I'm in my 40s and I live in the Pacific Northwest. I also have a Tumblr blog, called Tanista's Purple Dragon. Check it out for further insights into my fanfic, and anything else I fancy.

Regarding my (classic) MacGyver AU series, Domestic Adventures:

In canon, MacGyver was an only child and, apart from his grandfather Harry, had no living members of his family left. But what if there was an older sister, one that had moved away from Minnesota to attend college in the West, got married, and had two kids? My AU series examines what life might have been like for Mac if he became legal guardian to his teenage niece, Rebecca Ellen (Becky) Grahme, after she loses her parents and older brother in a car accident. No matter what the challenges and adventures are, good or bad, as family Mac and Becky face them together.

The philosophy behind my series is this: While I adored the main character and found him handsome and sexy in many ways, I didn't think it right that he would be so much the loner. Nor was it right that he grew up as an only child. Mac needed more family than just his grandfather, so I imagined him having an older sister with two kids of her own, with Mac developing a particularly close tie to his niece. Taking care of her when she lost the rest of her family would've, I imagined, given the character a deeper, human element, and a more concrete reason for doing what he does. It also might've made him more able to make a long-term commitment to someone, and add a more feminine balance to the show than any short-lived romantic relationship.

I admit she was me in a sense- but only at the very first part of her creation, long ago. I didn't give her his unique talent or penchant for adventure, since I didn't want to turn her into any sort of sidekick. He'd go off and have his adventures, with her around as emotional support while she attends school and pursues her own interests. But when Becky needs love and advice in turn as she navigates the dangers of his world- along with the more ordinary challenges that come with adolescence- Mac is always there to provide it.

I've thought of her more as MacGyver's opposite, but in a complementary way- more like left brain/right brain than mirror image: artistic to his scientific, studious to his athletic, thoughtful to his active, that sort of thing. They balance each other- Mac is tall, strong and capable, but has an inner vulnerability (one of the reasons I fell in love with the character in the first place); Becky is petite and looks fragile and vulnerable, but has her own inner strength and capability. People might think of her as his shadow since she is so quiet and shy at first, but as time passes she acquires more self-confidence, trying to find her own way in his world.

Due to MacGyver's unusual occupation their family life is far from typical but they do take care of each other, in ways large and small. Because they are independent people, it's therefore become important to be able to touch base with each other. Mac and Becky's relationship is, then, one more of equals than guardian-ward or parent-child, based on trust, love and mutual respect.

So the stories in this series are, basically, fanfic that includes a character I believed should've been on the series to begin with. Over time it became a lens I could use to view the series with a different eye, imagining my OC's reactions to the episodes, her critical views of Mac's behavior, and so on.

Here's a timeline of my stories and important dates in the AU to keep things straight:

1945: Michael David Grahme born.

1948: Allison Cassandra born to Ellen and James MacGyver.

1951: Angus MacGyver (Mac) born.

1967: Allison marries Michael in Oregon while attending university.

1968: Christopher James (Chris) born to Allison and Michael.

1972: Rebecca Ellen (Becky) born. At First Sight

1972: Late at night, MacGyver tells his infant niece a story. The Princess and the Knight (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1974: A little miracle brightens MacGyver's day. Sunshine Amid the Gloom (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1978: Scientifically proving the existence of a certain Jolly Old Elf on the most magical night of the year. Or, Mac and Becky wait up for Santa. 'Twas the Night

1980: MacGyver comes to the rescue for Becky's eighth birthday. Kitchen Magic

1981: Nine-year-old Becky is comforted by her Uncle Mac after a tough day in school. Questions Without Answers, Love Without Question (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1982: Ten-year-old Becky introduces her Uncle Mac to her imaginary kingdom. The Secret Garden

1985 (Christmas)/1986: When Becky loses her parents and brother in a car accident, MacGyver must decide if becoming his niece's legal guardian despite his dangerous lifestyle is worth the risk. Family Resemblance Part I

1986: The perils of being short in a tall person's home. Just One More Inch

1986: Becky discovers MacGyver's various scars for the first time. Kiss and Make It Better (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1986: Becky deals with old fears and new anxieties as she faces the first challenge of her life with MacGyver. First Day

1986: Harry Jackson visits his grandson and great-granddaughter in L.A. for Christmas.

1987: MacGyver and Becky have a conversation during his surprise birthday party. The Best Present

1987: Pete's grumpy with two broken legs. MacGyver's ready to climb the walls. Fortunately Becky's got an idea for keeping the peace. Idle Hands and Homework

1987: MacGyver's facing a pretty big challenge in his life. So big he finds himself doing something he's never done before. That's What Friends Are For

1987: When MacGyver has amnesia, the only thing that can restore his memory might just be a softly-spoken niece. Close Your Eyes and Remember (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1987: A tragic accident. A man in a cabin mourns the loss of one good friend. Another pulls him back from the brink. Let me bid you farewell

1987: Becky finds something special under the tree at the Foundation's Christmas party. Gifts That Keep On Giving (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1988: Becky's birthday night on the town with friends turns into an evening of excitement and danger. (Not So) Sweet Sixteen

1988: What does MacGyver do when his niece is away? Absence Makes the Heart

1988: Becky accidentally witnesses a mob hit. Can MacGyver keep his niece safe from the assassins after her until she testifies? What Becky Saw

1988: Making wishes and sharing dreams- that's what being together is all about. Wishes and Dreams (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1988: MacGyver tries to get Becky to relax before her concert. Ice Cream? Seriously?

1989: Becky provides late night comfort- and a lullaby- when MacGyver has a nightmare. All Through the Night (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1989: Christmas Eve in a hospital. MacGyver wonders what life might be like if he never had his niece to took after. With divine help, he gets an answer. Threads in a Tapestry

1990: Becky comes to terms with losing her Grandpa Harry and aids MacGyver in recovering from his own near-death experience. How Can Spring Take Heart

1990: After Harry's funeral, MacGyver and Becky discover something special- the first thing Mac ever fixed- in an attic trunk. Cowboys and Duct Tape

1990: Becky graduates from high school; later, while MacGyver's away on assignment, she's kidnapped by Murdoc. Family Resemblance Part II

1990: "Deleted scenes" set sometime between Family Resemblance Part II and In the Wee Small Hours. Recovery and Return (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1990: While dealing with Murdoc-induced nightmares and insomnia, Becky and MacGyver comfort each other after her kidnapping. In the Wee Small Hours

1991: Never get between a troubleshooter's sleep-deprived niece and her morning dose of caffeine. Caffeine Fiend, or Tea and No Sympathy

1991: Murdoc's come up with a foolproof plan to beat MacGyver once and for all, through his own dreams and nightmares. Only one thing stands between the assassin and his target: a certain plucky niece with dreams of her own. Silhouettes of Chaos (Cowritten with deepandlovelydark)

1992: Nikki Carpenter shares her shower with a certain handsome troubleshooter. A Steamy Encounter

1993: When ten seconds are all MacGyver has left to solve a problem. The Countdown (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1994: Jack Dalton's new bar is a great success. Too bad he can't hold his liquor, though! Mojitos and Nojitos

1995: MacGyver, Nikki and Becky embark together on a whole new adventure- but only if they can make it through rush hour first! Baby You Can Drive My Car (part of Gather Moments While You May); James Ian Harrison (Jimmy) born to Mac and Nikki.

1996: MacGyver contemplates the latest trap he's found himself in. Entrapment (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1996: Celia Anne born to Mac and Nikki.

1997: A visit to an emergency room. You Never Hear the Bullet (part of Gather Moments While You May)

1978, 1986, 1998: Three conversations concerning MacGyver's first name. What's In A Name? (part of Gather Moments While You May)

WITHOUT SPECIFIC DATES

(Could happen anytime over the course of the series)

Becky seeks comfort when her uncle's away. Security Blanket

The musical side of the MacGyver-Grahme household. Duet (part of Gather Moments While You May)

Two ways in which Mac and Becky are there for each other. Homecomings (part of Gather Moments While You May

OCCURRING IN OTHER AUs:

1991: Becky dreams MacGyver has become a vampire. But is it really just her imagination? A Little Bite

In a world where everyone's soul is visible as an animal form, no one is alone. Not even when you lose your family. My Soul's Got Wings (Crossover with His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, currently posted only on AO3)

In which MacGyver makes several poor choices and remains in his hometown, eventually joined by Becky. Then one day a mysterious Englishman stirs everything up. Second Chances series (Co-created with deepandlovelydark. Most of our stories are posted on AO3, but we now have a community here: /community/MacGyver-Second-Chances/129082/3/0/1/)

The pre- and post-apocalyptic adventures of an ingenious troubleshooter, his twin brother the intrepid Air Force Colonel, and their niece. Ad Astra (Crossover series between my classic MacGyver AU Domestic Adventures and Stargate SG-1)

A ship that travels in space and time? Engineering, adventures and wonder around every corner? Sounds like Mac and Becky's idea of heaven. Back in Time for Tea (Crossover with Doctor Who, currently posted only on AO3)

1995/1895: In which Becky goes searching underground for her Uncle Mac, and gets more than she bargained for. That Deep Romantic Chasm, or Journey to the Center of the Neath (Crossover series with Fallen London/Sunless Sea, co-created with deepandlovelydark, currently posted only on AO3)

Feedback is welcome for all my stories! I hope you enjoy!

My advice to anyone writing is this:

As human beings we are all storytellers of one sort or another. If you have a story that you feel needs to be told in your favorite fictional universe- with or without pairings, AUs, OCs, long stories or short- then do it. Don't worry what others will think once you publish. Your skills will improve with practice. Your story is about something you love and that's what matters most. Write your story. Add your thread to the great tapestry of stories that tell the bigger one of who we are collectively and our place in the larger universe.

And most importantly, have fun! Don't stress over it too much.