[Kevin] When you write your stories, do you prefer Callisto as a mortal, immortal, or Goddess? Do you feel any of those is substantially harder to write for?

[Brant] I prefer Callisto as a mortal, or at most, immortal. She's more human that way, and easier to relate to. I think writing Callisto as goddess would be most difficult. I mean, how do you present challenges to someone who can basically do anything she wants? Unless you have her handle her powers very poorly (which seems to be the strategy of the Xena writers).

[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?

[Brant] I feel my characterization of Callisto is broadly similar to that portrayed on Xena. There are differences however. There have to be, otherwise the character isn't allowed to grow. On Xena Callisto was presented as a one-dimensional psychopath. This started to change in ANE, but my theory is that when TPTB gave her a little bit of depth they had a glimpse of just how wildly popular the character could become. And that could never be allowed to happen. After all, the show is called *Xena* Warrior Princess. My characterization of Callisto continues on from where TPTB left off (and subsequently never continued) with ANE.

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

[Brant] Moderately important. I need to be broadly consistent because I want to leave open the possibility of have *my* Callisto interact with the Herc/Xena characters in the future. I can say no more than that on the subject. <grin>

[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?

[Brant] Generally no to the first two questions. Mostly because I don't have the time. I have trouble enough finding the time to write Callisto's Way and TIMES. I was negatively influenced by some Cally fiction I saw on the Universal forum just before I started writing. I read some and thought 'damn this is breath-takingly bad. Even I can write better than *that*.' And so I started Callisto's Way.

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

[Brant] I don't have a favourite. I like each for different reasons. In Callisto's Way I have to do much more in the way of character development than in TIMES (where all of the major characters are developed already). I had no idea that Zenta's squad of infantry would develop a life of their own. Its fun coming up with my own characters and CW allows me to do that. On the other hand, TIMES lets me drop Callisto 4,000 years into the future and watch what she does. And that's really fun. But it's also harder as well, as I have to try to have her react to things that are totally outside her experience. And keep her in character as she does so. I think I have been moderately successful in that.

[Kevin] If you had to do it all over again, are there any stories that you would change substantially? What would you change?

[Brant] I'd rewrite the first 6 or 7 chapters of Callisto's Way. I made several mistakes (I said Cally's eyes where blue, for example) in the writing and I hadn't really hit my stride. In addition, I'd tighten up several chapters in TIMES. For example, I feel that Chapter 18 is a little weaker than the others and sometime I'd like to rewrite it.