Ali's Bio

There has never been a bio I’ve written that wasn’t terrifically awkward. Writing about myself doing something stupid, or funny, is one thing, but telling people info about what makes me me just comes off as peculiar when I try to write. I always start thinking, I like long walks on the beach, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain. It’s filling out my facebook profile all over again, trying to sound cool and casual in high school, but feeling desperately gawky instead. Ugh. But I’m gonna try anyway. My co-bloggers have been talking about what books define each stage of our lives, and make us who we are, so I gave it some thought and here goes:

The first book I read when I was little was Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. I loved the monsters and the freedom the little boy gained, and then later regretted. Going home to a hot supper was the perfect illustration of how much his mom loved him.

The next book I truly loved was The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.  It was my first epic fantasy adventure and I never turned back. A lifelong love for fantasy began.

When I was an awkward, quiet, and shy thirteen year old, I loved a book entitled Woman In the Wall, by Patrice Kindl. It’s a great story about a shy little girl who loves to hide, and eventually disappears into the walls of her own home rather than have to face every day social anxiety. She grows into herself as a woman and becomes strong instead of succumbing to her fear.

As a teenager I OD’d on high fantasy, and inevitably read J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. I read all three books in the car during a family road trip to Yellowstone National Park. It enchanted me and kept me sane during those two weeks. Almost directly after I read them, the first movie in the trilogy came out, causing a severe crush on the actor Elijah Wood, as well as my introduction to the wonderful world of being fan-girl. Ever since dressing up for the Lord of the Rings movies and obsessing over every aspect of the phenomena, I’ve always had at least one pop culture crush or obsession to squeal about.

In college I started reading more classics, including The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, which I loved instantly. I loved the words Wilde used, the characters he created, and the ideas he raised. I wrote short stories about it, spoke incessantly about it, and longed to be even half as skilled a writer as Oscar Wilde.

Right now I’m reading Augusten Burroughs, Salman Rushdie as well as just about everything by Laurie Notaro. I almost always have at least two books in my purse at all times. I play Dungeons and Dragons on Fridays, love getting pedicures, and adore shopping, especially for books. I collect antique books, and am horribly messy at home. I’m addicted to Dr. Pepper, and am a chronic procrastinator. I’m nearly 23 and still don’t really know what I want to do with my life. I’m working on it, but it seems to be coming a lot slower than I thought it was supposed to go. I’ve been single forever, and I’m too shy to talk to any guy I have a crush on. My favorite drinks are a Cosmopolitan and Killian’s Irish Red beer. I love cats and have almost always had one. I have a cat named Tybalt and live with a roommate who is also my best friend. So...I guess that’s me? It seems insignificant. Oh well. Take it or leave it. I guess I’ll just have to keep working on it. I’m gonna go read my new book.