AC Writers Unplugged

I discovered some intriguing facets of AC writers and their lives, so I decided to delve deeper into the world of the people behind the writing. Many writers here have atypical backgrounds, jobs, hobbies, quirks and passions.

I thought it would be fun and enlightening to share some of their individual lives with readers. You will be pleasantly surprised, often amazed, intrigued and at times humored by; things I unearth about some of our fellow AC Contributors. This is the sixth article in this series.

Tara Clapper - Live Action Role Play & Incredible Voice

Tara Clapper is a long-time AC Contributor. She came on board here in December 2006 and has quite a library of remarkable content. Tara writes on an extensive array of topics, some of which include-her marvelous comparison of Sherlock Holmes and Batman and the fabulous details of her wedding, which she won! If you have not already, please read her "dream wedding" story here.

Because Tara's family is Irish-American, she naturally possesses a passion for Ireland. Tara actually visited the country of her roots, which she wrote about in a delightful article that covers her trip. Read the details here. Someone who likes to keep busy, Tara is pursuing a Master of Arts in English & Publishing. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2003, with a minor in music.

Seventh Kingdom IGE (Interactive Gaming Environment)

Tara was kind enough to share with me a bit about her world of fantasy with Seventh Kingdom IGE and "Live Action Role Play" (LARP). I asked how she came to participate in this growing phenomenon of fantasy role-playing.

Tara said, "I have always been into role playing games." "I started playing Dungeons and Dragons in college and being a part of the first generation to grow up with Nintendo, I've always loved games with a storyline." "If I'm not being creative, I find it hard to keep entertained."

Tara went on to explain, "My first LARP experience was with a small gathering of online role players in Boston." "We were to portray characters we played online-and mine was a fierce Irish warrior woman!" "From there, I was hooked." I am certainly not surprised!

An LARP Match Made in Heaven

Tara participated in her first weekend LARP after moving back to Philadelphia and meeting Rick, who is now her husband. "We had a lot of the same movie and gaming interests and he was involved in running a PVP (player versus player) LARP."

Tara continued, "I agreed to give it a try (the weekend LARP) and fell in love with it." "We are now both involved in Seventh Kingdom IGE, which is an extremely immersive game taking LARP to the next level." Learn the fascinating details and get additional information about participating in LARP by visiting the Seventh Kingdom IGE website.

Tara is attempting a "transition" from her full-time job to a freelance job and said she "wanted to dabble in marketing." "This way, I get to experiment with a side career track and still participate in the game." Tara is the Marketing Director for Seventh Kingdom.

She added; "In Seventh Kingdom IGE, I get to play characters which involve more role play versus combat (due to a back injury from earlier in 2009)." "The game allows me to use my music minor from college to provide entertainment for others." Do not miss the chance to experience Tara's angelic voice. Click this link to listen to a song called, "You Weren't There."

Some Background for Tara's LARP

I was curious if Tara had any theatre background that might play into her love of LARP. "I do not have a formal background in theatre." "In high school, I was active in almost every musical production and sometimes in the non-musicals as well." "I prefer a structured environment with more freeform, which makes LARP perfect for me-the rules of the world are there, but I get to fill it in and develop my character." Tara noted that this helps her with writing as well.

Speaking of writing, Tara shared with me the fact that the character she played in her very first LARP experience is now the central character in a book she is working on. "I admit to being horrible at plot when it comes to novels, but very adept at writing developed characters."

Who Can Participate in LARP?

Explaining that most people can participate in "our game," Tara said, "We especially welcome new players who have never LARPed before." She says the requirements are "pretty minimal-just show up with a basic costume and weapon."

Tara pointed out you can find most basic questions answered in the new player section of the Seventh Kingdom website. Questions posted in the site's forum "usually" get answers within a matter of hours. "We have a dedicated staff and supportive players who help each other out," Tara said.

Is There an Interest and Future in LARP?

With fantasy everything being such a hot trend, I asked Tara to share her thoughts on how big the LARP interest really is right now. "That's complicated to answer." "Due to the incorporation of technology in mainstream life, things formerly considered 'ultra geeky' are now done by everyone." "Movies like 'Role Models' and television shows like 'Degrassi' and 'Wreckreation Nation' have done features on LARP."

She continued, "Seventh Kingdom is literally banking on the fact that the interactive game environment is a valuable idea to players." "We are a business and we treat everyone with professional courtesy." "So far we are correct-our player base generally grows more each month."

Tara said that while word-of-mouth is the primary means for recruiting new players, they are making a special effort to extend the invitation to people who have never taken part in LARP. She also pointed out, they appear at conventions like Game Core and Game X in Philadelphia as well, to establish a presence and generate interest.

I believe Tara is a going to be active in LARP for some time to come because I do not think the wonderful world of fantasy is going away any time soon! I think Tara has a niche that fits her quite nicely. So, best of luck in all your endeavors Tara, and many thanks for sharing some of your life with AC readers.

Source:Tara Clapper