Icebreaker Challenge

Hi! I'm new here, so here is #myicebreakerchallenge.

1. What is your name/name/nickname?

Allison (she/they), aka vyhurz (rhymes like by hers)

2. What age group do you belong to?

(f) 33-37

3. What continent are you from?

North America

4. What is your first language? How many languages do you know?

English, only the one

5. How did you discover this community?

It was recommended by Amino. I ed recently, so I'm brand new to Amino as well.

6. If you are newer here, what do you hope to do/learn/get out of this community?

I'm looking for a real community/connection to writers. I love reading, too, and that comes along with it, but I want writer friends. Hopefully, people who I can talk to about the struggles of writing, get advice from, offer advice, lean on each other, and build each other up.

7. If you’ve been here for a while, what advice do you have for newcomers?

Not me!

8. Do you consider yourself more of a reader or a writer?

It's an even split right now. I haven't written much in the past several years, and I'm trying to build myself back to it. I have a routine to wake early every day before work, and on the weekends, at 5am. I've managed to do it a few times. On BlueSky there's even a hash tag for 5am writers, which I discovered later. I've found real success when I do this, and I want to inspire myself.

As for reading, I read all the time, though I'm a slow reader when it comes to finishing books. I always have multiple books going.

9. What is your favorite kind of blog to make here (i.e. book reviews, poems, discussions...)? What is your favorite kind to read?

I'm still learning this. I think I would love to read and participate in discussions and read others' work. If it's a book review, it of course depends on if it's a genre/title I'm interested in. I guess I'm interested in all of that.

I would love to share my own book reviews. I have a blog where I post them, though it's infrequently since I'm a slow reader/finisher.

10. What is your preferred reading age genre?

I read adult, and I enjoy middle grade. I would like to read more of it. I don't really enjoy young adult, but will occasionally read one if it's recommended. I'm honestly not sure about new adult is, except I associate it with romance. I don't think I've read much of it.

11. What is your preferred reading genre (i.e. Fantasy, Chick-Lit, Thriller...)?

This is a tough pick. An easy read for me, like when I'm in a slump and want entertainment, is thriller. Lately, I've enjoyed cozy genres, like cozy mysteries. I discovered cozy fantasy and adored it. I'm a huge fan of high fantasy and sci-fi. I also enjoy many literary novels.

12. What is your favorite book/series?

I have to list several. I'm not a huge reader of series. I love standalones. These are in no particular order, and not exhaustive:

- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

- The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

- Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

- The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

- Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

- The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

- The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

13. Which book would you NEVER recommend to anyone?

Misery by Stephen King. This book made me so angry!

14. Who is your favourite author?

I don't have one, though I really want Gillian Flynn's next book.

15. Have you ever published a piece of writing? If so, was it self-published or traditionally published?

No. I had a couple things published in my undergrad's literary magazine, but that's it.

16. What format do you prefer writing in (i.e. short stories, poems, letters...)?

I don't know it's preferred, but I usually write and finish short stories. I would love to write longer pieces, but it is difficult! I am working on a longer piece now, and writing it in a different way than I usually do. I'm having success. But like I said, I'm trying to do short stories this summer, so I'm switching gears. I also took a poetry workshop this past semester (I had to) and I actually really enjoyed it, so I may write more poems in the future.

17. What genres do you prefer to write (i.e. FanFiction, Romance, Mystery...)?

I write mostly general fiction, but I like to experience with adding magical elements. I've outlined some high fantasy, but never dove in. I like thriller aspects as well.

18. What are some of your favorite book quotes? Any original quotes of yours that you’d like to share with all of us?

I'm terrible at noting down quotes, but here's one:

"Once you loved someone, you repeated it until they were tired of hearing it. You said it until it ceased to have meaning." - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

19. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?

A hedgehog!

20. If you were a mythical creature, which one would you be?

A fairy!

21. If you could befriend a fictional character or creature, who/what would it be and why?

I'm honestly terrible at these types of questions because the characters seem so far removed from me. I suppose I'd like to know and be more like Lisbeth Salander since she takes no shit.

22. Have you made any friends through this community? If not quite “friends”, have you met any cool people you’d like to give a shoutout to?

Not yet!

23. In what age did you start reading? Did you a favorite childhood book?

I started reading very young, not sure when. I one of the first books I loved and read over and over again was Ella Enchanted.

24. Name three books you recently finished and instantly became favorites.

King of the same answers BUT:

- The Druidry Handbook by John Michael Greer

- Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

- The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

25. Name three books you recently finished and didn’t like as much as you expected to.

- Shady Hollow by Juneau Black

- The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

- Middletide by Sarah Crouch

26. If you could befriend a book character, who would it be?

Similar to the above, I suppose it would be Lisbeth Salander. but I really loved the main character (s Adams) from How to Solve Your Own Murder. She was so spunky.

27. If you could live in any literary world, where would it be and why?

My gut reaction is the world of Star Trek, but that's not literary! Something peaceful and sweet, like Anne of Green Gables.

28. What book are you currently reading? Writers, what writing project are you currently working on?

This is my list of currently reading. The ones with the asterisk are my main focus at the moment.

- Poison Ivy, Vol. 1: The Virtuous Cycle by G. Willow Wilson (comic)

- by Carl Sagan

- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore*

- How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin

- The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces by Anjou Kiernan

- Welsh Witchcraft by Mhara Starling*

Since November, I've been working on a cozy piece. I started this literally to relax myself and have fun. I had no idea where it would go. I just wrote random scenes, developing the world and characters. Very slowly a plot has begun to form. I've never written like this. I create and edit the outline as I ago. Developing the characters and world as I go, before knowing anything else, has added a real life and energy to the piece. This morning, I stepped away from that to start a short story I hope to finish maybe in the next week. I already know how it will end. I just have to get there. It's basically a woman who misses her hometown and she's living her life in a place she can't connect to.

29. Do you have any other hobbies or interests?

Mainly I play video games (currently Cyberpunk) to relax. But in trying to get away from screens, I've started taking up crafts. I'm making memo board/pin hoops (for displaying enamel pins), painting, junk journaling, coloring, sticking stickers in my sticker book.

In the past month or so I've started exploring paganism as it relates to my spirituality. This includes magic and manifestations. I've been reading a lot regarding it.

30. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself?

I'm nonbinary (agender). I really love art, finding new artists and buying their art prints. I also collect enamel pins, like expensive fancy ones. I could show you my collection(s) if you're interested. I loathe AI, specifically generative AI. I'm a Capricorn. I'm a Trekkie. I like going to cons. Hmm, not sure what else!

Thanks so much for regarding. I truly hope to get to know the of this community. I want to learn and share and connect.

PS: I originally had a lot of pretty pictures but then Amino wouldn't post the blog :sob: