Has everyone shaken off their holiday hangovers? Because we have some awesome interviews for you. :)

First up, we have our Author of the Month: Harmony99

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I have always loved vampire lore and stories and saw the movie in the theater and watched the show religiously as soon as it started airing. I found fanfic much later, by accident, when I found Passion4Spike.com in December 2022. I discovered SAD one year later, after seeing Dusty’s note on her EF profile. I am thankful every day for the stories that have been shared and the friendships I’ve made.

Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

My stories are usually inspired by an event prompt, and then I try to figure out how to fulfill it visually, as that is the medium I am most comfortable with. I storyboard my ideas, not always sequentially, and then look for images that best illustrate what I’m trying to say. Sometimes I spend more time looking for images than actually putting things together.

Who is your favorite character to write and why? Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

I don’t have a favorite character to write, but, since everything I’ve created is Spuffy-centric, I like making them kinder to one another. 

I have so much fun creating narrative artwork and manips, but if I have to choose my favorite, I would say “Be Careful What You Wish For” because it was a blast researching Victorian customs and finding period dresses to put Buffy in.

"Spinning Wheel" was also a lot of fun because I went down a music video rabbit hole for those manips, but I never finished it. So, even though there is no text, I’ll say that was the hardest because it isn’t complete.

As a writer, what would you have changed on the show and why?

I always hated how poorly the Scoobies treated Spike. Yeah, he was evil until he was chipped, but once he escaped the Initiative and went to Buffy for help, the "nice guys" took pleasure in kicking him while he was down. If Angel could be forgiven for murder and cruelty the gang witnessed/experienced while he was unsouled, the same courtesy should have been extended to Spike. 

I wish Anya was given more respect, as well. LMAO, did I actually say wish? She had so much experience and knowledge and she was treated as a moron who needed to keep her mouth shut while the grown-ups discussed things.

Thank you for being here, Harmony99. You are such a joy and we can never get enough of your art and stories. That's a nudge, by the way. And consider me (Chelle) stoked at my birthday manip! Wow! Gift that never stops giving!

Next up we have our Commenter of the Month: Harlow Turner

Tell us how you got into Buffy the show and Buffy fanfic.

I think I already answered this when I was Author of the Month but I started watching Buffy... must've been sophomore year of college or the summer before. I was a bit slow to warm up but I very quickly fell in love with the ensemble cast. After... I think it was after I'd watched S4, I realized that I wanted more and I sought out fanfiction. I think I started with the rec lists on TV Tropes, actually. 

What motivates you to leave comments?

I definitely have the attitude of "someone worked hard to write this, for free, the very least I can do is thank them and let them know that I enjoyed their work." As an author myself I know comments are motivating and encourage me to keep writing. They also just make me smile and make me feel good about myself, so I want to pass that on to others. 

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I also write! I think I might write more than I read at this point, though it fluctuates. 

Were you a lurker before you started leaving comments or did you comment right away?

I was a bit of a lurker at first. I started writing fanfiction shortly after I began reading it, and then I got more motivated to comment on others' works. I still feel like I'm inconsistent about reading but when I read I do try to leave a comment! 

How important is it to receive a reply from the writer when you leave a comment? 

I wouldn't say it's the most important thing ever, but it is nice to get a reply so that I know the author saw my comment! I also really enjoy when I can make a connection with someone in the comments section of their work, it's really special.

Thank you all for having me as your Commenter of the Month! I really want to give a shoutout to the amazing admins, authors, artists, betas, and commenters who make SAD the wonderful place that it is. You all are the best!

Aww, Harlow, thank you! We just provide the space, but it's all of you guys who make the community. We're beyond thrilled that you found us and made a home here. You ROCK.

And that's a wrap on January. You guys stay safe. 
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling