GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Sheep Interview: Nancy Holzner + give away | I Smell Sheep

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Sheep Interview: Nancy Holzner + give away

Play Nancy's theme music while you read
It is a great day for the flock. We have yet another of my favorite urban fantasy authors here today! Nancy Holzner writes the Deadtown series and the fourth book Darklands just released. Everything you love about urban fantasy can be found in this series, especially unique world building.

Sharon: Hello Nancy! We finally got you here…and we just want you to know, no matter what you have heard about our interviewing tactics we were never convicted *kicks duct tape under couch*
Katie: *nervous laugh*
Nancy: I'm glad to learn the truth. *stealthily slips dagger back into sheath*
Sharon: *note to self…install metal detector at the door*
Sharon: For those who don’t know about your urban fantasy series Deadtown, can you tell us a little about it?
Nancy: My Deadtown series follows the adventures of Victory Vaughn, a shapeshifter who kills other people's personal demons for a living. Vicky lives in Deadtown, Boston's paranormal-only district that was formed after a mysterious plague swept through the downtown and transformed two thousand Bostonians into zombies. The series looks at tensions between the human and paranormal populations, in the context of a crazy demi-demon whose ambition is to lead the legions of Hell beyond its boundaries to rule the other realms. In the middle of all that, Vicky is dealing with her werewolf lawyer boyfriend, a teenage zombie apprentice, a sister who wishes for nothing more than a normal suburban life, and a 300-year-old aunt who can kick any demon's butt.
Sharon: Don’t forget Vicki also has a snarky sense of humor and a vampire roommate that quotes Shakespeare…



Sharon: The 4th book in your Deadtown series, Darklands, just came out a few days ago. Did you send Vicki to hell?
Nancy: I try to send her through hell in every book. <G> In Darklands, Vicky travels to my version of Annwn, the Welsh realm of the dead. In my world, the Darklands are separate from hell (or Uffern), which is where the demons hang out.

Sharon: Why the use of Welsh legends and myths for your series?

Nancy: I love the stories. When I was developing characters for the first book, I wanted my protagonist to be a different kind of shapeshifter, one who wasn't restricted to a specific animal. I remembered the story of Ceridwen and Gwion Bach from The Mabinogi, a medieval collection of Welsh myths and legends. (It's kind of like the shapeshifting battle between Merlin and Madam Mim in the old Disney film The Sword in the Stone, if anyone remembers that.) The mythology provided very rich background material for an urban fantasy, and I moved forward from there.

Plus I used to teach a course in Arthurian legend, which is rooted in Welsh mythology, and I just love that stuff!

Katie: Do you watch any zombie shows like The Walking Dead?
Nancy: I don't actually watch TV. It's one of the ways I steal time to write. But if I did, I'd absolutely watch that show.

Katie: Don't watch TV? *passes out*
Sharon: Don’t worry Nancy, she does this all the time *waves scent’o mandcandy under Katie’s nose*

Sharon: There have been a lot of Superhero movies out lately. Who do you think has the coolest costume?
Katie: *cough* Wolverine *cough*
Nancy: Just off the top of my head, without any undue influence or anything, I'd say Wolverine. Of course, Iron Man's costume is amazingly cool, too. It flies and shoots rays and is amazingly strong—and he made it himself.
Sharon: Hey! No fair subliminally suggesting *cough* Thor *cough* to our guest!
Katie: I had something in my throat! *cough* Wolverine kicks Thor's butt *cough* It's allergy season mmkay?
Nancy: I think I'll go with Iron Man, after all.

Sharon: Will we ever know what caused the plague that zombiefied Boston? Sounds like a great opportunity to write a short story or novella…just saying…
Nancy: I'm hoping to write a prequel about Boston's zombie plague in the next few months. If I do I'll publish it independently, along with some short stories set in Deadtown's world. The book will be called Tales from Deadtown, I've started a Kickstarter project to raise funding for it.

Sharon: Your bio says you were a medievalist…WTH is that?
Nancy: Somebody who gets paid to read really, really old books. <G> I used to have a card that let me into the manuscript room at the British Library—I could request a 600- or 700-year-old manuscript and a librarian would bring it to me to play with. *sigh* Happy days.

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2009/06/08/smell-of-books-sprays-are-just-the-thing-for-those-sterile-ebooks/
Sharon: Oh…I was thinking they played with all those torture devices like racks, thumb screws and maidens…ever spill ice cream on one of the old books like Vicki does in Darkland?
Nancy: If I had, that's when the librarians would get out the racks and thumb screws...

Katie: And as someone who is into medieval times how many hot highlander men do you know? And are any of them single?
Nancy: I don't know any personally, but I've been saving up to open a Men in Kilts window-washing franchise.

Sharon: O_O that business actually exists…Katie is going to freak!
Katie: Oh. My. God. *passes out again*

Sharon: You are a self-confessed Opera nerd…what is it that draws you to Opera? And do you ever sing opera in your shower? Don’t worry the Flock doesn’t judge…much…
Nancy: Opera is all about emotion—passion, anger, doubt, joy, love, grief. I listen because it moves me. I can't listen to the final duet in Rigoletto, for example, without weeping like a teenager whose prom date stood her up. (And that's despite (a) Rigoletto's silly plot and (b) the fact that I've heard it approximately a zillion and three times.) The way a singer's voice can soar out over the orchestra and be heard four stories up in the nosebleed seats astonishes me, as do the expression and musicality that goes into their singing.
Do I sing along? Only when I'm driving. Alone. With the windows rolled up. And then I tend to sing with the baritones. (You wouldn't want to hear me go for a high C.)
Sharon: Since you have written about a small zombie apocalypse you’ve probably already thought about this, but which fictional character would you like to have your back if a big apocalypse happened?
Nancy: Richard Kadrey's Sandman Slim. He really knows how to kick undead ass. Living ass, too, come to think of it.

Sharon: If every time you entered a room a theme song/music played, what would yours be?
Nancy: It's totally inappropriate, but as soon as you asked the question Darth Vader's theme, the Imperial March by John Williams, started playing in my head. I like to think I'm more of a love theme from Tosca kind of girl.
Sharon: hmmm…which will I use for you? Opera love song or bad ass Vader song…hmmm


Katie: If you could meet anyone from past or present, fictional or otherwise, who would it be and why?

Sharon: Nancy, you didn't answer Katie’s question here.
Katie: Maybe she didn't want to! Gawd so mean Sharon! *throws shoe at Sharon*
Nancy: Oops, sorry—just overlooked it. It's a good question, Katie. And I'm glad you dodged the shoe, Sharon. So anyway, let's see... I spent some time considering both literary and historical figures, but I decided to go with a personal one. My paternal grandmother: Doris Sugden Brown. She died before I was born, and she's the only one of my grandparents I didn't know. I'd like to have a conversation with her.


Sharon: What can readers look forward to from you in the near future?
Nancy: Right now, I'm writing Deadtown 5 (working title Hellhound), and that will be out next year. And I'm hoping to write the prequel and stories for Tales from Deadtown by the end of this year.
Sharon: Hellhound, that wouldn’t have anything to do with how Darkland ends and Vicki’s love life would it <G>?
Nancy: Maaaaaaaybe...


Time for our Rapid Fire round! Grab onto your flaming sword and get ready to slay some questions!


Sharon: chalk board or white board?
Nancy: I'm old school—chalk board. (I somehow think I look less silly with a dusting of chalk than a smear of bright blue ink on my chin.)
Katie: Lucky Charms or Fruity Pebbles?
Nancy: Lucky Charms, and then only the marshmallows. It's what I grew up on.
Sharon: *grabs box of Lucky Charms and hands to Nancy*


Sharon: glasses or spectacles?
Nancy: I actually say, "Glasses," but I rather like the sound of "spectacles." It's that old-school thing again.

Sharon: dog hair or fur balls?
Nancy: I miss my last dog, a border collie, excessively shedding hair and all.

Katie: Gold or Silver?
Nancy: Gold.

Sharon: Pacific or Atlantic?
Nancy: Atlantic. I'm a total New Englander.
Sharon: Woot! East Coast baby!

Katie: Coke or Pepsi?
Nancy: Diet Coke. But my husband prefers Diet Pepsi, so together we keep the universe in balance. Sharon: *sigh* guess we interviewed the wrong Holzner…
Katie: HA! HA! Don't hate! Coke wins yet again!

you didn't really think I would post male strippers?!
Katie: Male Strippers or …wait there is no other choice here. hahaha. My bad.
Nancy: Well, then I'll have to go with male strippers. Maybe they can be wearing kilts when they come onstage...
Katie: *Passes out yet again*
*Sharon steps over Katie while pulling out a wad of $10 bills*

Sharon: shoot to kill or shoot to wound
Nancy: Despite the amount of action in my books, I prefer peaceful negotiation and consensus to violent conflict. Honest. (At least, that's what I tell my mother-in-law, who's a Quaker.)
Sharon: smart move...I'm not a Quaker, but I do like oatmeal...

*Katie peacefully negotiates a pillow at Sharon for being a dork*

Katie: Fried or Baked?
Nancy: Fried. Yum.

Sharon: in the woods or in the house?
Nancy: It's too hot outside. I'll stay in the house.

Katie: "I ain't got time to bleed" or "I'm your Huckleberry"?
Nancy: I loved Val Kilmer in Tombstone, but "I ain't got time to bleed" is one of the best lines ever.


Sharon: tape or staples?
Nancy: Tape. Specifically duct tape. I found this roll under the couch, by the way.
Sharon: *takes duct tape* hahaha..ha..ha…
Katie: *Passes out one last time for the heck of it*



We would like to thank Nancy for stopping by! Now you can check out the give away while I take Katie to the ER to check for a concussion...

Make sure you check out my 5 Sheep review of Darkland!





Nancy Holzner

Nancy Holzner grew up in western Massachusetts with her nose stuck in a book. This meant that she tended to walk into things, wore glasses before she was out of elementary school, and forced her parents to institute a “no reading at the dinner table” rule. It was probably inevitable that she majored in English in college and then, because there were still a lot of books she wanted to read, continued her studies long enough to earn a masters degree and a PhD.

She began her career as a medievalist, then jumped off the tenure track to try some other things. Besides teaching English and philosophy, she’s worked as a technical writer, freelance editor and instructional designer, college admissions counselor, and corporate trainer. Most of her nonfiction books are published under the name Nancy Conner.

Nancy lives in upstate New York with her husband Steve, where they both work from home without getting on each other’s nerves. She enjoys visiting local wineries and listening obsessively to opera. There are still a lot of books she wants to read.




***GIVE AWAY***
Nancy has generously offered a coffee mug featuring all 4 Deadtown covers! AND a signed copy of the winner's choice from her series. AND it is International!
AND you will get some Team Sheep Swag.

To Enter:
1.Fill out Raffle Dude
2. If you had a date with a superhero...would you want him to wear his super outfit or not? and who would it be?
*double entry for followers
a Rafflecopter giveaway

86 comments:

  1. hum i would think Batman and no special outfit so he could invite me in big restaurant and special place

    ^^ yes i want to be pampered for once


    thank you a lot for the international giveaway

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    1. yes you do deserve some pampering! and because of that...you get to have two superheroes on your date! (except Thor...he is mine!)

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    2. Makes total sense to me, Miki. Might as well choose a superhero boyfriend who can afford the finer things AND knows how to dress when not in costume.

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  2. I would go with Superman but no outfit in the restaurant.

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    1. well, what about when you get home...winkywinky...

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    2. Smart move, Debby. (Sharon, do you have something in your eye?)

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  3. Love this interview! It smacks of awesomeness.

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    1. lol, thanks...Nancy smacks of awesomeness so it made it pretty easy :)

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    2. Aw, thanks! *blushes* Sharon and Katie do THE BEST interviews. I never laughed so hard reading interview questions before.

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  4. ladies.. wth with the duct tape???

    hmm, let's see.. is bumblebee qualified? no?? oh well.. any superheroes without costume please. and we'll take bumblebee too ;)

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    1. Yeah, really, I was wondering that myself. I agree on the no-costumes policy. Your date should leave work behind and focus on you.

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    2. they wouldn't tell.. that duct tape been showing up quite often lately..

      ps, follower here :D i forgot to mention

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  5. I wouldn't want him to wear his super outfit (oh my! I guess that means he isn't wearing anything ;P) and it would be Superman, he seems to be quite the popular choice.

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    1. I think you're safe on the public nudity issue if you choose Superman/Clark Kent. :)

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  6. Nah I wouldn't want a superhero date to wear his suit cause I'm all for privacy.

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    1. I agree. And a secret identity isn't all that secret if your superhero boyfriend insists on wearing his costume all the time.

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  7. If I had a date with a super, I'd want her in civvies.. I wouldn't want the evening ruined by all the autograph hounds.

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  8. I would love a date with Spiderman. He's my absolute favorite. And it would be private so he could wear his costume without the mask.

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    1. That's a good solution to the low-profile issue! ;)

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  9. A date with Doctor Steven Strange! That's be awesome. My favorite "superhero" for all that he's Sorcerer Supreme (most of the time) and merely hangs out with the more main stream heros people not into comics know about. He looks great in his outfit(s), but I have to say he's a fancy man too and I love him in his plain clothes!

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    1. I have to admit I'm less familiar with this character, but you make him sound great.

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    2. I think Marvel has a movie in the works for him, though they did an animated one not long ago. That might lift him into the realm of common knowledge. He works with the Avengers on occasion, but I doubt they'll throw him in the sequel. Captain America made an appearance in the latest Defenders series fussing him out for not being at the beck and call of the Avengers, though. lol

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  10. Replies
    1. And of course, once he's put on the tux, he'll have to take you out to an appropriate venue...

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  11. Does the Doctor count as a hero?? Cause I'd love to see what he does with his sonic screwdriver, lol! (And it would have to be David Tennant. Like Matt Smith, but he's no David Tennant.)

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    1. He totally counts as far as I'm concerned, Rebe. And after reading your comment about the sonic screwdriver, I've decided to join Katie in passing out. :)

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  12. Definitely civilian clothes, if only for the privacy. But, only one? There are so many: Aquaman, Green Arrow, Bishop, Gambit, Wolverine, are just a few that come to mind.

    Great interview, lots of fun. Thanks!

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    1. I like the way you think, Bea! *passes out again*

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  13. Awesome post! I loved it. Thanks:)
    Also, thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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    1. Thanks, Natasha! I love reading the interviews on this site. And it was almost too much fun to get to participate!

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  14. I would like a date with Spiderman, in street clothes!
    He could wear his outfit for me later in the evening...
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  15. Oh, almost forgot my hero...
    Captin America or Thor;) I'd love to wine and dine with Loki, but he's a villian.. lol

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    1. Go for it. Bad boys can be fun, too!

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  16. I think I'm gonna go with Batman, like the Dark Knight Batman, and I'll definitely take him without the outfit.

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    1. It's not easy to look deep into your date's eyes when he's wearing a mask!

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  17. I'm going with Wolverine... and since he only wears a "costume" when he absolutely has to, I'm thinking he could leave it at home. *grin*

    Oh. Oh my.

    Just had visions of him showing up naked at my door. Okay, he'll have to wear clothes on our date. At least for the out in public portion...

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    1. I think these comments have made me pass out more times than Katie did in the interview. I Smell Sheep readers have very vivid imaginations! *grin*

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  18. Great interview! My curiousity is piqued and I had to order the first book.

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    1. Oh, and Thor would be my top choice of superhero. I like the plaid shirt and jeans he wore while marooned on Earth.... sigh.

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    2. Thanks so much, Dani! I really hope you'll like it. (And Thor is definitely a good choice...)

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  19. Oh that's easy...Superman. And heck no I wouldn't want him wearing anything..I want to see him in his naked glory. lol

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    1. LOL Mary! There seem to be an awful lot of naked superheroes hanging around this blog!

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  20. Replies
    1. I'm definitely a dog person. I had a lot of fun last weekend visiting my daughter's puppy for the first time.

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  21. hmmm superhero... I think I would want him to wear the outfit... it can be fun and definitely SUperman

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    1. So much depends on the plans for the date. (I think a lot of your readers are planning visits to nudist resorts with their superheroes.)

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  22. Oh I am definitely going with Thor, especially if he looks like the dude from Adventures in Baby Sitting, and I will tell you right now we are not leaving the house without the hammer no-sir-ee! I am just so happy right now, fun mental fantasy going on, and interview with one of my fave series' author, time for a cuppa and cake! I am so looking forward to the next installment in the Deadtown adventure, congratulations on the new release, and I absolutely cannot wait for the prequel and stories of Deadtown: awesome idea.

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    1. "I will tell you right now we are not leaving the house without the hammer no-sir-ee!" That cracked me up, Denise.

      And thanks so much for following my series! I'm definitely excited about the prequel idea. Even if my Kickstarter doesn't get funded (not looking too hopeful right now), I'll make a point of squeezing TALES FROM DEADTOWN into my schedule when I can.

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  23. I'd pick Superman and I wouldn't want him to wear his outfit.

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    1. He seems very popular here today. :)

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  24. Ok I have 2! I would love a double date with The Dark Knight and Jason Blood. Yeah, you got me :) Comic book geek. I love the complexity of both of their characters and the darkness wrapped up with good intentions. I like my heroes a little dark. And oh yeas please! They would have to be in uniform. Maybe I could play out the whole damsel in distress and need them to rescue me and then...I get to peel off the suit!! lol!! Great question and giveaway!

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    1. Wow, Nikki, you've got an AMAZING story started there...

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  25. No I Wouldnt Want Him To Have His Super Suit On Its A Date Not A Popularity Contest And I Would Choose Superman, Spiderman, Wolverine Or The Dark Knight.

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    1. You could be like Bea and just choose them all. ;)

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  26. Y'all need to step BACK from Thor...he is MINE! and what is that not wearing the costume mess? I want him dressed head to toe in all his Thor-ness. Hammer and all ;)
    thanks for stopping by Nancy, and yeah, it is always like this around here...probably worse on in the FB group

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  27. Hmm...ever since the film came out I have been craving some Thor goodness - and it would have to be in the full outfit. He can hammer me all night! (Am I allowed to get away with that??!) I don't care who else choose him - he's mine! I could stare at him all evening and be perfectly happy... :-)

    Mel S

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  28. Thor would be my pick. I don't care if he wears his outfit or not. The guy is good-looking!

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  29. Lordy lordy the men;) Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

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  30. Another great interview ladies!! I would have to go with Wolverine *girly sigh*, no need for any costume, nor would we really need the dinner & a movie *wink wink* ~ although, he can certainly bring out those claws and get a little creative, if he feels like it...heh! (OK, I need a napkin for the drool now that the image of a half-naked Hugh, some whipped cream, a bowl of strawberries, and some chocolate syrup is stuck in my head ~ man, I gotta get a love-life!) Thanks for another awesome giveaway!!

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  31. I would prefer that he didn't wear his superhero outfit and I'm going to have to go with Captain America.

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  32. If I had a date with a superhero...I would want him to wear his super outfit and he would be Thor. He looks good in anything. :D

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  33. I was always a fan of Batman, and he can wear whatever he wants ;)

    Kassandra
    sionedkla@gmail.com

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  34. Wearing the outfit.. umm mhmmm yes indeed.. and right now since I just watched Blade I would say Blade.. ya .. and keep the coat on... yes please... after that.. give me Thor!

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  35. If I had a date with a superhero ... it would have to be Wolverine (Hugh Jackman had a lot of influence on my choice) & I don't think he has a specific superhero outfit. He looks superyummy no matter what he's wearing!

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  36. I love that Sharon KNEW to rub essence of man under my nose. lol Does the trick every time!

    So much funning chatting with Nancy. I hope everyone checks out all the fun this lady has going on. :)

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  37. I'd go Batman- super rich and hot. He can leave the silly cape at home.

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  38. I would say Batman, and I wouldn't want him to wear his outfit...

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  39. Batman too.. but I don't like him to wear his outfit.. I'm just curious of how he really looks without it.. plus he's rich..:D

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  40. No outfit, a nice suit will do well. And I think Batman.

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  41. I think it would be more fun if he was igcognito - and I would pick Thor.

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  42. KATIE!!!! help me defend Thor!!!!! *swings Thor hammer Katie got me for my birthday*

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    1. Wait. If I help you defend him then I have to share him. Heck no sista you on your own! lol

      Plus I want Gambit anyway ;)

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  43. What an awesome interview! I love it.
    On my date with Thor he is not going to wear his Ironman suit! I want something I can hug, and that Iron is way too hard. Of course he can fly me of to somewhere remote and romantic, and then strip out of it ...

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  44. I agree with Donnas, No outfit would be very nice, but a nice suit would be great, preferably a dark grey athletic cut one with slightly wide labels. I would completely go with Batman. I think the fact that he is a normal person is what made my mind up.

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  45. no outfit please because I would ask Wolverine out. :-) He is my favorite superhero though he would probably kill me if I said that to his face. *grins*

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  46. Not entering, just answering the cool question :)
    as for the Hero I'd hae a toss up between Grifter (I'd prefer he wear his normal street clothes), Warblade (Same with the street clothes) and Cannon, I'm all for his armor, but I don't think may places would serve us

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  47. Thor counts?? I'd prefer he wears his outfit, so anyone can see he's with me, grabbing my hand and making me laugh! :) <3

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  48. Iron Man but the mask/helmet would get in the way so no costume.

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  49. I don't know... Superheroes all have such horrible emotional problems. All their parents are dead, or they're millionaire playboys, or they spend more time saving the world than they do with their girlfriends. It's just so HARD dating a superhero! I think I'd much rather date a villain - they have time for the romantic stuff! Let's say, Dr. Horrible, maybe. But OUT of costume, please. A man in tights and a cape stands out in a crowd, which takes the focus off of the really *important* things. (Like me.)

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  50. Batman and no superhero outfit

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  51. I would love to have a date with Wolverine and he can just wear jeans and a leather jacket. That would be good enough for me.

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  52. Batman, and no superhero costume because it's too eye-catching...

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  53. In my opinion spiderman superhero costume is better than others.

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  54. Great interview!

    My superhero boyfriend changes all the time and this week it's Incorruptible's Max Damage. He's a leather jacket and jeans kind of guy, so yeah, he can keep the super outfit on ;-)

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