How many times have you participated in CBR? Has it changed the way you read?
This is my sixth year of cannonball and it’s definitely changed how I read. I’m actually a much slower reader now since I’m reading to review instead of just to enjoy, but I was totally more prepared for close-reading during my MFA thanks to CBR. I also read much more widely now and am up for trying a book with a good review even if it’s not a genre I’m normally into.
You’re an Adjunct in Creative Writing, which sounds awesome. Which is hardest to write: a one-star review, five-star review, or your own short story?
Hands down my own short story. 🙂 Reviewing other people’s ideas is easy. Coming up with my own is tough!
Your bio says you’re aiming to finish a novel this year – good luck and congratulations! Can you share a synopsis, or no spoilers allowed?
Sure! My novel is about a young Irish man named Nathan who emigrates to NYC during the potato famine. His family suffered much strife in Ireland from their dealings with Faeries, and upon coming to NYC, Nathan finds that his Faerie problems have followed him. He and his family become entangled in a Faerie war, and the only way out is for Nathan to win. Part history, part fantasy, Nathan explores the two warring sides of the elusive American Dream.
….this is a great place for me to ask our CBR community if this is a decent hook for agents. 😉 Are you interested? If not, what should I change?
How many chapters do you give a book to grab you/convince you before you DNF it?
It depends on the genre, for fantasy/sci fi I usually give 3 – 5 chapters since world-building can take a while. For any other fiction, it gets 1 chapter, and non-fiction gets around 20 – 50 pages. Even so, I think there’s only 5 or 6 books I’ve actually DNFed.
How do you decide what to choose next from your To Be Read pile?
Not gonna lie, the CBR bingo is a huge help for that! But when we don’t have bingo, I try not to read the same genres back to back, so I’m always getting variety and moving through the pile (unless it’s a series, in which I case I will binge the series until it’s finished or I lose interest, whichever comes first, lol).
If you could try a meal/snack/treat from any book, what would it be?
I actually did make the Turkish delight from The Chronicles of Narnia when I was 12. I destroyed the family stove in the process and was banned from unsupervised cooking for a while, but it actually tasted pretty good! Other than that, I’d love to eat Bilbo’s birthday party dinner, or really any of the Hobbits’ food. 🙂
Anything else?
Fun facts: I have 3 cats, and 4 chickens. I’m obsessed with all things Middle-Earth. I’m a history nerd and make period costumes for fun.
