InterWho - Whovian Lorraine Cox

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..
I had the pleasure of interviewing Lorraine Cox, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... 
Allons-y!

BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself…
LC: My name is Lorraine, and I'm a geek mom of 2 little geekling girls! I live on the West Coast of Canada in the BC Lower Mainland, and love it here! I'm within an hour of ocean, mountain or any outdoor activity! As well, I love to cook, which thanks to that a little bit I now have to hit the gym! In addition, I work at YVR International Airport, so I do see some neat people!

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
LC: I became a Whovian about 3 years ago when one of my close friends challenged me to watch some New Who and see how it goes. Needless to say, it was addiction at first episode!

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?
LC: I like the special episode Day of the Doctor with 10, 11 and War. It was so well executed and the melding of the classic with new was seamless!

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
LC: I have met John Barrowman by complete fluke at work! He was checking in at first class and I happened to be working that counter! He is a master of the selfie! I would love to meet David Tennant, because he is hot! Haha! And Billie Piper, as I listened to her music prior to following her into Doctor Who!
*Lorraine has also met famous violinist, Lindsey Stirling!

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
LC: 10 is one of my favourites, with 12 coming up fast! I love how they are conflicted, and with 10 he is so torn with his feelings for Rose! 12 is attached to Clara, and he's got angry eyebrows!

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
LC: I loved Rose, and her sass! She was capable, and not completely a damsal in distress! I also liked Captain Jack, because he was cheeky and challanged 10 in ways that needed to be done!

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
LC: I would love to see Monet during the Impressionist period, or go meet with Churchill, one of my historical idols! I mean, the man lived off cigars and brandy, and managed to lead a nation during an important time in history!

BBB: Are you in any other fandoms besides Doctor Who? Such as Torchwood or Sherlock?
LC: I am into Star Wars, Firefly, Sherlock, Arrow... my kids have been raised on a healthy diet of Star Wars and Firefly as well as Doctor Who and Marvel! I love how they each draw you in! I've also gotten hooked on Orphan Black (Tatiana Maslany is AMAZEBALLS! Seriously, 8 clones??). Marvel is also awesome, with my daughter happy to have been Black Widow after seeing Age of Ultron with mommy! Another one that I'm not sure that airs in the US is X-Company. Its a period based drama based on real events and the real Camp X that was a base in Canada for espionage training during WWII and many American spies trained there too!

The R2D2 Star Wars Plane!

BBB: Tell us about your business or hobbies even if it is not related to Doctor Who..
LC: I'm a little funny, I play video games (Elder Scrolls Online, Marvel Heroes, Vindictus), as well as cook and bake. In down time, I hit the gym in order to try to do another Tough Mudder! I also have a green belt in Shotokan Karate, and competed in tournaments for sparring (fighting) and kata (forms, kinda like a solo fight routine.)

BBB: Tell us your favorite product from Blue Box Balm..
LC: I've been hooked on the balms since I first discovered them by fluke on etsy! They are in my purse, backpack and work bag! They are awesome and I plan to buy more!
*Lorraine's favorite lip balms are Tempest, Allons-y! and The Blue Box 

***Special! In honor of Lorraine's favorite product (well one of them, anyway!) Blue Box Balm is offering Allons-y for just $2! This special offer ends 3/10, so hurry!

BBB: Can our readers follow you on social sites? 
LC: I can be found on Twitter as @KitharaCox, Beme as kitharac, and Snapchat as kitharacox836

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
LC: I have a huge Funko Pop collection that is close to 40 figures, with my hubby practically finishing the first release Doctor Who set for me in 1 go at Christmas! I've been to E3 back in 2004 (gaming convention) and plan to try to go to some comicons soon! I also have met Captain Jack as well!

Lorraine's daughter, Rose with the TARDIS

Big THANK YOU to Lorraine for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Lorraine please comment below..

InterWho - Whovian Sheila Swartz

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..
I had the pleasure of interviewing Sheila Swartz, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... 
Allons-y!

BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself…
SS: Hi! My name is Sheila and I’m 30 years old. I live in the Northwest United States with my wonderful and amazing mom, who takes care of me since I was born with cerebral palsy. I weighed 1 lb., 9 oz. at birth, but I’ve grown a little. . . I teach New Testament Greek for a local Christian study program, and my faith in Jesus is the biggest blessing in my life. I love to hang out with friends; they’ve become accustomed to my quoting Doctor Who at really random times.

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
SS: I discovered the show about a year before the 50th anniversary.

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?
SS: I just got caught up on all of New Who, and “Vincent and the Doctor” remains my favorite episode. I saw a few episodes prior to that one while channel flipping one evening; I found the show confusing at first, to be honest! “Vincent” was the one that got me irrevocably hooked on Who. I absolutely love the way The Doctor cultivates people’s ability to impact each other’s lives, whether or not one is aware of it at the time. While Vincent’s end didn’t change, watching him discover his own influence was just so powerful! I also really liked the way Amy encouraged Vincent and accepted him amidst his brokenness. “Bow ties are cool!”

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
SS: David Tennant. He’s a fabulously versatile actor and seems like a kind, gentle man in real life. I am fascinated by his command of language when he does Shakespeare, and he can bounce back and forth between humor and depth in so many roles. David has inspired me to try recording audio books someday. I also enjoy some music from “The Proclaimers” and have a Converse shoe collection, so we’d have a few things in common. Plus, you know, there’s his epic hair.

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
SS: Eleven is my Doctor! Matt Smith was the first one I watched, and he embodies such a delightful mix of physical goofiness and introspective moments. It just makes sense that The Doctor can be protective/strong and yet remain utterly entertained by the world(s) around him. It’s as if he’s a 900-year-old child! The Eleventh Doctor has delivered a lot of great speeches in the series and has a dynamite rapport with River Song.

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
SS: Hmmm. I’m a huge fan of the Ponds, but I think I’d have to choose Donna overall. She’s so sassy and keeps The Doctor on his toes. Her extroverted and outspoken personality makes her such a fun character, and she saves the world a lot, even if she can't always remember.

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
SS: England circa the late 1940’s. I’m a massive fan of authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and I’d love to meet them and observe them critiquing one another’s works.

BBB: Are you in any other fandoms besides Doctor Who? Such as Torchwood or Sherlock?
SS: Honestly, no. Although, I’m pleased with the way “Downton Abbey” has turned out, and I’ve been known to fangirl over the music group “Celtic Thunder.”

BBB: Tell us about your business or hobbies even if it is not related to Doctor Who..
SS: When I’m not teaching Greek, I enjoy studying/using other foreign languages - mostly Irish and Spanish. I also do Irish dance. Since I’m unable to walk, I use the shoes on my hands, previously spending over six years doing classes and performances with able-bodied friends. I also love to read and watch college tennis matches.

BBB: Tell us your favorite product from Blue Box Balm..
SS: Definitely the “Amy’s Choice” lip balm! It’s the best balm I’ve ever used.

***Special! In honor of Sheila's favorite product, Blue Box Balm is offering Amy's Choice Lip Balm for just $2! This special offer ends 2/29, so hurry!

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
SS: There have been mini conventions at the library, and some people built a life-sized, functioning Dalek named Klaus. The first time I plunger bumped him, he scanned me and said, “My traveling machine is superior to your traveling machine!” I beg to differ. . .

Big THANK YOU to Sheila for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Sheila please comment below..

InterWho - Whovian Amanda Creasy

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..
I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Creasy, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... 
Allons-y!

BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself…

AC: Hello Traci, and hi everyone!  I’m Mandy- I’m 36 and have been married to my fantastic hubby Scott for 11 years.  I work as a Data Processor for an online high school, and have worked for the company for about 9 years. 

I’ve lived in Pennsylvania my whole life, although I’ve moved about a few times in the state.  I grew up in a very rural area in NW Pennsylvania, then moved to Central PA, and I’ve lived in NE Pennsylvania since 2007.  

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?

AC:  I’m a fairly recent Whovian.  I took a shine to the show “Big Bang Theory” and Sheldon and Leonard kept mentioning Doctor Who.  When we got Netflix last year, I decided to give the show a chance because I wasn’t sure what else to watch.

 As someone who was never exposed to any type of sci-fi show, I wasn’t sure what to think of it, but within a week, I was hooked!  I loved that the show didn’t define itself by being totally serious or completely silly.  It’s still my favorite part of Who- it’s whatever it wants to be whenever it wants to be it. 

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?

AC:   I was just recently gifted the 4^th Doctor’s episodes on DVD, but I haven’t started watching them just yet, so I’ll have to go solely on New Who. 

 I don’t know that I have one episode that stands out as an absolute favorite- I have a few from each series that are near and dear, but to choose only one?  What’s the old adage about picking your favorite child?  ;)

 I suppose I’m feeling warm and fuzzy tonight, so I’d go with “The Lodger”, which features Matt’s Doctor.  He and James Corden play off each other so well and I find it incredibly charming.  I love all of the Doctors, but Matt’s Doctor had these quirks that I find absolutely endearing and I think they’re at showcased beautifully in this episode.  He’s lovely and charming and alien…and I wish he’d make me an omelet because the one on the show looked pretty amazing.  

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?

AC: That depends- is this a quick meet and greet, run in and out?  If so, I’d choose David Tennant, because I’d love the chance to meet him and I’ve seen Esty’s pictures and am incredibly jealous!  ;)

However, if this is a chance to really meet someone- to sit down and talk with them over a cup of tea or coffee, an hour or so…I’d pick Chris Eccleston.  I’d love to have the time to sit down and talk with the man, to learn a little more about him.  He’s so private, and I completely respect that, but at the same time, it makes me want to know him all the more.  To have an opportunity to learn a bit more about someone I genuinely admire and respect would be phenomenal. 

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
AC: I haven’t met a Doctor I didn’t love.  Each has his own unique personality quirks and traits. That being said, Nine is my Doctor.  He’s dark and moody, bogged down by grief and guilt…yet he still remains silly and quick to smile.  I only wish we had Chris as the Doctor for more than one series.

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?

AC: I know some of you aren’t going to like me for this, and that’s okay, but Rose will probably always be my favorite companion.  I liked that she was an ordinary girl with courage to stand up for what she thought was right- even if it went against what the Doctor thought.

I know many people did not like their romantic story line, but the thought that she created the dimension cannon specifically to get back to the Doctor…if that isn’t loyalty, I’m not sure what is.  (Okay, okay, she was worried about the stars going out too, but hey, let’s just be romantic for a minute and say it was because she missed him and couldn’t live without him.)

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
AC: If it was allowed, I’d just like to go somewhere that I could help; make a difference.  I think that might be a common trait of people who watch the show- we see the world going by and we want to help, but we’re not sure how.  Everything the Doctor does seems rather grandiose, doesn’t it?  You can always see the big picture, whereas, if you do something to help in real life, you’re never really sure it made a difference.  So, I’d like to go somewhere/some place/some time and do something that helps someone- even if it’s just one person.

BBB: Are you in any other fandoms besides Doctor Who? Such as Torchwood or Sherlock?

AC: Oh gravy.  So, being nerdy is pretty cool right now, but I don’t think we want to travel down the roads of my fandoms…they are neither trendy nor cool.  But, since you asked, I’m a fan of Big Bang Theory, The Simpsons, The Waltons, Doctor Quinn, Bonanza, Dragnet, and Antiques Roadshow.  I’ve written fanfiction for Big Bang, Bonanza, and Doctor Who.
So…yeah.  I’m uh…I’m pretty hip and cool.  *crickets*

                   Amanda's Desk at work              

 

Amanda's DW display at home

BBB: Tell us about your business or hobbies even if it is not related to Doctor Who..

AC: My husband and I love the outdoors.  We camp several times a year and we’ve got three different tents to take depending on the size of the site and what kind of facility we will be staying at.  We’ve been to 103 of the 120 state parks in Pennsylvania and hope to visit all of them some day.  (My favorites are RB Winter SP and Clear Creek SP, if you were curious!)

Hubs is an avid fisherman, so most weekends if the weather is nice, you will find us out in our little 14 ft fishing boat.

I think the nicest thing about being outdoors is noticing things that you’d just walk by any other time. There is no better sound on earth (in my opinion) than katydids in late summer.

Other interests?  Antiquing, pretty much anything vintage from the 40’s/50’s, trains/rail lines from the past, stories that have been handed down, local history, family history, cross stitch, reading, writing, and cooking.

BBB: Tell us your favorite product from Blue Box Balm..
AC: I think most of you who know me already know the answer to this one- it’s the Ninth Doctor’s balm, Fantastic!  Chocolate and banana- it’s the perfect combination!  I have at least 4 sticks at the moment and I use it at least once a day.

Amanda's Blue Box Balm Collection at work

BBB: Can our readers follow you on social sites? 
AC: I’m on Facebook a lot, and I do have a Twitter account, but I’m not going to pretend like I’m super adept at using it!  If you want to follow me, you can do so @acreasy1

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?

AC: I’ve never been to a con and I’m not sure if I’d ever have the nerve to go.  I love small groups of people but I’m easily overwhelmed with big groups…  So, as much as I’d love to meet all the lovely people from the world of Doctor Who, it sadly seems like it probably won’t happen.

I would love to travel to the UK at some point in my life and visit England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.  Not only do I want to check out the Doctor Who museum in Wales, but I have a ton of family history in Ireland that I’d love to look into.  I have a friend in England that I’d love to meet, too.

Big THANK YOU to Amanda for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Amanda please comment below..

InterWho - Whovian Liane Oudbier

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..
I had the pleasure of interviewing Liane Oudbier, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... 
Allons-y!

BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself…
LO: Well my name is Liane Oudbier, I live in the Netherlands and I'm a huge doctor who fan and I draw/game a lot...
One of my drawings was reposted on the instagram of Doctor Who BBCA and will be in shown in an episode of "The Doctors Notes" on BBC America.. 
I just had to tell you guys that I'm so excited! 

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
LO: Well, that's a fun question!
I don't know the exact date but when "The Hillywood Show" uploaded their Doctor Who parody I was immediately in love with Doctor Who! 

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?
LO: I haven't watched the classic who yet..
But my favorite episode from new who has to be "Under the Lake" because it was a thrilling episode and I loved Sophie Stone (Case) it's just so wonderful that she was in this episode (and in Before the Flood)...
I just don't have any words for that episode, and yes I have way more favorite episodes! 

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
LO: Easy!!! David (freaking) Tennant of course!!
I mean he's such a cutie!!! 

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
LO: Well.... That's a very hard question..
David Tennant , he played The Doctor so good, almost perfect! 

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
LO: Ehm... Yeah... Good one...
Clara ... Rose... Donna... Martha...Amy... Rory...
I can't choose! 

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
LO: Back in history!! Maybe the Roman century, Oh my, I would love that!! 

BBB: Are you in any other fandoms besides Doctor Who? Such as Torchwood or Sherlock?
LO: Supernatural, Sherlock , Lucifer... And more..
I might almost call myself an enormous geek

BBB: Tell us about your business or hobbies even if it is not related to Doctor Who..
LO: Well as I said, I draw a lot and I got some attention from actor's... Which is really cool and sometimes kinda emotional...
Besides drawing I also dance, think of Hip Hip and Breakdance.. And don't forget playing video games!
And watching Doctor Who of course! 
Well nothing else to say about that

BBB: Tell us your favorite product from Blue Box Balm..
LO: Well to be honest "I" only bought the little lip balms ( Blue raspberry and strawberry lime) and they are totally worth it! 
I totally can't wait to get another one soon! 

BBB: Can our readers follow you on social sites? 
LO: Of course! 
I'm on Twitter and Instagram 
www.Twitter.com/LianeXYou 
www.Instagram.com/liane231

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
LO: I'm going to the Dutch Comic Con this year and I'm so excited!
The Hillywood Show will probably be there and Star Wars writers, comic book writers and actor's!
I really hope Doctor Who actor's and writers are coming to the Dutch Comic Con
I don't have a big doctor who collection (Yet)
I have an mini tardis the Doctor Who coloring book and 3 doctor who books and I've read all three of them...

Drawings by Liane:

Big THANK YOU to Liane for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Liane please comment below..

InterWho - Whovian Kevin Gray from AM Audio Media

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..

I had the privilege of interviewing Kevin Gray. Kevin is a life long whovian working with our friends at AM Audio Media on the Doctor Who Dark Journey Series.

Now grab some tea and enjoy our chat with Kevin!

Allons-y!


BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself...
KG: My name is Kevin Gray and I am an alcoholic…oh sorry, am I in the wrong place? Ahem…ignore that, let’s start over. I’m Kevin Gray, I am a fan of science fiction and horror, although there’s not much of the latter around anymore, well…not scary horror. I also have a slight fondness for music. And since I really like synthesizer music, especially analog-type stuff, Doctor Who was always a perfect fit! The Doctor Who theme has always been one of my favourite pieces of music. I used to be a DJ (wasn’t everyone?) and I went by the name of DJ Krynoid. I still name my remixes with that moniker. When I stopped DJing (doesn’t everyone?) I focused more on making my own noises. I like to remix and re-edit songs and make my own extended versions. When I do, I usually throw in audio clips from movies and shows. I was lucky enough to be on stage with Blue Rodeo a few years back. No, I wasn’t playing, I helped set up the recording gear for the shows. Two magical nights, I’ll tell ya! The recordings were released as a CD/DVD and the DVD won a Juno! My first CD credit (although my named was spelled wrong on the first batch of discs)! Lately, I’ve been focusing on audio productions. I did some comedy skits with my brother and I did audio post on an independent film called Everyday Is Like Sunday (it’s on Netflix - check it out). And now I’m working with AM Audio Media, doing the audio production for series two of Doctor Who: Dark Journey! Series one was a damn fine show, so trying to match that or even top it…is proving to be a hard act to follow! But I’m giving it my all and I think the AM Audio Media gang has brought some (dark) magic to this second series. You can find my website at: www.bigsoundguy.com. It’s still a work in progress, samples of my work will be up soon. If you want some audio work done, you know how to find me!


BBB:  When did you first become a Whovian?
KG: I have always been a Whovian! From the day I was born! Well, at least since I was on solid food then? I've been watching Doctor Who for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of Doctor Who (from what I can remember) is of Pertwee’s Doctor driving the three-wheeler in Day Of The Daleks. I lived in the UK for a number of years when I was young and watching Doctor Who was taken for granted. Of course, there were only three channels to choose from, so the competition wasn’t like it is now. But Doctor Who was a good show, especially in the 70’s. And there was good moral fibre there as well. I like to think that a lot of my good sense came from watching the show and emulating some of the Doctor’s traits.


BBB:  What is your favorite Classic Who or New Who episode and why?
KG: That’s hard to say. A hard thing to choose...The Robots Of Death is certainly up there. The Seeds Of Doom too (obviously – watch out for the Krynoid!). I loved The Claws of Axos and Terror Of The Autons, Inferno, The Mind Of Evil, Pyramids of Mars, Pirate Planet, Stones Of Blood, Morbius, Fendahl…I told you this would be hard! And like one or two other people, I got caught up in the hype of Doctor Who returning and because of all the buzz, I really enjoyed the ninth Doctor’s Series 1. It was good TV, Doctor Who or not. Episodes like Blink, Vincent & The Dr. stand out. But as it’s continued, things have become hit and miss…with a little too much of the latter.


BBB:  Tell us more about Doctor Who Dark Journey and your part in this fun audio production..
KG: Ooh, I didn’t know there was a question just for that, pretend you didn’t read the above…my part: do all the impossible things Andrew asks of me! Gems like “can you make his robes sound more scarlet”? “Big Ben doesn’t sound big enough”, “we need more baby” and “can you make Andrew sound better?”…Mike and Andrew already had the dialogue recorded when I came on board. It was my job to create the soundscapes and effects and edit the dialogue to fit. The goal is to create a believable environment for our heroes and villains and drop the listener right into the thick of it. And hopefully, at the end, have you begging for more!

BBB:  If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
KG: A few years ago I would have said without hesitation; Jon Pertwee! But as he has left us I think for my answer now, I'd be a little more practical and say whoever can get me a job on the new series.


BBB:  Who is your favourite Doctor and why?
KG: Jon Pertwee...I liked his fatherly attitude towards his companions. He was always teaching them something. And he told it like it was; if someone pissed him off, he let them know. And of course all the James Bond-ness; hovercrafts, mono-copters, motorcycles, jeeps, rockets and BESSIE!!!!...and the way he could wolf down sandwiches (Sea Devils) was impressive too!


BBB:  Who is your favorite Villain and why?
KG: Delgado's Master…such a moustache twiddler. Yeah things got silly sometimes, but he could be downright evil and still be charming. That TCE was pretty scary to a young kid! Ainley was a close second…don’t get me started on John Simm! And now we have Missy…an interesting idea, utterly wasted in the story but Michelle Gomez the actor, she seems like a blast! Have you seen her behind the scenes bits? She’d be fun at a party!


BBB:  If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
KG: I was always a fan of the randomizer. Even more so if Romana I was there too...but seriously? Hmm…I’d like to see the future, see if we screw things up or not.


BBB:  As we head into Series 9 this year of Doctor Who, what are you hoping to see?
KG: I'm hoping to see some great stories. Stories that rely on substance, not style. I don't need to see stories that originate from "wouldn't it be cool if...", I want a series of good yarns. I want to get goosebumps when the Doctor does something awesome, I want Clara to be the companion, not the boss. And more hovercrafts and mono-copters! Yeah, maybe that’s what’s wrong with the new series…bring back Bessie!


BBB:  Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
KG: I did attend Visions 93 in Chicago. That was quite an experience. My only “real” convention. It was the thirtieth anniversary year so there were a lot of guests! I met Peter Davison, Colin Baker (really nice guy!), Anthony Ainley (another really nice guy!), John Levene (an awesome guy! Did you know he was a sound guy too?), Sophie Aldred (amazing singer!), Nicola Bryant, Wendy Padbury (what a doll…), Lis Sladen, John Leeson, William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Anneke Wills and John Nathan-Turner & Gary Downie. There was also non-Doctor who stars too…I had the pleasure of meeting the cat from Red Dwarf; Danny John-Jules. And Jeremy Bulloch, who played some guy named Boba Fett in some small independent film called Star Wars.
“a collection you have”?...well, I do have a few Doctor Who items ever so subtly taking over my house…CDs, records, DVDs and now Blu-Rays. And that’s before we get into…toys! I’m a sucker for Doctor Who figures. From Denys Fisher when I was a kid, to Dapol when I should have been saving, to Product Enterprise, when any saved money left, to Character Options, where dreams came true with Krynoid’s and SV7’s to today with Big Chief, where I need a new better paying job! I did also have Weetabix cut-outs but they didn’t last very long. 



Blue Box Balm would like to say THANK YOU to Kevin for participating in our fun whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Kevin, please leave a post and I will make sure that he stops by to answer them :) 

InterWho - Whovian J'Cynda Whitely

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..
I had the pleasure of interviewing J'Cynda Whitely, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... 
Allons-y!

BBB: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself…
JW: Hi everyone I’m J’Cynda (@jcynda on twitter). I live in Fort Worth Texas and am a jewelry maker. I have a dog Kila, that I love to dress up in costumes, tshirts and bow ties!

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
JW: I'm a fairly new Whovian! Last year I had run out of things on Netflix/Hulu/Amazon to watch while I was working and Two of my friends suggested that I give Doctor Who a try. My friend Jeanette was the first. She was watching it and would recap what was going on in the episodes she was watching and indulge my many questions. Then my buddy Kent really convinced me. We’ve been friends for a very long time and he knows what kind of entertainment will grab me (I can be rather difficult when it comes to finding things that really entertain me). He was such a good salesman on the subject that I started watching the next day. He had told me that the first couple of episodes of the new series were a little bit cheesy and to just make it through those and stick with it. Im so glad I listened. That first episode was a bit difficult to watch and enjoy but luckily I knew quite a bit about the show from my two friends and knew it was going to get better. After I made it through the first two I was HOOKED! It didn’t take me very long before I had breezed through the all the series available to me.
Then came twitter. Doctor Squee was a friend of mine on Twitter because we are both fans of the same podcast ( Tell em Steve-Dave) and he mentioned one morning he was starting a podcast about Doctor Who. I tweeted him and told him that I had been watching and we started talking about it. He also indulged all my questions. He was the first person outside of my two friends that discussed the show with me. He probably solidified my active fandom ( I don’t think I’ve ever told him that LOL ). He was so nice and through his podcast (Gallifrey Stands) introduced me to several other super nice people that really encouraged my watching and curiosity. So I guess I owe all three of them a BIG thank you!

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?
JW: I had a very hard time getting into the classic episodes. They are just a little too long for my liking . Being broken up into so many parts , I felt like there were several episodes that absolutely nothing happened. It just didn’t hold my interest.
My favorite episode of the newer series is Vincent and The Doctor. I absolutely love the story of Vincent Van Gogh being influenced by the Doctor and Amy and some of his , well known, madness explained . Even though they couldn’t save him from himself they gave him one of the greatest gifts someone could receive. A look into the future to see how he was remembered. He got to see that even though he wasn’t appreciated and felt he had no value in his time that in the future he was revered. I don’t know about you but I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about how I will be remembered. I think everyone has ! So that episode really resonated with me because of the beautiful story line.

BBB: Series 8 is nearly over, tell us what do you think of Peter Capaldi as the Doctor?
JW: I am LOVING Capaldi. He is so different from the other doctors I am familiar with but I find him to be incredibly endearing. The intensity he brings to the role blows me away sometimes. And while he can he very intense and aloof of other people, when he does have an “emotional” moment it comes across as very sincere. Like you can actually see the wall that this Doctor has built around himself come down and he’s free of himself. Capaldi has amazing facial expressions and eyes! So when he is having a more tender moment or something is bothering him, you see it all over his face no matter what he is saying. I love that ! Im also really enjoying his interactions with the kids on the show. He tends to be very fatherly ( in his own eccentric way ) towards them and I’m finding myself enjoying that aspect of him very much. I am looking forward to seeing more Doctor centric episodes so we can really see what he’s made of, so to speak.

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
JW: I would really like to meet Murray Gold. I think he is an incredible composer and his music really sticks out to me in the show. I would love to sit down and pick his brain about how he uses the music to set the tone of scenes, how he decides on the Doctor’s themes (because they are all pretty personal to each Doctor) and ask him about the challenges of both of the afore mentioned things. I listen to the scores quite often and they really take you to whatever scene that they were written for. he does such an incredible job, I would love to fangirl out and hang out with that guy!

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
JW: Man this is a hard question! I loved David Tennant from the get go! I was devastated when he regenerated! LOL It made me cry a bit. It was just so sad! So, when Matt Smith came into the picture I had a harder time warming up to him.  But, by the time his run was over and I was re-watching episodes on TV and he was sweet and charming in his own way. So, can I pick 2?
Tennant was playful, caring and such a defender of humanity. When he first became the Doctor you could sense that all of the brooding guilt that Eccelston’s character carried with him had been released and he was more carefree and loving.  He always made it seem like humans were capable and so much better than we give ourselves credit for. In several episodes he becomes our biggest cheerleader, even when the humans he was dealing with wanted to carry out some awful plan. I was really drawn to that. Plus how can you not be attracted to and love that adorable mischievous smile ! It will get you every time.
Matt Smith’s Doctor was still playful and sweet but also seemed more sad. It was a combination I didn’t truly appreciate till he regenerated and made me super sad. That's when I realized I was way more attached to him than I had thought! He was emotional and picked up more guilt as his run went on. It was a bit heart breaking you know? Also Matt Smith for being such a young actor to play the role did an AMAZING job of seeming so much older and wiser than his predecessor. He did an incredible job and sometimes it seems doesn’t get the credit he deserves for the performance he turned out .
Overall I suppose Tennant was my favorite Doctor but Matt Smith had my favorite stories and episodes <— see what I did there ? I sorta made a choice!

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
JW: This is another toss up. I loved Rose and the Bad Wolf story line.  The whole thing was so sweet. I also loved Donna because she was a nice change from the love sick ladies accompanying the Doctor. She was a buddy and was not interested in him at all and that was a very nice change . Then there is Clara. What is not to like about the impossible girl. I was fascinated by her story ESPECIALLY after she entered the Doctor’s time line and had always been around him. It was such a cool twist. I loved how in “Listen” it was revealed that she had effected the Doctor’s whole life. She was there even at the beginning. But now I’m kind of over her LOL! So I guess if I have to choose my favorite companion is Rose .

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
JW: Where and when WOULDN’T I like to go !?! I would love to see any part of space and any other time besides the 30 years I’ve lived. I would want to visit a planet that had multiple moons in the night sky,  planets you could see clearly from the surface of wherever you are and meet whatever and whomever is out in the universe. If the Doctor were to pick me up, I would be enthusiastic and so in to whatever he wanted / needed to do . Of course after I settled into my companion role and wasn’t so overwhelmed by the infinite choices I’m sure I could come up with some specific time and place.

BBB: Are you in any other fandoms besides Doctor Who? Such as Torchwood or Sherlock?
JW: I'm not really in any other fandoms. If I were to find myself in another one I would probably be a Trekkie. I have loved Star Trek since I was a kid! Every couple of years or so I find myself re-watching all the series up to Deep Space 9 . I don’t know what it is about the show, but I’m fairly certain there will never be a time that I've had enough of it.

BBB: If you could receive one Doctor Who related item this Christmas, what would it be?
JW: Oh man there are so many cool Doctor Who related items out there ! I'm a big fan of cups (coffee cups, tumblers, pint glasses) and there are tons of cute ones I wouldn't mind having. There are also these cute little Tardis salt and pepper shakers I want ( wink wink nudge nudge Mom ).

BBB: Tell us your favorite geek stix or geek scent from Blue Box Balm..
JW: Another hard hitting question! I have loved all that I have tried and I have tried A LOT! My current favorite is Dandy. It smells so good!

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
JW: First,  I would just like to say a BIG thank you to you Traci for making such an awesome product and bringing so many friendly and fun people together. I truly enjoy talking to everyone in the Facebook Group and seeing all the fun stuff they’re coming up with to express their fandom. It really is special and none of it would be possible without you bringing everyone together.  Another BIG thank you to Doctor Squee for really hooking me into the show and always being a gracious host when he has invited me onto his podcast. And last but not least Thank you to all the Balmers for being so engaging and fun everyday. You guys really make my work day go by a lot faster and I’m inspired by some of the cool creative stuff you all have come up with.

Big THANK YOU to J'Cynda for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for J'Cynda please comment below..

InterWho - Whovian Andrew Chalmers from Dark Journey

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..

I had the privilege of interviewing Andrew (The Doctor from Dark Journey), Dark Journey is an audio drama that can be found at AM Audio Media

Before we begin, we would like to take a moment to send out CONGRATULATIONS to the Dark Journey Team for being nominated for 12 Audio Verse Awards! Nominations include Andrew Chalmers for Best Writing, way to go Andrew and the entire cast and crew!!

Now hold on tight, you're in for a fun ride!
Here we go.....

BBB: Hello Andrew, please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself...
 AC: I have a very Scottish name...Andrew Frazer James Chalmers...which is great as coincidentally I am Scottish. To me, writing begins as a passionate love story full of imagination and fire then turns into a long term marriage where you realize your mutual shortcomings, take each other for granted but still love one another anyway!

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
 AC: My parents were moving house and I ran into ‘our’ new place (well, it was ‘their’ house really as I wasn't paying the mortgage) and perched myself on a box to watch Jon Pertwee. I couldn’t believe that he was helping us move in, it must have been between series 9 and 10 and he was desperate for the cash. It wasn’t unusual in those days for BBC stars to help their audience’s out. It was nothing to see the cast of ‘Dad’s Army’ clearing out the drains or the nice people from ‘Are you being Served’ doing a shift at the local fruit and veg markets. It’s not the same with these day’s youngsters. I tried to get the cast of ‘The Big Bang’ to unblock my toilet and they told me where to go.
Anyway, there I was watching Jon being ‘The Doctor’ and loving it. It was like watching a movie as I was inches from the bloody screen. My Dad used to warn me that my eye sight would suffer as I was too close to the 'telly' but I didn't hear him as my hearing had gone because I was too close to the 'telly'. In hindsight I couldn't really see him either as my eyes had gone from being too close to the 'telly'. There’s a lesson there kids. Always listen to your invisible Dad’s. That line is probably more poignant to all of us than I originally intended. Hmmm…time for a…..

WRITING LESSON – Don’t wait for perfection. You’ll be waiting forever. Get it on the page ASAP and you’ll discover stuff you didn’t even know existed. Don’t think too much about ‘the writing’. A great line of dialogue only comes from  a big mess of words and misfires, so try and avoid thinking wherever possible. In my time as a writer I have tried to avoid thinking wherever possible.

BBB: You are involved in a very exciting online audio drama where you portray "The Doctor", can you tell us about Doctor Who Dark Journey? 
 AC: Doctor Who Dark Journey moves into 'edgier' Who territory without losing the heart of what the show is all about. The more I've written the more I've realized what makes the show tick which is very interesting indeed. I started out committed to creating a darker, more angst ridden Doctor but instead, was persuaded by a power tripping producer to come up with a catch phrase against my better judgement so my edgy, raw creation was described as "the hilarious 'Cool Beans' Doctor”.
Naturally, because of this ‘catchphrase’ I was thinking about being close to death so I became interested in creating a Doctor that was on his last life as I felt dramatically that it was great territory. I also decided on this as I couldn’t write the Tenth Doctor as well as RTD.
My wife Lynda describes me as a 'Bridge Doctor' meaning I my Doctor (in her esteemed words) is a "great bridge between the classic and the modern series".
This was a relief. I had suspected that I was the 'Bridge Doctor' as people had been walking all over me for years. All comedy is based on truth, suffering and huge banana peels.

BBB: You are also the writer for Dark Journey, can you tell us where you get your inspiration?
 AC: I was terrified by the Bob Clark masterpiece ‘Murder by Decree’ as a nipper and introduced to Sherlock Holmes by my Mum who fancied Basil Rathbone (a brilliant Holmes btw…not my Mum…Basil I mean).
But my true inspiration for recording Dark Journey was my producer type buddy Michael Tamburro. I don’t have a brother (my parents gave me 2 middle names instead) but if I did it would be Mike. Let’s continue this fantasy and make him heir to the Swiss Chalet restaurant chain, the manager of Rush and the outgoing show runner for ‘Doctor Who’ who thinks I’m perfect for the job.
Sorry bro, no can do. I’m busy eating free chicken with Rush.
Great, now my brother hates me. Christmas is going to be tense again.
Anyway Mike (fueled by my old rejected scripts and pretty dodgy fast food) became the creative rocket behind Doctor Who - Dark Journey.
Here’s the excerpt, courtesy of TMZ.
“Hey ‘Chalmy’…let’s do one of your old scripts as an audio play!” (This was wise as I was told by a talent scout that I had the perfect face for radio).
“Sure ‘T-Bone’, anyone, but not the Doctor Who one”.
“Got ya. How about the Doctor Who one?”
“No”.
“You can be the Doctor?”
“Yes”.
So Mike was rocket captain and I was quite happy to go to space creatively as most of my writing has no atmosphere to begin with. My continuing inspiration for Dark Journey has to be blamed er…attributed to our fans and the wonderful people who support us.
Dark Journey has motored on and powerful, transformative inspiration has been supplied by people who we have never even met. What a powerful concept. It’s an honour to know such kind people.
Dan ‘The Writing Man’, Dr Squee and the ‘Droids’ you know who you are.
I am going to write more about ‘angels’ on the weekend when we release Episode 6 ‘The Legend of the Beast’. This is true but in reality I just wanted to be able to write “The Legend of the Beast’. That’s a boot shaking masterpiece of a title for our next episode ain’t it Bobby Sue! YEE-HAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow…it’s an awesome title though. What does it mean? “The Beast?” Who is that? Exactly.

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who or New Who episode and why?
 AC: Oooh….the classic question and it’s a toughie isn’t it? Here we go…
The Empty Child because it was like classic ‘Hinchcliffe’ Who but it was new series ‘Moffat’. How cool was that? Answer…very. I didn’t want to type that as it was obvious but I did. All comedy is based on internal conflict.
Classic episode? Robots of Death. My wife Lynda has a pair of oriental style short pants that she wears around the house and I call her D-84. Keeping with the ‘Robots of Death’ theme Lynda then tries to strangle me.

BBB: Series 8 is underway, with a brand new Doctor. What do you think of Peter Capaldi and the series so far?
 AC: Series 8 is fantastic with a selection of adventures that are very impressive in range and attitude (the ending of Kill the Moon for example as well as Mummy on the Orient Express) However, at this stage, I would like to see the continuation of these questions and /or set up’s….
When is ‘the search for Gallifrey’ exactly?
What mistakes did the Doctor make and when is he going to start to do something about them?
Why has The Doctor never mentioned the fact that Clara effectively saved his life by chatting with a crack in a wall?
How does he know he has another set of regenerations? Why not just one more?
Why did he question ever being a ‘good man?’
Why does The Doctor’s hair vary in length between scenes? (see the ‘TARDIS in siege mode’ scene from Flatline).
Just my opinions. Love it all the same well except the hair, that’s just lazy continuity. You wouldn’t see anything like that on Dark Journey.

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
 AC: Tom Baker. Sounds obvious, but it’s true. And as for the reasons?....well, do I really have to list them here peeps?

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why?
  AC: Please refer to the answer for Question 7. I’m lazy…..er…..but do it in a cartoon voice so it sounds different, witty and unique.

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
 AC: And the winner is….
Donna Noble because it wasn’t all about the new series romance (which by Series 4 had been done to death). Donna was a ‘mate’ and backed up by a brilliant back story with her Mum and Grandpa Cribbins. And the ending (well, the first proper one) was poignant and everything else you would expect. RTD at his best. I always think the new companions need an Earth back story. I think that’s why Clara is flourishing in Season 8. Yes, it’s basically Rose meets Mickey again but it works doesn’t it? To be fair, it was 8 years ago and these days people have short attention spans don’t they? I don’t. I always thought that the key to life was….oh…where’s my Time and the Rani DVD again?...yes, I do love strawberries…

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
 AC: I would travel back to 1963 to witness the birth of Doctor Who, bribe BBC management with scones and become head writer. In the pilot I’d make the Doctor’s first companion Ian into Darth Vader and Susan into Mr Spock. Fandom would be united for ever! I would never see it though as on my attempted return to 2014, I had gotten lost and crashed in Roswell 1947. That’s a good question actually….how am I achieving this time travelling of yours ‘Miss Blue Box Balm’? Oh…a space ship? Cool. But wait..I didn’t invent a space ship time machine? Oh, one of your other interviewees did. Okay. I get it. Poor design though. I did get shot down after all. Thanks Mr Inventor….I’d be less concerned about dating Cleopatra and more concerned with putting shields on the bloody thing.

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
 AC: Well, we have a collection of very supportive and kind people who take an interest in Dark Journey which is fantastic, heartwarming and very encouraging. Thank you for being more additions to my collection (imagine me laughing in a maniacal way and moving wooden figures of you guys onto a chess board. That’s not a 5 Doctors reference just me on a Saturday night).

Blue Box Balm would like to say THANK YOU to Andrew for participating in our fun whovian interviews!
We would also like to extend our THANKS to Anthony from AM Audio Media for putting us in touch with Andrew.

Follow Dark Journey audio drama..

https://www.amaudiomedia.com

https://twitter.com/AMAudioMedia

https://www.facebook.com/amaudiomedia

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/am-audio-media/id887606877?mt=2

If you have any questions for Andrew, please comment here ...

InterWho - Whovian Heidi Lemarr

Hello Sweeties!

Welcome to our next InterWho (Whovian Interview)..

I had the delight of interviewing Heidi, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the read ... Allons-y!

BBB: Hi Heidi, please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about yourself...
 HL: Hi, my name is Heidi. I live in Dallas but grew up in New York. I'm a married mom of two, stepmom to another, an advertising exec with what some could call an obsessive love of TV, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and most things geeky. I also have many personal side projects. My husband is my very own "son of a preacher man", a writer/artist and shares many of my fandoms. My stepdaughter is just as geeky, my 6 year old recognizes all New Who Doctors, and my 3 year old knows a TARDIS when he sees one and nearly bowled people over to get into one at a local event. 

BBB: When did you first become a Whovian?
 HL: When I was about 8 or 9. I watched Doctor Who on local public television. The 4th and 5th Doctors stand out most in my memory from then. 

BBB: I understand that you are a Chancer, can you please explain what this is to our readers?
 HL: A Chancer is a fan of The Minister of Chance audio drama, who is very supportive of the current audio incarnation and has a fanatical desire to see the audio make it to a film version. 
Brief history of the Minister: The Minister is one of five Time Lords who survived the destruction of Gallifrey and he was first played by Stephen Fry in the audio/webcast Death Comes to Time.
The new re-imagined (and current) version of The Minister of Chance is also an audio drama that features an amazing cast (including two former Doctors - the 7th and 8th), wonderful acting, and a fantastic script. The thing that strikes me the most about MoC is that there is no advertising - it is all word of mouth through the fans, and all of it is completely crowd funded. 
It is available for free download on the MinisterofChance.com site. Fans of Doctor Who, and/or of Big Finish will really enjoy it. And if they enjoy it, they can help support the film, eh? The Kickstarter is going on through October 31. (Blue Box Balms was not paid for this plug, all opinions of the Inter-who-ee alone.)

BBB: What is your favorite Classic Who and/or New Who episode and why?
 HL: Favorite at the moment has got to be Blink. It is a perfect episode to let people who have never watched ANY Doctor Who watch it and not feel like they need to be soaked in the 50 year history, and can intrigue them to know more and watch more. And what fan doesn't want more people to be fans?
I could go on about my favorite pivotal episodes, but...you did ask for one. So there you go.

BBB: Series 8 is at it's half way point, with a brand new Doctor. What do you think of Peter Capaldi and the series so far?
 HL: I am enjoying Series 8 so far. I've seen some of the fan reactions and people seem to completely love or completely hate this new series, and I'm sitting over here saying: these are good episodes, and I know they'll work even better together when you can see the series as a whole. 

BBB: If you could meet just one Doctor Who cast or crew member, who would it be?
 HL: I've actually met the 5th through 8th Doctors and Captain Jack. For cast, I'd love to meet all of the New Who Doctors, but I think David Tennant most of all, just because I've had a chance to enjoy other bits of his work more so than any of the others, and would happily chat about Broadchurch/Gracepoint and Shakespeare. For crew, Moffat, because I'd want to pick his brain.

BBB: Who is your favorite Doctor and why (we may already know this answer..lol)?
 HL: LOL - This is a great question. As always I point to my pinned tweet. I think they're all my Doctor. Honestly, its whomever I'm watching, listening to, reading about at that moment. I tried once to put them in some sort of order, but I wound up with seven of them tied for number one. 

BBB: Who is your favorite companion and why?
 HL: This is a toughie. I've really enjoyed all of the New Who companions (yes ALL of them), but I'd have to say my favorite of all time and all media was Evelyn Smythe, who was a companion to the 6th Doctor on Big Finish audios. I just loved her character, and that she was completely unlike many of his other companions. If I have to pick a TV companion, probably Captain Jack? He was brave, loyal, and funny and has endless possibilities. I'd love to see him interact with Peter Capaldi's Doctor. That would be a hoot.

BBB: If you could travel with The Doctor in his TARDIS to any time and/or place, where would you like to go?
 HL: I'd love to see Earth's future. Maybe 200 years up? Maybe visit a descendant or witness a "historical" event. 

BBB: If you could steal something from the Doctor Who set, what would it be?
 HL: The TARDIS! Barring that, River's shoes. You know the ones. I love a pair of killer heels.

BBB: Tell us your favorite geek stix or geek scent from Blue Box Balm.. 
 HL: I'm currently loving my "Don't Blink" geek stix. It is a combo that one would never find anywhere else, and it is delicious.

BBB: Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up this interview (such as conventions you gone to, cast you have met, a collection you have, etc)?
 HL: I currently have a set of illustrated Doctor Who cards that my husband purchased for me at a local convention. I've since had the 4th through 8th Doctors sign their cards (4th through the mail, and 5-8 in person), and I'm hoping to get 9-12 at some point so that I can actually frame them and display them in my home 


Big THANK YOU to Heidi for participating in our whovian interviews!

If you have any questions for Heidi please comment below..