Since Speak Out with your Geek Out began, it’s gone from my blog post to a small group of people to (as of this post’s publication) hundreds of participants pledging to participate through Facebook. Since many of you may not know a lot about me or my work as an author, work as a consultant with Dork Storm Press and other clients, or my efforts as a game designer, cat whisperer and other roles… I opened up the floor to questions.

Here’s what I got:

If you could hold up one thing that you have created as the pinnacle (thus far) of your creative endeavors, what would you choose? Why?

Whatever work I polished and delivered last. I am of the belief that I will always have something new to learn as a writer, so I try not to think of that one thing I’m oh-so-proud of. (I used to hate doing readings just for that reason, until a certain editor told me to suck it up and my last reading went so well a reader asked when the sequel was coming out.) I’m kind of afraid of that concept, because feel if I have a pinnacle achievement, even if it’s thus far in my career, then I have some place to fall from as opposed to some place I want to go.

Instead, I’m looking at this process as a journey. I wander from place to place, telling new stories or contributing to new games, to stretch my creative abilities and travel through some interesting (if not treacherous) paths. I experiment often and dig deep.

What is the status of OCCUPATION?

Sigh. So, for those of you who don’t know, OCCUPATION is the name of a dystopian science fiction game based on a world I created. Two stories have recently been published in this world and the game was a global setting where overpopulation wasn’t the only problem. The key concept was the threat of a single alien everyone wanted to find in this world filled with secrets kept, shared and traded for survival. The game fell apart because we couldn’t find a dedicated group of playtesters outside our circle. Because this is such an expansive setting, coupled with the fact that I’m really close to the material, we felt it was best to have outside playtesters to provide us with feedback. I have oh, about 40,000 words written just sitting on my laptop. *sniffle* Now that the hobby games industry has changed dramatically, I’d still want playtesters, but I’d also go with an existing system rather than my own and offer a few tweaks. It is now, officially, in limbo.

Shoe size.

Hah, you wish. I have teeny, tiny, perfect little fairy feet. OF COURSE.

Favorite midget wrestler.

Um… Willow? (If you don’t know who Willow is, then sadly Madmartigan nor I will be able to help you.)

What you did on your summer vacation.

Yeah, so that’s an easy one: WHAT VACATION? I recently took a staycation, and that was spent playing Dragon Age. Again. But with a rogue elf assassin named Sha’relea.

What got you into writing?

I was unexplicably drawn to words, music and the arts at a very early age. Started reading when I was three and published my first short story when I was nine. (It placed in a Halloween contest.) The word probably means something different now, but at the time I was considered a prodigy. I don’t think of myself that way, though.

Which author helped to mold your ‘voice’ in words?

I fall in love with almost every author, but for different and specific reasons, because I marvel at the written word as an act of creation. Edgar Allen Poe was the very first. I loved Poe as a child. His ability to characterize within the short story format in such a dark and delightful way is something I greatly admire. I recently went back and re-read all of his works, and I see so much of my earlier stories were heavily influenced by him.

Tell us about your heroic alter-ego?

Alter-ego you say? Heroic? For those of you who have met me in person, I am very much the same person online as I am in person. My nickname is Miss Random USA for. a. reason. I’m excited by everything, though when I’m not, it can be… Well… kind of cloudy. I guess if I had to pick an alter-ego, it’d be Demonica. There’s a joke there, if you look really hard.

What kind of a lunch box did you have?

Um, still have. STILL have. I have a Magic: the Gathering lunch box and I’ve confiscated a very cool, vintage Marvel lunch box because it has Thor on it. Before that, though, I was always behind on whatever was popular. I, unabashedly, had a Mork and Mindy lunch box and still imagine there is much power in an egg.

What one piece of advice would you give to us just getting into the Game Development and Publishing Industry?

Read my monthly column at Geeks Dream Girl. I take every budding freelancer on an adventure to Dice Castle!