Interview with [Yuriona]

By James L. Sebring [Yudasu]

While looking around on Elftown I came across Yuriona. At first it was her incredible Anime style picures that drew me to her, but upon closer inspection I noticed she was also an acomplished writer. Well, here's the interview:

Q: Tell me about youself. What is your real name, what do you do for hobbies, stuff about your family...

A:My name is Leah Bowen. I've been married almost five years and I am a "stay at home" mom with a wonderful two year old daughter. Baby number two is due in July and we are fairly certain it's another girl.
Taking care of my family and the house takes up a lot of my day but I do enjoy drawing and writing in my spare time as well as hanging out here on Elftown. Camping, swimming and fishing are also some of my favourite things to do.

Q: When did you start to draw?

A:I started to draw when I was in grade school but I stopped for a long time after some kids made fun of me. I was so embarrased and my parents did not support my drawing either so I quit. I started to draw seriously again about ten years ago and decided that it was something that I wanted to keep doing.

Q: Is there any one artist that you try to emulate?

A:I don't really try to emulate any one artist although my work is heavily influenced by the anime style. I've also learned a lot by being able to see all of the different styles and talents here on Elftown, which has helped me to become more comfortable with my own style of drawing and to work on fine tuning it.

Q: What's your favorite color? (If none, why)

A:I would have to admit that it's black. Though black is often seen as a rather dark and sombre colour or even a lack of colour, I find it also offers great potential. Black offers a void, a blank slate as it were where anything is possible. You won't know what's within the darkness until you try exploring it. That and black hides the dirt quite nicely and matches with everything. LOL!

Q: What kind of music do you like?

A: I enjoy numerous types of music from classical and country to dance and heavy metal. I will always be a rocker chick at heart though and though I do appreciate all music - since I am a musician myself or was once - I have to say that rap and hip-hop are some of my least favourite. No offense meant to the rap and hip-hop fans out there, I just don't care for it myself.

Q: And finally, What did you think of this interview?

A:I was surprised to be asked to be honest but I was also honoured to be featured in the Town Herald. I also think that interviewing other artists, writers and Elftowners in general is a good idea. We are a very large community here and it never hurts to get to know some of your neighbours.

The Newest Interviewer Get's Interviewed

By [RiverStar]

When [hanhepi] started her interviews for this month, she began to interview me. In one of her questions, I forget the exact question, I made a joke about interviewing her. In the end it turned out to be more than a joke, because here I am writing up our interview.

Q: How old are you?
A: Don't you know it's rude to ask a lady her age? Oh, wait... I'm not a lady...ok then! I'm 24.

Q: How did you pick your username?
A: It is similar to my yahoo/AIM username. Its Lakota and means night. I had a Lakota boyfriend who called me Hanhepi Wi (that means “night sun” or “moon”) because I am so pale, he said I had a moon tan. Lol

Q: Are you an artist or a writer?
A: Yes. I do have a few short stories I've been working on for a few years, but I mainly draw.

Q: What wiki's can you be found lounging around in?

A: Hmm... so, you want to be interviewed ,whoa! You want my advice?? , Elvenwood Silver Years Club, the Constructive Criticism Wiki where I have a few drawings to criticize: han's CC wiki and girl on a wall . There are more, but at least one I am not at liberty to discuss.

Q: Are there any forums that you have a tendency to post alot in?
A: Lol, all the ones I am a member of!! I have a tendency to run off at the mouth a lot... or run off at the fingers in this case...

Q: What is your current career?
A: Well, I'm a stay at home mom/housewife. I call it being a little Susy home wrecker.. I mean maker.

Q: Are you married? If so, what is the best thing about your marriage?
A: Yes I am. I've been married since the last few weeks of my senior year in high school. (Almost 6 years). The best part? Ummmm... Its great to have someone to laugh with all the time.

Q: What do you love most about your partner? What do you like the least about him/her?
A: Hmm.. You mean, Randy has good qualities??? Where has he been hiding those?? Seriously, he's a great guy. Hard worker, great with the kids. About the only thing I can't stand about him is his past adultry.

Q: Do you have any children? If so describe them.
A: I have 2 boys. Shawn is 4, Thomas is about 1 ½. Both are hell on wheels, but good hearted.

Q: Who is you favourite musician?
A: B.B. King, or maybe Jim Boyd.

Q: Where do you currently live?
A: Near Camp Lejune. Randy was stationed here when he was in the Marine Corps, and we just never moved back home when he got off active duty.

Q: What is your biggest goal in life?
A: To live it as a good person. So far, so good.

Q: What could you never live without?
A: Laughter. Life ain't worth nothin' without laughter.

Q: W

ho was your first friend on elftown?
A: well, [Lerune] was the first person to add me to her list, but honestly, I think [paul doyle] was the first person I ever spent a whole lot of time talking to here.

Q: How would you describe yourself?
A: Fat and ugly, but with a good heart. Too talkative, but friendly.

Q: How would your friends describe you?
A: As “a good hearted person, always willing to help someone in need, despite having it come back and bite her in the a## on almost every occasion”. I actually had to ask my friend to describe me for that one. Lol.

Q: What were your first reactions about elftown?
A: “Hey! this rocks! now I really need to join Elfwood...”

Q: When did you first join elftown?
A: February 5th, 2004.

Q: When did you join the Herald?
A: Umm... I got my badge yesterday... (march 22, 2004), or was it the day before...

Q: What are your current projects for the herald?
A: interviewer extrodinare, and I think they are giving me your old advice column. Now I just need people to ask for my advice...
(Note for editor: All you Mystic's Hut questionners out there, please be kind and pass your questions along to [hanhepi] at whoa! You want my advice??)

Well from talking with [hanhepi], I have discovered she is a wonderful person and will make a great part of our team. She made her first appearance in the March Herald with her first guest interviews. Now she is an official part of our team and we are glad to have her on board. [hanhepi], it was a pleasure to do this interview and I am more than happy to share this knowledge with Elftown. May you enjoy your stay with the Herald. – Riva

[hanhepi]'s interview with [RiverStar]

̶hanhepi: How old are you?
Riva: I'm seventeen

̶ hanhepi: What do you do for a living?
Riva: Um...student, part-time child care, part-time author, part-time festival assistant, (Um...the better question might have been what don't I do!)

̶ hanhepi: When did you start that? (Unless you are a highschool student, then of course we know you started in kindergarten)
Riva: Well, the student part we will ignore. I have been working with children for over four years now. I started working for the CDF (Canada Dance Festival) in Feb. and it has been really rewarding.

̶hanhepi: Why did you choose that job? (Not applicable for high school students. If in college with no job, please explain why you chose your area of study.)
Riva: I choose to work with children because they are so innocent and fun. I chose to work with the festival because it allows me to be part of something big.

̶ hanhepi: Do you enjoy it?
Riva: I am having the time of my life. I believe that you should enjoy yourself and make life worth while. People who go on about how much they hate school drive me nuts. In my opinion, you have to be there so why not make the best of it.

̶ hanhepi: If you could choose any profession, what would you choose?
Riva: I plan to enter the world of business. My goal is to be the next Donald Trump (at least to have his success, I would of course be female and have a nicer reputation. No need to mean after all.)

̶ hanhepi: Where did you grow up?
Riva: I have lived in Canada all my life. I was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, but have lived in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and am now currently living in Ontario.

̶ hanhepi: Do you have any vices? (Drinking, smoking, etc.)
Riva: Biting my finger nails. I am working very hard to stop that.

̶ hanhepi: Do you have any pets? (If yes, how many/what kind)
Riva: Pets, *giggles* you are right up my alley. I have three cats and a dog. My cats are one female long hair named Bellarina (black and white), one female short-hair Susie-Q (grey) and one male short hair tabby (browns) Dexter. And my dog, Chico, is a Pomeranian, papillon, Chihuahua (how do you spell that?!) mix. Did you know house pets have a social order? I am planning on one day writing a soap opera like story of my cats. How does "The Furry and the Feline" sound?

̶ hanhepi: Are you married?
Riva: Married at seventeen? Nah! Too much of my life still.

̶ hanhepi: Do you have any children? (if yes, how many/how old)
Riva: I would hope not! My three cats are my babies!

̶ hanhepi: Whom do you most admire?
Riva: My mother. I know it's cheesy but she has always fought her way through the bad, kept me positive when things got rough. Together we could live through anything.

̶ hanhepi: What do you consider most important in your life at this point?
Riva: My education and my friends. My education for the hopeful success it will bring me and my friends for being my rock, bringing me through thick and thin.

̶ hanhepi: If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
Riva: Hmm...that's a tough one. I would BooBoo! I love BooBoo.

̶ hanhepi: If you could meet ANYONE (past or present), who would you most like to meet? Why? What would you want to talk about with them?
Riva: Tolkien. He is a great writer and I have always wondered how he came up with all the things in LOTR. How he developed Gollum (my favorite character) so well. I would love to talk to him and get advice on my own story writing. Imagine Tolkien as a personal writing coach?

̶ hanhepi: If you could live during any time period, which would you choose, and why?
Riva: Around the Victorian Era, because that's the time where Romantism and the Arts truly began to take form. Of course I would have to be in a rich family, because the state of poverty was too great at that time and I doubt I would have the courage to face that.

̶ hanhepi: What is your favorite food?
Riva: Chocolate! Anything Chocolate! Chocolate fondue! Food! Look what you've done! Now I'm hungry! *runs over to the cookie jar*

̶ hanhepi: What is your favorite movie?
Riva: The musical Cats. I love cats and it is a wonderful musical with addicting songs! *sings* Oh well, I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistofollees (Gah! I can't spell)

̶ hanhepi: What is your favorite band?
Riva: Hm...I don't really have one, but right now I am liking Black Eyed Peas and Finger Eleven. My taste in music changes often, but those are my two most used cd's right now.

̶ hanhepi: What is your favorite beverage?
Riva: From Starbucks...Grande White Chocolate Mocha.....pure divine!

̶ hanhepi: What is your favorite color?
Riva: Right now....hot pink! It's the theme colour of the CDF!

Your Art:

̶ hanhepi: What art medium (painting, written, drawing, etc.) are you most comfortable working in?
Riva: I am definitely a writer, but I do a mean duck doodle!

̶ hanhepi: Do you ever experiment with other mediums?
Riva: Sometimes, music and dance. Sometimes even visual art, photography is a good one, but really I stick mostly to writing.

̶ hanhepi: Do you have a favorite piece that you have done?
Riva: It's a twisted vampire story! It's quite amazing, but really disturbing, not for the weak of heart!

̶ hanhepi: How do you come up with ideas for your artwork?
Riva: I find my inspiration from dreams, from life around, from questions people ask (like what happens to you after death?). Just anything I see and can make a comment on.

̶ hanhepi: What did you have for breakfast yesterday?
Riva: I don't believe I had breakfast yesterday.

̶ hanhepi: How did you come up with your Elftown screen name?
Riva: From some books I was reading by Sara Dougless. It's called the Axis Trilogy. Quite good.

̶ hanhepi: How long have you been a member of Elftown?
Riva: Just celebrated my first elfday! A little more than a year!

̶ hanhepi: What do you do here at the Herald?
Riva: I used to do advice, but have recently given that up due to time restraints. Now I am working with recruiting new people and any other random articles I can do.

̶ hanhepi: How long have you been on the Herald payroll (insert laugh here.)
Riva: Payroll? Are you getting paid?! How much? Why was I not informed?! *prepares an angry letter to Lerune* Just joking. I have been part of herald staff since just before the new year, I think, or right after. I know I was part of the Mini-Herald...when was that again? *sighs* wow I have a bad memory.

• hanhepi: Thong or granny panties?
Riva: Thong, mostly. Wow, I guess I've given up being shy!

̶ hanhepi: What are some of your pet peeves?
Riva: Arrogant, looks-oriented people.

̶ hanhepi: What else just irks the heck out of you?
Riva: My own indecisiveness. The "all that mind" frame.

̶ hanhepi: Got any fun wiki's for the readers to check out?
Riva: Definitely! What if... is my personal long running contest!! It's open to artist and writers! I love it! A new RPG has recently begun, Greece!! Got to love Greek mythology!!

&# hanhepi: What made you decide you wanted to do an interview with me?
Riva: Because no one really knows me that well, plus I love to talk. I will talk to anyone who will listen to me and you were willing to listen!

̶ hanhepi: Have you enjoyed the interview?
Riva: The interview was very fun. A moment for me to flaunt my stuff! Hahaha!

̶ hanhepi: Any questions for me?
Riva: Do I get to do my own interview on you? *cackles evilly*
̶ hanhepi: Sure! I'm game!

̶hanhepi: Any questions you feel I needed to ask that I didn't ask?
Riva: Perhaps include more on participating in Elftown and the Herald, and other fun things. Like I run or help run several contests. And try for some more joke questions. Be silly, fun and creative. You know the questions that no one really knows the answers to. Like Boxers/briefs, inner most dreams, pet peeves, silly antics, fun weird stuff. Be fun and creative with this! You may be interviewing someone but it is your chance to shine and show off your creativity! The value of an interview is determined by the interviewer not the interviewed!

[hanhepi] ‘s interview with [PussInBoots]

Hanhepi: How old are you?
Pussinboots: I am not sure, but if anyone figures it out, please let me know.

Hanhepi: What do you do for a living?
Pussinboots: Up until a few days ago, I was a graphic designer. But when I discovered that our company was populated with Martian vampires bent on destroying the planet, I got sacked. :-(

Hanhepi: Hmm. That's never a good thing.
Pussinboots:They tried to suck my blood but my friends had gotten there first.

Hanhepi: How long have you been a graphic designer?
Pussinboots: Even though I would not say I was one officially until 2003, I have a track record of trying to get into marketing. I remember trying to start a graphic design company at age ten--which means I must have lost my soul early.

Hanhepi: Where did you grow up?
Pussinboots: For the first few millennia I just kind of drifted around, but more recently in Monroe, WA and St. Maries, ID. The last one is so far out in the mountains that there is not a traffic light in the whole county. Needless to say, I left and came back over to civilization to finish high school. Most colleges do not like to see "cow-tipping 101" on your transcript, even if you got an A.

Hanhepi: Yeah they are not very fond of that class for some reason.

Hanhepi: Do you have any vices? (like drinking smoking, plundering, pillaging.. etc.)
Pussinboots: I have been known to watch the same Pirates of Darkwater tape over and over for hours. Then there is the nose picking, the lack of personal hygiene, and the occasional make out session with my mostly-heterosexual life mate, Norman the frog. Other than that I am remarkably well-mannered, for a criminal mastermind.

Hanhepi: Do you have any children?
Pussinboots: Not that I know of.

Hanhepi: Do you have any pets?
Pussinboots: I have four cats, but I try not to admit it because people with that many cats are always insane. I also have a rat that looks like a cartoon Dom Deluise (sans chef hat).

Hanhepi: Are the cats a specific breed or are they mostly just cat all over?
Pussinboots: One of them is part rhinoceros, which is most evident when he tries to sit on my face while I am doing Elftown interviews. The other three are all cat, except for the tentacles I guess (but that was an accident). One of them plays fetch but it is because she was raised by wolves.

Hanhepi: Why is it more evident the cat is part rhino when it's sitting on your face?
Pussinboots: Other than the leathery texture, it is mostly the massive weight. This cat only catches mice by standing up and finding them stuck to his thighs.

Hanhepi: Whom do you most admire?
Pussinboots: I admire too many people to pick one. In fact, I admire things--yesterday I told my scissors they were really effective and I was glad we could work together. But if I absolutely had to choose, I would say I really admire Captain Henry Every (who I named the rhino cat after, back when he was a lithe pirate shape instead of a Mt. Denali shape).

Hanhepi: If you were a cartoon character, who would you be?
Pussinboots: Oh that's easy. When Calvin grew up, he turned into me. I can even make that "Yuck, tapioca!" face he does if you want me to prove it.

Hanhepi: Wow, you really do look like Calvin! How is Hobbs these days?
Pussinboots: Hobbs left for Vegas. We still e-mail, but the only person I have to eat bullies for me right now is this small shapeless frog named Norman. Not nearly as effective, I am afraid.

Hanhepi: If you could meet any (real) person- from the past or present - whom would you most like to meet?
Pussinboots: For impure reasons, Michael Pitt. For pure reasons, Seth Green. I think we could probably hang out and never get sick of each other.

Hanhepi: Who is Michael Pitt?
Pussinboots: Affectionately known by fans as "pillow lips," Pitt is an actor I discovered in a crappy movie called Murder By Numbers that also starred Ryan Gosling and Sandra Bullock.

Hanhepi: If you could live during any time period, which would you choose?
Pussinboots: I kind of like now, actually. But for the sake of being interesting, probably the late 1690's or early 1700's. Unlike most of the people that say that, I promise I know what I am in for--the terrible filth, Puritan laws, and lack of justice are not scaring me off ;-)

Hanhepi: Where would you want to be during that time period?
Pussinboots: Probably the Caribbean--the second 'pirate nation' was based in Nassau, New Providence. The warm, sticky climate almost scares me off, but the presence of press gangs scares me off more.

Hanhepi: Which do you wear more often: boxers, briefs, bikinis, thongs or granny panties.
Pussinboots: I go commando, babe.

Hanhepi: If they made a movie -or wrote a book- about your life, what would the title be?
Pussinboots: A Not So General History (That is a historian's joke... there is a famous book of pirate bios we usually refer to as 'A General History' because the real title is long and no one can decide how to spell it.)

Hanhepi: If you could choose to have a super power, what would you want it to be?
Pussinboots: I would like to be able to breathe underwater.

Hanhepi: Now, suppose that in order to be granted that super power, you have to choose some super flaw to counter balance it. what would you choose as the flaw.
Pussinboots: Incontinence. I figure being able to supernaturally prevent fluids from going into me could be countered by being supernaturally unable to prevent fluids from leaving me.

Hanhepi: That DOES make sense! Plus if you are in the water anyway, who's going to notice?
Pussinboots: My mom would. "ARE YOU PEEING IN THE POOL?! STOP THAT! SOMEONE HAS TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOU!"

Hanhepi: That's a special "mom power" we get when we have children. Much like the eyes in the back of the head thing.
Pussinboots: My mom wanted me to tattoo eyes on the back of my head (I am not kidding). She said she thought it would be neat, but she was too chicken to do it herself so she decided to get her pierced, dyed offspring to do it for her.
Hanhepi: lmao!! Sounds like your mom rocks

Ok readers, I decided to try something new with this interview:

Hanhepi: You can tell a lot about people from doing word association. Care to play a short round?
Pussinboots: Sure >: )

Hanhepi: fluffy
Pussinboots: yellow

Hanhepi: manatee
Pussinboots: sandwich

Hanhepi: ornery
Pussinboots: me

Hanhepi: pox
Pussinboots: another sandwich

Hanhepi: sail
Pussinboots: cool

Hanhepi: steel
Pussinboots: ringing

Hanhepi: tape
Pussinboots: electrical

Hanhepi: varied
Pussinboots: music

Hanhepi: vortex
Pussinboots: VW

Hanhepi: whittle
Pussinboots: seahorse

Hanhepi: yawl
Pussinboots: Dread

Hanhepi: zebu
Pussinboots: yet another sandwich

Well readers, I have no idea what we learned by doing that, but it was definitely fun. Now back to your regularly scheduled interview.

Hanhepi: How did you come up with your Elftown screen name?
Pussinboots: Well, my favorite fairy tale is "Puss In Boots." That is the one where the smart cat totally PwNZ! the humans and gets way rich. Also, I usually wears big huge stumpy multi-buckled boots and the cat ears my mom gave me back when I was fifteen, so I am kind of a 'puss in boots' in my own right.

Hanhepi: What art mediums are you most comfortable working with?
Pussinboots: I like ink pens. Not only are they clean, crisp, and easy to make sharp details, if I get bored I can start doodling on my arms.

Hanhepi: Do you ever experiment with other mediums?
Pussinboots: All the time. My grandfather left me all his art stuff just before he died, so I have lots of things to play with. Currently I am trying to find a live squid to try some new inking techniques.

Hanhepi: That ought to be interesting. How bad do you have to scare a squid to get it to ink anyway?
Pussinboots: I can scare ANYTHING badly enough to squirt ink just by shoving its face in my armpit--not just squids.

Hanhepi: Do you have a favorite piece of artwork that you have done?
Pussinboots: I have a soft spot for an image I did of my character Seltiece holding up a crowned frog and trying to decide if she should kiss him. (If Tamory's breath is anything like Norman's, then I hope she cannot smell very well.)

Hanhepi: How do you come up with ideas for your artwork?
Pussinboots: If I knew that, I would patent it and sell it to uncreative people. I think it has something to do with eating too much cheese before I go to bed, because my bizarre dreams are the source of a lot of it. I also often illustrate from my stories, but those are also the result of the cheese dreams...

Hanhepi: Do you have any questions for me?
Pussinboots: Yes. What particularly made you want to do this interview with me? This is on the record.

Hanhepi: Yes it is on the record. Hmm… Well, when I read your "house" page in ET and followed the links I said to myself "Wow! here's a live one". And yes I said it out loud to myself. So I figured I would message you and see if I could get to know you. I've always been drawn to people that are... not quite normal. People that think outside the box are fun to talk to. After I messaged you a few times I said to myself "Other Elftowners might be interested in learning a little about this person too. Wow, this talking to myself is starting to become a habit. Should I be concerned? Nah, not till I start answering myself.. Oh crap."
Pussinboots: Hahahaha! Are you calling me weird, punk?
Hanhepi: You are not exactly the most normal person I've ever met, but that's a good thing.

Hanhepi: What made you decide to accept the interview invitation?
Pussinboots: Well, that fat check from your mom was a start. But I also have a case of narcissism that could eat Tokyo. Again.

Hanhepi: Yeah, my mom has a hell of a way with bribery don't she. lol
Pussinboots: Yeah! A whole five bucks--she shares the billing.

Hanhepi: I never said she was rich, just good at the art of bribe. What were the other deciding factors?
Pussinboots: Norman actually thought it would be a good idea. He said I need to meet people.

Hanhepi: Thank you Norman!! Good frog! Gooood frog.
Pussinboots: That will keep his ego pumped for a few days.

Hanhepi: Have you -and Norman (can I call him Norm?)- enjoyed the interview?
Pussinboots: We certainly have. (And you can call him whatever you like--not like he can do anything about it, what with the dog having chewed off all of his legs.)

Hanhepi: Well thank you both for your time. I enjoyed this too.
Pussinboots: *plays inspirational theme music that fades*