I am a graduate student at Temple University pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing. I was a writing tutor and literature tutor for four years at my alma mater: Lycoming College. For two years I was a copy editor for our online literary journal, "Schemata." My interests in reading vary immensely. I enjoy fiction, poetry, astronomy, philosophy, history, anthropology, and sociology. WIthin fiction, I enjoy reading historical fiction, magical realism, realistic fiction. I enjoy fantasy, but I am very particular about writing. Tolkien is the most adept at fantasy. I have never been a fan of the romance of any kind of chick-lit. Some of my favorite authors are Michael Cunningham, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Ondaatje, Nabokov, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Tolkien. I'm told that my wit has a tendency to be caustic, and is always entertaining. I enjoy writing articles with a flair and a twist, giving it my own voice. My interests are wide; I love to discuss film, art, food, books, history, health issues, nature, animals, and relationships. Animals are a hobby of mine. I love all of them and enjoy studying them. Otters happen to be my favorite animal, and I put my knowledge in both nature and writing to use in an internship with the Philadelphia Zoo. I was a Public Programming Intern last summer, and I designed and developed educational materials for children, discussed animals with the public, and wrote summaries for various exhibits. My film knowledge extends all the way back to my parents, who were film majors in college. They encouraged and fostered a love for film and theater early in my life. I have seen the first silent film ever made (The Great Train Robbery) to Captain America. I adore old films. Lon Chaney is a genius. Hitchcock, Tarantino, Billy Wilder, Kubrick, Spielberg, and both Coppolas are all directors who inspire me. As for televisions, I am an avid Syfy watcher. I enjoy History Channel and Discovery, and I do indulge in some guilty pleasures of the reality tv world. The Civil War and both World Wars fascinate me, and I read and watch as much as I can on the subjects. As a person with many food allergies, I like to find new things to eat and innovative ways to spice up the same old dishes I can eat without going into anaphylactic shock.