An Interview with Jalena Bey
by RavenWolf
So how about a little info on just who 'Jalena Bey' really is?
That would completely ruin the carefully crafted mystique I have built around myself! *grin* But okay. I'm a working mom of one adorable, angelic, and brilliant kid who's almost a teen now *sob* and I have some four-legged kids, too: a Jack Russell/Dachshund mix named Charlie, two mutt-cats named Toshi and Ripley, and two Himalayan Fancy Rats named Stinky and Schemer. A veritable zoo!
Oh, you know what I miss? Your artwork. I can remember seeing it everywhere in Pan a few years back. Are you still being digitally creative these days?
Not as much as I used to. I don't have as much time as I did once, and haven't been as creatively inspired as I once was. But I still do a little. I did the DJ graphics for
Firefly, and for my home of course. Haha! That's not very creative though. I'm hoping to do more sometime before I die. I've been thinking about doing a portrait of one of my characters. Maybe I will!
I noticed your character writes in a couple of clashing novels. FLESH and
Firefly. Those are some extremely different locations and themes. How on Earth do you keep your mind set on space and the ruins of mankind when you're writing?
Generally I dislike putting the same character in different novels, but this was an exception. Mostly what I do when I get ready to write is read the previous posts (mine and those I'm writing with) to get the character's voice and the setting in my head. Then I start typing and generally what is supposed to come out does. It's not really that hard for me to keep the settings straight, since I think of them as different people rather than variations of the same person. Although Reavers and Zombies are eerily similar....
In some random hypothetical roleplay, what sort of character would be your greatest "stretch", but that you might consider tackling sometime?
Hmm... that's a toughie. I've done all sorts of characters from Western women (no I don't do them very well, sadly) to flamboyant male vampires. I guess a big stretch for me would be a kid. Anyone who writes with me knows I don't do kids. But recently I did actually put a child in
FLESH. *evil grin* You'll have to wait and see how I do with that one.
What is your favorite part about being a member here in PanHistoria?
I love the variety of stories, settings, and characters that are here. Depending on my mood, I can write or read horror, sci fi, fantasy, poetry, westerns, crime novels, do research, get recipes. It's really a dynamic community with all sorts of terrific people. In fact, the wonderful people here make this more like a family than just a collection of folks yammering on the internet. My Pan friends have really been there for me when I needed them, and I appreciate that a lot. You guys are the best! (Yes, you too!)
Horror, comedy, action, scifi, RP... You seem to do it all. What genre do you think might call you next?
Apparently I'm toying with Fantasy next since an interesting-sounding new novel is about to spring forth from the depths of creative genius. But just about any genre can snag me if the story idea seems intriguing and especially if people I enjoy writing with are beckoning me to come play. How can I resist puppy dog eyes, infectious smiles, and enthusiastic pitching of story ideas? Plus I have a nifty character in mind for the setting, if only the MOBs will approve....
I'm really in way too many stories as it is! ACK!
Any parting words?
I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than PanHistoria, and that's a fact. Love this place to bits, and I think I always will. Where else can I write the jillion different characters in my head, chat with good friends, write with incredible writers whose stuff makes mine look like crap, and explore so many varied genres all at once?
Plus I get to be interviewed for the PanHistorian. How cool is that?
So remember kids, vote early, vote often! No, wait... that doesn't sound right... wait, come back! I wasn't done!....