Name? Instagram handle?
Michael Hubbard
What is your favorite genre or subgenre?
Fantasy. I like the way it allows us to explore complicated ideas and issues through metaphor.
What are you currently reading?
The Deep, by Alma Katsu
What is one of your favorite 5 star reads?
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Do you have any unique reading quirks?
I have a tendency to read way too fast when I get excited by a story and have to stop and go back to reread sometimes. I also spend way too much time reading web serials of questionable quality.
Who is one of your favorite authors and why?
Stephen King. I admire the sheer breadth of his work, the way he crosses horror and fantasy and comedy and romance and Americana. His writing has always felt accessible and daring.
What books social media accounts do you love to follow and why?
The only booktube/booktok I currently follow is Newlynova, because I enjoyed her Trope Jail series on TikTok. She has been a good source of book recommendations in genres I haven't explored before, such as Dark Academia.
What’s one of your favorite bookstores (city, state) and why does it stand out? Can you share their insta account?
The Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar in Asheville, NC. It's a bookstore that serves wine, food, and allows dogs. I read all of Uzumaki there in one sitting and it was great.
What’s a book on your upcoming TBR list or wishlist? Why can’t you wait to read it?
Funny Story, by Emily Henry. I really enjoyed Book Lovers and am excited to see what she comes out with next.
Who is your favorite villain and why?
Annie Wilkes. She so perfectly captures the fear of being under the power of someone dangerously unstable. Her hypocrisy and abusive outbursts have you on edge the entire book, and you are right there with the main character trying to figure out the magic combination of words to keep her from lashing out.
ALL DONE!!! Thanks for reading the interview!
If you’d like to hear some more reader interviews check out the rest of Cassie Swindon’s blog. Don’t forget to read Cassie’s free short stories that serve as prequels to her novels.
