1. Mundane Name: Christine (Chris) Taylor

2. Mundane Job: Industry Analyst (basically a business writer and consultant for the technology industry)

3. Persona name: Caitlin Christiana Wintour

4. How did you come up with your name? I just liked the name Caitlin. I picked Christiana to echo my real name Christine. I picked Wintour because I absolutely love Lady de Winter’s name from The Three Musketeers. So I anglicized it to Wintour. (My persona is Anglo-Saxon.)

5. Where and when does your persona live? Early 12 century in the Cheviot Hills of Northumbria, England.

6. What is your Known World Location? Shire of al-Sahid, Kingdom of Caid

7. What kingdom do you consider to be your home? Caid has always been home; first in the Baron of Angels and later in the Shire of al-Sahid.

8. How long have you played? About 12 years total. I was first in from 1984-1990 when I left following a divorce from Sir (later Count) Cristian. I came back on 2003 or 2004 (I forget).

9. How did you get started? I first heard about it from my D&D group but did not join at that time. Later I found out that a co-worker was involved. I got the information from her and my husband and I attended our first event, a Collegium. I left in 1990 and joined the Renaissance Faire, which I also loved doing. After many changes at Faire I decided to return to the SCA. I still wish I could do both, but it’s hard to do both well.

10. Why did you join? I love Tolkienesque fantasy, English history, and role playing. The SCA was right up my alley.

11. Have you registered a name? Yes, Caitlin Christiana Wintour.

12. Have you registered a device? Argent, semy of roses gules, barbed and seeded proper, two scarpes purpure. It’s pretty!

13. What awards have you been granted? Shire awards, AA, Dolphin, Legion of Courtesy, Harp Argent (costuming), Lux Caidis (dramatic performance), L’Honneur de la Chanson (dramatic performance), Laurel (dramatic performance). I sense a theme here.

14. How many events do you attend each year? I average 1-2 events a month, including multi-day wars.

15. What is the best event you have ever been to? Hm… I don’t know, I usually enjoy them no matter what. I guess I would say Great Western War 2009 for pure relaxation and fun. It was completely relaxing, magical around the campfire at night, and way too short. GWW 2010 was wonderful in a different way as I was elevated to the Laurel. I was alternately excited, stunned and terrified, and I will never forget the amazing job my household (Cliar cu Buidhe) did to put on my vigil and celebrate the elevation with me.

16. What is the worst event you have ever been to? Not a one! Even if it seemed like it would be bad it turned out fun. An early Potrero War (pre-1990) was nearly rained out, but a bunch of us settled around a bonfire and had a GREAT time.

17. What event do you make it to every year? My Shire’s Anniversary of course!

18. What event do you refuse to go to? None really, although there are distant events that I usually won’t make a day trip for.

19. Who is your favorite person to hang at an event with? People in my household and from my Shire. And my son when he comes.

20. What activities do you participate in? Dramatic performance naturally, mostly storytelling and dramatic poetry. I write poetry and prose, teach at Collegium, and run the bardic track. I’m also the Chronicler of my Shire newsletter Scorpion Tales and Ars Caidis.

21. What activity would you like to learn? I’m learning tablet weaving and would love to learn period embroidery design.

22. Are you a marshal? No.

23. How many tents have you had destroyed at events? None.

24. Has your garb ever caught on fire? Nope.

25. Have you ever woke up in a strange person’s tent? Perish the thought!

26. Do you have a pavilion? Yes, a Panther Regent 12×12 with a dining fly. My previous pavilion was a Panther French Double Bell Wedge. Do I put them up any more? Yes, at wars.  I can’t imagine camping at war without my own space.

27. Are you a peer? I’m a baby Laurel.

28. Do (did) you ever want to be a peer? I very much wanted to be a Laurel but I refused to make myself crazy about it. “If it happens, it happens” was my motto.

29. Is a coincidence that peer rhymes with beer? Not for the knights.

30. Are you a squire, apprentice or protégé? No, and never have been.

31. Who would you like to be squired, apprenticed or protégé’d to? I never wanted to be an apprentice. It’s just not my personality. I am willing to take an apprentice but I don’t mind if that doesn’t happen.

32. What is your war cry? A loud snarl. It startles people.

33. Have you ever been pulled off of the field for your safety? No.

34. What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in armor? Just that I wanted to be a heavy fighter for about 5 minutes. Then I tried on a helmet and that was the end of that.

35. Have you read Corpora? Er… only when specific questions come up.

36. Circlets, how do you feel? I love them but don’t own one. I can never find what I want at a price I can pay without screaming in agony.

37. What household(s) do you belong to? Cliar cu Buidhe and I remain close to my Shire.

38. If you could change one thing about the SCA, what would it be? More widespread courtesy. Many individuals are very courteous, lovely people. Others, not so much.

39. What is your favorite part of the SCA? Color, pageantry, creativity, a shared sense of wonder, period arts, humor, courage, beauty. I love the SCA.

40. What is/are your SCA goal(s) for the next 7 years? Finish my A&S 50 Persona Challenge, mentor willing victims – er, students – in dramatic performance, upload digital Ars Caidis issues to the kingdom newsletter website, learn to read Old English, grow more and more period in clothing and encampment.