Emma Straub! Fun Thing Day 65
January 17th, 2012 § 1 Comment
Fun Thing: Emma Straub’s Nightstand (What is this fun thing I speak of? Read the back story on this project here.)
I am beyond excited about this week’s nightstand interview, because Emma Straub is hands down one of the most delightful writers I’ve ever met in person. She and her equally talented and equally awesome husband, Mike Fusco, also designed invitations for my mom’s 60th birthday party. And their designs were totally tops. Check out their site, M+E/Michael Fusco Design, for some serious graphic design eye candy.
And then you have to go read Emma’s collection of short stories, Other People We Married. The stories are even better than both the title and the gorgeous cover, which Mike designed (naturally!) Emma also has a forthcoming novel called Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, which “stars” an actress in Hollywood and takes place between 1930 and 1970 — the most glam decades of the 20th Century as far as I’m concerned. I cannot wait to read it.
But, until then, here’s the scoop on Emma’s nightstand:
1. We have those bookshelves, too! Love ‘em. And I love that you have your bookshelf so near your bed, because it means there’s always a book handy. But let’s discuss the books that are actually on your nightstand. What are you reading right now? What do you think of it?
Gotta love the floating bookshelves. One of my best friends gave us one when we got married, and then we got another one to match on the other side. That whole shelf is my to-read pile. Right now I’m rereading Middlemarch, which is my favorite novel, period. I read so many new books, it’s nice to go back and reread my old faves.
2. I see you have a book on screenwriting; are you working on a script? Details, please!
A friend and I are starting to work on a script together, but I don’t know the first thing about it, so I’m starting at the very beginning. If I’m ever too proud to be called a dummy, please smack me.
3. In general, do you read for pleasure in bed or for work/writing/research?
All my reading is for pleasure. Sure, sometimes it’s for research, but even that is fun. That’s one of the gorgeous things about a) working in a bookstore and b) being a writer. There’s really no line for me between work and pleasure.
Love that answer! We should all be so lucky.
4. Do you ever read more than one book at a time? Like perhaps the screenwriting book AND a novel?
I’m a fairly monogamous reader. The only time I’ll double up is if I’m reading something really heavy that I don’t want to carry around with me all day, but even then I’ll almost always suck it up and take it with me. And I’m not that fast, either — I think I read about fifty books last year, which is really paltry amount compared to some booksellers and super-readers I know.
5. Does what you read in bed change depending on what you’re working on as a writer? Like, when you’re deep in the middle of a novel, are you reading lots of novels? Or research books for the novel? Or maybe a totally different direction: do you go all poetry style?
I do read fewer novels when I’m writing one — I don’t ever want what I’m reading to sneak into my work. That said, novels are my favorite thing in the world, and I can never stay away for long.
6. Your bedding is fabulous. Tell me about your headboard. Where did you get it?
Ha! Thank you! We made it, dutifully following Grace Bonney’s instructions on Design* Sponge. It’s a piece of plywood and some fabric from Ikea. Easy peasy! You too can make a cool headboard for fifty bucks.
7. Now I’m gonna make you talk about your sheets, pillowcases and comforter. I love that they complement each other without actually being matchy matchy. How did you pick your colors and patterns?
Oh, we just throw it all together. Most of our sheets are from the John Robshaw sample sale, which I would only miss if I was in a coma. The duvet cover is from Virginia Johnson, and it’s a tiny duck pattern. I wear her scarves every day — one has pink camels, one has blue sharks. I can’t get enough.
8. Since I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your husband, and I know what a talented graphic designer he is, I’m curious what his nightstand looks like. Any similarities to yours? Or is his wildly different?
His is, in fact, exactly the same. Right now he’s reading a galley of Nick Dybek’s novel, When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man, and picking his way through the Steve Jobs’ bio. And thank you for saying such nice things about him; they’re all true.
I don’t doubt it for a sec!
9. I notice your clock, and it looks like it might also be an alarm clock. How do you wake up in the morning? With the radio? The classic alarm clock beep? How many times do you hit snooze?
Oh yes, it’s an alarm clock, but I don’t snooze much. I’m an early-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of girl. And yes, it’s a good old-fashioned beep. My husband has an ipad on his side, but I’m very low-tech.
This surprises me not at all about you. I have a theory that gals who wake up with the sun are a million times more likely to have a sunny disposition.
10. What’s the very last thing you do before you go to bed?
Write in my five-year diary and kiss my husband and my pussycats. Bed is my favorite place to be, always.
11. What’s the very first thing you do when you wake up?
Brush my teeth? Check my email? Have some tea? See if it’s a good day for pancakes? That’s pretty much the deal.
Isn’t it always a good day for pancakes?! Thanks, Emma!!
I love that headboard and now I really want to make one of my own! Great interview, V!