Greetings and salutations, Nine Lives family! It's that time again, to honor those lucky winners of our Members of the Month contest. The winners for March: PixieGrunger for Author and Buttercup for Reviewer! Woot woot!

PixieGrunger: Author of the Month

 1. What draws you to the good ship Caryl?
Good grief! There's a possibility I could be here all day. For starters the chemistry plays a huge part as to why I love Caryl. From those first major interactions between them, I was hooked. Completely awestruck at how Melissa and Norman were able to bring Carol and Daryl to life, make me feel what they were feeling, make me care about them, not only as individual characters but as a couple too. They're just incredible at what they do.

The infamous Caryl bond is another reason. Their wordless understanding. They just know each other. They've been through so much, even before the ZA, they've come out stronger and have found that connection with one another. It's undeniable. It's beautiful. Long may it continue into new, romantic pastures. 

2. Who are your writing influences?
I remember buying my mum a book for her birthday one year. It was Shadows by Shaun Hutson. It sat gathering dust for a few good months before I said screw it and read it myself. I realised then how much I enjoyed the horror/thriller genre. So every now and then, I'd buy my mum another one of his books and end up reading it myself.

The last few years though, I've been reading work from some home grown talent. Irish authors, Declan Hughes and Tana French. I highly recommend them if you prefer the mystery/thriller style.

3. How do you handle writers block?
It depends on the situation really. Sometimes a lack of Caryl on the show prevents me from getting my head in the game but it's usually rectified by rewatching previous Caryl scenes and I'm good to go. Other times it takes more of a push. Anyone who knows me on social media, knows how much I love music. Sometimes I'll be listening to a random song and it suddenly reminds me of Caryl and it gives me the urge to make some Caryl edits or write. On occasions when you hit that wall, all you can do it wait. If that means starting a new story to help that process, then so be it.

4. Anything you want to say to your readers?
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! From the bottom of my heart. It just wouldn't be possible without the readers. The encouragement has been immense. The passionate reviews are truly overwhelming. If I can get a range of emotions in those reviews, I know I'm doing something right. I'm stoked that I can share something special with the readers through my stories. I'm so very grateful. So again, thank you!

Buttercup: Reviewer of the Month

1. What drew you to the Caryl ship?
I am not a zombie fan or horror fan. But that Halloween night so long ago, I decided to watch this new show because I knew Andrew Lincoln. I loved it and kept watching the next week. Then I saw this mousey woman with no hair and I didn't notice her too much. Then the pick axe showed up with the red neck and I went "hmmmm?" After Cherokee Rose, I was invested. The fact that this woman who was so sad, damaged and coming out of grief and terror could get stronger inspired me. The added value of a man from just as bad a life being drawn to her was impossible to resist. I love Caryl and have infinite hopes for them but I have even bigger hopes for Carol. She is what drew me to the Caryl ship.

2. What do you look for in a story to keep reading?
I look for a knowledge, by the author, of the heart and soul of Carol and to a lesser extent, Daryl. I know who Carol is in my heart and it is very personal. I want the author to find that and put it into all sorts of scenarios. Daryl, to me, is slightly less complicated and there is a Daryl I know but his character has a little more leeway in what I enjoy reading. I like happiness in a story because I don't like to be sad. Sadness is okay if it ends happy. Yes, I know that is asking a lot but I like happy endings. But the most important thing is to be true to the character of Carol and Daryl.

3.  What are my top five favorite stories?
I almost didn't answer this because I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by leaving them out. So I went through my reviews, starting at the beginning 52 pages back. After 30 pages, I was so tired. Please don't take offense if I leave you out. 

I like everything. Ramblin Rose was the first writer I read. I love everything she writes but especially Of a Certain Age and All The King's Men and Sweet Junction. Those are epic. All AU but they touched me.

I love sexy stories - smut, if you will, even though that sounds so cheap. Anything by Little Cinch (Cellar Door), Bonnyblonde (Unchained Hearts, A Clean Start, Keep the Home Fires Burning), Emerald Kitten (Hotter Than Hell), Argent Gale, Three Little Kittens (All That and a Bucket of Chicken), Darylsdiva1 (Dreams, Comicconned), Axelrocks, Jennifer Collins....there are so many wonderful writers of sexy times. And McReedus stories make me very happy.

These are stories that moved me beyond words sometimes:

Salt and Stone (Fairies Masquerade), Know You're Enough (Meeshi), Kintsugi (Jaibhagawan), Skin Deep and Suffer the Strangers (Hiatus80), Carpe Diem (Reader's Muse), Embers (Equuleus86), All She Said Was Joy (Not Jane Austen), Finding My Way Home (CarolPeletier), Claimed and Fixes (The WalkingCaryl), Landslide (Lamport), Burn (Stephtron312), Swallow the Wave (Strychnine), and last but not least Healing for our Broken Souls (Hellody). And stories by Sophiecharlotte and Rhinozillla!! 

I know I left out stories by so many of you but I try to review every story, even if it is just to say thank you.

4. Is there anything I want to say to Caryl writers?
I am sure you are tired of me by now but I want to say how grateful I am for you and this site. I have a very stressful life right now. Besides my pets, you are what relaxes me, what keeps me from worrying about every little thing. You have made me laugh, gasp, swoon and cry (and you know who you are!!!). I dread the day you all go away and I hope it isn't for a long, long time. I envy you your talent and so wish I could be like you. Thank you for this honor. Mary (Buttercup)

Congratulations again, ladies! Also, once again an enourmous shout of thanks to untapdtreasure, who creates custom banners every month for our winners. You rock!

Caryl on, everyone!