In the biggest news to EVER hit STEAM, I, ML Cooks Creator of STEAM has stepped down from headwriting duties effectively immediately.

I have passed my pen to the great Tara Smith who has been on the writing team for over a year a half. I took the liberty to interview her so readers can get more insight on the HW change and some quick previews for STEAM.

ML: Welcome to STEAM as sole head writer. How does it feel and can you give the readers a little info on you as far as your previous writing experiences.

TS: How it feels is indescribable...I feel so HONORED and excited at the same time. I have been on the STEAM staff for almost a year and a half and this is like a dream come true. And as for my previous writing experiences, I've done a lot in my lifetime, but most people know me as the Creator and HW of Life in Salem, a Days of Our Lives fic...I wrote that for years and over 400 episodes, with some good stories, some bad stories...recently, I relinquished control to STEAM EP, ML Cooks, in an ironic twist of fate

ML: A funny twist of fate it was. LIS was more of a "daily" series as STEAM is written as a weekly drama. How has that transition been and how does it feel to write a weekly series vs. a daily one?

TS: LIS was a daily series under me indeed and one great thing about STEAM being a weekly series is that it is ALOT less stressful. I think what burnt me out on LIS a lot was trying to get all those episodes out too fast...on STEAM, being weekly, I have more time to write the episodes as I please, which helps my writing. It's always ten times better when I feel the material and can get deep into it, without time as a big concern

ML: Indeed it is. So tell us, what kind of STEAM will we see under the pen of Tara Smith?

TS: Hmmmmm....well I do not want to deviate too much from the STEAM everyone knows and loves. But one thing we will see is that the pacing is slowed down and we will get into more emotional stories, even more so than STEAM already has this Season...but camp will definitely be around. I am going to try to keep the cast small, and we will see a lot of characters take central roles...the Williams, in particular, have some BIG things coming up. You had better keep tuning in because Sister Patterson especially is reaching her big breakdown. She is a centerpiece of STEAM and will stay that way under me

ML: AWESOME, we can't wait to read. I guess readers are wondering how or why did the change of Headwriters take place? ML was announced as sole head writer a few weeks ago on Life In Salem now comes this shocking revelation that you have assumed that same title at STEAM. What gives?

TS: Well honestly it began as a weird switch type of thing...ML and I agreed to switch soaps for awhile, but as we've gotten more into our writing, it's turned out to be more permanent than originally thought. I was very burnt out on LIS...I made too many mistakes and the show was falling apart, and my inspiration was just not there anymore. ML was very, very slowly becoming the same way with STEAM, just to a lesser degree. But on STEAM, I am a lot more into the episodes and the stories, and have a much clearer and hopefully better vision than I did on LIS...it's the same for him over there

ML: Usually with a new HW there are casting changes. Will this hold true for STEAM?

TS: Hmm...STEAM has been through a lot of casting changes this Season already; I don't want to go overboard. At this time, there are virtually no additions planned...but there will be some exits, some that were planned before ML even exited as HW. The exits will be awhile away, because I am spending time playing out all the beats of them and their stories before I send them off, but hopefully the cast won't be shaken up too much.

ML: Sounds like you have a good plan and that is STEAM is in good hands. We can't wait to see how you write the deziens of Pasadena. Any parting statements?

TS: Well, just stay tuned, because we have some big material coming up! Just to tease readers: Sister Patterson has her big downfall, and she gets to a point that we've never seen her before! Ria will also begin a huge emotional journey, and we'll see the climax of the Lauren story soon...and a new mysterious lady shows up in Pasadena! But that's all I can say for now!

On a side note: Episode 121, which will air this week, is a transtion episode between my work and Tara's work. Episode 122 begins Tara's sole reign. ML will still serve as the series Top Producer and creative consult. Readers will notice a seamless transition.

Stay Tuned!.........