You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why?
Turquoise! My favourite colour and gemstone. I have such a strong affinity for that colour. Also, if anyone has seen the cartoon Steven Universe, they’ll know about the crystal gems. My ‘gemsona’ is turquoise.
What’s your favorite smell?
I really like good sweat smells. Particularly armpits. I’m picky about it though, not everyone’s scent draws my attention. Maybe it’s pheromones. But weirdly enough I really like my own sweat smell. Like, really like it.
What book(s) have you read twice?
Ooh, good question! I am currently re-reading Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. It’s the first book in a sci-fi series about AI and space colonialism/empire with some really cool concepts. The skill to be able to build a whole whole universe with words is one that never ceases to amaze me. And her books offer escapism whilst also addressing social and political issues in a thought provoking way.
I have also read many of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books twice or more, as well as Diana Wynne-Jones’ Chrestomanci series.
Oh, and I keep revisiting Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe novels. Chandler’s prose is just so elegant and fresh, even 80 years later!
What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever been?
Most beautiful man-made place: the Chora Church in Istanbul. Gold-heavy mosaics and beautiful ornate stonework. It’s not the biggest church, the ceilings are low enough to be able to study the mosaics on them with ease. Some of the bigger churches are just too overwhelming. Chora Church makes you feel in touch with history. I’m not a Christian so maybe the faith-specific emotion is lost on me, but I still felt very strong emotions gazing upwards in that building. My favourite mosaic series is a visual narrative of the life of the Virgin Mary because I had never see Mary’s life depicted before her immaculate conception. I’m interested in the roles that women have played in religion.
Most beautiful nature spot: A secret, private location I can’t tell you about. 😉
Who’s your celebrity crush?
Janelle Monáe! She’s just come out as panssxual too so I admire her even more. She’s one of the most inspiring people on the planet and if I ever met her I would probably be rendered speechless and my glasses would steam up. (This can happen when my face gets all hot!) Her new album has an amazing concept video which incorporates all her music videos into a dystopian sci-fi narrative. I love the afro-futurism themes underpinning her work. I’m really attracted to people with vision and ambition who are also compassionate and strive to make the world a better place. When I see her face or hear her music, my heart flutters.
