Hi! Argh sorry I kind of signed up in a hurry and now I am writing my letter in a hurry but that's ALL FINE ISN'T IT (no it's not). I am actually mostly C&Ping from previous letters because er I'm sorry, my tastes remain embarrassingly the same. :( THANK YOU SO MUCH author! I don't deserve you!
The Ladies of Grace Adieu - Susanna Clarke
Miriam Montefiore, David MontefioreOK, so one of these people doesn't even technically appear in the story? But I would very much like a story about well-off 18th-century British Jews in the fantastic world the stories are set in, and what Anglo-Jewry thinks about magic and magicians (and vice-versa). I would especially like to hear more about Miriam Montefiore - basically anything you can think of for her to do will make me happy!
If you offered this one, don't know Thing One about Anglo-Jewry (or any kind of Jewry) and don't have time to swot up, DO NOT FEAR! I also like comedy! The Adventures Of Tom Brightwind And David Montefiore Ticking Off 18th-Century Historical Figures is a great setup and I would love to read more in the same vein.
True Grit (2010 film)
Mattie Ross, LaBoeuf1) I WANT THEM TO KISS.
Now that that's out of the way: so, I like that they both have big ideals and are proud and excited about going on giant adventures. I like that Mattie is very devout and religiously literate (as you'd expect from a 19th-century American Presbyterian), but that her primary motivation seems to be vindictiveness, and I like that LaBoeuf thinks of himself as a lean mean tracking machine but spends so much time checking out his reflection in his spurs.
I wouldn't enjoy reading at length about Mattie brooding over her disability; I would love to read about the secret advantages of having one arm as a young woman banker. If you're uncomfortable with a romance between Mattie and LaBoeuf, I would be really keen on gen about Mattie taking over the bank she owns by the epilogue (book canon), and generally carrying on being awesome and completely self-assured to the point of epic stubbornness.
Basically, Mattie is hilariously single-minded and has a giant blind spot about herself and seems quite happy. I would like to read more of that.
Hebrew BibleFirst of all I am really really into the book of Judith (see
number 3 here for my Dear Author letter about her!), but other favourites include Rebecca, Tzipporah, Jonah (actually having typed that I would love to read about an awkward grumpy female Jonah, omg), Vashti and Esther (seasonally appropriate!). I tend to prefer the mythic-type-stories to the historic-type-stories, and I really really love AUs.
The X-Files I saw this on the signup list and went "aww, 90s television, what the hell!" My favourite episodes by a long, long shot are Bad Blood and The Unnatural, and basically I like Scully and Mulder being giant dorks who like each other but can't resist needling each other for fun. I would love that dynamic at "Mulder Hosts A Purim Party (And It All Goes Wrong)", "Scully Feels A Bit Bad That Mulder's Family Are All Dead And Tries To Host A Seder (And It All Goes Wrong)", "'Diversity Day' At The FBI Pointedly Coincides With Hanukkah, Leaving Everyone Grumpy Until They Go Get Drunk", etc. Basically character comedy please, and if there is bonus Krycek and/or Skinner that would be amaaaazing.
GENERALLY:
I like: self-confident active (and activist) women, men who like active activist women, women who like each other, platonic affectionate friendships, jokes, explosions, dancing, casual multiculturalism, angry idealism, optimistic history, strong settings and places, good alcohol, good music, sex comedy, danger, road trips, bars in space stations, everyday details, arguing, making out in libraries, bluffing, dressing up (disguises, formal wear, costumes, etc), heists, kissing, Bruce Springsteen, ragtag bunches of ____, trains, revolutionaries, progressive religion, impromptu music sessions, globe-hopping, party guests with secret agendas, pocket pistols.