1. Early bird or night owl?
Hoo hoo
2. What was your worst haircut?
Remember perms? Sadly, they featured prominently in all photos taken of me during the seventh grade.
3. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Impossible question. But if you’re going to make me boil it down to one: “Crazy Rhythms” by The Feelies because it reminds me of my husband.
4. Can you roll your tongue?
Yes
5. Mayonnaise: yes or no?
God, no
6. What is your least favorite word to come across when reading a book or story?
Undulating
7. Which movie was better than the book?
The Fabulous Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. Probably because the film preceded the book.
8. What was your first concert?
Foreigner with my friend Melissa and her mom in middle school. My first unchaperoned concert was Squeeze. Up the Junction is still one of my favorites. You can’t beat lyrics like: “We stayed in by the telly / Although the room was smelly … I got a job with Stanley / He said I’d come in handy…”
9. It’s Friday night. You’re home alone. What did you order for dinner and what’s on the TV?
Black & white milkshake and Veep
10. How do you take your coffee?
As Earl Grey tea. Raw honey and milk, please.
11. What expression do you use that most people have never heard?
Chao pescado. (Translation: bye fish. It’s the Chilean “later gator” with pescado pronounced as pescao).
12. What movie have you seen the most times?
Love Actually
13. What is the best thing you cook or bake?
None of the above
14. Finish this sentence: More people should be reading:
Split Lip, of course! But also Amy Leach.
15. Favorite time-waster?
Twitter
16. What’s the hardest thing about writing?
The constant rejection and self-doubt
17. What’s the best thing about writing?
When you get into the flow and the words are spilling over and you float right out of this world
18. What is your favorite sentence from a short story or poem?
“Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.”
19. What question were you hoping to be asked?
What is your favorite sentence from a novel?
“Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.”
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For more about Maureen, check out her website, Twitter, and her latest story in Cease, Cows (the setting of which is in the photo above).