First crush: Rocky the Flying Squirrel (I was five years old). He was cute, and so talented: flying! And he was a hero, always doing the right thing and foiling the villains, and inspiring the loyalty of his good buddy, Bullwinkle. 

I call him Zoltan. He exists only in my own imagination, a modern-thinking gypsy who loves only me, with a passion. He is dark-haired, with dark, flashing eyes. We make music together, singing and playing in duet. We share a love of books and art, and a commitment to a better future for humanity. We are involved and well respected in a larger community of friends and family who appreciate our creative energy and inspire us in a thousand ways. 

English – with a Hungarian accent

Undoubtedly, I’ll let out a whoop that can be heard across two counties, then spread the word to tell all the friends who have believed in and supported me, particularly my critique partners and fellow members of Midwest Fiction Writers. I’ll be on Facebook and Twitter and LiveJournal To make sure everyone of my acquaintance, friends and family hear about it. I may actually be moved to pick up a phone and call a few people.

An inexplicable, lightning-strike-awareness of another person, in which we suddenly recognize how very lovable and desirable that person is? Yes; I’m sure it happens all the time. It has certainly struck me, and there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence – and the whole romance novel industry – supporting the notion. 

Good sex occupies my entire attention and, sorry to say, a game would be an unwelcome distraction from my partner and the impulses of the moment. Unless it were a game we invented between us that required no additional props or pieces.

I play a lot of board games, and they usually involve three to six players of various genders and ages, few with any romantic appeal for me. Besides which, I like to have my head in the game; I’m afraid sex would be an unwelcome distraction when I’m trying to figure out whether I can afford one of the properties in AlHambra, or which of my tiles might fit where in a Quirkle layout, or what I can do without any vowels in Scrabble. Likewise, any very vigorous sexual activity would be very likely to upset the board and game pieces. No, when I’m playing games I like a nice solid table between the players and a simple, friendly atmosphere.

A mermaid, a wood sprite, a trapeze artist, a time traveler, an astronaut, Robin’s sister Blue Jay in the Batman universe… I never could seem to settle on any one thing, but had a lot of fun imagining being and doing all kinds of different things. One of the reasons I love reading is that it allows me to identify with many different people, living in different circumstances, pursuing different paths: from growing up in the big woods and on the prairie with Laura Ingalls Wilder, to traveling between planets with Podkayne of Mars, adventuring in Middle Earth, to solving mysteries with Kinsey Milhone, to detailing the adventures of the people who live in my own imagination. I’ve also done a lot of different things in my actual grown-up career and this multi-faceted approach to life all feeds into what makes me a writer.

I associate different songs and artists with different men in my life. Anything by Pink Floyd reminds me of one guy (this was not a happy relationship), anything by Joan Armatrading reminds me of another (he compared my voice favorably to hers). There’s another guy I associate with the Renaissance Festival and thus many period songs in a certain updated style remind me of him. More often I like to sing and perform songs on mandolin that remind me of the various ways I’ve felt about love and life: everything from old Renaissance folk songs to modern pop and blues and silly filk songs about fantasy and science fiction themes. 

A little Joan for you 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oag3I4VRXyM

OK; this is me you’re talking to. The most romantic/sexy destination out there has got to be one of our (Twin Cities) several local science fiction conventions. We’ve got everything from the small 4th Street Fantasy convention with it’s focus on the craft of writing, to CONvergence with its thousands of attendees and total lack of focus — allowing a celebration of everything from media, to anime, to books, to gaming, to costumery, to you-name-it. This is sexy to me because it’s all about exciting the imagination and sharing that excitement with like minds and being involved with a larger community. I’d probably enjoy a vacation destination at a tropical beach, or secluded ski lodge, but I wouldn’t feel as emotionally involved as I get with the f/sf conventions, and emotional involvement makes everything more significant and engaging.

And last but not least.

This is a topic that’s torn me in different directions for years now. Mint Chip or Cherry Nut? Cherry Nut or Mint Chip? I cannot order an ice cream cone without having a scoop of each. Oddly enough, when I go to a DQ, I have to have a Buster Bar; it’s all caramel-chocolate-peanutty goodness then.