Subject: One of the Fish!
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1998 23:23:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Atirakei 


Uh... hi!  My name's Laurie and I'm a slash-aholic!

Sigh.. feel better already!  Let's see... after the intro 
Flamingo gave, I'm still blushing... Um... yes, I'm the one who 
wrote the story that converted the listmom, who wrote some of the 
best slash stories ever known on this planet... in the house that 
Jack built.

Some of you know me.  My pen name is Atira Kei, and I've written 
everything from a Star Wars story when I was 17 years old (yes... 
gen...but it got published!) to to Dr. Who (still gen) to Miami 
Vice (slash) to DS9 to Highlander (definitely slash!), with the 
odd Alien Nation and Kung Fu:TLC.  I've been a Trek fan since I 
was too young to understand the darn thing, but oddly I've never 
written K/S... or even my preferred couple Spock/McCoy, but one 
day.

Currently I'm being drawn towards (okay dragged, heels to the 
floor) to Sentinel.  I haven't gotten "into" the characters 
enough to write them yet... but we'll see.

Within the realm of Starsky and Hutch, I'm a newbie.  I didn't 
see the series the first time around... or any of the other 
times, until I met my partner.  Lillith (who will be introducing 
herself shortly) has been a long-time fan, and has involved 
herself in the fandom here and there.  She started to show me 
tapes, and I like the show, and I'm sorry I didn't get into it 
the first time around.

So, here I am... happy to be here.  Honored by the listmom's 
introduction.  In turning the tables, I have to say she's been an 
inspiration to me and my writing.  The word "Flamingo" brings a 
smile to a fan's lips, and some drool on occasion :) I'm happy to 
have been the catalyst.

So... does fiction get posted here?  :::: looking around the 
place... soaking in the atmosphere ::::::  And "butts"?  
Crotches?
Hmmmmm....


Laurie  :)
Atirakei 


Subject: Re: [VP] and how did YOU get into slash?
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 13:32:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Atirakei 
To: veniceplace@jbx.com

How did I get involved?  That's an interesting question... Let me 
see... Warning: This might be a bit long, but not too long.  I 
promise.

I have been a Star Trek fan since I was 6 years old (1966), when 
this really strange new TV show came on.  My brother (who was 12 
at the time) and sister (who was 14 at the time) loved the show 
and I liked the bells and whistles (and Spock). I was allowed to 
stay up to see it if I was quiet and stayed on my brother's lap 
(where I usually fell asleep).  Later, as I came to be 7 & 8, I 
actually remember some of the controversy and the interesting 
themes that came up.  I remember the "kiss" between Kirk and 
Uhura.  To me, at the time, the fact that she being "forced" was 
more important than the fact that the people involved were of two 
different "colors".  The significance escaped me (my mother is 
very liberal in respect to people and hardly ever restricted what 
her children saw...so long as we knew right from  wrong).

Anyhow, I also remember thinking how "close" two of the 
characters seemed, how much in sync they were to each other.  
They had their disagreements and fights, but they liked and 
respected each other, and stood shoulder to shoulder.  Of course, 
I didn't think of  the "other" aspect, but the feeling was there.  
And, of course, you think I mean Kirk/Spock.. but NOOOO... I mean 
Spock/McCoy. I know... I was born different.

Life went on, I grew up and, being in NY, I began to go to a new 
store called the Federation Trading Post when I was about 14.  
There my eyes were opened... I found... FANZINES!!!!  I started 
reading everything... wonderfully stapled together pieces of 
paper with wonderful variations on the characters and plots.

Slowly I began to read the more complex stories, the Amanda/ 
Sarek creation by Jean Lorrah (who has forever influenced my idea 
of who and what Vulcans really are) and the Kraith (my  spelling 
may be bad here).  

Along about age 16 or so, I saw a small flyer up by the cash  
register with an advertisement for "Spock Unchained" (title may 
be off here) and said that only people 18 or over could get it. 
Um... I didn't look my age then.. short for my age too (grew 
later.. family thing).  So trying to "fake it" was out of the  
question.  And so, never got to see it.  However, the Amanda/ 
Sarek stories I did get to see (manager of store let me get 
those).  And this was how I was introduced into the sexuality of 
Star Trek.

A year later, I attended my first convention (gathering really).  
It  was one of the first Creation Cons in NYC.  In there, there 
was  someone with this vast library of zines... many of which I'd  
never seen.  She wasn't selling, she was inviting people to  come 
and read.  Well... this was way cool for me.  I think I  got to 
watch James Doohan.. but the guy who played Darth  Vadar escaped 
my notice.  I started reading.. both days.

Anyway, I came across this zine (someone told me later it was 
probably "Contact") and read this story about Spock  longing for 
Kirk, and Kirk longing for Spock, and both men being just sick 
about the whole thing (with the Vulcan's life being in danger 
because of Pon Farr)... and each telepathically feeling the 
other. Then McCoy smacked Spock up the side of the head and push 
him towards Kirk.. and well... the story ended with the 
suggestion that they were going to be VERY intimate.

Nothing graphic, but all my buttons were pushed.  WOW!  What a 
concept!  Never occurred to me (I was sexually naive and immature 
until way into my 20's... even after I started reading slash).  
Then I found more and more and more.. and... well you get the 
picture.

This was 1977 (yes... I was underage.. sigh...).

Also, Star Wars had also come out earlier that same summer..  saw 
it for the first time on my 17th Birthday.  Right after, I  
started writing my first fanfic (my "missing scene" as to how  
Luke Skywalker knew Obi Wan).  The day after my graduation  from 
High School (following summer), I received my first 'trib  copy 
of the zine it was published in.  I was a writer!  I then  wrote 
two more SW stories (nope.. no slash, kids... not that  I didn't 
think of it.. but I was still a virgin.. didn't know what  to 
write).  They were in "Against the Sith".  

Then Dr. Who caught my attention (I'm a Third Doctor fan), and  I 
started writing some Dr. Who (about 5 stories, that wound up in 
Baker's Dozen and so forth).

Then I met Robin Hood and Dovya Blacque and my life changed  
forever.  I'd been reading all the K/S zines I could lay my hands  
on for years (once, when I was very poor and economically 
desperate.. I sold off 90% of my collection.. nearly $1000). To 
actually meet the editors I'd been writing to was a treat.  I was 
encouraged, at the ripe old age of 28, to write a slash story.  I  
didn't think I could write Kirk/Spock or any slash as I was still  
(you guessed it) a virgin.  I mean I wasn't an idiot... I knew 
"how" it went.. but no experience to draw from.  Ya know?

Any case, in talking to Dovya, I revealed how much I liked Miami 
Vice and saw a real connection between Castillo and Crockett.  
She encouraged me to write a story.. any story as she was 
starting a new "multi-media" (new term then) zine and wanted to 
get contributions.  So after much sweat... and with electric 
typewriter in hand (yes, kids.. no computer), I wrote "After the 
Rains", which appeared in Dyad #1.

And the rest is history.  It seems that in my travels, as I 
became and agent for said editors, I managed to influence a fan 
who has been, in return, an inspiration for me.  That is our 
Mama-Bird, Flamingo.  And y'all know how THAT went!

In the seas of intolerance I experienced (was the kid "picked on"  
and abused in school.. as many fans seem to be), I was greatly 
influenced by Star Trek and the Vulcan concept of IDIC, which I 
have lived by most of my life.  I take this into the slash I 
write, and so my pairings are not always traditional... or can be 
slightly more than monogamous.  But I take great pleasure in 
reading the works of others and have enjoyed the "how I got into 
Slash"  experiences that have been shared here.

That's it... sorry it was so long.  See what happens when you 
lurk too long?

Laurie  :)

