For this interview, we visit with Cynthia Grady, author and librarian, at her home in New Mexico.
Which celebrity, living or not, do you wish would invite you to a coffee shop?
Oh, most definitely Beatrix Potter. My earliest literary hero.
Which book do you find yourself recommending passionately?
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. I turned back to page 1 as soon as I finished reading it.
What's your favorite late-night snack?
Popcorn—fresh popped on the stove in a Whirley-Pop Hand Crank Popping Machine --with lots of butter and salt. But I will pop it and eat it anytime.
Most cherished childhood memory?
I wouldn’t call this my most cherished memory exactly, but one that I’ve been revisiting lately—is how a friend and I roamed several neighborhoods, crossing streets we weren’t allowed to cross, by way of creeks and drainage pipes.
Tea? Coffee? Milk? Soda? What’s your favorite go-to drink?
Am I allowed to say Irish whiskey? Straight up? After that comes lavender lemonade. Mmmmm. Delicious.
What gives you shivers?
The dark. Since age 3.
Your favorite candy as a kid ...
Neccos—at the movies.
What’s the strangest tourist attraction you’ve visited?
The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices, now located within the Science Museum of Minnesota. A frightening experience of medical quackery!
Brother and sisters or an only child? How did that shape your life?
Ah. I am number six of nine children. Being the youngest of the first six, the eldest of the bottom four, and nearly in the middle overall has shaped every single bit of my life, from my ability to sleep anywhere to my absolute love of silence. Plus, I display all of the characteristics on those birth order charts.
Best tip for living a contented life?
A house rabbit or two.
Thank you, Vicki! I’ve enjoyed thinking about your questions!
Good facts to know! Cynthia Grady is an awesome author of Like A bird and I Lay My Stitches Down. Good and fun reading.
So many people have recommended “A Man Called Ove,” I will need to read it myself. And after your description of your favorite late night snack, I’ll want to have some fresh popped popcorn handy!
Hello, David,
Did you ever read Ove?
It’s been a delight to meet Cynthia in person, at a Highlights workshop and more recently at Poetry Camp. I think she is still ready to cross forbidden streets and explore risky territory.
Good to know about these connections, Nancy!
Haha. Always.
I also had the good fortune to meet Cynthia at Poetry Camp. Wish I would’ve known about that Irish Whiskey (straight up) — I would’ve offered a toast to her newest book with that favorite go-to drink!
Thank you, Nancy! We’ll drink next time.