It’s time to introduce another new editor, an editor who has been making a presence through Open Mic Nights at Lockport’s Port Noir with Zach Klozik. She has already made a presence on the JFR blog with her “The Canon—Close Encounters “, which have essays observing canonical literature. This week we are introducing Kasia Wolny, Asst. Art & Design; Asst. Fiction Editor; Copy Editor. Please take a look at her blog here: The Canon—Close Encounters
Kasia is a senior at Lewis University, where she enjoys her studies in English literature and creative writing. In addition, she works at the Writing Center where she is a Fellow in the ELL program. Kasia loves to read literature from around the world and across genres; some of her favorites are Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison, Khaled Hosseini, Wojciech Kuczok, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Diana Gabaldon. In her writing, she likes to focus on short story and essay composition, and on Polish-English translation of poetry. Kasia is a mom of two teenagers who, being bilingual, regularly poke fun at her for mispronouncing English words. In her free time, she likes to hike, cook, tend to her garden, visit art museums, and drink tea with friends.
Below is our Q&A with Kasia Wolny:
Who are you and what is your role in the Jet Fuel Review?
My name is Kasia Wolny and I am an Assistant Fiction Editor, Assistant Art Editor, and a Copy Editor for the Jet Fuel Review.
What book might we find on your nightstand right now?
I usually have several different books started at the same time. Currently, I am reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo), Lullaby (with Exit Sign) by Hadara Bar-Nadav, and a collection of poems by Wislawa Szymborska.
If you had the chance to co-write with one author, who would you choose? Why?
I would love to one day work with Rachel Jamison Webster, whom I had a pleasure and honor to meet recently and whose book of poems Mary Is a River has made a deep impression on me. I loved talking to her about literature and English studies. Co-writing with her would be a dream-come-true; I can only imagine all that I would learn!
Describe your perfect reading atmosphere.
A perfect atmosphere is when nobody needs anything from me, when I am not interrupted in the most interesting moment of the story to make dinner or take a phone call. To complete this rare peaceful image, I would add a comfortable chair or sofa, stormy or wintry weather, a cozy blanket, and a cup of hot tea.
What might your personal library look like?
I am fascinated by the kaleidoscope of ideas that circulate the literary world, so I would like to have a respectable collection of canonical texts from antiquity to the present. I have many important works already and I need to keep adding bookshelves as I acquire works in English and in Polish. I am very excited for my recent additions of poetry and short story anthologies–these are my gems.
If you could “re-make” a poorly written movie that was based on a book, what movie would it be?
I grew up reading fantasy with my mom. When I moved to the US some years ago, I came across a widely advertised, then newly published series of novels by Christopher Paolini entitled The Inheritance Cycle, of which Eragon was the first part. I loved the complexity of the story and variety of relationships in its world–although it was fiction, it found the problems current and pressing, related to my life at the time; it reminded me of Tolkien’s books. However, when the movie came out, I was greatly disappointed–one of those instances when the screenplay touches only the surface of the story. I remember wishing they never made this movie– if I saw it before reading, I would never reach for the book.
What piece of literature can you reread over and over again?
I only like to reread poetry. Somehow, the idea of rereading a novel seems counterproductive when there is still so many that I haven’t read. Poems are different; I like to know the lines and relive the moment of delight.
Give us a quote from your favorite (or any) book/movie.
This is from Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko (Laguna Pueblo): “But as long as you remember what you have seen, then nothing is gone. As long as you remember, it is part of this story we have together” (215).
If you were invited to have coffee with any fictional character, who would you most like to meet? Why?
I would love to hang out with the hobbits, Merry and Pippin, and Frodo and Sam. I think I would feel right at home with them; I like their lifestyle: eat often, drink tea, and worry little, and host a wizard or meet an elf from time to time.
Share your top five favorite pieces of writing (anything included, be it movies, books, etc.).
- The Lord of the Rings by J.R. R. Tolkien
- (Laguna Pueblo) Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko
- The Matrix by The Wachowski Brothers
- The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski
- Poetry of Wislawa Szymborska
- And prose fiction of Wojciech Kuczok
- A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf