Jean-Luke Swanepoel

What was your favorite book as a child?

Although I am an avid reader as an adult, I didn't do much reading as a child. As a preteen I loved Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and from there I progressed to the novels of Agatha Christie by the time I entered high school.

What was the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Creative writing is something I’ve always enjoyed. It is often a way to process emotions and experiences, regardless of genre, but sometimes a piece, especially if it’s fiction, is merely the result of a nagging desire to tell a particular story.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I recently spent two days flying from Oakland, California to Rockland, Maine as a passenger in a small, single-engine airplane and then three days flying home again. I am not much of a thrill-seeker, and I choose my adventures based on how likely they are not to kill or injure me.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing? Why/why not?

I am easily distracted as a reader and a writer, and I prefer silence during both activities. Any lyrics distract me from the words on the page.