2. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
I would tell her to trust that her writing will be valued. I’m a generally pessimistic person and I tend to believe that negative things will happen more frequently than positive things. So, when I self-published my first novel I was surprised when I saw positive, thoughtful reviews that suggested people had really connected with my writing and the messages I was trying to convey.

Another piece of advice I would give my younger writing self would be to take advantage of connections and support in the writing community. In the past few years I’ve attended one writing conference, joined a local community writers’ circle, and connected with writers at literary café and library events, and I’ve benefitted so much from these experiences. One thing I regret is not starting those networking efforts earlier, and now with the pandemic it’s difficult to connect as much (except perhaps on Twitter), but I’m really looking forward to a time when that will be easy again!

3. What book do you feel is under-appreciated? How about overrated?
I think Version Control by Dexter Palmer is an under-appreciated book. It is quite genre-bending, in that it integrates science fiction with literary fiction, while weaving together humor, social commentary, and philosophy. Some may not like the blend, but I thought it was done beautifully in this novel. I would highly recommend it if you like funny books that touch on big ideas about millennials and technology and if you are a time-travel nerd like myself.

 The book I would pick as overrated is Altered Carbon. I read it last year after getting hooked on the Netflix series. I really wanted to love this one, as it had all the trappings of an excellent cyberpunk/sci-fi novel. Also, the premise is marvelously creative – a thrilling murder mystery set in a universe where digitized consciousness can be downloaded into new bodies after death.  Unfortunately, I had to put the book down half-way through, which is a rare event for me as I typically torture myself enough to plough through books that irk me. I disliked the main character too much, I think. I’m also not an action and gore type of person. I can see how it might appeal to a certain subset of people, but sadly I wasn’t one of them.

4. Favorite childhood memory involving books?
My favorite series growing up was Redwall by Brian Jacques, and I recall that it was amazing in many ways, but one that stood out to me was its culinary descriptions. I would read these books for hours and always looked forward to the parts about the feasts. I’m surprised that it didn’t inspire me to move to England and become a chef at some lodge in the countryside. I think Martin the Warrior was also the first book that made me cry as a child. I’m not sure that counts as a favorite memory but it was definitely memorable.

5. If you could dine with any literary character, who would it be and why?
That is a tough one. I would probably choose the protagonist of Madeleine Miller’s Circe – Circe herself – who would have endless stories to tell me about her encounters with monsters, gods, and heroes during her exile on the island Aeaea. I also have a soft spot for magic, witchcraft, and herbalism, so would love to have dinner with someone who’s basically an expert on all of those things. Circe is one of my favorite characters in mythology and literature: an outcast amongst the Greek gods who struggled with her own identity to come out stronger, fiercer, and far more real than any of the polished deities on Mount Olympus. Also, if Odysseus could be at the dinner as well that would be doubly cool (though perhaps too many stories for one night).

6. What fantastical fictional world would you want to live in (if any) given the chance?
The Shire, from Lord of the Rings, sounds like a pretty wonderful place to live. I’ve always secretly longed to live in a tiny hamlet in the middle of a sprawling countryside where I could write novels. I’m just not sure I would be short enough to fit in the buildings there, so I’d perhaps need to move to the Elven forest, which I certainly wouldn’t mind. Also, the Shire does seem a bit sleepy for my taste. Every now and then I would probably be compelled to venture outside its borders…maybe even to Mount Doom.

7. Did you want to be an author when you grew up?
Yes, that was high on my list of desired professions, along with Egyptologist. I think I wrote my first novel when I was just three years old, called “The Cat, the Cupboard, and the Spiders.” From the moment I could put a pen to paper I wrote stories and poems, and so the possibility of being an author was definitely on my radar from an early age.

8. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Persistent, Idealistic, and Observant.

9. What is your most unusual writing quirk?
Whenever I write, I feel better when I’m drinking a Chai latte. I don’t like writing with other types of teas or drinks, except water.

10. What’s one movie you like recommending to others?
I like recommending Avatar, mostly because it has such excellent world-building.

11. If you could own any animal as a pet, what would it be?
Probably a leopard, if it could be domesticated, and I could reliably trust that it wouldn’t suddenly try to eat me one day.