Who DAt? It's TheLaurenVerse!

Have you ever seen a staff or volunteer symbol or ambassador badge and wondered "Who DAt?" Welcome to the interview series that's hittin' DA streets to find out more about these very deviants.

Featuring a Wild Card question which is selected at random from a pool of questions. If you have a suggested random/fun question to add to the list, please feel free to comment here.

Ahoy! If you'd be so kind, what is your preferred name? Also, do tell, what is the delightfully devious story of your username?

You can call me Lauren! I changed my username a few years back to rebrand myself as an adult, and I have always been into epic transmedia storytelling like Marvel and Buffy, so I exist in the Lauren Cinematic Universe, or TheLaurenVerse.

How did you first discover DeviantArt and how did it connect to your heArt?

I discovered DeviantArt when I was writing a novel in college, and I wanted reference material so I could better picture my characters and their environments. I held off on making an account for way too long, but when I saw how much easier favouriting was than bookmarking, I was a convert.

As an admin of DA, what is your title and what are your responsibilities?

My official title is the Head of Content. My unofficial title is the Knower of Devious Things. I've had many roles here, such as Person Who Makes the CEO Go to Places at Times and also Junior Product Manager Tasked With Ironing Out Spaghetti Problems into Delicious Lasagna Solutions. Now, I'm the Writer of Words, which includes everything from longform content to microcopy. The latter means I'll be tasked with naming a button or menu, so I'll tap my chin, stroke my imaginary beard, meditate, consult with the crystals, and then proudly run to the requestor with a parchment displaying a single word... "Submit"!

Generally, what does your day to day look like in regard to DA?

I tumble out of bed, stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition. And I yawn and stretch and try to come to life. Really, though, I wake my kid, we do our sun salutations, get ready for school, and often I have an early call. I try to make sense on the call as my cup of ambition kicks in. Drive to school, return, see what words need to be written. I prioritize them (based on date, not on how fun they will be to write), and then I get to work, hopping into slacks and replying to emails as needed. When I write a fun one, I thank the requestor for letting me be unhinged. When I write an important one, I nod thoughtfully, hoping deviants will now better understand a feature or an error. I pet cats, have my Alexa remind me to stretch my legs, and basically repeat until it's school pickup time.

Was art an integral part of your childhood? If so, how?

Nothing was more fun/holy/full of potential than a blank notebook. I've been writing stories for as long as I can remember. In the '90s, I had a webcomic, but back then, you were legally required to have one when you signed up for internet. I also always loved art projects, but tactile ones, like knitting, clay, and model building. It's still an integral part of my adult life!

Who or what is your inspiration in life and/or art?

I am inspired by whimsy. Whenever I read a great book, hear great music, or, heck, ride a particularly meaningful theme park ride, I'm infused with the desire to create. I want to tap into the happiness I felt and make that happen to other people.

Of your own work, which has the most meaning to you and why?

I was really chuffed with how the Slender Man story went down back in 2013. I'm not a big fan of pranking people, but it was hopefully harmless to convince people that Slender Man had come for me.

The classic superpowers (flight, invisibility, super strength, etc.) are no longer available. What wildly random superpower would you choose and why?

That my life would be gamified. Rather than wait 30 years to see the benefits of brushing my teeth twice a day, doing so would give me a gleaming shine and increase my score (displayed in the upper right of my HUD). Sweeping my house would give me more than the satisfaction of clean floors (BORING). My Neighborhood Respect Score would go up 10 points. A series of sprites would very quickly lift me into the air in celebration.

Is there a movie/TV series/documentary that you just can't stop thinking about?

I was late to the game on Gravity Falls. It's hilarious. There should be more shows that ingenious and funny. I'm rewatching them and listening to the creator's podcast about it to get BTS insights. At last year's Dragon Con, I went as Billi Cypher (female Bill Cypher).

https://www.deviantart.com/stash/0upfufcjque

I was going to go as Graunt Stan (female Grunkle Stan) this year, but I tore my ACL playing soccer, so I'm going as Spike in a Wheelchair (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

What music gets you into your groove? (Specific groups/artists?)

For a writing groove, I have to listen to songs without words like Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones soundtrack), Bear McCreary (Walking Dead, God of War, tons more), and one year I was in the top 0.5% of listeners for Inon Zur (Dragon Age 2). For a dancing groove, I can't stop listening to Epic by Jorge Rivera-Herrans.

A book that had a powerful impact on you?

For nonfiction, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why, by Amanda Ripley. For fiction, Illuminae by Amie Kaufman.

What is a dish that when consumed always provides you with a sense of pure joy?

A grilled cheese with french fries, pickles, a Coke, and a lemon. Heaven.

What question or topic do you wish you'd get to discuss more often? And, please, share a few highlights about it!

Saying I am a fan of honest communication sounds like a dating-app answer, but I am. I get irrationally frustrated when someone misunderstands me due to their assumptions about my intent, rather than listening to what I actually said. I'm looking at YOU, unnamed corporation who I recently provided a recommendation for how to improve your app, and who replied to me stating that I was not eligible for a refund. Where did I say refund? I gave you product advice! I plan to be mad about this for another few weeks.

What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Hydrate or die-drate.

Wild Card: Where would you most like to go, be it on Earth, outer space, or a fantasy?

I mean, saying Zermatt, Switzerland sounds pretty mid when compared to all of outerspace or fantasy. But I still think Zermatt, Switzerland. I've been, but I want to go again and just be.

Thank you for your devious time today! Do you have any final thoughts to share?

Be excellent to each other.

Who DAt? She is Lauren. She is @TheLaurenVerse!

Who DAt? It's DAt List!