Weekend Wonder: Sarah

General Questions…

Name: Sarah

Penname: Don’t really have one so I’m gonna go with Sarah the Writer, which is what I’ve been calling myself in blogland the last few months.

A sentence or two about yourself: I’m a super shy girl who loves to read, write, bake, listen to country music, and watch Disney Channel and crime dramas (NCIS, anyone?). I’m from beautiful Washington state, am a chocolate addict, and am a cat lover.

Link to blog: http://introvertedwriter.blogspot.com

A sentence or two on what your blog is about: My blog started out as a way to share my reflections as a teacher with friends and family. When my teaching dreams changed, so did my blog’s purpose, so now it’s just whatever’s going on in my life.

Book Lover Questions…

What is your favorite book and why? I’m not sure I have a specific favorite book. My taste in books is about 10 years too young for me: Young Adult Lit. As much as I like the Princess Diaries series, they don’t compare to the classics I read in junior high, high school, and the teaching YA Lit course I took as an elementary teaching major. Books like To Kill A Mockingbird, Brave New World, The Great Gatsby, The Giver, and Walk Two Moons. I’m not sure why I prefer them over books that are more age-appropriate for 20-somethings.

Other favorites? I also love the Uglies series by Scott Westerfield, which AubrieAnne has reviewed. Also (don’t judge me!) I’ve been a fan of American Girl since I was 9 and got my first doll.

What’s your favorite genre to read? As I mentioned, I tend to favor Young Adult Lit.

Where do you like to read? To be honest, I don’t read very often. I’m too attached to technology. But if I were to take the time, pretty much anywhere that’s comfortable: a chair, my bed, our backyard porch swing.

Do you prefer paper books or ebooks? Definitely paper books. There’s nothing like holding a hard copy in my hands.

Do you prefer to buy or borrow books? Definitely buy. That way, I can read it again sometime in the future.

Do you stop reading when you are tired or when you hit chapter breaks? I try to stop at chapter breaks. It helps me know where to start when I return to the book.

When you finish a book do you usually keep it, throw it away, sell it, or give it away? Keep it, just in case I want to read it later.

What helps you decide on a book? (Book reviews, suggested by friend, by browsing the shelves, etc.) Usually just by reading a summary of the book. If I like it, I’ll get it. Knowing the author and that I’ve read his or her work before and like those also helps.

Do you prefer to read a book that stands on its own or is a part of a series? I don’t really care if a book is a series or on its own. In a way, it’s kind of like asking if you like a TV series or TV/regular movie.

So You Want to be a Writer questions…

A few sentences about your writing: What do you write (blog entries, novels, poetry, etc)? Why do you write? These days I mostly write blog entries and class assignments (which aren’t always as creative as I’d like them to be). Otherwise, I write short stories and poems.

I’m not sure why I write. I just like it I guess. My mom and I have decided that my love of writing came from my love of reading. The two go hand-in-hand when you think about it.

Did you always know that you wanted to write? Not really. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was 12. Before that I had a lot of different career dreams. But for some reason, being a writer has stuck with me for the past 12 years. Even as a teaching major, my minor was Creative Writing.

Favorite Questions…

What’s your favorite food? I have a lot that I call “bad-for-you” foods, but I’m just going to stick with pepperoni pizza and chocolate.

Favorite color? PINK! It’s been my favorite since before I can remember.

Favorite song? I have a TON, but I’ll just go with “I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum and anything by Sugarland.

Favorite movie? For years it’s been Lilo & Stitch. But as I’ve grown up, I’ve discovered so many chick flicks! I don’t really have a specific favorite of those.

Favorite TV show? I have a long list, but I won’t bore you with it. A few of my must-watch shows are NCIS, Parenthood, The Big Bang Theory, and anything on Disney Channel.

Random Questions…

If you developed a superpower what would it be and why? I would hope it would be mind-reading. As a shy and quiet girl, I’m not good at talking to people or even starting conversations. It would be nice to know what people really thought of me.

What did you want to be when you were little? It changed often. I remember wanting to be a mail carrier, a teacher, and other careers I can’t remember.

What is the answer to life? Family is the most important. And when you don’t know who to trust concerning everyone else, trust your instincts and anyone who has been around the person you doubt.