FAQs

Q. What is Demmy?
A. Demmy is a little girl. A perfectly ordinary human little girl, just like anyone else. All right, fine. Officially she is 1/2 human, 1/4 elf, 1/4 dragon--IF you want to get technical. Originally she was 1/2 gargoyle 1/2 human/elf but that changed about 3 years ago (See Demmy's Evolution for more details). She has soft blue scales and a reptillian tail, which is why Connie keeps calling her a "lizard"--But I assure you she is quite warm blooded and does not eat flies. For all intents and purposes, however, Demmy is just an ordinary seven-year-old girl with an overactive imagination.

Q. If her lineage never comes up then why not make her a normal human child?
A. I'm in love with the way she was designed. She's been like that for several years now and I'm rather used to it. Anyway, in a world with talking dogs, cat people, and praying mantises walking around, what's wrong with her being blue and having a tail? It makes her stand out. I think it's endearing. I tried making her human and her looks to me just came across as boring. So I stuck with the lizard-girl thing. Next question.

Q. Why do you have lizard children, talking dogs, rainbow-haired cats, and normal humans all walking around together in the same continuum? Why didn't you make them all human? (Or at least all animals?)
A. I pulled them all from different "series". I didn't change their design because they are more endearing and memorable as they are. In my opinion having them all humans would be boring. As for all animals? I like the system I have in which the main characters are animals, elves, and other odd things, and all the "extras" are human. It lets you know immediately who to pay attention to, and it makes my favorite characters stand out.

Q. But then Candace is a main character, why is she human?
A. Because Candace is meant to be "normal".

Q. What color is Illiana's hair? Where does she get her hair dye?
A. Her hair is clear, actually, and it just looks rainbow to us because it's crystalline, like a prism--it reflects in all different colors. It's almost that oil on water color, that kind of pearlescent. It's not dyed. It's her natural hair color. Because it is. I know hair doesn't come in that color. No, it's not dyed. Yes, I'm sure, I created her. I told you it's not dyed!

Q. Illiana is a cat, right? And her parents are both cats. Why does she have a blue little girl with a tail for a daughter and a human son? Are they adopted or something?
A. Yes, they're adopted. Demmy was adopted as an infant and has no recollection of her real parents. Randy was adopt when Demmy was almost 5.

Q. Why were Randy and Demmy put up for adoption?
A. Demmy's parents couldn't keep her. They meant to put her up for adoption even before she was born. Randy's parents died.

Q. How old is Demmy?
A. Demmy and Candace are seven, Toby is eight, Randy is three, Illiana is thirty-four, and Chloe (Candace's mom) is thirty-eight.

Q. What's Demmy's full name?
A. Demitria Nurise Cothran

Q. Isn't that your last name?
A. Yes.

Q. Where is Sunnet Hills located?
A. In California, near Ventura which is about 50 miles north of Los Angeles. No it's not a real place, it's modeled after Ojai with a little Ventura and a dash of Oxnard thrown in. Location-wise, if you know the area it's "in Ojai".

Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A. Um. . . . out of my imagination? Sometimes I role-play with, or as, my characters with my friends. We take them to Disneyland or on hiking trips with us and strips are sometimes modeled after things that Demmy and her friends have "actually" said and done. Other times I will read a joke or short story or hear a phrase or witness something that has potential to make a good comic strip or punch line. Sometimes I just think of something out of nowhere and write it down or make a realization. I write all my ideas down so that when I can't think of something I have a backlog of ideas to work with. I have a journal full of sentences that are potential jokes and sketches and short stories and such. I also often have a running dialogue in my head while I drive, walk, or don't listen to my history teacher. I talk to my characters sometimes, and try out new scenarios and stories in my head all the time. I also picture them a lot (the characters) when I am trying to fall asleep.

Q. Why is Demmy's favorite superhero "Nebula"?
A. Because I wanted an excuse to work her into the strip.

Q. Did you read a lot of Calvin and Hobbes?
A. Yes. Yes, I did.

Q. Are your characters modeled after real people?
A. Um. . . No. Not really. A little bit. Demmy is a little bit like me, she looks a bit like my little sister and for the realistic pictures I draw of her I use Angela (my sister) as a model. Illiana used to be my ideal, what I wanted to be "when I grew up". At the time I created her I loved rainbows and I loved cats, so naturally she was a rainbow-haired cat. She was also my first avatar but she's grown rather sappy and motherly since then. Illiana is also modeled a bit after my mother because that's the only mom I've ever had. Connie use to be my avatar also. She's different from me, but she's me in a way too. She's a little like I was in Jr. High, (But I was nicer). Toby is every 8-year-old boy I've ever met. Candace looks quite a bit like my cousin Aja, but acts nothing like her Candace is what I would consider a "normal" little girl. . . So. . . what do you think? Did I model them after real people? I dunno.

Q. How did you learn to draw?
A. When I was about 12 I use to tape episodes of Animaniacs and pause the screen on a shot I liked, then I'd draw it. That was about when I really learned to draw well. I suppose, though, I've always been into creating my own characters and writing stories and drawing stick figures and things.

Q. Is Demmy some kind of evil demon creature from Hell trying to ensnare young children for the Devil?
A. WHAT? NO! I can't believe I've been accused of this but I have! No, Demmy has absolutely nothing to do with Satan or any other religion for that matter! Don't be demented!

Q. Why do Demmy and Illy have tails and other animals, such as Connie, Kaitlynn, and Dgglfrggts don't?
A. Illy and Nebula are anthropomorphized cats, Demmy was just designed that way (see Demmy's Evolution). Connie was first designed in a Disney-ish style and Kaitlynn was made, more or less, to go with Connie. Dgglfrggts is a PRAYING MANTIS. ^_^

Did that answer all your questions? If not e-mail me and I'll try to answer the best I can. If I get asked something enough it'll go on the list. Don't be shy, I'll answer almost anything. Just about the only question I won't answer is: "How would you like to own a brand-new Mercedes for zero down, low APR financing, and just $595 a month for fifteen months?"