The Proust Questionnaire — a parlor game popularized by the French essayist and novelist, Marcel Proust — is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing (i.e., nosy) questions. In the hot seat today: Linsey Miller, author of the YA fantasy novel, MASK OF SHADOWS (Sourcebooks Fire, Summer 2017).
What is your idea of perfect happiness? Books. No anxiety or worries. The knowledge that everyone and everything, in that moment, is okay.
What is your greatest fear? A suffocating darkness.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Fear of moving forward.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Maliciousness for the sake of maliciousness.
Which living person do you most admire? Professor McGonagall is fictional but alive, so…her. Is that cheating?
What is your greatest extravagance? Books and food.
What is your current state of mind? Overactive.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Unquestioned forgiveness.
On what occasion do you lie? “I have no idea where the last cookie went. I have never eaten cookies in my life. How dare you.”
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “'[an obviously false statement],’ she lied.”
Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? I wish I’d learned to read music earlier.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Pursuing writing.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I don’t know. Would this new me be aware of my consciousness? I think no matter who or what it would be, it would be a brand new adventure as new “me” wouldn’t know that it was all brand new and different from past “me.”
What is your most treasured possession? Bookshelf of keepsakes.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Being unable to help.
What do you most value in your friends? Empathy.
Who are your favorite writers? Tamora Pierce, Garth Nix, N.K. Jemisin, Scott Westerfeld, Sherwood Smith, Leigh Bardugo, and Scott Lynch.
Who is your hero of fiction? Tris Chandler.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? No idea. I probably have most in common with the people who didn’t make history.
What is your motto? “Plan for the worst. Hope for the best.”
LINSEY MILLER is a wayward biology student from Arkansas who has previously worked as a crime lab intern, neuroscience lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. She is currently an MFA candidate and can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee. Find Linsey on Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads and Instagram.
Leave a Reply