Dear Yuletide Writer (I Adore You Already)--
Dear Yuletide Writer,
Whomever you are, I want you to know right off the bat that whatever you write for me, I will love it. I already do, because here you are, having signed up to write for a (possible) stranger in a rare fandom that we both share, and that is better than gold.
Please, be reassured that in both my signup and here I'm aiming to provide a number of different prompts that I'd love to see written and that might spark your imagination, and I do not expect you to smush answers to all my questions into one story. Take what works for you and discard the rest.
Additionally, I know it's right there in the rules, but I want to stress that I know the details are optional, and while I've tried to offer a range of characters, pairings and prompts, if none of them excite you, or you're simply not able to make them work, don't worry. I will still be so excited to see a fic written in one of my four chosen fandoms that the rest will just be icing. But if you're looking for a bit more direction, or you just want to know a little more about my preferences, I hope this letter will help. I have a (not quite up to date) fanfic index here, I memory it all (look for the "Fanfic" headings), and if you check the lefthand sidebar of my LJ, all my fiction is tagged by fandom under " fanfic."
...So, you may have picked up that I'm a slasher. Despite being a dyed-in-the-wool slasher, I do read/write het and gen from time to time, so if slash isn't your thing, don't worry. Other things I'm fond of in fiction include historical uniforms/well-fitted suits/period costumes; kink/BDSM (not 24/7 formalized D/s, however); power exchanges/struggles between powerful characters; established relationships (vs. "first time" fic); and characters that are comfortably intimate with one another, both inside and outside the bedroom, and/or as friends. I dislike watersports, scatological play, MPREG, cross-dressing, bestiality, diminutive nicknames, phonetically spelled-out accents and character bashing (not even under the guise of humour). I also don't believe that what we do online is an accurate representation of our activism offline, nor that giftfic is an appropriate place for "teachable moments," so I'd rather avoid issuefic, soapbox stories and/or tales where the author's politics are obviously on display, if that's ok.
More than any of that, however, what really makes me happy is fiction with a good grasp of grammar and spelling. I'm an English Major; it's one of the things they beat into you on the first day. ^_~
I'm going to take a stab at offering up what I love about each fandom and see if I can't scrounge up some resources should you want/need them. (I'll also repost my requests in italics, because in reading around, I see that some people prefer to have the request details repeated in the Yuletide letter. I hope this is helpful!)
Eastern Promises (2007)
Requested Characters: Nikolai Luzhin, Kirill
Optional Details: "I'd love a Nikolai/Kirill slashfic. Maybe pre- or post-movie, exploring Nikolai and Kirill's dynamic before and/or after Semyon is deposed? Or maybe an (intimate) encounter where Nikolai struggles to balance his cover and his (possible) feelings for Kirill? Or what about Nikolai's view of Kirill's relationship with his father? (The relationship can be as normal/twisted/dark as you like.) Or how Nikolai's own shadowy past impacts his behaviour now? If you're not into slash, I'd be happy with a gen piece exploring the relationships between these characters. References to the characters' tattoos would be a bonus. Please, no Nikolai/Anna. I'm fine with angst, guilt and ambiguity in this fandom, although none of those are required (and I hold out a hope that Nikolai isn't simply using Kirill)."
***
I love this movie more than is reasonable, full stop. And there's so much to love about this film, as every time I watch it, I'm struck by something new. I'm especially entranced by how Cronenberg and his cast let the silences stand rather than giving in to the urge to spell everything out, and how so much is communicated in such subtle looks, gestures, and even posture. I love Kirill and Nikolai's relationship, and the very obvious differences in how they view one another -- Kirill looking to Nikolai for affection while trying to hide his sexuality, and Nikolai (possibly) seeing Kirill as primarily a means to an end -- not to mention the "verbal petting" in the form of "Da, da, Kirill," Nikolai applies whenever he is trying to calm or handle Kirill. I'm fascinated by the undercurrent of compassion that Nikolai displays towards Kirill, including when he stands up to Semyon's abuse, and how he holds Kirill at the end of the film after little Christine has been saved.
While I'm most fascinated by Nikolai and Kirill's relationship, I'm also deeply curious about Nikolai's past (How much of what he reveals in the film is real and how much is fiction?) and Kirill's relationship with Semyon. The latter seems especially complex, given how the movie plays out, and I must admit to finding Semyon more and more fascinating each time I watch the film. The thin veneer of civility covering his brutal nature is something to see, and I completely understand why Azim would be more afraid of Semyon than anyone else.
I am deeply in love with the ambiguities that flow through this movie. I also adore the tattoo motif, because I find the idea of words/meaning as flesh fascinating; even moreso given the mix of languages represented in the film (and oh, I did so love all the Russian accents).
Resources:
There's loads of links to various clips, pictures and discussion over at easternpromises (although the comm has slowed greatly since EP has left theatres, so you may have to page back a little), and IGN has nine clips/trailers from Eastern Promises available here. Additionally, nikkie222 has an amazing post here cataloguing and detailing the meaning of as many of Nikolai's 43 tattoos as possible.
Sharpe - All Media Types
Requested Characters: Richard Sharpe, Patrick Harper
Optional Details: "I'd love a Sharpe/Harper slash story, but a gen piece stressing the strength of their friendship would also be lovely. Maybe a piece about Richard and his Sergeant's gruff fondness for each other? Or the both of them spending time with the Chosen Men on the eve of battle, or after a difficult mission? I love how 'married' Sharpe and Harper are, and a story about the small and large ways they take care of each other would be wonderful. Maybe a story that juxtaposes peaceful moments with the chaos of war? An adventure story would be loads of fun as well. I love swordplay of the literal/figurative kind, so if you'd prefer to attack this request from that angle, I'd be thrilled. Please, no Sharpe/Wellington slash. Whether the story is set in India, Portugal or Spain, I'll love it, I'm sure."
***
I've loved Richard Sharpe and his world for a long time now. I've seen all the films multiple times, and read about 90% of the novels (I'm slowly making time for the last few), so I am comfortably situated to be comfortable with whatever you're comfortable with, if that makes sense. Book or movieverse or some blend of the two is fine, although I must admit I really do prefer the physical appearances in the films rather than those described in the novels; my Sharpe is a blond Yorkshireman. ^_^ I must admit to rolling my eyes over some of the very minor changes to film!Sharpe, most notably the desire to give him a brother and pretty much every part of Sharpe's Gold, but other than that, my love for the universe is close to all-encompassing.
I love the brothers-in-arms thrust of the series, and how the Chosen Men become a close-knit family with Sharpe and Harper at the head. I think it's Siege that illustrates this best, when Sharpe doesn't allow Harper to come along on the mission if he won't tend to his ailing tooth, and Harper shows up anyway, leading to a huge tiff between the two of them that ends in tea and companionable silence. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but I still giggle when Sharpe grumps at his men that if Harper were here, he'd have set up his tent and made him tea. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I love the way small gestures stand in for large declarations of friendship (or more) between Richard and his Sergeant.
I especially enjoy stories set in/around the battlefield (with the Chosen Men at least minorly present) -- whether that battlefield is in Portugal, Spain, France or India -- rather than back in England, no matter if it's in the midst of battle, amongst the troops, at camp, on the sea, or on some reconnaissance mission, big or small.
Resources:
Most of the Sharpe-related comms on LJ are fairly slow, and they're all fic, but of course there's the Wikipedia entries -- books and films -- Bernard Cornwell's website, the Official Sharpe Film page, a Timeline for Richard Sharpe's Life, and Sharpe Heaven at The Mighty Bean (warning: embedded sound file).
Parasol Protectorate - Gail Carriger
Requested Characters: Randolph Lyall, Conall Maccon
Optional Details: "Ideally, I'd love a Maccon/Lyall slashfic, but I'd also be happy with genfic exploring their relationship, preferably with a sense of fondness between them. I'm really curious about Maccon's life between leaving Kingair and becoming the head of the Woolsey pack, and his early years as Alpha, before meeting Alexia. Perhaps something set in that time period? Maybe Conall and Lyall's first meeting, or something about how they learned to fit together as Alpha and Beta? Or something set later, when Conall is either settling into or has already settled into his role in Woolsey? I'm also curious about the possibilities of life long after Alexia, as she's mortal and Conall is (strictly-speaking) not. I'd be fascinated with a story that revists the pack at a later time, years after the events of the Parasol Protectorate series have ended. Maybe at the turn of the century? Maybe even later? (Bonus points if they reclaim Woolsey Castle for the pack.) What I love best about Conall and Lyall is the way they fit together, compliment and balance each other so beautifully, not just in running the pack, but in their duties at BUR and in personalities/characteristics, and I'd love to see something highlighting those qualities, whether while they're still feeling each other out, or something more comfortable and familiar. Since the novels are explicitly about Alexia and I'm satisfied with that, I'd very much prefer the focus be on Conall and Lyall rather than their relationships to/with her."
***
One of my very favourite characteristics of The Parasol Protectorate series is the Alpha/Beta structure of the werewolf packs. I adore the tensions in these roles, both when Alpha and Beta perfectly compliment each other, and when they clash. I love how even in his disagreement, Lyall brings his concerns up privately with Maccon, because part of a Beta's job is to bring peace to the pack. On the flipside, I love that regardless of how brash and aggressive Maccon is, he still acknowledges how important it is to listen to his Beta. I love Lyall's quiet, reflective, intellectual nature (yet he's not afraid of a fight when necessary), and I love Maccon's (sometimes) recklessness, loudness, and demonstrative nature (and yet he's smart and canny enough to do a bang-up job as the head of BUR).
I'm less interested in the steampunk touches than in the way Carriger navigates her way through Victorian manners, social and class structures, the repression of the era, and all that seething desire, passion and violence lurking just underneath. (Oh, and Ivy's impressive hats, of course!) I actually really disliked the pack moving out of Woolsey and into London, so if you find a way to reverse that, or even simply return them to the castle post-canon, I would love you forever and ever.
Resources:
punkyparasols is the only comm I can find on LJ, and at two members, it's probably not going to be that useful. But gailcarriger herself is here, and she has a few handy-dandy character studies: Conall Maccon and Professor Lyall Additionally, there are many nifty resources over at Gail Carriger's website, including some great stuff in the FAQ, Alexia's London and Steampunk sections. I'm not sure how useful these will be, but she also has some Notes on the Knights Templar in her novels, and Researching the Victorian Era.
Merry Gentry - Laurell K. Hamilton
Requested Characters: Frost, Doyle
Optional Details: "I'd adore a Frost/Doyle slash story, but a gen story exploring the strength of their friendship/partnership would be good too. They've been at Andais' side for so long and they always seem to instinctually know what each other needs/what needs to be done that there must be a whole weight of history there. I would love to know what their lives were like before Merry, whether that's in the midst of Andais' cruelties and perversions, fighting next to each other on the battlefield, or in quieter moments. I'd be as happy with a fic set in the Old World, before the faeries are exiled, as the New, or if you want to play with the similarities/differences between the Seelie and the Unseelie Courts, that'd be interesting too! Or, as Merry is mortal (as far as we know), it would be really fascinating to see their lives post-Merry, sometime in the future, years after the events of the series are over and done with. I tend to read Frost's moods and insecurities differently than Merry, so I'd be happiest if he wasn't portrayed as petty, jealous and childish. As the novels are explicitly about Merry, I'd very much prefer the focus be on Frost and Doyle rather than their relationships to/with her."
***
I am an absolute sucker for stories of brothers-in-arms, and this series is no different. I love how Doyle is so very self-assured in all his decisions, so very in charge, and Frost similarly, and yet they rarely clash wills. I love how easily they fit together as captain and his second, and that they trust each other implicitly, and often wonder how they came by that accord.
While it certainly doesn't do any harm that Merry's men are all so devastatingly handsome, what I like best is the mix of ancient mythology, the supernatural, and the ritualized, ceremonial, almost militaristic tenor of Fae life. I love the various fairies' backstories, especially those of Frost and Doyle, and wish we knew more. I am also deeply curious about the more "perverse" things Andais forced them to engage in together, and wonder if that sort of enforced stress/closeness/contact wouldn't forge stronger romantic/sexual/companionate. (If you are of a similar particular bent and your mind takes you that way, I should mention I am totally ok with non-con and dub-con stories, here.)
Resources:
With the exception of lkh_lashouts, what Merry Gentry-related comms there are on LJ are years out of date, with nothing new being posted. There's the Merry Gentry entry at Wikipedia, with links to separate pages for each of the novels, and there's a larger Merry Gentry Wiki available as well. And, of course, there's LKH's website, which has the cover blurbs and excerpts from the novels.
Ok, hopefully all that helped rather than made things harder. Again, absolutely everything I've said here is optional and up for ignoring, partially or wholescale. After all, it's not like I'm ordering dinner; I'm really just flailing wildly and offering up far too much info.
Thank you again, Yuletide Writer. I'm so very excited about the exchange, and I know I'm going to love whatever you write for me. ♥
Whomever you are, I want you to know right off the bat that whatever you write for me, I will love it. I already do, because here you are, having signed up to write for a (possible) stranger in a rare fandom that we both share, and that is better than gold.
Please, be reassured that in both my signup and here I'm aiming to provide a number of different prompts that I'd love to see written and that might spark your imagination, and I do not expect you to smush answers to all my questions into one story. Take what works for you and discard the rest.
Additionally, I know it's right there in the rules, but I want to stress that I know the details are optional, and while I've tried to offer a range of characters, pairings and prompts, if none of them excite you, or you're simply not able to make them work, don't worry. I will still be so excited to see a fic written in one of my four chosen fandoms that the rest will just be icing. But if you're looking for a bit more direction, or you just want to know a little more about my preferences, I hope this letter will help. I have a (not quite up to date) fanfic index here, I memory it all (look for the "Fanfic" headings), and if you check the lefthand sidebar of my LJ, all my fiction is tagged by fandom under " fanfic."
...So, you may have picked up that I'm a slasher. Despite being a dyed-in-the-wool slasher, I do read/write het and gen from time to time, so if slash isn't your thing, don't worry. Other things I'm fond of in fiction include historical uniforms/well-fitted suits/period costumes; kink/BDSM (not 24/7 formalized D/s, however); power exchanges/struggles between powerful characters; established relationships (vs. "first time" fic); and characters that are comfortably intimate with one another, both inside and outside the bedroom, and/or as friends. I dislike watersports, scatological play, MPREG, cross-dressing, bestiality, diminutive nicknames, phonetically spelled-out accents and character bashing (not even under the guise of humour). I also don't believe that what we do online is an accurate representation of our activism offline, nor that giftfic is an appropriate place for "teachable moments," so I'd rather avoid issuefic, soapbox stories and/or tales where the author's politics are obviously on display, if that's ok.
More than any of that, however, what really makes me happy is fiction with a good grasp of grammar and spelling. I'm an English Major; it's one of the things they beat into you on the first day. ^_~
I'm going to take a stab at offering up what I love about each fandom and see if I can't scrounge up some resources should you want/need them. (I'll also repost my requests in italics, because in reading around, I see that some people prefer to have the request details repeated in the Yuletide letter. I hope this is helpful!)
Eastern Promises (2007)
Requested Characters: Nikolai Luzhin, Kirill
Optional Details: "I'd love a Nikolai/Kirill slashfic. Maybe pre- or post-movie, exploring Nikolai and Kirill's dynamic before and/or after Semyon is deposed? Or maybe an (intimate) encounter where Nikolai struggles to balance his cover and his (possible) feelings for Kirill? Or what about Nikolai's view of Kirill's relationship with his father? (The relationship can be as normal/twisted/dark as you like.) Or how Nikolai's own shadowy past impacts his behaviour now? If you're not into slash, I'd be happy with a gen piece exploring the relationships between these characters. References to the characters' tattoos would be a bonus. Please, no Nikolai/Anna. I'm fine with angst, guilt and ambiguity in this fandom, although none of those are required (and I hold out a hope that Nikolai isn't simply using Kirill)."
***
I love this movie more than is reasonable, full stop. And there's so much to love about this film, as every time I watch it, I'm struck by something new. I'm especially entranced by how Cronenberg and his cast let the silences stand rather than giving in to the urge to spell everything out, and how so much is communicated in such subtle looks, gestures, and even posture. I love Kirill and Nikolai's relationship, and the very obvious differences in how they view one another -- Kirill looking to Nikolai for affection while trying to hide his sexuality, and Nikolai (possibly) seeing Kirill as primarily a means to an end -- not to mention the "verbal petting" in the form of "Da, da, Kirill," Nikolai applies whenever he is trying to calm or handle Kirill. I'm fascinated by the undercurrent of compassion that Nikolai displays towards Kirill, including when he stands up to Semyon's abuse, and how he holds Kirill at the end of the film after little Christine has been saved.
While I'm most fascinated by Nikolai and Kirill's relationship, I'm also deeply curious about Nikolai's past (How much of what he reveals in the film is real and how much is fiction?) and Kirill's relationship with Semyon. The latter seems especially complex, given how the movie plays out, and I must admit to finding Semyon more and more fascinating each time I watch the film. The thin veneer of civility covering his brutal nature is something to see, and I completely understand why Azim would be more afraid of Semyon than anyone else.
I am deeply in love with the ambiguities that flow through this movie. I also adore the tattoo motif, because I find the idea of words/meaning as flesh fascinating; even moreso given the mix of languages represented in the film (and oh, I did so love all the Russian accents).
Resources:
There's loads of links to various clips, pictures and discussion over at easternpromises (although the comm has slowed greatly since EP has left theatres, so you may have to page back a little), and IGN has nine clips/trailers from Eastern Promises available here. Additionally, nikkie222 has an amazing post here cataloguing and detailing the meaning of as many of Nikolai's 43 tattoos as possible.
Sharpe - All Media Types
Requested Characters: Richard Sharpe, Patrick Harper
Optional Details: "I'd love a Sharpe/Harper slash story, but a gen piece stressing the strength of their friendship would also be lovely. Maybe a piece about Richard and his Sergeant's gruff fondness for each other? Or the both of them spending time with the Chosen Men on the eve of battle, or after a difficult mission? I love how 'married' Sharpe and Harper are, and a story about the small and large ways they take care of each other would be wonderful. Maybe a story that juxtaposes peaceful moments with the chaos of war? An adventure story would be loads of fun as well. I love swordplay of the literal/figurative kind, so if you'd prefer to attack this request from that angle, I'd be thrilled. Please, no Sharpe/Wellington slash. Whether the story is set in India, Portugal or Spain, I'll love it, I'm sure."
***
I've loved Richard Sharpe and his world for a long time now. I've seen all the films multiple times, and read about 90% of the novels (I'm slowly making time for the last few), so I am comfortably situated to be comfortable with whatever you're comfortable with, if that makes sense. Book or movieverse or some blend of the two is fine, although I must admit I really do prefer the physical appearances in the films rather than those described in the novels; my Sharpe is a blond Yorkshireman. ^_^ I must admit to rolling my eyes over some of the very minor changes to film!Sharpe, most notably the desire to give him a brother and pretty much every part of Sharpe's Gold, but other than that, my love for the universe is close to all-encompassing.
I love the brothers-in-arms thrust of the series, and how the Chosen Men become a close-knit family with Sharpe and Harper at the head. I think it's Siege that illustrates this best, when Sharpe doesn't allow Harper to come along on the mission if he won't tend to his ailing tooth, and Harper shows up anyway, leading to a huge tiff between the two of them that ends in tea and companionable silence. I don't know how many times I've seen it, but I still giggle when Sharpe grumps at his men that if Harper were here, he'd have set up his tent and made him tea. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I love the way small gestures stand in for large declarations of friendship (or more) between Richard and his Sergeant.
I especially enjoy stories set in/around the battlefield (with the Chosen Men at least minorly present) -- whether that battlefield is in Portugal, Spain, France or India -- rather than back in England, no matter if it's in the midst of battle, amongst the troops, at camp, on the sea, or on some reconnaissance mission, big or small.
Resources:
Most of the Sharpe-related comms on LJ are fairly slow, and they're all fic, but of course there's the Wikipedia entries -- books and films -- Bernard Cornwell's website, the Official Sharpe Film page, a Timeline for Richard Sharpe's Life, and Sharpe Heaven at The Mighty Bean (warning: embedded sound file).
Parasol Protectorate - Gail Carriger
Requested Characters: Randolph Lyall, Conall Maccon
Optional Details: "Ideally, I'd love a Maccon/Lyall slashfic, but I'd also be happy with genfic exploring their relationship, preferably with a sense of fondness between them. I'm really curious about Maccon's life between leaving Kingair and becoming the head of the Woolsey pack, and his early years as Alpha, before meeting Alexia. Perhaps something set in that time period? Maybe Conall and Lyall's first meeting, or something about how they learned to fit together as Alpha and Beta? Or something set later, when Conall is either settling into or has already settled into his role in Woolsey? I'm also curious about the possibilities of life long after Alexia, as she's mortal and Conall is (strictly-speaking) not. I'd be fascinated with a story that revists the pack at a later time, years after the events of the Parasol Protectorate series have ended. Maybe at the turn of the century? Maybe even later? (Bonus points if they reclaim Woolsey Castle for the pack.) What I love best about Conall and Lyall is the way they fit together, compliment and balance each other so beautifully, not just in running the pack, but in their duties at BUR and in personalities/characteristics, and I'd love to see something highlighting those qualities, whether while they're still feeling each other out, or something more comfortable and familiar. Since the novels are explicitly about Alexia and I'm satisfied with that, I'd very much prefer the focus be on Conall and Lyall rather than their relationships to/with her."
***
One of my very favourite characteristics of The Parasol Protectorate series is the Alpha/Beta structure of the werewolf packs. I adore the tensions in these roles, both when Alpha and Beta perfectly compliment each other, and when they clash. I love how even in his disagreement, Lyall brings his concerns up privately with Maccon, because part of a Beta's job is to bring peace to the pack. On the flipside, I love that regardless of how brash and aggressive Maccon is, he still acknowledges how important it is to listen to his Beta. I love Lyall's quiet, reflective, intellectual nature (yet he's not afraid of a fight when necessary), and I love Maccon's (sometimes) recklessness, loudness, and demonstrative nature (and yet he's smart and canny enough to do a bang-up job as the head of BUR).
I'm less interested in the steampunk touches than in the way Carriger navigates her way through Victorian manners, social and class structures, the repression of the era, and all that seething desire, passion and violence lurking just underneath. (Oh, and Ivy's impressive hats, of course!) I actually really disliked the pack moving out of Woolsey and into London, so if you find a way to reverse that, or even simply return them to the castle post-canon, I would love you forever and ever.
Resources:
punkyparasols is the only comm I can find on LJ, and at two members, it's probably not going to be that useful. But gailcarriger herself is here, and she has a few handy-dandy character studies: Conall Maccon and Professor Lyall Additionally, there are many nifty resources over at Gail Carriger's website, including some great stuff in the FAQ, Alexia's London and Steampunk sections. I'm not sure how useful these will be, but she also has some Notes on the Knights Templar in her novels, and Researching the Victorian Era.
Merry Gentry - Laurell K. Hamilton
Requested Characters: Frost, Doyle
Optional Details: "I'd adore a Frost/Doyle slash story, but a gen story exploring the strength of their friendship/partnership would be good too. They've been at Andais' side for so long and they always seem to instinctually know what each other needs/what needs to be done that there must be a whole weight of history there. I would love to know what their lives were like before Merry, whether that's in the midst of Andais' cruelties and perversions, fighting next to each other on the battlefield, or in quieter moments. I'd be as happy with a fic set in the Old World, before the faeries are exiled, as the New, or if you want to play with the similarities/differences between the Seelie and the Unseelie Courts, that'd be interesting too! Or, as Merry is mortal (as far as we know), it would be really fascinating to see their lives post-Merry, sometime in the future, years after the events of the series are over and done with. I tend to read Frost's moods and insecurities differently than Merry, so I'd be happiest if he wasn't portrayed as petty, jealous and childish. As the novels are explicitly about Merry, I'd very much prefer the focus be on Frost and Doyle rather than their relationships to/with her."
***
I am an absolute sucker for stories of brothers-in-arms, and this series is no different. I love how Doyle is so very self-assured in all his decisions, so very in charge, and Frost similarly, and yet they rarely clash wills. I love how easily they fit together as captain and his second, and that they trust each other implicitly, and often wonder how they came by that accord.
While it certainly doesn't do any harm that Merry's men are all so devastatingly handsome, what I like best is the mix of ancient mythology, the supernatural, and the ritualized, ceremonial, almost militaristic tenor of Fae life. I love the various fairies' backstories, especially those of Frost and Doyle, and wish we knew more. I am also deeply curious about the more "perverse" things Andais forced them to engage in together, and wonder if that sort of enforced stress/closeness/contact wouldn't forge stronger romantic/sexual/companionate. (If you are of a similar particular bent and your mind takes you that way, I should mention I am totally ok with non-con and dub-con stories, here.)
Resources:
With the exception of lkh_lashouts, what Merry Gentry-related comms there are on LJ are years out of date, with nothing new being posted. There's the Merry Gentry entry at Wikipedia, with links to separate pages for each of the novels, and there's a larger Merry Gentry Wiki available as well. And, of course, there's LKH's website, which has the cover blurbs and excerpts from the novels.
Ok, hopefully all that helped rather than made things harder. Again, absolutely everything I've said here is optional and up for ignoring, partially or wholescale. After all, it's not like I'm ordering dinner; I'm really just flailing wildly and offering up far too much info.
Thank you again, Yuletide Writer. I'm so very excited about the exchange, and I know I'm going to love whatever you write for me. ♥