Sara Winokur is a geneticist and author who brings her love of science and storytelling together in her writing. She’s written two books, Double Blind: The Icelandic Manuscript Murders and Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders, that reflect her curiosity and sense of adventure. In this Q&A, she shares some fun facts, personal stories, and quick answers to help us get to know her better.
Q. Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
Lisbeth Salander of The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. That would be intense: she’s fierce! Lisbeth is out for justice against corruption and abuse; she’s complex, highly intelligent, and not exactly the warm and fuzzy type. She can crack any type of secret code but puts a shield around herself. No doubt it would be an unforgettable experience.
Q. What is the best/worst purchase you’ve ever made?
Best purchase are my AirPods. I take them everywhere: on walks to listen to music and books, on travels far and wide, and at home for video calls. Worst purchase? A non-refundable trip to Antarctica with no travel insurance: I ended up not being able to go.
Q. What’s your biggest screw-up in the kitchen?
Where is the kitchen? Just kidding. I know where it is but not my forte. A long time ago when I didn’t know any better, I was invited to a Seder for Passover and offered to bring homemade bread…Not only would the bread have been a disaster but you just don’t go to a feast that commemorates a forty year exodus carrying unleavened bread to survive.
Q. What’s the worst commercial you’ve recently seen?
I only watch movies and tv shows via streaming because I hate all commercials.
Q. What is the dumbest way you’ve been injured?
I mounted a horse without the saddle tightened and was immediately bucked off and stomped upon. Spent two weeks in the hospital and almost lost my foot.
Q. What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing?
That a low budget safari with no guard on duty overnight was a good idea. I was awakened at midnight with an elephant brushing against the tent trying to get at the fruit I stupidly had inside. Fearing being crushed, didn’t know whether to freeze or escape. I froze and, fortunately, the elephant lost interest.
Q. If you were given a one-minute ad slot during the Super Bowl, what would you fill it with?
A chorus of hundreds singing ‘We are the World’ to raise funds for worldwide famine relief.
Q. What’s the most useless talent you have?
I can roll my eyes 360 degrees round and around like a nonstop Ferris wheel.
Q. Where is the worst smelling place you’ve been?
A shop in Southeast Asia selling freshly cut Durian fruit. You never forget that smell.
Rapid Fire
1. The city or the country? – Country
2. Baking or Cooking? – Baking
3. Reading a book or watching a movie? – Reading a book
4. Holding a Puppy or Holding a Baby? – Holding a Baby
5. Invisibility cloak or sparkling skin? – Sparkling skin
6. Coffee or tea? – Coffee
7. Dinosaurs or princesses? – Dinosaurs
8. Laptop or phone? – Laptop
9. Mountain or Beach? – Mountain
10. Having a dog or having a cat? – Dog
Find more on Sara Winokur here.
Check out another author interview here.