Finishing up our meet the editor’s series this semester is Nicole Kaminski! Nicole is a sophomore transfer student from Luther College. She is majoring in English with a concentration in writing. If she’s not working, she spends her free time reading web-novels, listening to music, playing video games, getting bullied by her cat, and reading manhwa. Her major goal is to become a video game writer and spread creativity through her beloved medium. Some of her favorite authors include Rick Riordan, MXTX, and Gwon Gyeoeul.
Who are you and what is your role in the Jet Fuel Review?
I am Nicole Kaminski and am an assistant prose editor and assistant poetry editor.
What book might we find on your nightstand right now?
Although I mostly read web novels currently, the book that is on my nightstand right now is The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. The edition I have was published in 1909 and isn’t in the best of shape, but I love reading older literature and seeing the notes that one of my great uncles left in there. It’s not just a piece of history to me, but a piece of family history as well.
If you had the chance to co-write with one author, who would you choose? Why?
If I could co-write with one author, I would want to write with Gege Akutami. I find tragedies and angst to be very entertaining to write, and I would be able to learn so much from him and improve my own writing.
Describe your perfect reading atmosphere.
The perfect reading atmosphere would definitely be sitting in a recliner with at least two blankets on me. There has to be a lamp that uses warm lighting for the cozy feel, as well as some soft rain hitting the window. My cat would have to be sleeping next to me all curled up while I drink some Dr. Pepper in one hand and hold my book in the other.
What might your personal library look like?
My personal library is a mish-mosh of everything. I have a mix of how-to-draw books, manga, manhwa, Sherlock Holmes, how-to-learn books, and more. I try to have a minimalist set-up for books, since I read most of them online and unfortunately don’t have much shelf space. Though in the future (and if I have money), I would love a Victorian-style library or a hobbit-style library with one of those rolling ladders. For now I can only dream.
If you could “re-make” a poorly written movie that was based on a book, what movie would it be?
I would “re-make” The Cat and the Hat movie. It gave me nightmares and ruined the Dr. Seuss books for me.
Give us a quote from your favorite (or any) book/movie.
“What are you doing? Don’t walk on my roof.”- Luke Castellan from Percy Jackson Sea of Monsters
If you were invited to have coffee with any fictional character, who would you most like to meet? Why?
I would have coffee with Aventurine from Honkai Star Rail. He would probably gaslight and manipulate me, but he has pretty eyes. I would just want to know what it would look like in real life. I will either be amazed or sorely disappointed, and I am willing to take the risk.