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Mercury

An author who began watching the show and writing Sentinel fan fiction early in the series, Mercury quickly became a known as a writer who wrote Jim and Blair with a nice touch. Her stories are a delightful combination of drama, humor, smarm, and hurt/comfort with a variety pleasing to many Sentinel readers. Mercury's Cascade Library listing currently includes 14 stories. Her stories are located at her website, Merc's Fic Factory.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Mercury!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What else do you enjoy doing besides writing TS fan fiction?

I'm from Texas, but I have a tendency to wander. It's hard for me to stay in place. Consequently, I love to travel. When I do, things that happen to me while on the road invariably end up as fic plots.

When I'm not moving around, I work...a lot. This isn't too bad because, apparently, the more work I have to do the more stories I tend to write. Go figure. When I'm not writing, I'm reading or working on songvids, keeping my apartment clean--the usual real life stuff.

How did you become a Sentinel fan?

This is actually my mother's fault. She called me up one day and said I should watch this show about a man with heightened senses. She told me the cop was really good-looking, but it was the other guy who was cute. I didn't do what I was told and subsequently missed the first season. Eventually, I found some fic, read it, had to see some eps and totally agreed with her. My mom is pretty smart :-)

What is your favorite episode and why?

You know, this is actually a harder question than it seems. Of course, I like Blind Man's Bluff and Cypher, but there are a few I like just because of the humor and the friendship. I really liked Reunion--the "Scooby" scene was inspiring as well as the light banter between Jim and Blair (Simon, too). The other one I like is Spare Parts. It shows that--aside from their natural areas of expertise-- there are some things that big, bad Jim can't do...and Blair can.

How did you start writing Sentinel fan fiction?

I promised myself I would never write. Instead, I issued a challenge on the then embryonic Senad list. One Sunday afternoon, I got bored and decided to go for it.

Specifically, what was your first story, when did you write it, and what was it like to post your first story?

My first story was called Touchdown. It was written that Sunday afternoon during the Superbowl almost four years ago. To post it was quite nerve-racking. You never know how someone is going to react and since every story I write is a part of me, I was pretty scared. However, the people on Senad were wonderful--very supportive.

If you could see any of your stories made into a real episode, which one would you choose?

I guess I'd like to see Checking Out made into an episode. It has all the right elements. Jim zones *and* uses his senses. Blair is really strong. And, there actually is a plot <g>!

Which story are you most proud of?

Checking Out.

Which character do you most enjoy writing?

I most enjoy writing Blair. He's the easiest for me to write. We're a little alike. I don't have a least favorite. I enjoy writing Jim and Simon, too.

What genre(s) do you enjoy writing the most?

Hmm...it's really hard for me to stick to one genre. I find that most of my stories have mixed elements. The story might be primarily a drama, but it will have some humor in it. It might also have some smarm. I write what strikes me...and some of the stuff (at least the funny stuff) comes from what actually happens to me.

Who are your beta readers and what do you appreciate most about them?

Good beta readers are very rare. It's often hard to find the balance between criticism and flaming. It's also hard to know how much beta-ing is too much. You don't want to change your stories based on another person's idea. Then it wouldn't be your story anymore. Therefore, I don't have many beta readers. The one person who I trust completely to help me with TS fic is Tate. We hash out stuff online, driving to Sonic, or in her living room all the time. I appreciate her because she is candid without being mean. She also writes herself, which means she understands the link between the writer and her fiction. Tate's great!

How did you choose your pseudonym, "Mercury"?

Ahh, this is by far the easiest question of the lot. I chose my pseudonym in honor of Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen. I could wax on about his great talent and wonderful qualities, but that would be digressing <g>.

You've written several missing scenes. Do you have a favorite?

It's a toss up between The Plunge and Don't I Know It. The Plunge is a nice bit of introspection on Jim's part. Don't I Know It shows his fiercely protective side.

Checking Out is an angsty story in which Jim and Blair are caught in a grocery store robbery. What inspired this good story?

First of all, thanks for the compliment. This story was also inspired by mother on two levels. On the one level, when she was younger, she worked in my grandfather's grocery store and was held up a time or two. But what really inspired this story was her gift for understatement. I'm just going to stop at the store and grab some bread and milk, she would say. Going into the store, she'd grab a basket and I always wondered why we needed one when all she was getting was bread and milk. Her response *always* started with, "Well, while we're here..." So, basically, I wrote that whole story around the beginning scene of Jim and Blair entering the grocery store.

In the story Tired, Jim compares Blair to the golden thread from the Minotaur myth. What inspired this story?

Basically, I was "tired" of seeing Blair always the one getting hurt. I wanted Jim to lean on Blair for a change. As for the comparison to the Minotaur myth, well, that's how I sometimes see them...leading each other out of despair, darkness, etc. They're linked in this way...a lifeline of sorts (hats off to Tate).

Blair has doubts about his role as Jim's partner in Wish. Do you think Blair often doubted himself?

I don't think Blair has ever doubted himself too much. He's quite resilient and he isn't shy about sticking up for himself. But I do think that, like most of us, he sometimes wonders what his place in the world is. Or, at least, more specifically, how he fits into Jim's life. We all, at one time or another, question if we're doing the right thing, if our motives are good.

And there are times in the series where Jim's actions (i.e. kicking him out of the loft) show *his* doubts and therefore, should impact Blair in some way. In that particular story, I tried to imply that Blair doesn't normally doubt himself like that. Rather, it occurred after a culmination of events--he was tired and physically hurting as well.

William Ellison eventually meets Blair in the story Chief Introduction. How did you decide what William's reaction to Blair would be?

I wrote that story at a friend's request and it just came out that way, based on Jim's reactions to his dad in that episode. I guess I wanted Blair to know how much he meant to Jim. This was one way to do it. But, I could just as easily write William a different way. It just depends on the story.

In the hilarious story The Pez Conspiracy, Jim and Blair annoy Simon, not knowing that the captain is smarter than he appears. How did this story represent Simon's relationship to Jim and Blair?

Oh, boy! What in interesting question. This was another one of those stories that had a slight basis in reality.

Simon cares for both Jim and Blair. He's a good captain, strong and gruff, runs a tight ship. But if anyone comes in and threatens his "little chicks", he's ready to do some damage. He's every bit as protective as Jim. He's also a very good friend and he knows Jim and Blair quite well. Therefore, he set up this elaborate scheme to give them time off.

Many of your stories contain funny moments. Does writing humor come easily to you?

Yeah, I guess it does. I don't plan the humor. It just flows out in the course of a story. Since I tend to deal with stuff through humor, it just seems natural.

How do you deal with writer's block?

I get a second job <G>.

What is the hardest part about writing for you?

The hardest thing about writing for me is trying to be realistic. I find myself doing tons of research so that the story isn't too far-fetched. Sometimes, though, that can be fatal. You don't want to bog down the story with uninteresting details. Sometimes it's hard for me to leave stuff out. I also sometimes have a hard time trying not to get all syrupy. I don't normally like the guys out of character either. So finding the right balance can be difficult.

What is the most satisfying part of writing for you?

I always feel like I've accomplished something. And it does give me a thrill to see it posted.

What are your feelings on story feedback?

Feedback is always welcomed. I guess even when it's not good feedback. It's kind of like those benches at bus stops. You know, the ones that usually say something like, "Do people actually read signs on benches? You just did!" At least people are reading and that's all that matters.

I write because I get a charge out of it, anyway. Positive feedback is icing on the cake.

Do you have any advice for new TS fan fiction writers?

Write what you want and how you want. Write for yourself.

What was the first piece of fan fiction you ever read?

It was Sliders fic. Can't really remember any story titles.

Are there particular kinds of Sentinel fanfic stories that you especially enjoy reading?

I enjoy all of Tate's stories. She writes extremely well. I also like DawnC's angsty Blair pieces. Oh, and I just love Cindy Combs' MacGyver xovers.

What is it about The Sentinel that inspires you to write?

The friendship.

Do you find yourself identifying more with Jim or Blair?

With Blair.

What one story do you think people will always remember you for?

I simply don't have a clue. Maybe Checking Out.

Can you tell us what stories you have in the works right now?

I'm actually concentrating in another fandom right now. I do, however, have two Sentinel stories that I'm working on little by little. One's a terribly long piece entitled Renegade. The other has no title, but Jim has the chicken pox <G>.

Thanks, Mercury!

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Last updated 10/16/00 clc