I'm your host, February Grace, and today we have the chance to chat with author and educator Dr. Shay West!
Welcome, Shay! Please, tell us a little about yourself.
SW: I'm a college professor and author. Teaching biology and anatomy courses had given me a lot of fodder for short stories and I've been able to use my biological knowledge in my various novels. One of these days I will try to invent a holodeck...
Q1: What is the best (non-writing) advice anyone has ever given you?
SW: To take care of myself first and to not feel guilty about doing so. It's enabled me to say "no" to people that ask things of me when I just don't have the time or energy to devote to another project.
Q2: Did you have a favorite teacher growing up? What made them special?
SW: I had several, actually. My fifth and sixth grade teachers saw my love of science and allowed me to do extra credit projects centered around biology. for one such project, I was able to care for a caterpillar (he was black with red spots) and document its cocoon and its emergence as a Mourning Cloak butterfly.
Q3: What do you like to do for fun when you're not reading or writing?
SW: I am really starting to get into photography and learning how to use my new camera. I love being in the outdoors and go camping every chance I get. Which usually means hundreds of pictures to sort through when I get home.
Q4: What helps calm you when you're stressed?
SW: Spending time with my cats, Buddy and Oreo. When they surround me and start purring, it puts me into such a relaxed state. I also watch movies or a favorite TV show and let my brain calm down.
Q5: *bonus question for everyone* Do you collect anything? If so, why?
SW: Movies and little plush microbes from GiantMicrobes.com. The last fits with my love of biology and my students really get a kick out of seeing giant versions of things like Syphilis or Salmonella.
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Thank you for stopping by to visit today!
You can learn more about Dr. Shay West and her writing by visiting her website: http://shay-west.com/
See you all next time!
~bru
