Is Real-Life Shipping Creepy?
July 27, 2016 § 4 Comments
Ksenia writes,
Hi Kathleen!
All the hugs to you for sharing your experiences of becoming a living legend with us :)))))
May I ask what your stance is on shipping real-life people? So many people degrade it as ‘yikes’, ‘gross’, ‘leave them alone’… But what I mean is the non-creepy, non-intrusive investment into the dynamics between the two single people (can be either or both celebrities and friends or acquaintances), being made incredibly happy by any interaction between the two people. All within a certain context of course, not without it, when it is not a delusional daydream but a half-baked reality at least. 😀
Fangirl Spotlight: Camilla!
September 1, 2015 § Leave a comment
YOU GUYS. I want to introduce you to one of my favorite people, and like a true fangirl, it’s someone I’ve never even met.
I was introduced to Cami through the Battlestar Galactica fandom (more specifically the Mary McDonnell hair division). Her kindness, enthusiasm, and artistic talents spoke to me. They said, “Squee!” Also, “This is someone you need to know.”
So when it came time for me to find an artist for The Fangirl Life, I knew that she was my constant for the book. Eventually, you’ll get a sneak peak of her 20 fantastic line drawings for it! But for now, I want to introduce her BAMFy self to readers.
K: What was the first thing you ever fangirled about?
Downton’s Carson and Hughes. “You know when you ship so hard it comes true. . .”
C: It was probably Sailor Moon. But madness started with X-Files. I’m still going strong, because there’s no cure. Once a phile, always a phile, even 20 years later! I’m sooooo excited for the revival and all the new people getting to know M&S. My little fangirl heart cannot contain such great joy!
K: Well, extra thanks for taking my emotional Twitter DMs while I’m watching it for the first time. How did you get started doing fanart? What makes a good request that you want to draw for someone?
C: I’ve drawn since forever. My kindergarten teachers still had my drawings on the walls years after I left. At first it was mostly Disney style. Then in elementary and middle school I started drawing images of Sailor Moon and Rayearth or other mangas, and portraits of favorite actors and actresses for my friends. That’s basically how it started.
“I love to experiment with styles.”
It’s hard to draw when your heart isn’t in it, so I tend to stick with the muse. An appealing project is something I can play with, where I can express my own ideas, when it’s not just about bringing to life someone else’s visual idea, but expanding on it.
K: And BAMF bless you for expanding on my crazy ideas in the book. Any other fan artists that you admire online?
C: Too many!!! There’s Nicole and Esther and Amelia and artistiq and. . .ugh so many great artists out there. I wanna hug them all!
K: Tell us about a new BAMF that you’ve been crying about.
Adama, Roslin, and Doc Cottle. “But I’m just really silly.”
C: I’m in the middle of an Agents of Shields binge watch, and right now I’m crying about Melinda May and her deadly kicks quite a lot from my comfy chair, eating chips in the dim light of my room, petting kitteh like a villain (or not, because it’s too hot to live right now). I’m probably never gonna start any kung-fu course over this, but watch me walk out in boots and a leather jacket (in November, when the temperature is acceptable!) because YES!
Otherwise you can always find me crying over Abby Griffin and Laura Roslin (for different reasons mostly but they both have unicorn hair).
K: Does your cat have a favorite TV show?
C: Kitteh watches me watch tv and that’s apparently entertaining enough.
K: Tell me about the strangest couple you’ve ever shipped.
C: I don’t even know how it happened. It was probably a (really good) fanfic I read, but Harrison and Nicole from Popular?!!! She’s my fav, being the villain of course, and they had a few touching moments when she donated bone marrow for him and he told her he was her family (since she was adopted and never felt like she belonged), and it could have been great! The devil and the good guy balancing each other out. . .alas.
K: Favorite genre of fanfic?
The 100’s Abby Griffin. “I mean. . .that didn’t improve. I’m still very silly.”
C: Flufffff!! Fluff is the hardest kind of fanfic to find without it feeling OOC or too cheesy for that BAMFy lady, so that’s where you know they’re good. It’s easier to concoct a tear-jerking plot than keeping your readers smiling like idiots at their screens for several thousand words!
K: You’re captured by ninjas and can choose 3 characters from fiction to team together to save you. Whom do you pick and why?
C: MELINDA MAY!!! And Sydney Bristow for obvious reasons. Then I think maybe Carol Peletier, because she would bring cookies too! I love cookies!
K: Carol is great with exploding diversions and cookies for sure. Okay, last question. Can you teach us any Italian fangirl words?
C: #stommale (for when you’re emotionally compromised)
#muoro (incorrect term to describe the act of dying)
#ansia (emotionally compromising state)
#novabbèciaoeh (for that time you can’t)
#ciaone (for that time you can’t even)
#maancheno (but what about no)
#vino! (alcoholic drink needed)
Thanks Cami! Cue me shouting, “Stommale!” for the rest of the week.
Fantasy Fangirl Roster
August 28, 2015 § 1 Comment
It’s almost fall, and you know what that means, ladies. The air turns crisp, you ingest more Starbucks calories, and on Sunday nights we gather around the ceremonial pizza as our favorite players take the field. Yes, I’m talking about TELEVISION. *high-fives you*
My boyfriend recently joined a fantasy football league with coworkers, and during our discussion about how the game works, I had the best idea. WHAT IF THERE WAS A FANGIRL VERSION OF FANTASY FOOTBALL? Yes that’s right. Fangirl Fantasy Football. A serious fangirl is keeping stats and stacking her TV roster with only the BAMFiest of ladies. Points could be awarded for creys-inducement, badassery, hilarity, hair, and any other situation-inducing scenes.
Who would you pick to be on your roster? Here’s mine for the 2015-2016 season.
CREYS QUEEN – Laurie Garvey
FOR TV – THE LEFTOVERS – HBO – Amy Brenneman. Photo credit: Paul Schiraldi/HBO.
I’m still stomping around Twitter trying to get people to watch HBO’s The Leftovers. Though this suburban mom turned cult member didn’t utter a single word the first half of season 1, Laurie Garvey was one of the most compelling characters on the show. You’d think that a mother who abandoned her children in the wake of the apocalypse is the least sympathetic character imaginable, but Amy Brenneman plays it like a superstar and sucks your tears right out of your face. WATCH THIS SHOW YOU GUYS. WATCH IT. I’M CRYING ALREADY CAUSE YOU WON’T. WHYYYYYY. DON’T TOUCH ME.
THE UNDERDOG – Edith Crawley
I’ve never been an Edith fan. Especially since she stole a baby 17 times last season and almost burned down the house. I can’t wait until Season 6 starts up next month and she inadvertently causes The Great Depression, World War II, and Firefly’s premature cancellation. But a good underdog earns those points when they skyrocket from the out of nowhere, so I’m counting on Julian Fellowes (who loves to pair everyone off tidily) to hand her a few bones this season and maybe a love interest who doesn’t die or chicken out.
The HBIC – Nadine Tolliver
You know I’m a Cheers fan, so I’ve been loving me some Bebe since I entered the birth canal. I’m less convinced by the unrealistic dish washing Secretary of State in Elizabeth McCord and more interested in the BAMF moves that her Chief of Staff can show us this season. Maybe she’ll lean on conference tables and shout at people. A girl can dream.
THE NEWBIE – Chrisjen Avasarala
YOU GUYS. If you’re not excited about the critically acclaimed Expanse sci-fi series coming to Syfy this December, then GET EXCITED. Cause LADY BAMF ahoy. It’s not secret that I’m a fan of the 63 year olds (Mary Hairnado McDonnell, Motherfucking Baranski), and I’m happy to add another one to my list. Shohreh Aghdashloo plays Chrisjen Avasarala, the U.N. Deputy Undersecretary of Executive Administration. Which is a really long title for BAMFS….IN….SPAAAAACE.
The Ninja – Michonne
Every good roster needs its Ninja, the athletic and insightful powerhouse that provides all ass-kicking entertainment. Chopping heads off like WHOA with her Katana, she’ll be earning those baddassery points faster than you can shout, CARLLLL!” More like Ninja of my heart.
“Special” Teams Unicorn – Elsbeth Tascioni
I know this is not a surprise to anyone who has every met me. When you bring your special teams onto the field, the guest stars have to guarantee that Emmy nom. And who better to secure that spot in the finals than Ms. Carrie Preston herself, comedienne extraordinaire, and her quirky genius character. My only prayer is that she fangirls a little over Diane and I can live vicariously through her.
And finally, our fictional QB. . . *drum roll please*
THE MEGABAMF – Dana Katherine “She’s a Fucking Medical Doctor” Scully
Are you surprised? I’m three seasons into the X-Files, and I cannot wait to see what our beloved DKS will be like as a middle-aged powerhouse. Also PRAISE BE for an updated wardrobe and no beige pantsuits from 1995. Let’s see if Duchovs can keep up with our MEGABAMF as Gillian portrays her. I’M FINE. NOTHING TO SEE HERE.
So these are my picks! Sure I’ve got my old faves on the bench, like Queen Lockhart and Elsie “Suppose a Bomb Goes Off In My Heart” Hughes, but I’m starting with some newbies and some MVPs.
Let me know who would be on your roster via Twitter or email! Then let’s get out there and play some crey. You bring the beer, and I’ll bring the giant sweatshirts to hide our faces.
Fangirl Therapy 