sims 2 game came out. PBJ is actually part of a story I created in game a year ago. Minus the plumbbobs, grids, and thought bubbles. I’m going to cry, literally, when I have to finally let go. I’m too attatched to them, that I sometimes feel I’m one of them. In fact, sometimes I dream I AM them. Which freaks me out. yet it helps me develop my story.

PBJ is also a story plot that’s been bouncing up and down my head for a loooong time now. It’s going to pain me to let go of my story and my Sim characters when it’s actually time to let go. i dread the thought of it… will it be forgotten in one snap? It haunts me badly. ;__;

Besides your own, what is your favorite sim story of all time?
AAAAGH! These questions make me sob! I love a lot. A whole, whole lot. I would probably flood the whole page if I wrote everything down. Gaah.

But as of late, I’m addicted to I Woke Up LA by Jaclyn. That story is LOOVE. One of the stories that inspired me to get my lazy arse up and work on my story. o_o I’ll also have to say Kiss of a Vampire by Josette, Twenty One by Ana, Gravity of Being Green by Laurie, Tears of the Phoenix by Faye, and dfl;dsk there’s so many, but they’ll eventually hit my head. I read quite a lot. It’s late night now and I’m pretty forgetful. *dies*

But Drumsticks and Guitar Strings holds a special palce in my heart for being the first Sims 2 teen story series I’ve ever read. *sniff* It brings me back to the days when I was a noob. Not meaning to freak Marcy out… =D But seriously.

Thank you, Punki, for the great interview, and thanks to Jae for coming up with such interesting questions!