It’s my Birthday! Here’s an Interview.

To celebrate my 34th year on this planet, here is a fun interview with 34 questions about my past, present, and future. Enjoy!

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Only three? OK.

Adaptable (I’m great at going with the flow and making the best of almost every situation)

Resilient (I’ve survived more than most in 34 years and am still here to talk about it)

And Creative (I like to believe I experience the world through an artist/writer/poet-colored lens)

What do you like to collect?

I collect old books, bones, herbs, rocks/crystals, jars, journals, pens, and random knick-knacks. Think… dark academia mixed with a corvid’s nest.

What would you like to learn to do before your next birthday?

I’m slowly learning to do punch-needle embroidery, so I’d like to complete a big project (some poetry on a canvas) before my next birthday. 

What is a word or phrase you say all the time?

It’s fine. I’ll figure something out.

What is easy for you to do?

Love others for who they are, despite our differences. 

What is hard for you to do?

Love myself for who I am.

If you had 1 million dollars, what would you do with it?

I think about this question a lot. I’d pay off my debts, then go on my dream vacation: a one-year tour around Europe. Then, I’d buy a house in my favorite country and never look back. 

What’s your best piece of advice?

Every time I get this question, I remember my late grandfather and his last words to me: 

Erynn, always remember to Protect Your Own Ass (PYOA) because no one else is going to do it for you.

So, my advice is to cover your ass and trust your intuition. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. 

What did you fail at this year? 

So many things. Marketing/selling my books, finding a job, keeping a consistent posting schedule- the list goes on. 

What did you learn from that failure?

That failure is a part of life. We learn from it, then move on. We do NOT let it defeat us.

If you could learn a new language, which language would you pick?

Latin. 

I’ve always felt that, as a writer, I needed to learn Latin. I can read and understand a *tiny* bit of Latin after taking it in college, but nothing as consistently as I’d like.

Who is someone you admire and why?

I’ve always admired Katherine Hepburn. She was a goddess on-screen and an independent woman behind the scenes. I’ve read several of her biographies, and my favorite movie is A Philadelphia Story (A safe choice, I know, but it’s so iconic!). 

In 2013, a man came into the bookstore I owned at the time. After browsing for a moment, he found one of her biographies and told me how he was her neighbor for a long time in New York. He said she would always greet him kindly and buy flowers from his shop, and he was deeply saddened when she passed away. I’ll never forget that encounter. 

What is something you’d like to do that seems impossible?

I would love to teach college-level poetry. I’m applying to a fully-funded program in the fall, but it’s going to be a lot of work. 

If you were a dessert, what dessert would you be?

Pie. You could have a different pie for every mood or situation because it’s a very versatile dessert. It can also be savory! 

What is an unpopular opinion you hold?

 The Oxford comma STAYS. 

If you were an animal, what would you be?

As per question 2, I’m some form of Corvid. As much as I’d like to be a crow or raven girl, I’m probably more like a Blue Jay. 

They’re smart, not as goth as they’d like to be, and resourceful. However, they can also be loud and annoying when excited- like me when I’m hyperfixated on something.  

What would you title your autobiography?

That Did Not Go As Planned. 

Do you prefer to make plans or be spontaneous?

As a type B personality with type A tendencies, I like a mix of both. I will the important parts, but I’m also open to seeing where the adventure takes us! 

How do you relax?

Since doomscrolling TikTok doesn’t count as relaxation, I guess I use music and daydreaming. There’s nothing better than daydreaming with a soundtrack. 

What would you tell yourself from 10 years ago?

Even though it may not seem like it, you WILL survive the next few years. (Also, go to the doctor. Like, NOW.)

There you have it! A fun birthday interview on this, the 34th anniversary of my birth. I hope you have a fabulous day!