Where Are They Now: My Little Dashie author ROBCakeran53

Moving ahead with our "Where are they now?" series, we've tracked down a number of the harder-to-find characters that had been requested for updates, and are awaiting interviews and confirmations from them. Fortunately, this edition is for a man who isn't actually that hard to find, as he is still in-fact an active member of the community.

In September of 2011, one of the most well-known and widely-known fanfics ever created by the fandom was released, called "My Little Dashie". It was then reworked into countless animations, live action videos, parodies, and even a Visual Novel. Its author is a man who goes by the name ROBCakeran53.

Here's what Rob has been up to in the 7 years since MLD premiered.

Let's do this Q & A style, because we're pretty lazy.

HN: Sir, thank you for agreeing to give everyone an update on how life's been going for you since the fanfic dropped almost 7 years ago.
What's your career progress/status?

RC: Okay, so career progress, I've been going on four years with my current employer at the Oakland County International Airport. I'm basically a line tech, which my "job description" is I move airplanes, fuel airplanes, and brown nose to multi-millionaires. The joy of my airport is that it's non-commercial, so it's all private jets, charter jets, freight, and general aviation. I've been working with my father for over seven years on getting my AnP license, that's basically a mechanics license to work on airplanes.

That pic is of me riding the nose of a engine-less Cessna 172, that we had to move from on end of the airfield to the other. We only had 100lbs of weights with us, which wasn't enough, so I had to sit on it as well to keep the plane from flipping backwards and dragging its tail.

HN: Have you had any major life changes/events since the fic released?

RC: There's not been any real life changes since MLD. Been working on all my vehicles that are junk and trying to keep them on the road.

HN: Do you have any current projects (pony or non, just whatever youre working on)?

RC: Current projects, I'm still writing pony stories! Currently my latest fic that has been well received is The Whittler. https://www.fimfiction.net/story/247087/the-whittler
I have several other more recent one shots, and I've also begun doing commissions! Sadly, it's been very slow, but that's also a blessing I guess.

HN: What is your current involvement in the fandom like?

RC: Con-wise, I am still going, I missed Bronycon this year but I'm going next year for sure, since it's the last year. I do Trotcon every year, and will until they give it up (although they're starting a new con, called Buckeye Con).
I participate in a few panels, mainly about writing, and I bring along typewriters with me! Quills and Sofa's the last two years have had the pleasure to have most of my machines set up for people to use. I'm currently up to now 14 manual units and a few electric ones.

I also work a lot with the Bar Cast.

Another thing I do is weekly meet ups with some of the other local fimfic writers in my area. I live in the lower peninsula of Michigan, and it's surprising how many other authors live near me. So we usually grill out at my barn in the nice weather, and come winter we go to some local bars. We've started to have other non-writers join us, which is fine.

Oh, here's a shot of last year's Trotcon panel where I had my typewriters out.

I don't have any real pics of us hanging out, but just picture a half dozen people sitting around on old folding chairs around a twenty year old propane grill that's been patched together in manners that would be illegal in some states.

HN: How many people (if any) still bring it up to you?

RC: I still get shit for MLD, and I welcome it, but people best expect I give them shit in return. I don't go around saying who I am, enough of my friends at conventions do that for me. It's great to meet people that appreciated what I did, and helped them get into writing. It's a special kind of feeling, one that I'll always be glad to experience.

Oh, and people get confused by my age, because when you see me walking (or waddling/stumbling depending on the situation), wearing work slacks, suspenders, and a old red and black plad hat, they think I"m in my 40's, but I'm actually in my late 20's.

27, if you wanna get down to it.

Also single, so any ladies out there, wink.

I don't own a fedora, so I can't tip one.

Oh also, I'm not fucking dead.

HN: Thanks for talking with us and updating the fans at large. Glad to hear you're not fucking dead. Hope to see you at the next con!