Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell something about yourself and how you became an author?
This is going to sound cliché but I always wanted to be an author. At an early age, our parents set us up for success in anything we put our mind to. My parents did not allow us to quit at anything unless it was detrimental to our health and well-being. Writing and reading are two of my passions (teaching is a third) and it was always something I practiced at home and in school. I was very much that child who always had a book in my hand. Most students get reminded to stop talking during lessons, I was told to stop reading. There were times when I just couldn’t put the book down so I’d read during math class or science class or even at lunch! But I’m getting off track, haha! I really knew I wanted to become an author in 8th grade. We had to write short stories for class and my 8th grade English teacher told me that I should publish one day. This was something that was reiterated to me in 9th, again in 10th, and all throughout my high school and college career. When I was 21, I took the leap of faith and did it! So to all of my teachers who told me to, THANK YOU!
What is something unique/quirky about you?
What isn’t quirky about me? I’m the typical tom boy who is one of the boys and can dress up when she wants to but I’m also an anomaly. I am very much introverted and have really bad social anxiety but once I get to know someone, I can be extroverted. I love learning and can always be found doing research, reading old textbooks to find answers, and playing trivia games. I own almost every kind of trivia game there is: Game of Knowledge, Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, 1 VS 100, Trivial Pursuit (Genius & Family edition), the list goes on and on. I also march to the beat of my own drum and I’m very independent. I love to sing in the shower. I can recite most of the lines from Titanic, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (a Bollywood film). I know every Backstreet Boy song, every Backstreet Boy member and their birthday (though I’m rusty on the years). I also know every Taylor Swift song. TEST ME ON THESE! I DARE YOU! LOL.
Tell us something really interesting that's happened to you!
This is my favorite story EVER! Okay, so back in 2016, I went to my first ever New York Comic Con with my then-boyfriend, now-husband and we were like 2 minutes late for Tom Mison’s signing. For those of you who do not know who Tom Mison is, he played Ichabod Crane on Fox’s primetime show, Sleepy Hollow (Netflix needs to reboot it!). He was literally packing up. Well, Tom saw the disappointed look my face and called me over to him. I ended up talking to him for about 5 minutes, got a TERRIBLE photo taken with him, but the experience was everything! The best part was my husband could not work my iPhone camera (he has an Android) and at the same time Tom & I were like “Oh, for the love of god, Matthew!” This was literally, the best day ever!
What are some of your pet peeves?
I really dislike when people talk over me when I’m trying to get my point across because I’m so introverted; so if I’m actually answering the question or contributing something it’s because I feel it’s important. I also dislike when people don’t get straight to the point; tell me what you mean in as little words as possible. Don’t fluff it up. Don’t beat around the bush. Just tell me. I also hate, hate, hate name-calling in arguments whether it’s a friend or my significant other. I don’t ever talk to people like that and I refuse to be talked to like that.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born and raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. If you don’t know where it is, it’s literally next door to Williamsburg and McCarren park separates the two. If you do know where it is can someone please send me PETER PAN’S DONUTS?!
If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
With my family. Tomorrow is not promised so I try to live every day like it might be my last, which is partly why (even though I’m married) I still live at home. I would hate to spend the whole day in my house and not see my parents ever again. They mean the whole world to me. Family is everything to me.
Who is your hero and why?
My father is my hero because he came to America with nothing in his pocket and really taught us what it was like to live life and take risks. If it weren’t for my father, I wouldn’t do half the things I am doing in life. Who I am is because of him. When I was about 12, my mom had to stop working to take care of me so my father was our only source of income. He worked so hard to make a living: barely took off from work even in the snow and even when he was in pain. If it wasn’t for him sacrificing his well-being for us, I would have never been able to live my dream of going to college, being a writer, and teach as a full-time job.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
A horrible one! I get lost in my emotions and I’m introverted. To rule the world, you would have to engage in conflict and mediate it and I hate doing both! I’m good when I’m talking one-on-one with the person I have conflict with but if I have conflict with more than one person and they’re all in the same room, I’m going to hyperventilate and pass out. I also over-analyze things and think with my heart and my gut and going into a world meeting and being like “I feel in my heart that this is the right thing to do and my gut is saying go for it” is probably not the best way to respond when countries are at war, fighting for peace, or trying to end world-hunger. Like I wouldn’t know where to begin, how to divide the money, how to make everyone equal. I have too many expectations of what this world should be. I have too many things that need to be changed and how to get from point A to point B is probably harder than it sounds.
What are you passionate about these days?
Adventure! I am so passionate about finding a new hobby, a new place to go, exploring another part of town. Being in NYC in the middle of the COVID crisis has really showed me how much I’m missing out on the state that I am in. Every weekend we’d see a movie or go to the city and it’s like I am not doing that after COVID! Too many people and too much risk! So now I kind of just want to hop in the car and explore the rest of my state and see what’s out there because I know there’s so much more to NY than a congested city.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Writing is my time to unwind and relax, but I probably shouldn’t have this as my answer, right? Okay, fine. So besides writing, I love to watch TV, play board games or card games, play with my dog (Rusty), or sit on the deck and read. I love to watch shows like Supernatural, Reign, Resurrection: Ertugrul really anything fantasy or with royalty. I love to play games like Monopoly, Chess, and Trivial Pursuit. My favorite card game is 500-card Rummy (please please look it up if you don’t know how to play it’s so much fun!). Rusty loves to play fetch, cuddle, and belly rubs! My current read is Midnight Sun!
How to find time to write as a parent?
I’m not a parent yet but we have discussed this and I’m just going to have to find time to write when my kids are sleeping!
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Introverted, Personable, Fun, Loving, Caring
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 8 years old and wrote my first story about a girl going to the park with her dogs. I wrote it on that yellow/manilla drawing paper and I was at work with my mom (it was take-your-daughter-to-work day) and she showed me how to make copies on the copy machine. Well, I copied that book for everyone in the bank that day and I have no idea where it is!
Do you have a favorite movie?
YES! Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast are my favorite movies. I love Aladdin because I like the songs and I like Beauty and the Beast because (let’s face it) the LIBRARY!!!! Who else fantasized about being Belle and rummaging through the library?!
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I’m going to stick with what’s currently published: The Broken Daughter. Even my father suggested I pitch it to Netflix! If only I knew someone who could write a screenplay for me and not charge me an arm, leg, liver, and my soul!
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
None but I would love for some suggestions! Let’s do it!!
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Sloth. Man, I get so lazy sometimes! Especially after a long day at work. I’m like a sloth walking into the house. I’ll literally go for a shower and go to bed!
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