16 — or 25 things — about me

Joanna Powell Colbert tagged me to do this meme. And since I’m trying to blog everyday in January — maybe some of you have already noticed? — it’s a good push in the right direction.

Here are the rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a post or Facebook note with 16 or 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 or 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. (If you don’t tag 16 or 25 people, no worries! It’s all for fun.)

Okay, here goes:

1. Strangest job I’ve held: I restored a spookhouse in Rockaway Playland. It was written about in the New Yorker as a “Talk of the Town” item.

2. Happiest and most exciting day of my life was the day when my daughter was born. Hands down. If I could relive it again, I’d do so in a heartbeat.

3. My daughter Thea is convinced she is a mermaid. Really. She calls me Mommy Mermaid.

4. I have a terror of being landlocked. I’ve always lived fairly close to water. The idea of being trapped in the midwest, lovely as that region of the United States may be, makes me feel claustrophobic. It’s not a logical fear. I mean, could I really swim to France if I needed to get out of NYC in a hurry?

5. When I was 24, I sold my first two picture books. To celebrate, I moved from NYC to a 15th century cottage in the middle of Dartmoor to follow my muse. Though I wasn’t far from the coast, I rarely saw it, since I wasn’t able to drive. Instead, I often walked along the Dart River.

6. I moved back to NYC a year later when my visa expired, thinking I’d return to Dartmoor soon. Instead, I met my husband on the F train and got a dream job working with probably the best children’s book art director in publishing at that time.

7. I stayed at this job part time for seven years — a veritable apprenticeship — during which time I also illustrated a few picture books. And then I sold The Book of Goddesses. It became a big hit, much to my surprise.

8. After that, I was able to work full time as an author and illustrator. I’m almost always on a book deadline, which is wonderful but exhausting. I take nothing for granted — I’m only as good as my last publication.

9. I’ve always wanted to work in publishing. Ever since I was a small child (except when I wanted to be Nancy Drew). I also wanted to live in a library. We practically do — we probably have several thousand books between us.

10. My maternal grandmother was a seventh daughter of a seventh daughter and gifted (or cursed, as the case may be) with prophetic dreams. She died last year at the age of 92. I think it’s from her side of the family that I get my interest in what cannot be seen.

11. There’s a rumor in that same family that we’re related to English royalty via a governess who married her employer. Shades of Charlotte Bronte! There’s also a rumor that we’re related to travelers (aka gypsies). Shades of D.H. Lawrence!

12. I saw my first tarot deck when I was six. I was utterly fascinated with it. I began reading tarot in earnest when I was in college. My first deck was David Palladini’s Aquarian.

13. I studied illustration with David Palladini in college. He seemed like a very unhappy person at the time — hopefully he’s happier now. At the end of the semester, my best friend staged a class revolt against him after he insulted one student too many. True story.

14. I have a not-so-secret dream of being an expat again, preferably in Paris. I’d need to learn French first.

15. I was married in a hurricane. Outdoors. Luckily, we rented the expensive tent. The mud stains on my wedding dress couldn’t be cleaned.

16. My favorite novel is probably Jane Eyre or The Time Traveler’s Wife. I’m convinced Jane Eyre is *the* feminist ur-text. I can recite portions of it from memory beyond “Reader, I married him.”

17. I met Audrey Niffenegger (author of The Time Traveler’s Wife) at a publishing party once — we worked with the same editor at the time. However, this was before I read TTTW. Which was probably a good thing, since I would have gushed and said embarrassing things. Instead, we had a very civilized and interesting conversation about tarot. She was lovely, and looked very PreRaphaelite with long reddish hair — sort of how I’d imagine Clare to look.

18. I have a long standing fascination with the Orpheus myth. Not sure why. My favorite piece of music is probably Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. I once did a list of my favorite movies and noticed that most of them used the Orpheus myth as a jumping off point.

19. Last year, I finally came to the realization that I’m an city person — meaning I’m happiest in a city. I always thought I was a country person, and would eventually move to a remote area far from the madding crowds. I love where I live in Brooklyn. I walk down the street and see friends and neighbors all the time. I like sitting in cafes, looking at the architecture. It’s like living in a small town in the big city. It’s a great place to raise a child.

20. I first became exposed to the PreRaphaelites in college. It completely changed my life, especially the work of Dante Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones, and William Morris. My first trip to England was spent following where they worked and lived. I cut my hair to look like Jane Morris.

21. My studio-gallery is definitely inspired by William Morris’s Red House and Kelmscott Press. I even have a red wall in it and Morris fabric.

22. I don’t know how many books or publications I have. Honestly. I guess I could count them. I think I’m too busy working to keep track. It might also depress me to see how many are now OP.

23. I mainly write about women’s history, mythic and actual. My illustrated novel, The Lover’s Path, was inspired by the true story of a courtesan of the Italian Renaissance and her daughter. It was the hardest and most involved book I’ve ever created. I refer to The Lover’s Path as my “heartbreak book.” If I’d known what I know now, who knows if I’d have started it?

24. That written, it was worth it because I met my literary agent while working on it. She rocks. I dedicated Doomed Queens to her.

25. My favorite Doomed Queen is Jane Grey. I heard about her when I was in fourth grade. From there, I became obsessed and read everything I could find find. It was satisfying to finally write about Jane Grey for publication, so many years after first learning about her — kind of a full circle.

So that’s more than enough about me. What about you? Though I’ve already tagged a few friends on Facebook, you’re welcome to join in. If you do post, make sure to list your link in my comments section so I can read. It’s interesting to see how far and wide this meme goes, and also to learn who reads this blog!

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