An Interview with Pendragon
Hello,
Pendragon, and congratulations! You've been selected as a Featured Personality
for the current issue of the Pan Historian! We'll interrupt you from your
prolific and entertaining blogging, and maybe you can answer us a few questions.
What an honor! I am completely stunned! Okay, here goes:
What brought you to Pan Historia?
What brought me to Pan Historia the first time isn’t nearly as interesting as what brought me back and what keeps me here. I initially came over from another forum with a group of friends and joined a novel but that didn’t work out. Later those friends and I created Changelings and that’s been great. But what really hooked me on storyplay was when a friend told me a story about two people in a beat-up truck bouncing down dirt road. That story painted a beautifully simple and amazing portrait with words and it inspired me to take writing a little more seriously. Of course, Pan Historia provided the perfect venue.
Pendragon is a MoBster of Changelings, and a writing member of The Muppet Novel and of Mythic Heros. How do you feel Pendragon as a character fits in all three novels? Are there similarities?
In Changelings, Elle Pendragon is a mortal woman who is, to borrow a phrase, an accidental tourist in a world she doesn’t really comprehend. Pendragon has not posted much in the Muppet Novel, and I’m there primarily because Liaus Horatius invited me and I guess my orange hair just seems to work well with pink pigs and green frogs? Pendragon joined Mythic Heroes after several conversations with Estarfigam the Memphite. She appears as the unknown lost child of the legendary Arthur Pendragon and is searching for the Holy Grail when not sidetracked by other things. But aside from the name, there is no common thread. *LOL* That would require organization on my part.
Did you help found the novel, Changelings, and if so, what was your inspiration for this novel? If not, what inspirations brought you into an active role?
As one of the co-founders of Changelings, my role in its creation was primarily administrative. The real talent that made Changelings the wild ride it has been is attributed to Blaze, Skuld, Sam Bones, Justin Tyme, Thorne, The Drippin Shade, Revan, Zedicus Zul Zorander, Guldan, Devlin, Gwydion, Kade and all of the other characters and incarnations these wonderful writers have developed. And though I write Jack Crane, I must include him here because this character was inspired through numerous conversations with someone who I’ll forever call a friend. Where did the inspiration for Changelings come from? It’s a mixture of Nordic mythology, fantasy, comedy, horror and urban legend. I can’t even begin to fathom what sort of sick and twisted imaginations could produce this sort of writing. *LOL* They’re all insane but it is a privilege to work with these writers and I’ve learned much from the experience.
What sort of character would you like to create some day, that would be a stretch from anything you've done until now, but which would be an interesting challenge?
I admire those writers who create characters based on history and especially those who portray actual historical figures. It takes a good deal of research, dedication to detail, devotion to historical accuracy, and a unique creative discipline to bring characters such as these to life. To step into the shoes Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks or Mother Theresa would be an amazing adventure, wouldn’t it?
Do you have any favorite haunts in the Reference Books or Library? I see you are a member of several reference books.
Gaia’s Daughters is one of my favorites, because women are such extraordinary beings and reading about their role throughout history provides an abundant source of inspiration. The Craft Faire is a very nice resource and I particularly enjoy what they’ve done with the Holiday and Summer Quilts. That is a great way to get so many people involved and it’s fun to see what people can do with a 130 pixel square! I enjoy Animalia, of course, because what is better than the natural beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom? But perhaps the one Reference Book I enjoy most is The Tenth Muse. The talent here at Pan never ceases to amaze me and nothing quite moves me like the energy of poetry.
I must also mention the Pan Blogs. My day just isn’t complete without reading my favorite bloggers and a big shout out to Tank Girl here, because War Child is my favorite blog of all. Tank Girl has such a wonderful way of articulating ideas.
The theme this issue is Harvest. How do you pick up on the theme of Harvest, or harvesting, in your own life?
Quod Severis Metes. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Earth is my favorite planet. *smile* I really believe she deserves our very best efforts to ensure her health. So, this is sort of my mantra as a reminder of how we should treat each other and the place we call home.
Choose wisely, plant firmly, cultivate with care, harvest with a humble spirit, share the bounty and express gratitude for the blessings received.
Thank you, Publishers of Pan Historia, for providing us with such a unique and wonderful landscape on which we may safely explore the most distant borders of the imagination.
