We're stoked to share March's Scoobies of the Month! 

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

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

How I got into this fine mess . . .  First of all, I have to give a big shout out to whoever actually nominated me for this.  Caught me completely by surprise.  I was wondering why I had a little silver star next to my stories!  So, thanks to everyone here and the mods too.  Made me blush all over and made my old lady heart skip a beat.  

I saw the movie in the theaters (don't ask me why) because my favorite monsters are vampires (next to the Beast as in Beauty and the . . . ) And I hated it, though I love Rutger Hauer.  Mainly I was there for him.  Cue the fast forward to the late 90s and the series.  I watched it and disliked the character (and actor) of Angel, mainly because I did not buy the Irish background and I was not their target audience (I was already in my mid-30s).  I stuck with it, though I was about to drop it in the second season because it was getting boring and trite and I tuned in for the 3rd episode thinking that if they don't do something fast, I was not going to watch anymore and then, there it was.  That Doc Marten and the destruction of the sign and I knew it.  I knew that character was going to save the show.  I knew it.  And before that boot hit the pavement I was already in love.   And the rest, as they say was history.  LOL

 Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

Inspiration for the stories can come from the weirdest places and moments.  Sometimes it's a song not related to Spuffy or the show, but it strikes an emotional chord (and yes, I meant that pun).  Sometimes it's a look that Spike has on his face or shares with one of the others, or that Buffy shares.  Orr Dawn.  For Origins, it was comparing the faces of Spike and Dawn and the Buffy and going -- huh. . . . (I was stuck home for the whole summer of 2004 with a dislocated shoulder, and I only had season 5 on CD so I watched it on loop over and over) A lot of the time it's a here's this other scenario and how would character X relate to that.  Put this character in that plot and see what happens.  Strip away the supernatural and what have you got?  

 Who is your favorite character to write and why?

My favorite character to write?  Oh geez.  It honestly depends.  I love writing Anya, because I can ger her to say and do anything she wants to, the same with Illyria.  All I do is just write what they want.  I have no input as far as they are concerned.  Day to day?  I understand Faith so easily.  I was like Faith.  I had no time to GAF as a teenager or in my early 20s (OG GenX here.  Be afraid, be very afraid).  So I had no problem slipping into her mindset.  Spike too, was easy.  But honestly, my very favorite character is, was, and always will be Drusilla.  She's so unhinged that I just love it.  

 Which story of yours are you most proud of and which was the hardest to write?

The story I'm most proud of and the hardest to write are one and the same:  Safe in My Own Skin.  It's a tough one, but the focus is narrow, only a handful of characters, the narrative jumps over the course of a few years, and story is harrowing.  It's not easy to read and it was very difficult for me to write as the survivor of both CSA/ASA - and the warnings should be heeded.  And at the same time, it's beautiful and healing and lyrical.  It's profound and heart wrenching and soft and  . . . I don't know.  I just would love for people to read it, because I believe it's worth reading.  And as a survivor, if I can write it, then I believe others can read it.  It's not long, it'll make you cry but it's so worth it in the end.

And if the reader can't handle that one, the other one I'm proud of is Leave Your Lights On.  It's a bit angsty, but the ending is beautiful and silver.

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

As for what I would change:   In Hindsight, I would have bumped Noxon and Whedon from the set and Left Jane Espenson in charge.   Aside from that?  I don't know how much I would have changed, because those oversights/mistakes allowed for the ridiculous amount of fanfiction that's still being written today, so. . . I don't know.  What I might have done is created a storyboard, or a show bible so that some of the more egregious mistakes didn't happen, so that the continuity wasn't so off kilter in some spots that it was almost laughable.  Oh, I might have ramped up the storyline in season 4 to make it a bit more obvious that the Initiative was parallel to a Neo-Nazi group and that they really were not anywhere in the neighborhood of good guys.  It's clear they were trying to make Captain America, but the execution was just so ham-handed, I'm surprised that JW actually sanctioned it.  

I also would have erased that stupid kiss in season 7.  So unnecessary.  

(We hear you on that Bangel kiss! Especially making Spike see it! And after everything B/S had shared in the lead up!? No way! And by the way, we're so happy that you're here and sharing your stories!)

Next up in our Commenter of the Month: Maxine Eden

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

I first got into the show back when my mom was pretty sick. It was on in the background at home and just sort of became a comfort show/form of escape for me. I started watching it from season 1 and became instantly obsessed and since I love fanfic, I knew there had to be some out there which is how I started to read it and eventually write it. 

What motivates you to leave comments?

I know for myself personally I love when I get comments so I try to leave as many as I can so other authors know how much I am enjoying their work. 

Do you also write or are you strictly a reader?

I also write. I just finished a really fun fic and am looking forward to all of the drabbles to read this month. 

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

Definitely a lurker! It took me some time to work up to it, I felt like some of the authors were celebrities 😂

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

I think it’s really nice to see that they saw the time you spent commenting just as much as they spent time writing. I do think from my own perspective it’s nice to just have the effort you took acknowledged, knowing they took the time to do so. 

(We love your comments and having you here, Maxine Eden! You make the community such a great place to be!)

And that's a big ol' wrap on March! We hope you are all enjoying Short & Spuffy! We certainly are!

Take care,
Chelle, Dusty, GetItDone, and GriefCounseling