For our final addition of “Meet the Editors” for the semester, we have Andrea Rodriguez, who is our assistant fiction editor and current blogger under her blog title, Musings of a Future Librarian.
Andrea Rodriguez is a senior at Lewis University. Prior to attending Lewis, she completed her associates at College of DuPage. Rodriguez is studying English Literature in order to pursue a career as an academic librarian. As for interests, Andrea loves spending time with her family, being in nature, taking care of her plants, writing, cooking, and traveling when she can. Andrea also enjoys exploring unique writing styles. Some of her favorite pieces include: The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson, and “Girl” by Jamaica Kinkaid. In addition to being a fiction editor for JFR, Rodriguez is the editor-in-chief of Lewis Voices, and the administrative director for Sigma Tau Delta, of which she is also a member.
Below is our Q&A with Rodriguez:
-Who are you and what is your role in the Jet Fuel Review?
Assistant fiction editor.
-What book might we find on your nightstand right now?
A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel
-If you had the chance to co-write with one author, who would you choose? Why?
Raymond Carver, namely because of his short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love”. The diction is extremely simple, but what is relayed to the reader about love and relationships, is dense and creates difficult conversations.
-Describe your perfect reading atmosphere.
Alone or with other readers, and either in the early mornings or late hours. Preferably in my sitting room with a throw and a cup of coffee.
-What might your personal library look like?
An oldie: Treasury of Poems: Collections of the world’s most famous and familiar verse Complied by Sara Anne Stuart.
A Gift: Lessons on Explosion Erika Sanchez.
A Reference: Writing About Literature J. Gardner.
-What piece of literature can you reread over and over again?
Jamaica Kinkaid’s “Girl”
-Give us a quote from your favorite (or any) book/movie.
“You live with your first book all your life. It sort of comes out on its own. After that though it’s different and you can suddenly write about anything but you second guess everything.” -Joanna from the movie Last Night
-If you were invited to have coffee with any fictional character, who would you most like to meet? Why?
Rose Maxson from “Fences”. It takes a unique kind of woman to give love when her home is crumbling, and Rose is that kind of woman.
-Share your top five favorite pieces of writing (anything included, be it movies, books, etc.).
“I Too, Am America” by Langston Hughes
“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid
Shooter directed by Antoine Fuqua
“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” by Raymond Carver
Marriage Story directed by Noah Baumbach