Speed Round with Zoe Disigny

Speed Round with Zoe Disigny

First book you read that left an impression? How old were you?

The All About Books Series, especially All About Electricity. I don't remember a thing about the book now, nor do I know anything about electricity to this day. But for some reason, out of all the other All About Books I read, the one about electricity, in particular, thrilled me. I was around eight years old.

How far do you live from your childhood home?

My family moved around a lot. So, I listed my childhood homes below in order of first home to last and how far each one is from where I now live.

Garden City, New York (born here) = 2463 miles by air Norfolk, Virginia = 2345 miles by air St. Claire, Michigan = 2345 miles by air Ft. Thomas, Kentucky =1893 miles by air Cincinnati, Ohio = 1889 miles by air West Covina, California = 28 miles by air

Who is your favorite author?

Eeek! An impossible question! It's like asking what your favorite food is. Depends on my mood. But most recently, I was swept away by A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I love the way both of them write.

What book is your all-time favorite?

Another impossible question, but The Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant "wowed me" when I read it way back when, and it's still so relevant today. I think Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder is an amazing book, and I'm also in love with the Griffin and Sabine Trilogy by Nick Bantock—a visual/verbal delight.

Did your parents have a phrase or saying that you find yourself using?

My dad made up words all the time, so there are lots of "Fazzy-isms" in our family (as we call them). For example, instead of saying good night, he said, "dreamer- skeemers." To which my sister and I replied, "ratzlesnatzle."

What's the name of the first story or essay you wrote that was published? What was the name of the publication?

Only an Art Class is a personal essay first published by the Potato Soup Journal in 2020.

What's the name of the first manuscript you published?

The Art of Traveling Strangers

Sunrise or sunset?

Sunrise

What's your favorite color?

Red

What's the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them?

Their smile (or lack thereof)

What's the best compliment you've ever gotten?

You're my hero (from my daughter)

Describe yourself in 5 words

Stubborn, focused, serious, work-oriented, (but also) fun

Tell me the nickname your parents used to call you when you were little -

Are you ready for this? My dad called me Smooie-Pooie.

In which subject were you worst at school?

Math

In which subject were you best at school?

English

What advice would you give your young self?

Stop trying to be popular. Just be you.

Cat person or dog person?

Both! But I think now that I'm older, I'm leaning toward cats.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be?

Paris

Tell me one secret about yourself that might surprise everyone

I was backstage and taking videos during Elton John's sold-out performance at Dodger Stadium in 1975.