Location: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
BA Rutgers College (English, Creative Writing), MA University of Chicago (Humanities), PhD University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (English, Writing Studies)
The Writer
How long have you been writing?
I wrote my first book at age 8 as part of the NJ Young Author’s Conference. We were chosen from our schools to hand write and illustrate a story that we stitched into a contact paper covered cardboard binding. My book is titled, “The Little Haunted Cottage in the Woods.” It still sits on my bookshelf next to my other notebooks. It started an early love of writing for me.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I am primarily a nonfiction writer and am constantly inspired by the people surrounding me.
What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment as a writer?
I believe my best work is yet to come.
The Work
Tell us about your work in Crack the Spine.
The piece I wrote for Crack the Spine is “Interstate 80,” a brief glimpse into the dynamics of an annual family road trip to the county fair.
What inspired “Interstate 80?”
I’m interested in creating snapshots of other peoples’ lives, giving glimpses that hint at the depth of their experiences.
Tell us about another project you are currently working on.
I’ve been working for the past few years on my memoir “Thirdhand Life,” which chronicles my life as a third generation antique dealer.
What inspired this work?
I’ve always had this double life, weekdays at school and weekends antiquing, searching for the big find and discovering amazing small treasures along the way. There’s never a dull moment.
When can we find “Thirdhand Life?”
I have been publishing excerpts from the memoir, most recently in Eclectica, and hope to complete the book in 2015.
The Methods
How often do you write?
I write daily, whether on my phone in the subway or early morning in my notebook.
Where do you write?
Everywhere – I have always been compelled to write from the time I was little when I would constantly and meticulously record and create stories about the world around me, often involving antiques.
How many drafts do you generally go through before you consider a piece to be complete?
Depending on the piece, I will rewrite as many times as it takes to get the language exactly where I want it, balanced, consistent and not too heavy handed.
What are your thoughts on writing at a computer vs. writing longhand?
I prefer writing on a computer; my pen is not fast enough to keep up with my thoughts. When they come, they come quickly.
What is your usual starting point for a piece?
I am inspired by people and often walk around with concepts for characters in my head years before I know where they will appear in my writing.
The Madness
What is your favorite book?
Nine Stories
What is the greatest occupational hazard for a writer?
Not taking down time to develop ideas and stare at a blank screen for a while.
What is your favorite word?
No
What makes you laugh?
Comments on articles in Yahoo News.
What makes you cry?
Comments on article in Yahoo News.
What’s in that cup on your desk?
Gloomy, the naughty grizzly slashing his boy, Pitty.