Children in Caffrey Conversation

Do you remember the White Collar episodes featuring children? Neal connected with them more easily. Peter often looked distinctly uncomfortable at first, and then eventually made a connection of his own.

Introducing children into stories helps us see a softer side of our characters. Scenes with little kids can be an acquired taste, both as a writer and as a reader. I like to think that it's an area where Silbrith and I have both grown, and now we want to celebrate the kids who stole our hearts.

Six-Crossed Knot: Backdrop to Adrift

Adrift is the sixth story in Six-Crossed Knot, a series based on the All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. The story takes place in August of 1591, roughly two months after Diana and Matthew returned to the twenty-first century.

Klaus at the Crossroads

When I think of master art thief Klaus Mansfeld as The Musicians comes to an end, the song "Where Do We Go from Here?" from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire-Slayer begins playing in my head. At the end of the story, Klaus is led away in handcuffs after having spent the past several days in intense soul-searching. Ever since The Woman in Blue, Klaus has been driven by the desire to have Neal become a member of his crew once more. But this past week he decided the price he was forcing Neal to pay was too high. As police stormed the castle, he was attempting to help Neal escape.

Not another story about straight white men - Part 3

This week we're highlighting the LGBTQ characters in our stories, and reflecting on where we want to go next to improve representation in our stories.

Let's start with our canon couple: Diana and Christie.

When an Asset Becomes a Vulnerability

One of Henry's most admirable traits is his sense of responsibility when it comes to Neal. His selfless devotion has caused him to make numerous sacrifices. Henry switched universities and put his own career on hold in order to spend time with Neal. When Neal was recruited by the FBI, Henry made it his business to ensure that Peter was up to Henry's exacting standards. Although Henry lived in a different city, he continued to keep a close eye on Neal. In the spring of 2004, Henry took a leave from absence at his company to help Neal through an emotional crisis (Caffrey Flashback). Whether it's Adler or the Mansfelds, Henry's ready to suit up and go into battle at a moment's notice. Now that he lives in New York, Henry can keep even closer tabs.

Not another story about straight white men - Part 2

Last week I said I'd highlight our female and LGBTQ characters this week. Having taken a breath and thought about it, I've decided to split those into multiple posts. This week, following on the heels of International Women's Day, we'll celebrate some of the women in our fanfic. Then next week we can make LGBTQ the sole focus and give that topic the attention it deserves.

So, to kick off this post, have you heard of the Bechdel test?

Sara and Mozzie: An Evolving Friendship

In The Musicians, Sara and Mozzie's friendship takes a gigantic leap forward. Mozzie's change of attitude is the most dramatic difference. Initially, Mozzie viewed Sara with suspicion. He, as well as many readers, couldn't understand why she'd want to date Bryan McKenzie rather than Neal. Since then, her stock has been on a gradual upward trajectory, leading to the current warm relations. Elizabeth and Henry need to take the lion's share of the credit for turning the situation around.

Not another story about straight white men - Part 1

In a prior post I said that when I published my first fanfic, I'd been reading several articles about the need for more inclusiveness in fanfic. At the time I was both eager to feature diverse characters and fearful of getting it wrong. During the latest round of the AO3 Chocolate Box exchange, I noticed that once again, many of the prompts that jumped out at me as "I can write that" were from fandoms for TV shows or movies featuring straight, white, male main characters.

In addition to convincing me to request and offer in more diverse fandoms next year, the experience also led me to reflect on how the Caffrey Conversation AU has grown, with an increasingly more diverse cast. I'd like to celebrate those characters.