[Kevin] How close do you think your characterization of Callisto comes to the one shown on "Xena: Warrior Princess"? If there are differences, why did you include/exclude them in your characterization?

[Tower] Someone said it the best. While Xena is a hero capable of performing acts of evil, Callisto is a villain capable of performing acts of some good. Just as long you're not friends with Xena, do something to offend her, wind up being a pawn in one of her plans or admit to her that you love her. :-) Overall I always depicted that Callisto wants to change, to have a normal life, just to forget. She doesn't go out killing aimlessly. There is always a purpose behind her 'madness'.

[Kevin] When you write Callisto stories, how important is it to keep within the Hercules/Xena Universe as depicted in both TV shows?

[Tower] I always try to keep in line with the first and second season. I found "A Necessary Evil" an eye opener after watching that campfire scene between Callisto and Gabrielle. As for the third season... please don't get me started. It was like watching a train wreck happening, not just for Callisto fans but for everyone else.

[Kevin] Do you read any other Callisto fan fiction? How about other fan fiction in general? Is there any fan fiction that has influenced your writings? How has it influenced your writings?

[Tower] Being in charge of Callisto's Tales, I read most, if not all the stories submitted... if time permits. It's interesting to see how other writers have different takes on Callisto. Almost every writer has something to offer about Callisto that I have missed or never thought of. One of the best scenes I can remember reading was in TIMES, where Brant described Callisto smiling. That the smile on her lips never seemed to reach her eyes. Callisto is a very complex person leaving her actions open to interpretation on many levels because of the good writing on the show and by the incredible acting from Hudson Leick which shows in fanfic. Callisto shouldn't be pinned down so easily as being insane or just plain evil. There are so many forces driving Callisto that her actions and reasons should be anything but predictable and simple.

[Kevin] Which is your personal favorite Callisto story that you have written? What makes it your favorite story?

[Tower] I would have to say 'She Named the Horse Xena'. I wrote it immediately after seeing Callisto with her pet rat, 'Little Hercules' during ANE. Would Callisto have a pet named after her dearest enemy? To me it was a big yes. I quickly decided on Callisto having a horse named after Xena. Then it allowed me to replay a much debated situation about the warrior princess: letting Callisto drown in that quicksand pit in 'Return of Callisto.' Would rescuing her change Callisto? Unfortunately we will never know except in the realm of fan fiction. The extra bonus for doing this story was that it inspired a gentleman by the named of Jakes Atkins to write a sequel to it called, 'Survivor of Cirra.' It brought back Callisto and her horse, Xena, to actually meet the real warrior princess, Gabrielle and even Hercules and Iolaus. It was a real enjoyment seeing my idea being used by someone else.