Question: What's you favorite Hunk scene/episode from the series?

KittyLynne: I actually have several, *grins* but there's a tie for the top spot- and both are in the original LV series. One scene is in The Sleeping Princess episode- after it appears Allura has passed away. The rest of the team has congregated outside to discuss the situation, and decide it must be a spell. However...*Hunk* is the one who comes up with the idea of faking a funeral- much to the surprise of his teammates! I liked this scene because it shows that you shouldn't underestimate the brain power of the big guy! :D My other top favorite Hunk scene is actually an entire episode...the one in the second season (and the name of it escapes me right now) where the Big Guy returns to a planet he was stationed on (before becoming part of the Voltron Force), to some orphaned children he helped . That entire episode is focused on hunk, and it showcases all of his finer qualities...courage, kindness, compassion for others, his love of children and his steadfast loyalty-not to mention his wonderful sense of humor. :)

Question: What's the thing/quality you admire most about Hunk?

KittyLynne: You mean I have to pick just one? LOL! Okay, I think the quality I admire the most is his tremendous capacity for love. He truly cares about others...not just his friends, but all of the people he's trying to help. True, it can be argued that he doesn't always display the best judgement in who he chooses to care about (read: Twyla) but to his credit he doesn't let the disappointments make him so bitter and cynical he's unwilling to reach out for love again. :) And his love for children is obvious and limitless... and he's truly a champion for those little ones.

Question: Why did you help in founding HRH?

KittyLynne: Check out my answer in the Hunkateers section!

KittyLynne answers: 'Speed Racer’ was the first anime I remember watching- but at the time, I didn’t know it was ‘anime’.

HRH: Was there something specific that prompted your interest in anime?

KL: I was totally intrigued by the idea of adult storylines done in an animation format...and I was enthralled by the wide variety of stories/genres it encompassed. There’s literally something for everyone!

Also, I’ve always been fascinated by the Japanese culture- it’s so very different from ours!

HRH: What's your current favorite anime movie/series (or both)?

KL: I have three, actually...I’ve become hopelessly addicted to the Rurouni Kenshin, Ceres Celestial Legend and Inuyasha series.

HRH: What's your all-time favorite anime movie/series (or both)?

KL: Oh my...it’s very difficult to pick a favorite, because I’ve enjoyed so many, but if really pressed to decide on an overall fave, I would have to pick Fushigi Yûgi (Mysterious Play). It’s got everything; fantasy, romance, humor, suspense, drama, a bit of ‘horror’, and outstanding characterizations.

Voltron runs a close second though...*grins and waves HRH banner*

Hunk asks: And who's the Hunk-iest anime guy around / Who's the hottest anime babe around? (And what anime series are they from?)

KL: Hunk, my love...you know you’ll always come first in my heart, **bats eyelashes** so I hope you won’t mind that I’m invoking the ‘present company excepted’ rule to answer this!

My choice for the hottest guy (literally and figuratively) would be Tasuki from Fushigi Yûgi (with Sagara Sanosuke from Rurouni Kenshin running a close second).

For the hottest babe, I’d say Hot Ice Hilda from Outlaw Star, and Ceres from Ceres, Celestial Legend.

HRH: What anime character do you relate to or consider yourself most like (and what series are they from)? What is it about him/her that you relate to/consider like you?

KL: I had no idea what to answer for this, so I put the question to my daughter, Princess Autumn. She said that she thought that I was like Miss Kaoru from Rurouni Kenshin, because I’m feisty, caring, stubborn and never give up on anything or anyone I feel is worthwhile, no matter what, and also like Sailor Mercury from Sailor Moon, because I love books and like to analyze things. **grins** Of course, then my husband piped up and said he’d compare me to the new ‘Cutey Honey’...but I don’t think I want to get into what made him say that...*collapses in hysterical laughter*

HRH: Who's your favorite anime hero (and what series are they from)? Why?

KL: I can’t pick just one, because there are many kinds of heroes and heroines in anime...and I’ve liked them all for different reasons.

HRH: Who's your favorite anime villain (and what series are they from)? Why?

KL: This is a tough question, because anime has produced so many memorable villians! I guess I’d have to pick Nakago, from Fushigi Yûgi, because of the outstanding way his characterization is played out. Just when you think he’s a totally cold, conniving, and meglomaniacal creep, you find out the story as to why he is the way he is, and it totally blows your previous concept of him away...

Zarkon from Voltron is a close second. Gotta love a fish faced mutant warlord who loves back scratches and dresses like Louis the XVI! ~_^

HRH: Who's your favorite anime character of all time (and what series are they from) Why?

KL: This is easy... Tasuki, from Fushigi Yûgi. I love everything about him, from his vibrant, larger than life personality to his incredible looks and luscious bod.

**fans self** Ooooh....is it getting really warm in here, or is it just me?

**ahem**

Anyway, Tasuki is a writer’s dream for me ...being he’s both a bandit leader and a celestial warrior, there are tons of scenarios you can write for him- and being the series didn’t touch on the deeper aspects of his personality until the second OVA, it gives me a wonderful opportunity to add even more depth to his character. As a writer, I love that challenge. ^__^* He’s also got several very interesting and entertaining quirks, that seem to fit in well with my warped sense of humor...*grins evilly*

Sagara Sanosuke and Inuyasha run a close second and third. Hmmm...what is it with me and liking bad boys with hearts of gold? Again, I’m sensing a trend here...LOL! ~_^

HRH: Is there any one anime that really made an impact on you? Which anime, and what was the impact?

KL: Fushigi Yûgi, definitely. It was amazing...I was laughing one minute, and crying the next- both in watching the anime, and in reading the manga. No other series has done that to me. It’s also the first series I ever watched where main characters were killed off... *sniffles* It’s so hard to watch at times, and yet...it’s wonderfully done. Masterful storytelling, all of it.

Hiyao Miyazaki’s work strikes a deep chord of emotion in me... he truly knows how to capture the spirit of childhood, and one’s childhood dreams to perfection. ‘Spirited Away’ is a masterpiece.

Ninja Scroll, as violent as it was, left a lasting impression on me.

I haven’t seen Grave of the Fireflies- just excerpts from it- but I hope to watch it in its entirety very soon. When I do, I’m sure I’ll be adding it to the top of the list.

HRH: Do you collect anime stuff? (Like videos, DVD's, toys books, etc.) What kinds of things and from which anime(s)?

KL: Yes, I’ve definitely caught the collecting bug. I have a big assortment of pencil boards from Fushigi Yûgi (14), Rurouni Kenshin (2) Sailor Moon (3) , and one each of Yu Yu Hakusho, Inuyasha, Cutey Honey Flash. I also collect trading cards, figurines, posters, and anything having to do with the Fushigi Yûgi series, and one of its main characters, Tasuki!

The biggest pride and joys of my collection are my two foot tall toy model of Voltron, (complete with detachable lions and assorted weapons) and my slowly expanding collection of Tasuki production cels. As of this date, I have six production cels of him, and one fan art cel! All of them but one are matted and framed. ^___^

HRH: Is writing/drawing a hobby for you, or is it something that you would like to pursue (or are pursuing) professionally?

KL: Drawing is definitely a hobby for me, and I have no plans to pursue it professionally. I constantly strive to improve, but it’s for my own satisfaction and pleasure more than anything.

Writing is both a hobby, and something I’m hoping to pursue professionally. I hope to become a print published romance authoress in the not too distant future.

HRH: Do you have a favorite (published) author? If so, who and what is it that you enjoy about their writing?

KL: Lavyrle Spencer, John Steinbeck, Amy Tan, Mary Stewart, Jon Hassler, Charles Dickens, Nora Roberts, Rebecca Wells, Toni Morrison and Tami Hoag - just to name a few.

I like authors who write protagonists that have obvious and realistic flaws and foibles, but are likeable in spite (or because) of them. I also love descriptive, emotive writing, which is why Mary Stewart, Jon Hassler and Lavyrle Spencer are high on my list. Not only do they write memorable characterizations, they also write outstanding, extremely tactile descriptions of what is going on around those characters.

HRH: Do you have a favorite artist? If so, who and what is it that you enjoy about their artwork?

KL: I honestly can’t pick a single favorite artist...because there are so many different styles and genres of art that I enjoy.

HRH: What's your favorite book or series of books?

KL: For a series favorite, the Xanth series by Piers Anthony, the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling and Mary Stewart’s Merlin series are tied for number one.

For single titles, too many to mention.

HRH: What's your favorite movie?

KL: Oooh...again, how can I pick just one? Okay...how about if I say...anything directed or produced by Rob Reiner, Mel Brooks or Stephen Spielberg? Or anything with Harrison Ford or Katherine Hepburn? But leaves out many others... *sighs* It’s impossible!

Three of my favorite ‘feel good’ movies would be ‘As Good As It Gets’ with Jack Nicholson, ‘My Favorite Year’ with Peter O’Toole, ‘Some Like it Hot’ with Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe, and ‘It Happened One Night’ with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.

Hm, all four of those are romantic comedies...I’m sensing a trend here...^__~

HRH: What's your favorite TV show (non-anime/cartoon)?

KL: For a sitcom, it’s Fraiser... for a drama- ‘Charmed’

HRH: We don't want to pry into anyone's personal/real life, but we'd really love to hear more about you - is there anything you'd like to share with us? We'd love it if you'd tell us a little bit about yourself...

There are lots of things you could tell us about yourself, like...

Are you a student? What are you studying?

KL: I graduated with BA in Psychology from Saint Olaf College, many, many moons ago. I’m mainly a student of life now... as the old saying goes. ~_^

HRH: Outside of anime, what kinds of interests/hobbies do you have?

KL: Besides collecting, writing about and drawing anime, I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, fishing, reading, listening to music, swimming, practicing yoga, volunteering, watching/attending sports events (especially hockey!) and cooking/baking. I also collect penguin figurines! ^___^

HRH: We know that you've written fan fics about the series Voltron, are there any other series that you write fics about?

KL: I’ve written and posted Fushigi Yûgi stories on fanfiction.net, and I also plan to write some Inuyasha and Rurouni Kenshin fics, once I’ve seen a bit more of each series. I also have a Gundam Wing AC fic on the back burner that I intend to finish someday, if it kills me. **grins sheepishly and waves at Turbo**

HRH: Same question as above, as it pertains to fan art.

KL: I’ve drawn and posted art online for Fushigi Yûgi- also have pics still in progress for Inuyasha, Gundam Wing AC, Ceres Celestial Legend, and Rurouni Kenshin.

Hunk: What's your favorite snack/drink to have when you're writing/drawing?

KL: Pocky and Yan Yan are definite favorites; I also like mixed nuts, raisins, Cracker Jack and cheese curds. As for beverages-Diet Coke, Diet Sierra Mist, lime smoothies and flavored coffee/espressos really do it for me...^___^

HRH: What about writing/drawing do you find the most challenging? Why?

KL: The most challenging thing for me is finding the time to do both- because taking care of my family always comes first with me.

HRH: What about writing/drawing do you find the most fun? Why?

KL: Everything about writing is fun. I love every single aspect of it.

In general, I find drawing to be very relaxing, rewarding thing to do. It also gives me a great outlet for creative frustration...I’ve drawn most of my fanart when I’ve had writer’s block.

HRH: Where do you find your inspiration?

KL: In anime and manga of course...and those sexy perfume ads! ~_^

I also draw from my own life experiences...more on that later.

HRH: What was it that made you want to write fanfics and/or draw fanart?

KL: Five years ago, when I was forced to ‘retire’ from my job due to the progression of my Multiple Sclerosis, I desperately needed a creative outlet that was something that I could do at home. I also needed a purpose, something that both fulfilled my need to be productuve and that provided me with a sense of individuality, other than being a wife and a mom. We got a PC, and the Internet, and on a whim I looked up ‘Voltron’ (an obsession of mine from college days in the ‘80’s) on the search engine. Much to my delight, I found a delightful fansite called ‘The Lion’s Keep', hosted by Shannon, a very talented authoress who had written a fantastic series about Keith and Allura, my favorite couple in the series. I wrote to tell her how much I admired her writing and that I’d love to try writing something like that. She wrote back, encouraging me...we started to correspond on a regular basis while I wrote my first fanfic...and the rest, as they say, is history. ^___^

HRH: As a writer, who (or what) influences your work? Why?

KL: Obviously, any of the readers who have given me feedback definitely have some influence on me ...readers are an author’s lifeblood, no question about it. Although I write for personal satisfaction, I also write to please and entertain members of the various anime fandoms out there. Getting reader feedback is helpful and extremely important to me.

My husband also has a huge amount of influence on me. I couldn’t do what I do if I didn’t have his support and encouragement. He’s very straightforward and honest when he reads my work, and gives me very valuable insights into the male pov. He’s also a kick ass collaborator- the entire concept for Pinky, Voltron and the Brain crossover came from him, and he storyboarded the entire plot for me (as he is now doing for the sequel...:D) Above all else, and most importantly, he takes me my fanfiction writing extremely seriously. He understands what I’m trying to accomplish, and gives me the means to go for it.

So who was my biggest influence overall? My late mother, who instilled a love of writing and literature in me at a very early age. A frustrated writer at heart, she was always ‘scribbling’ down stories when she had the chance. Sadly, she never mustered the confidence to submit what she wrote. She died of lung cancer in 1987. I have some of her writing, sketching and poetry notebooks...and I treasure them dearly, for they are the most potent personal reminders I have of her. They also serve as a painfully strong but necessary reminder that I shouldn’t put off pursuing my own dreams.

I should also mention the very special and wonderful literature and English instructors that I’ve taken classes from over the years...I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of them.

HRH: There are so many different writing techniques, maybe you start with an outline, or maybe you just start writing and see where the story goes. Would you tell us a little bit about your writing technique/style?

KL: I’ve written both ways.

None of the short fics I’ve written were outlined...I started with an idea and just went with it.

Pinky, Voltron and the Brain, as I mentioned earlier, was entirely storyboarded from start to finish.

With the long ‘saga’ type fics I’m working on, I always make sure to do an outline for the storyline; where it starts, is going, and how it will end. However, what happens along the way is definitely subject to change. My philosophy when I write a novel length fic is that I need some guidance, or the story could bog down. However, I also believe that too rigid and precise an outline can hinder the flow of creativity and stunt the development of my characters. I don’t like feeling boxed in or feeling like I’m being predictable...I like surprises, whether they be humorous or dramatic, and I think the people that read my stories do too! ^___^

HRH: Likewise, many writers just have characters "appear" - some spend months creating their characters. How do you develop characters?

KL: Well, I have to say that in writing anime fanfiction, the research I do for the established characters mainly consists of watching the series over, and over again, (and/or reading the manga version) until I have such a good sense and grasp of the character’s persona, I don’t have to think twice about how to write them, or how they will react to any given situation. Then I sit down and think about what I could do with them to take them beyond how they were portrayed in the series...for example, if in the series they were fifteen, I try to show how their point of view and attitudes towards certain events might have changed by age twenty five. Life experience is quite a strong change agent when writing any character...

I don’t spend a great deal of time creating original characters for my fanfiction, as I prefer to focus on the characters the fans for that particular series have come to love (or in some cases, loathe! **grins**) In my fanfics, the OC’s serve as plot devices and usually don’t need a fully developed background. I start with a bare bones dossier, and go from there...details get added as the story warrants it.

However, there are a few notable exceptions to this statement, Solanna Fairdale and Caro Jacoa, who are Lance’s and Hunk’s love interests, respectively, in my Voltron epic, Bonds of Love, and Shing, a fifty year old bandit/martial arts instructor who appears in my Fushigi Yûgi epic fic, ‘The Promise’ are some examples of original characters that I have put a lot more thought into, and who have taken on a much larger role in the story than originally intended. ^___^

In my original fiction, however, I spend a great deal of time writing out biographies for my main characters and making up charts to show how they will relate/interact with the supporting characters, and vice versa. Consistency is very crucial in writing a story; since there’s no pre- established canon series or characterizations to aid me, I have to have everything written down so I can refer back to it.

HRH: As an artist, who (or what) influences your work? Why?

KL: Manga artists like Watase Yû and Takahashi Rumiko have obviously had a great deal of influence on me in very recent years, but I’d say that my junior high school art teacher, Miss Fredrickson, had the biggest initial influence on me. She’s the one who taught me about facial and body perspectives, and shading values- all elementary concepts...but so very important.

HRH: Likewise, there are many ways an artist creates. Would you tell us a little bit about your artistic technique?

KL: Sure. It’s very simple-I don’t have one! LOL!

Seriously, my favorite way to draw is with charcoal...or a pencil...or pastels on an artist’s sketch pad. I am not a CGI artist by any stretch of the imagination. My style tends to be a blend of anime and realism...I would like to make the bishies I drew seem like real guys, while retaining ‘the look’ that has endeared them to millions of fangirls...hee hee!

HRH: Does your real life, or do your real life experiences, affect your writing/drawing? How?

KL: Definitely! I draw from my own life experiences in writing events in certain scenes...for example, the sledding scene in ‘A Reason For Giving’ is based on something that happened to me in my youth...**winces in remembered pain**

My relationship with my husband has provided me with plenty of ideas for male/female dialogue! Likewise, with my daughter...talking to her helps me portray a younger character’s mindset.

I haven’t written a fic where I’ve based a characters directly on myself. However, every one of my stories does exhibit a very personal part of me through the characters...my particular brand of humor, my philosophy about love and relationships, a my feelings about sex and motherhood, and trying to make the best of the hand you’ve been dealt.

HRH: If you could offer one piece of advice to new fan fic writers, what would that advice be?

KL: Find a knowledgeable beta reader who isn’t afraid to do a constructive and thorough edit for you-and then let your imagination soar! *^___^*

For me, there’s no greater joy than knowing that Lynne is able to offer us endless hours of enjoyment away from the pressures of Real Life.

I want to thank Lynne for agreeing without hesitation to revise part of my work despite her many obligations, for her endless patience and prodding me to continue writing fanfiction. And for being open to other Anime pairings, I guess Lotor&Allura doesn’t sound half bad does it? ^_~

¡Eres lo máximo, Lynne!

Here’s an excerpt of one of my favorite Lynne’s fics:

Bonds of Love - Chapter Four - Encounters

>>Keith stared at the closed door to the Princess's bedroom, still aching with the aftermath of desire from his encounter with the Princess.

Since he had met Allura, he had spent more time than he should have in indulging himself with fantasies about her and what it would have been like to pursue her if they had been regular people or even students at the Academy. Every time he concocted one of these scenarios, he stopped them by thinking that if he had met her under those circumstances, he would have had to worry about much more than an overprotective nanny, a strict guardian and having one or two other guys flirting with her. Hell, as a cadet, she probably would have had the entire senior class of officers pursuing her once they had got up the nerve!

The fact that she was not only beautiful but also intelligent, hard working, a great pilot, and full of compassion and courage made her the most desirable woman in two galaxies as far as he was concerned. He had been selfishly glad when she showed no interest in any of the overtures she had gotten from royalty on other planets, and it had given him hope when she it very clear to everyone that she wanted to follow her heart in making a good marriage for both herself and Arus.

The first indication of that had been when she had broken all the rules to go after them in Blue Lion to Pidge's doomed home planet, even after they- he- had run out on her. When her pale but smiling face appeared on his monitor, it had been like getting a gift from the heavens. After watching the planet explode, he had wanted to say 'to hell with the rules', and carry her off put a swift and satisfying end to his suffering as soon as they had set foot on Arus. But of course, common sense had prevailed and he had let the moment pass. Her timing had been perfect... but his, as usual, had stunk.

~I have to remember... I must remember that Garrison regulations and protocol forbid my having that kind of relationship with her. ~ He had sworn an officer's oath to uphold the standards of the Garrison and he was a man of his word. Allura would have to remain the unattainable woman. Allura needed his protection and his professional guidance as a Garrison officer and as a captain of the Voltron force. He couldn't fulfill those obligations if he kept mooning over her like this.

His feelings for her were bordering on obsession lately. He couldn't let it continue. One Lotor in her life was bad enough.<<

After reading this, aren’t you captivated with all the promise and passion Lynne brings to her work? -- KittyCaro

I'm really not sure where to start or what I can say. KL is an amazing writer, in my honest opinion. Whether it's her wonderful Voltron stories or when she's branching off into new fields, she always approaches a story with such passion and admiration for the original work, that her work just shines that much more. She's got talent, but more than that, she puts a lot of effort and hard work into developing what she's doing, giving her pieces that extra something that keeps readers such as myself coming back for more.

More than that, KL is just a wonderful person! She's an amazing creator, and a great person to just start up a conversation with. She's one of the reasons the VIC is what it is today, in my view. She contributes so much, not only in her stories, but by helping other people out with words of encouragement and by just communicating with them. Wonderful. KL is simply wonderful. -- Turbo

I will be forever grateful to the Kitty Known As Lynne being the first to show me that the Voltron Force can be tactically maneuvered into a shameless display of bowties, gorgeous pecs and wiggling buns. When I first read that story, I promptly shared it with my sister. It was well forwarded among we who appreciate Voltron in this corner of the world where another mecha series reigns supreme.

In this persona, STILL MANY of her stories take on everything from slapstick sillies, gameshow spoofs and embarrasing situations to suggestive saxophone music and beefcake stuff. And definitely nobody's complaining, because we are always on the edge to know what's the next thing she'll come up with! -- Neogorbash

One of the things that I admire the most about your writing is that you continually work to become better and, because of that, your talents have grown beyond measure. You have a way of drawing the reader into your story, an ability to captivate the audience and make them part of the world you’ve created. You make the reader feel - you make them laugh and cry along with the characters, your readers feel the joys and the heartbreaks that you’ve woven into your tale. In my humble opinion, the ability to evoke emotion is the mark of a master storyteller.

Your artwork is lovely - the characters easily recognizable, although they’ve taken on a style that isn’t completely anime - the influence of anime remains, but the characters have become more realistic looking. And your use of color is wonderful!

Before I close, I just want to tell you how much I admire you as a person. Your kindness and generosity astounds me - you have such a gentle soul. And yet, your strength is immeasurable. When facing your mountains, you don’t stop, you start climbing. I am so blessed to have you as a friend - you mean the world to me and I can’t tell you how proud of you I am - or how proud I am to be your friend. **smiles broadly** -- KittyShan

My favorite Kitty Lynne Voltron story has to be Pinky and the Brain, (narf! zort!) followed by Bonds of Love. For non-Voltron fanfiction, it's 'The Promise: A Tasuki and Miaka Love Story'.

Overall, I would say Kitty Lynne is a purr-fectly tantalizing writer who always keeps my ears perked up, and my tail wagging ! (High fives and cackles along with the Mad Punster)

Looking forward to more Kitty Lynne treats. -- WildBlade (aka The Bandit)

“I’M COMIN’ UP TO GET YA, PRINCESS!” He yelled, after strapping himself into the harness and throwing rappelling rope over his shoulder. Heaving himself into the tube, he started to climb as quickly as his tenuous toe hold on the rungs would permit. Every few feet he stopped and looked up into the darkened chamber, concerned that he wasn’t yet able to discern the exact location of the shadowy figure dangling above his head. ~She’s higher up than I thought. Wish I could see where she is and how she’s doing.~

Just then golden hair caught the faint light from the chute’s entrance, glinting like a beacon and guiding him to his target and Hunk smiled in relieved appreciation at the sight, before continuing to climb.

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