About Hilary Weisman Graham

Q. What is your birthdate?

A. 3/12

Q. Previous occupations

A. TV producer, indie filmmaker, video editor, mom, rock n’ roll sushi waitress

Q. Favorite job

A. Writing!

Q. High school and/or college

A. Chelmsford High School (Chelmsford, MA), Boston University

Q. Name of your favorite composer or music artist?

A. Sufjan Stevens, Death Cab for Cutie, Radiohead, The Mountain Goats

Q. Favorite movie

A. Adaptation, Heathers, The Graduate, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Election

Q. Favorite television show

A. 30 Rock, Project Runway, Breaking Bad

Revealing Questions

Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?

A. Thank God I’m finally outgrowing my awkward phase.

Q. What is your motto or maxim?

A. Never give up.

Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?

A. Sharing a moment of hysterical laughter with family orfriends

Q. What’s your greatest fear?

A. rats

Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?

A. Burning Man

Q. With whom in history do you most identify?

A. Abby Hoffman (I’m a closet revolutionary)

Q. Which living person do you most admire?

A. my husband

Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?

A. dude

Q. What do you regret most?

A. Not spending a semester abroad while in college

Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?

A. I fantasize about being a really great singer

Q. What is your greatest achievement?

A. giving birth to my son

Q. What’s your greatest flaw?

A. I'm always rushing

Q. What’s your best quality?

A. my empathy

Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?

A. I like being me. But it would be cool to be able to fly. So maybe me, with wings.

Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?

A. My big, crazy, curly hair.

Q. Who is your favorite fictional hero?

A. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)

Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?

A. Darth Vader

Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?

A. I’d like to hang outwith Romeo & Juliet so I could tell them it’s not worth it.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. When couples share an email account

Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?

A. Making movies

Q. What’s your fantasy profession?

A. Writing IS my fantasy profession!

Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?

A. Honesty, sense of humor, openness

Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?

A. mango

Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?

A. On the Radio (Regina Spektor), Lose Yourself (Eminem), House of Cards (Radiohead), Save Me (Aimee Man), Going to a Town (Rufus Wainwright)

On Books and Writing

Q. Who are your favorite authors?

A. Jennifer Egan, Jonathan Franzen, J. Robert Lennon, AnneLamott, Dave Eggers, Jonathan Safran Foer, Yann Martel, David Sedaris, SarahDessen, Ellen Witlinger, Ann Brashares

Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?

A. The Brothers Karamazov, The Life of Pi, The Keep, Happyland,Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, To Kill a Mockingbird

Q. Is there a book you love to reread?

A. The Catcher in The Rye

Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?

A. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Then go back and rewrite some more.

Q. What comment do you hear most often from your readers?

A. You are the best person in the world and I want to give you a million dollars. ;)