I was born November 28, 1973 in Altus, Oklahoma at Altus Air Force Base. I have two brothers, one older by nine years, and a little sister and brother who are twins that are two years younger. My father was a Master Sergeant, and my mother was a homemaker (until later years when she became an accountant). When I was two years old we moved to Brandywine, Maryland, where we lived until I was four. My father was nearing retirement when he was offered an assignment to go to Japan for four years, which he was promised that by the time the tour was over he would come back to the states as a Senior Master Sergeant.
My parents were left with two choices: move everyone to Japan for four years, or my dad go alone. With three very young children they decided against the move, and my parents didn't want to be separated for four years so he passed on it. Being a Power Man he was given a choice of where he wanted to spend the rest of his tour. He opted for Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City since my mother's family lived there. That is where we've remain ever since.
I didn't begin to start writing until I was out of college (which is not to indicate I graduated). Before I began writing, I was, and still consider myself first and foremost an actor. I've done many plays over the years, including some television. I've also performed as a singer in nightclubs around the city, which I no longer do on a regular basis.
As for my love of Star Trek I've been addicted ever since I was a child. I remember watching Star Trek: The Next Generation and thinking that one day I wanted to do that. (I am still pursuing an acting career so anything's possible right?) My older brother Preston was the person responsible for getting me addicted to science fiction, especially Star Trek.
Out of all four incarnations of the show that began in the 1960's, I have to say that Voyager is my favorite. Before when both STTNG and DS9 was on the air, I watched them every week but never had a favorite character. I enjoyed all of them. When Voyager began I was intrigued by the show's premise, but wasn't impressed with the level of writing that I had seen on the last two previous incarnations.
Over time the story lines got better and the actors became more comfortable with their characters. I was watching this particular Voyager episode (that I can't remember the name of) and in it, Janeway, Chakotay, and the rest of the bridge crew were at their stations. They were being attacked by some race, and I remember thinking, "If I was in charge I would have fired back instead of trying to keep hailing them." Then it happened. The words that I had waited four shows to hear. Janeway turned to Tuvok and said. "I don't have time for this. Target their weapons array." That was when I said to myself. "I like this woman!" And I've been a Janeway fan ever since.
I don't think I would have ever thought of Janeway and Chakotay in any kind of romantic relationship until "Resolutions". It was in that episode that I really began to consider the idea, and as time went on, more receptive to it. It still makes me mad to this day that if they had no intention of exploring that relationship, then why put the idea in our heads? Why give us the impression that those two characters intended to explore a romantic relationship? I can remember reading an article written in Voyager's third season quoting Kate Mulgrew as saying, "I would like to see the Janeway-Chakotay relationship go further, much further." I thought great! At least one of the actors was interested in seeing that relationship explored, but it never happened.
Then this year in Voyager's sixth season, Kate Mulgrew was asked that same question again and she replies. "We've missed that dance. If the producers really wanted to explore that relationship it would have been done earlier. Frankly I think the sexual tension between the two characters is more stimulating than seeing them jump in bed together."
Now that she is married in real life, she wanted to explore the romantic aspect of Janeway. At first she had no idea what the writers and producers had in mind in the way of a romantic interest for her character, but when she did learn about it she said. "Has Janeway become so desperate that she can't have a real man?" I know many of us agreed with that statement. Then later she would say, " Janeway's relationship with a hologram reflects the way society seems to be heading. With all the cyber romances, and people meeting each other through the Internet, why wouldn't it be appropriate for Janeway to become involved with a hologram?"
I had a big problem with that statement for one major reason. Yes it may be true that more and more people are finding romance through the Internet (I happen to know several people who have), but at least the person on the other side is a living breathing individual and not a computer program. I don't fault Ms. Mulgrew for her logic on the subject, but I really would have loved the chance to ask her first hand how she arrived to that particular conclusion.
It's a shame that the romance between those two characters wasn't explored, and very likely never will be as far as the television series and books go. But for all of the fans who express their love of J/C though stories, art, and poetry; and will continue to do so long after the Voyager series has been put to bed. I'm pleased to know I'm not alone, that there are fans out there who share their love of J/C with others, and I'm proud to be apart of such exalted company.
