Maria’s Virtual Intro – Eroticon 2017

Name 

Maria Sibylla Merian. I’m quite private about my IRL name on this blog, but when we meet in person, I will likely tell you. I’ll happily answer to Maria, however. On Twitter I’m @MSM1647.

What are you hoping to get out of Eroticon 2017‘?

I’m looking forward to meeting so many people in person that I know through Sinful Sunday, Twitter, and blogs. So many of you are absolute legends to me that I’ll be honest and say I’m a little nervous about it. I’m a bit shy at first, but I do warm up quickly. Please don’t be afraid to come say hello, I might just be working up my courage to talk to you. 

In addition to all the lovely people, I’m really looking forward to the sessions and learning everything I can.

This year’s schedule at Eroticon is pretty full on but which four sessions do you already have marked down as ones you want to attend?

Well, I have a tendency to change my mind at the last minute so I don’t have my full schedule down just yet. But there is no way I’m missing the Erotic Life Drawing session by Tabitha Rayne, or the Flash Fiction session with Malin James. (My storytelling motto often seems to be “why say in three words what you can say in thirty?” so I’m looking forward to learning a few things.) I’m also really interested in Girl on the Net’s talk, partly because I’m such a fan, I would like to listen to her talk about anything, but partly because  I think Pitching 101 is something that could be useful all over my life. There are also Kate Lister’s two talks and Innocent Lover Boy’s Blogging 102 and I also want to get my Kink Craft on. I’m not sure how I’m going to fit everything in!

Tell us one thing about yourself that not many people know?

I’m not that bothered about pets. They can be cute for a minute or two, and I know what noises to make to please you if you are their owner, but on the whole, I’d rather have a book than a dog or cat. Especially cat, I’m terribly allergic to cats and even more allergic to guinea pigs. (Didn’t see that one coming, did you?) I had a good friend in high school who had a pet guinea pig and I’d have to leave the house after about five minutes because my eyes would swell up and my throat would itch uncontrollably. I jokingly mentioned my guinea pig allergy on OKCupid once and I got a reply from probably the only adult guinea pig owner in my city. Needless to say, we did not get together but he was sweet about it.

Children, on the other hand, I find fascinating and hilarious (said with the freedom and delight of a person who isn’t responsible for any of her own).

If you made the papers, what would the headline be?

Woman found crushed in her attic by tower of books and art supplies.

If you could have one skill for free (I.e. without practice/time/effort) what would it be?

I’d be able to sing like Ella Fitzgerald. Barring that, I’d be fluent in more languages than just English and conflict avoidance. (I sometimes wonder if my inability to sing well is related to my inability to mimic accents or learn languages. To be fair, I haven’t tried *that* hard to learn another language.)

I love it when…

There are empty seats next to mine on a flight. I once flew from my hometown to another midwestern city and there were only two other passengers on the whole flight – they  happened to be my orthodontist and his assistant.

Visit the virtual meet and greet to find out who else will be at Eroticon 2017!