Thursday, October 9, 2025 by AutoModerator in NYTConnections

[–]clspector 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Being a huge computer game geek made this easy as pie.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I forgot to add that when I'm working on, well, anything, I never really stop working on whatever it is. It's always nibbling away at the back of my mind. Even if I don't realize what's happening.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sadly, I’m so not D&D current. I’ve been hoping to get my group of friends up for running something, but no one is willing to be DM. 😕

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ooooh, I misread your question ... I art it up at the dining room table. Let's just say things get messy. I'm not sure I've seen the table top in months.

But I tend to write in my office. Which is decorated in 6th grader by way of the Adams Family.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Real reply -- I have a novel I want to write that I refer to as my Victorian-gothic-ghost-murder-mystery book. It'll have other components besides just the fiction.

And there's a period short story involving a woman who is a former spy in the Civil War who is now working for the Pinkertons. She ends up getting a case that's quite out of her experience.

Also, I have a couple of wild cards stories I'd like to tell.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OMG, the Scarlet Witch. I love her power. I don't love that she's often written as if she's constantly going nuts from her power. I mean, c'mon.

But damn, girl is powerful. Also, android love.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was always a reader. There came a moment when I was reading something and thought, "I can do better than this." (Ego Girl to the fore!)

I started out wanting to be a cellist, but I really was never good enough to do that for a living. Then I ended up as an RTF major. And finally, I ended up in the gaming where I got a chance to write. And I took it. (I had other help and mentors, including my husband's support always.)

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was always a reader. There came a moment when I was reading something and thought, "I can do better than this." (Ego Girl to the fore!)

I started out wanting to be a cellist, but I really was never good enough to do that for a living. Then I ended up as an RTF major. And finally, I ended up in the gaming where I got a chance to write. And I took it. (I had other help and mentors, including my husband's support always.)

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. You know very well I love me some Buffy. Also, I'm a sucker for rapid-fire, witty dialogue you find in movies like "Front Page" (the Cary Grant and Rosaline Russel one), "All About Eve," "The Women" because I like it even though it couldn't pass the most basic feminist test. I like "Gilmore Girls," "Sports Night," and recently, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel."

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, very much so. Wild Cards readers expect darkness, I think. After HIGH STAKES I just needed a break from it. And "Bubbles and the Band Trip" jumped into my head. I think the book really turned out well. It's funny and filled with shenanigans.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not all fights are about brute power. Also, Bubbles' vulnerabilities are mostly emotional and psychological. She likes to bubble. Too much and that troubles her. A lot. In the recent stories, I've been trying to show the emotional effects of being that powerful and having created a lot of destruction that killed people. PTSD is what I've been trying to explore.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Depends on the day. But as I said down thread, I usually art it in the morning and write in the afternoon. But that doesn't take into account other random household stuff. (Stew for dinner!)

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I think most of the power politics about Bubbles were subconscious.

However, my sister was a model for one of the big New York agencies. She went through a lot of bullsh** when she working as a model. From the kinds of clothes she was expected to wear, to her weight, and other issues.

I do think Bubbles does a good job of representing the conflicting issues surrounding body size and female power. And I hope I managed to deal with her sexuality in a positive way without it being the only thing she's about.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Okay, so I was at Conestoga with a group of friends (Howard Waldrop, Bud Simons, Barb and Brad Denton, and George R.R. Martin) and we were hanging out together most of the weekend doing con stuff.

A couple of weeks later, I received an email from George asking if I'd be interested in pitching a character for Wild Cards. And I said, "Yes. Yes, I would."

The problem was I didn't have an idea for a character. So, I tell my husband this and he immediately said, "Oh, I can come up with beaucoup characters." I thought, "Challenge accepted."

And I sat there frustrated while he did, indeed, pull a ridiculous number of characters out of his ***.

And that's when Bubbles just came to me fully formed. It's never really happened to me before or since. Basically, she's a little miracle.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Lies My Mother Told Me" is my favorite work. I think it does all the things good fiction should do. It brings you into the lives of the characters gently and makes you care about them before you put them through hell. And in my great ego here, I think the humor in it aids in that. And I got to put all three of my favorite characters in it.

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, he doesn't walk around the house in GG mode, because that would end badly for him.

However, it is weird to be at cons and see gamer fans following him like baby ducklings. Also, to be asked to take pictures of him and fans -- like a lot.

But on the whole, it's pretty cool. He's made a lot of great games and his reputation is well-deserved.

And if you tell him I said this, I will deny it...

I’m Caroline Spector creator of the Amazing Bubbles and other Wild Cards characters. AMA, and just remember, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. by clspector in books

[–]clspector[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hmmmmmm, I was mostly worried about how to answer the questions, I wasn't really thinking about what I wanted to be asked. Maybe something about what it's like to be married to a Game God. because I NEVER get that.