We decided that since most of the BtVS writers have fanpages and 'clubs' that we should do one for Marti Noxon. It's tentatively titled 'The Marti Parti Page', but we may change that to 'Noxon's Rockin'. (We're also taking suggestions) Anyway, a while back, we contacted her via snailmail to ask her permission to do a site for her and she emailed us back and agreed. She was actually very flattered and nice about it. So, we decided to be brave and ask her to do a ten count Q&A.

Once again, she said yes and we mailed her the questions and she mailed us back. We don't have the site up yet, (damn internic is taking forever to register our name) but I got permission from the President to share this little interview with her from last week.

1) Is it true you named Riley Finn after your dog?

Yes, that's true. Joss loved the name Riley and we had kicked around things like 'Matthews' and 'Jones' to go with it, then I came in late one day and said that I had taken my dog 'Finn' to the vet and Joss said "'Riley Finn'!" We all liked it and I was giddy.

2) Were you sad to see Riley go?

I'm always sad to see anyone go, but Marc's departure was incredibly bad. We've all gotten to know him and he's just amazing, so yeah, it was pretty hard. I think he served his purpose though. Last season, he was the link Buffy needed to the Initiative and he was there for her when no one else was, and this season, he showed her a little about herself. It sometimes takes seeing what you do to other people to see who you truly are.

3) What can you tell us about Spike's future?

Oh, he's in for it. We're going to have so much fun with this and it's really powerful because his feelings are real and the gang, Buffy especially, will realize that there are exceptions to every rule. Most of our story arcs and plots have a 'moral' or say something big and this is no different. There's a reason we're going here and it's not just because we wanted to utilize James, which we do. It's because we have a plan.

4) Any chance of Willow and Tara smoochies on camera?

I'm sure we could if we wanted to, but it's been our goal since day one not to treat their relationship as a rating's gimmick and you can imagine how it would be billed if we did go that route. "Their love has overcome many obstacles, in a very special Buffy, Tara and Willow kiss!" No thanks. We find their relationship to be just as gratifying to us as viewers without exploiting it in any way. And sadly, it would be exploited. We can put Anya and Xander or Buffy and Riley in bed and nothing happens, but if we tried that, we'd be plastered all over the news.

5) Can you dish Xander?

He's got an upcoming episode where he has to make a really startling choice and we see his growth as a character really well in that episode. I'm probably the most proud of Xander through the years. Here's a guy who did 'okay' in school, who overcame a dysfunctional family, and moved on to score a decent job and a nice place to live. Xander's a very real character. He doesn't have super powers, he doesn't always get the girl, but he's taking care of himself in every sense of the word and that balances the show really well.

6) Is it true that this is the last season of Buffy?

You can never tell this early in the game. We always end every season as if it could be the last. There's an actor's strike looming on the horizon and you never know who might want to break their contract or which network may want to swoop down and buy the rights to the show. So, I honestly don't know. I can tell you that we have ideas that could take the show on for many years to come, but our actors are getting older and getting film deals and if we keep them tied to Buffy for too long, they may not get to capitalize on their abilities in other formats. We'd like to do at least seven seasons, though, and it could definitely happen.

7) Do you have a favorite character and couple?

I enjoy writing for all the characters. I find it easier to write angst and sexy episodes, but I sometimes zing a pretty funny Xander line. I enjoy the ensemble and they are all pretty easy to relate to. As for my favorite couple, I was a huge fan of Buffy and Angel, Xander and Cordy, Willow and Oz, all of the main core couples over the years. And I really enjoy all the current pairings, too. Of course, I'd like to shake them up and put this person with this person, until someone reminds me that it's not a soap opera. Oh well.

8) Is Joyce gonna die?

Probably one day, Joyce will die. So will everyone else. Was that evasive? Sorry, I can't really answer anything that direct because my answer could spoil something one way or the other.

9) When is the next crossover?

I think we're backing off of the crossovers. It was a scheduling nightmare when we were trying to send Sarah to work on Angel and David to work on Buffy. There may be some minor character crossovers one day, but Buffy and Angel are pretty much separate and need to stand on their own legs. We can't always keep the shows connected because there's a chance that one will end before the other and if we kept them joined at the hip, when one goes down, it may pull the other down with it. And Joss was sending a very clear message last season with The Yoko Factor. When we broke that story, I remember him saying that he wanted a clean cut with Buffy and Angel. No more ties, no more bad feelings, just a brief conversation and an amicable parting of ways. The characters are truly not in each other's worlds anymore, and while that may change at any moment, we don't plan on complicating the lives they want to rebuild by crossing them over. I'd personally like to see Xander cross over and complicate things for Cordelia, or Giles cross over and complicate things for Wesley. Or how about Tara and Willow crossing over, getting into some magickal mayhem, and shaking up everything.

10) Do you go online?

I'll probably be visiting my very own site that you guys create everyday. Heck, I'll probably make it my homepage and show everyone who walks into my office. I may even make printouts and pass those around. I don't go to the buffy.com page very often because I had a really bad experience there. I know, I shouldn't take it to heart when someone says I suck, but it stings and I just can't enjoy "lurking" there when there is so much negativity. It truly can affect your creativity and since I do this for a living, I need to stay positive. And I know of a few
occasions where certain posts have driven someone to tears. I respect all opinions, but it gets really nasty there and I don't want to be involved in that. Don't get me wrong, a majority of the people are absolutely amazing, but I think a few others are there just to tear the morale down.

Wow, thank you so much for making the site and for devoting a little piece of the web to me! I can't wait to see the finished produce and I will be sending everyone I know there as well. These were great questions!

Love,
Marti