Hello everyone! Continuing the introductions to our new editors is Hannah Smrcka! Hannah is a Junior at Lewis University majoring in English with a concentration in Literature and Language. They are on the Track and Cross-Country teams for Lewis and enjoy playing piano in their free time. After graduation they hope to get their master’s and certification in coaching to coach collegiate distance running, but they hope to still use their English degree to publish works outside of their main occupation. They feel that studying English betters them as a person every day. Some of their favorite authors include Charles Dickens, Rainbow Rowell, Lauren Fleshman, and Deena Kastor.
Who are you and what is your role in the Jet Fuel Review?
I am Hannah Smrcka, an English Major with a concentration in Literature and Language. I am an Assistant Poetry Editor.
What book might we find on your nightstand right now?
The book(s) on my nightstand right now are Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Endure by Alex Hutchinson, and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
If you had the chance to co-write with one author, who would you choose? Why?
I would co-write with one author, I’d either collaborate with Charles Dickens or Brit Bennett.
Describe your perfect reading atmosphere.
Somewhere quiet and beautiful. I like sitting in large window sills to look outside whenever I need to think outside the text.
What might your personal library look like?
My bookshelf has become too small for all my books, so I have to lay them all flat for them to all fit. Therefore, the titles are not visible, but they’re still alphabetical and easy to find… for me. My kindle library is all over the place with the interests that I look into and at school I only bring my favorites and textbooks.
If you could “re-make” a poorly written movie that was based on a book, what movie would it be?
A Wrinkle In Time.
What piece of literature can you reread over and over again?
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.
Give us a quote from your favorite (or any) book/movie.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, JK Rowling.
“I had learned disappointment was rooted in the desire to improve and that under the grief, there was a deep love. Resiliency opens doors, and compassion and gratitude can dissolve tension, and enrich any moment.” Let Your Mind Run, Deena Kastor.
If you were invited to have coffee with any fictional character, who would you most like to meet? Why?
Probably Dagny Taggart or Hermione Granger.
Share your top five favorite pieces of writing (anything included, be it movies, books, etc.).
1. Let Your Mind Run, Deena Kastor
2. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand
3. “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman
4. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen.
5. The Hunger Games (Novels), Suzanne Collins
Honorable mentions: (Extra to be read as a pair) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky and Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger. As well as The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald and “The Bet,” Anton Chekov.