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Introduction (01)
Verrath's Head (02-150)
Verrath's Stories
Acknowledgments
Articles
Biography
INSIDE THE HEAD OF VERRATH
Hey, this is pretty good! Introduction
[01]Verrath is a refreshing writer and probably one of the most overlooked. The little Germ is probably one of the first to write, and open the door for others to write, stories for children. They were very refreshing to read and I would gladly show them to my nephews. As I said, she is one of the most overlooked Xenaverse bards, and that has me baffled. Steph is funny, fun, nice to talk to, not bad for "Staph the Germ" (Inside joke).
Verrath's Head
Interviewer:
[02]Why did you start writing?Verrath:
[03]There were many stories in my head wanting out. It seemed the natural thing to do.Interviewer:
[04]If you had to do it all over, would you be a bard? Would you write?Verrath:
[05]Would I write? Absolutely. I don't see how not. Would I be a bard? For Xena and Gabrielle, yes. Would I write other fan fiction? Strangely enough, although I have many shows that I like, it never occurred to me to write for any of them. Not even about the Winnetou series back in the 1970s, although he was my hero. This won't make much sense to people outside of Europe, I don't think those movies made it beyond.Interviewer:
[06]Give us a brief day in the life of Verrath.Verrath:
[07]Get up. Dress up. Hurry up to work. Start up computer. Wake up. Coffee!! Work around, goof around (write), surf around the web. Count down to 5pm, shut down computer, go down stairs and out of office, get out, work out (volleyball practice), power out, and lights out.Interviewer:
[08]How do you handle stress?Verrath:
[09]I freak, generally, at first. If things get tough, I have been known to be a quivering mass of anxiety. But I find that physical exercise, writing, and painting helps to handle it better. But these days, a lot less really stresses me.Interviewer:
[10]Years from now, how would you want to be remembered?Verrath:
[11]Fondly.Interviewer:
[12]What is your pet peeve?Verrath:
[13]Netscape and Internet Explorer, and that they simply CANNOT handle HTML Styles in the same way.Interviewer:
[14]Who is Verrath?Verrath:
[15]A hopeless dreamer.Interviewer:
[16]What do you see yourself doing in the future? Any future projects?Verrath:
[17]I STILL hope to have a book or two published in the future. I am currently working on a strictly non-Xena, non-uber fantasy epic, and two non-Xena-related children's stories. They may be years yet in the making, but maybe one of them makes it far enough to go into print.Interviewer:
[18]How do you handle depression?Verrath:
[19]Not very well. I tend to roll up in a ball and suffer, until someone gives me a good kick. Fortunately, there are a few who will do that for me.Interviewer:
[20]What advice can you give to future writers?Verrath:
[21]Know your plot. Know your characters. Know your grammar and spelling.Interviewer:
[22]What has the show Xena meant to you?Verrath:
[23]It has given me the chance to meet many cool people. Many of friends today I would never have met without Xena.Interviewer:
[24]How do you feel about its end?Verrath:
[25]Sad, but confident that the fandom will go on.Interviewer:
[26]What are your dreams? Hopes? Wishes?Verrath:
[27]To be a writer. To travel. To find a soulmate.Interviewer:
[28]What would you say every writer needs?Verrath:
[29]Inspiration, the need to tell us something, and to know his or her tools. Yes, here it is again, spelling and grammar.Interviewer:
[30]How do you feel about subtext?Verrath:
[31]It's an intriguing way to add tension.Interviewer:
[32]What makes your best friend your best friend?
Verrath:
[33]She understands me, she knows me, and loves me anyway.Interviewer:
[34]Have you ever experienced, you or someone else reading one of your stories aloud in the public?Verrath:
[35]I read one myself once. I guess I must have done okay, people laughed in all the right places. It took some prompting to get me up there, but once I got started, it was cool.Interviewer:
[36]What theme would you like to tackle in your next work?Verrath:
[37]I am still worrying about my current works.Interviewer:
[38]What was the last thing that made you smile recently?Verrath:
[39]I smile a lot these days. But the last time was very unromantic: the headache I've had for a few hours just went away.Interviewer:
[40]What made you angry?Verrath:
[41]See pet peeve. But, even more so, the recent massacre of children in Japan.Interviewer:
[42]You now have absolute authority over the world. Omnipotent in all areas. What is your first move?Verrath:
[43]Restore the balance of nature (resources, food, and population).Interviewer:
[44]Do you have stalkers? If so, how have you handled them?Verrath:
[45]Never had any.Interviewer:
[46]How would you categorize your best writing, and give the URL's for them if posted?Verrath:
[47]Categorize? Hmm... I am hoping it's considered humorous fantasy. I find it hard to decide, since I'm fond of most of my stories. The most vivid scene I remember writing is a scene in "The Heart Of A Leopard", chapter 3 ("Old Cyclone") which can be found on my site at http://home.nexgo.de/stephp/Verrath/xandra/panther1.htm.Interviewer:
[48]What stupid thing did you do as a teen?Verrath:
[49]I was way too good and sensible as a teen. I did a few stupid things as a grown-up, however.Interviewer:
[50]What, if anything, can stop you writing, if only for a while?Verrath:
[51]High spirits. I write more when I'm feeling moody, in fact, that's when I write the lighter stories. Also, mundane things like having to go to practice, or taking a drive.Interviewer:
[52]In your opinion, do you fit your astrological sign?Verrath:
[53]Not really. I doubt I'm a typical Leo in most respects. If we're talking Chinese signs, the Dog fits me perfectly.Interviewer:
[54]What to you is the worst feeling in the world?Verrath:
[55]Rejection and loss.Interviewer:
[56]The best feeling in the world?Verrath:
[57]Coming home. Figuratively.Interviewer:
[58]Favorite song of the moment?Verrath:
[59]They change frequently. "Another Sad Song", from the German movie Bandits.Interviewer:
[60]What is the first thing you think of in the morning?Verrath:
[61]That I'll be late again.Interviewer:
[62]Is there one part of the writing process where you usually get stuck? What have you tried to change that, successful or not?Verrath:
[63]I usually block up just before the end. I know how most conflicts must be resolved, but something just stops me from writing them. It probably stems from my tendency to rush endings back in school. My teacher always gave me a bad grade because he felt I could have put more effort in the ending. Now, endings scare me. Talk about a traumatic childhood. What have I tried to change it? Sometimes, I write the ending when I'm only a few scenes into the story, which tends to help. Now I block up in the scene BEFORE the ending. Also, this is the only part where I write out a draft and rewrite later, which tends to get me through better.Interviewer:
[64]Does the best writing flow for you, or does it come from rewrites?Verrath:
[65]Flow, usually. Exception, see above.Interviewer:
[66]Which part of writing do you enjoy most and why?Verrath:
[67]I have a few very distinct scenes in mind when I start a story. Finally getting to a point where I can write one of them is a definite high point.Interviewer:
[68]How often do you think about a piece when you are working on it?Verrath:
[69]Some follow me into my sleep and will not let go. Some hover at the back of my mind unless I actually have the file open. But the time before I actually start writing on a story is the time when it haunts me the most.Interviewer:
[70]When someone walks into your bedroom, what are the first five things that they are likely to notice?Verrath:
[71]My books. My stuffed toys and Xena action figures. The TV is running. The computer is running. It needs cleaning.Interviewer:
[72]Do you feel in control of your writing, or do your inspiration or characters carry you away?Verrath:
[73]I think it's somewhere in between. Some characters appear to take the story away from me for a while, but I usually find it's for the good of the story.Interviewer:
[74]If you consider yourself to have a muse, what exactly do you mean?Verrath:
[75]If I talk about my muse, I'm usually being silly.Interviewer:
[76]Tell the truth--are you your favorite writer, or in your own top five? Why or why not?Verrath:
[77]No, I'm not. There are so many writers out there that I greatly admire.Interviewer:
[78]What books are you reading now? What about it/them is holding your attention?Verrath:
[79]I just finished the Wheel Of Time, Vol. 9. The series completely drew me in from the start, and Robert Jordan is simply a genius when it comes to characterization and making scenes come alive. He is one of those writers I admire. I just started on The Magic Of Recluce by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. I'm not decided on it yet.Interviewer:
[80]What would your friends say is your worst trait?Verrath:
[81]That I keep interrupting them in heated discussions.Interviewer:
[82]Do you type with your fingers on the 'right' keys?Verrath:
[83]No.Interviewer:
[84]What is the longest any plant in your home has been with you?Verrath:
[85]Amazingly, four of currently six have been around since I moved in, over five years ago.Interviewer:
[86]Do you have any particular bedtime rituals that you follow every night?Verrath:
[87]Not really. I read a few pages or watch TV to settle down.Interviewer:
[88]If you find a spider in the bathtub, do you help it out or squish it?Verrath:
[89]Pick it up and put it outside.Interviewer:
[90]What was the last thing you bought that you really did not need?Verrath:
[91]A Handheld PC.Interviewer:
[92]Have you ever smoked cigarettes?Verrath:
[93]No, never. Addiction of any kind, or losing control, scares me.Interviewer:
[94]Who is your favorite Greek God?Verrath:
[95]Nyx.Interviewer:
[96]Do you keep a diary and if so what do you call it? If so, what effect has it had on your writing?Verrath:
[97]Nope. Tried once, 20 years ago, but got bored after two entries.Interviewer:
[98]How has online writing affected your life and how you see yourself, your goals?Verrath:
[99]For one thing, it has helped me improve my skills, and through feedback, shown me I am on the right track. Feedback is the thing that is so great about the internet as opposed to just writing and showing your friends and family, who generally won't say anything bad. On a more personal level, I have met many interesting people, some of whom I am great friends with.Interviewer:
[100]What skill would you like to have that you do not have now?Verrath:
[101]Teleportation.Interviewer:
[102]Who is your real life hero and why?Verrath:
[103]A friend of mine who breeds horses in the country. She had the dream to be doing this some day and the courage to make it come true.Interviewer:
[104]What fan fiction story touched you so much that you still remember it vividly?Verrath:
[105]"Quality Dying Time" by Temora http://ausxip.com/fanfic13/qualitydyingtime.html.Interviewer:
[106]If you could only choose a single climate with no variation, would you prefer it to be sweltering hot or freezing cold?Verrath:
[107]Hot.Interviewer:
[108]What is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet him or her?Verrath:
[109]The way they carry themselves.Interviewer:
[110]Have you ever done something that accidentally caused something bad to happen to someone?Verrath:
[111]Not that I know of.Interviewer:
[112]What literary character did you most identify with as a child?Verrath:
[113]Kimba the White Lion.Interviewer:
[114]What is the source of your inspiration?Verrath:
[115]My imagination, the books I read, and the world around me.Interviewer:
[116]Where do your ideas come from?Verrath:
[117]See above.Interviewer:
[118]What do you find most satisfying about your job?Verrath:
[119]You're kidding, right?Interviewer:
[120]What are the three things you enjoy most about writing?Verrath:
[121]Watching the story unfold that I've had in my head, waiting to see where it goes, and getting to know the characters.Interviewer:
[122]What were your favorite book, TV show, and movie when you were a teenager and what do you think of them now?Verrath:
[123] Book: I read a lot, so there were many. There was a series of Sci-Fi books called Commander Perkins by H.G. Francis that I re-read the most often. I still have them, and still think they're hilarious. TV Show: Scarecrow and Mrs. King. Still like it, but then I like Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner. Movie: Disney's Jungle Book. It still is among my all-time favoritesInterviewer:
[124]What is your idea of a perfect world?Verrath:
[125]A world where everything is in balance.Interviewer:
[126]How real is your fiction to you?Verrath:
[127]It is what is in my head. I get into it a lot when I write, but I wouldn't say it's "real".Interviewer:
[128]Who do you read for inspiration?Verrath:
[129]Fantasy, mostly Robert Jordan and Piers Anthony. I also love James Herriot and Madeleine L'Engle, who has written some remarkably original and intriguing fantasy. And sometimes a Dragonlance or Forgotten Realms book.Interviewer:
[130]What is your favorite website?Verrath:
[131]Mine: http://verrath.de.Interviewer:
[132]When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?Verrath:
[133]A singer or an actress. And work with horses.Interviewer:
[134]If you could interview your favorite author, what questions would you ask?Verrath:
[135]I'm not much of an interviewer. But I'd obviously love to chat with them, just to see what kind of person they are when face to face.Interviewer:
[136]What do you think we take too seriously as writers?Verrath:
[137]In some cases, ourselves.Interviewer:
[138]What questions should I have asked?Verrath:
[139]When did you write your first story? What was it about? How has it influenced you? Has your work ever been rejected? How did you deal with it?Interviewer:
[140]Ok, so I'll ask. When did you write your first story?Verrath:
[141]I started it at age 7, and finished at age 10.Interviewer:
[142]What was it about?Verrath:
[143]About a young grizzly bear getting lost in the woods. I even drew all the illustrations. The story had a smashing five hand-written pages. I still have it.Interviewer:
[144]How has it influenced you?Verrath:
[145]I guess it was foreboding of that fact that I simply HAVE to write, no matter how good or bad, I have to. And I have since learned how to spell "grizzly"Interviewer:
[146]Has your work ever been rejected?Verrath:
[147]Once. I was volunteering for a students' magazine at my school, I was 13 or 14 at the time, and asked them why the story I had written had not been in the last issue. They said, "Oh, that? Nah, we didn't include it, we thought it was awful". And then they caught on that I had been the one who had written it, and realized they'd put their foot in it. I guess the story WAS pretty bad, although not as bad as they thought, I'm sure by now.Interviewer:
[148]How did you deal with it?Verrath:
[149]I cried my eyes out and swore never to write again. Lasted a few months. But I got over it eventually.Verrath's Stories
Verrath's e-mail address: verrath@gmx.de
Verrath's website: http://Verrath.de
Verrath's mailinglist is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Guild_of_Tales
Stories
For the Xena & Gabrielle stories go to:
http://home.nexgo.de/stephp/Verrath/index_stories_xena.htmOld Warriors Never Die, They Just...
This little comedy was written during a four-day visit with Kamouraskan and Lariel. If you know either of these bards' writings, you might get a general idea what this little piece is like.The Bet
This was inspired by the infamous "Triple XXX Review", performed by Alexandra Tydings and Claire Stansfield at the 2001 Pasadena Convention. Let's just say that Aphrodite finds herself compelled to seduce a rather unlikely person.A Musing Bard
Finally, time to write, with Xena gone on an errand. But alas, no story will come. What's a bard to do?The Door -- Verrath's Tür
This was originally written as part of a tribute for a German fanfic archive (symbiont.de, now bibliotheca.de). As such it was, of course, written in German first. There is no plot worth mentioning - just an image I couldn't get out of my head.The Dumbbell Is Mightier... -- Die Hantel Ist Mächtiger...
Another one I wrote in German and translated later. This was for a sort of contest on a German mailing list - to write a story to do with dumbbells. Xenites get these weird ideas sometimes...The Warrior, The Witch And The Nightmare
Xena and Gabrielle prevent an execution of a supposed witch and get a little more than they bargained for. A story about dreams, nightmares, and a very twisted evil creature. This was the first piece of fiction I ever started writing, and is therefore the longest ongoing project I've had so far. If you read carefully, you might even notice the changes in the way the text flows as my writing style changed over time. Other than that, this is just a little creepy story that started out as something entirely different and all too soon took on a life of its own - they all do that somehow, but this one more so.Mission Report
The truth about Argo. The Journal of an alien biologist. This is one of those absolutely crazy ideas that just stick and won't let you really do anything until you relent and write them out of your head. I'm planning to update this fairly frequently with short bits of a sentence or paragraph each. But it's also quite possible that it won't go much further than where it is now. I just don't know.Possibilities -- Perspektiven
My first. Gabrielle gets whacked on the head during a fight, and has some interesting insights into her relationship with a certain warrior. As the first story I ever posted to the web, this one is of course special to me. Other than that, there isn't much to be said for it.For the Uber stories go to:
Miscellaneous
http://home.arcor.de/stephp/Verrath/index_stories_uber.htm
Standalone stories there that are not part of any seriesThe Tell Me series
http://home.nexgo.de/stephp/Verrath/tellme/index.htmTell Me, Gabrielle -- Erzähl's Mir, Gabrielle
Man-eating giants and a big siege engine delay two girls on their way to school. Only Xena the mighty Warrior Princess and her faithful steed Argo can save the day (though Argo's wheels do tend to skip and skid on that gravel)!I'm Bored, Gabrielle -- Mir Ist Langweilig, Gabrielle
Sina struggles to while away the days until Gabby is ungrounded. This kid just cannot stay out of trouble. And of course, Sina wouldn't be Sina if she didn't find a way to pull little Gabby into it as well.What's With The Sun? -- Was Ist Denn Mit Der Sonne Los?
Sina and Gabby round up all their friends to battle an unseen force that threatens their existence! Will Xena yet again save the world? The premise for that story was taken from a children's tale titled "Someone Is Eating The Sun" by Ruth A. Sonneborn, where a bunch of farm animals experience the same horror. I read that while sorting through some of my old stuff at my parents' house, and found it too cute to pass up.Pillow Talk -- Bettgeflüster
Some serious soul-searching and a pillow fight during a sleep-over at Gabby's.We Got Him, Gabrielle! -- Wir Haben Ihn, Gabrielle!
Sleep-Over II - a bad b/w horror movie in the middle of the night has the girls in a stir. Rated PG for messy violence against murdering monster.Summer Slave Camp -- Sommer-Sklavenlager
Finally! Summer Camp is here! But what would a camp be without proper supervision...? More fun for the kids, in Sina's opinion.Summer Slave Camp 2 - Slave Hunt
A daring team of adventurers sets out to find a hidden treasure, while a miserable little Warrior Princess is toiling in the kitchen. Maybe the scheduled afternoon activities will bring a few surprises.Flukes, Fauns & Griffins
Who would have thought what weird and wonderful creatures this world holds...?Battle Kicks
A wise general always keeps to the back of the battlefield - no matter how badly the battle is going...The New Kid
Summer is taking a new turn as a huge truck unloads furniture down the road from Gabby's house.Run, Alice, Run
The hidden horrors of a lonely path through the park unexpectedly work in the girls' favor. Rated PG.A Hard-Headed Hound
Dogs will be dogs, no matter how many heads they have...Wardrobe Warrior
What happens when a little bard gets way too caught up in a book? What's a warrior to do? And Sina's mom does have this ancient wardrobe sitting in the attic... Rated PG.A Bowl Of Tsunami
A raging storm, a dangerous sea voyage, and a Warrior Princess who is behaving a little strangely...As The Dragon Flies
Xena and Gabrielle realize it is better to let sleeping monsters lie, and more importantly, not to mess with their toys. Sina, however, refuses to learn ANY lesson at all.Remember When, Gabrielle?
An unexpected reunion after many, many years does not turn out the way either Sina or Gabby imagined. Rated PG.Always, Gabrielle
Lana discovers that it's not always easy to stick to an old childhood promise when Sina disappears, leaving only a cryptic email message.The Xandra series
http://home.nexgo.de/stephp/Verrath/xandra/index.htmThe Heart Of A Leopard Chapters
How I free a captive leopard, how an old enemy returns to the jungle, and how the most unlikely of friendships is bornThe Eyes Of A Cat Chapters 1ff (in progress)
How mans invade the jungle, and how Ginelle and I battle against the death, sickness, and destruction they bring.The Soul Of A Warrior (planned)
How a man cub and a strange wolf cause some distraction in the jungle, and force me to face my greatest nightmare.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Kamouraskan for the beta.
Articles
L. J. Maas and Murphy Wilson [Amy Murphy].One Step Beyond ... Uber, That Is. WHOOSH #49 (October 2000)
The "Inside the Head of..." series in Whoosh issues #58, 61-66,68-70
Biography
Amy Murphy
Thirty-one-year-old Amy Murphy resides in Indiana, and is an avid reader of Xena: Warrior Princess Fan Fiction. If it exists in the Xenaverse, chances are she has read it! Murphy has also tried her hand at writing fan fiction, turning out two very nice pieces that reside on a couple of web sites throughout the Xenaverse.
Favorite episode: IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE (24/124)
Favorite line: "I Have Many Skills" Various episodes
First episode seen: TITANS (07/107)
Least favorite episode: LYRE, LYRE HEARTS ON FIRE (100/510)
