Welcome to the next instalment of Meet the Author. I am thrilled to introduce Dina Honour, the author behind “There’s Some Place Like Home: Lessons From a Decade Abroad” and “It’s a Lot to Unpack,” as well as numerous compelling essays. Dina’s essay “1001 Nights” was nominated in 2017 for both a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She firmly believes in the power of storytelling to connect us with one another and the world around us. I first discovered Dina through her engaging Instagram profile, thanks to a recommendation from Catriona Turner. After reading her delightful blog, “Ladies Who Lunch,” I knew I had to reach out to her.

With out further ado, lets meet Dina!!

Welcome Dina to Meet the Author. I am delighted to have you join us for this Q&A session. Let’s kick things off with a fun introduction from you in your own words.

Dina: Hello, everyone! I’m Dina Honour, the author of two books, “There’s Some Place Like Home: Lessons From a Decade Abroad” and “It’s a Lot to Unpack,” both chronicling my experiences living abroad over the past 15 years.

Here are two fun facts about me. First, I tap danced my way through childhood, right up until I was nearly 18, with dreams of becoming a Rockette in New York City. And second, my favourite holiday isn’t Christmas, but Halloween! Not for the costumes, but because it brings me back to my New England childhood, with the scent of wood smoke evoking memories of autumn evenings. So, that’s me—two books, two fun facts.

Usha: Let’s Dive in to the Q and A.

Usha: What do you prefer reading, and do you have a favourite genre?

Dina: My reading habits lean towards about 25% non-fiction and 75% fiction. I gravitated more to non-fiction during the 2016 US Presidential Election. During COVID, my interest in non-fiction peaked, particularly in topics like race and history. I found solace in grounded narratives. My non-fiction reads often delve into feminism, history, and social issues, perhaps even for fiction. I read the Killer of the flower Moon long before the movie came out.  One of my favourites is a book The Speckled Monster by Jennifer Lee Carroll, it is about a woman named Mary Montague, who was influential in inoculations against smallpox back in the 18th century.  I enjoy contemporary literature, spanning from literary fiction to airport paperback thrillers. I also have a soft spot for well-written young adult fiction, though most of my dystopian fantasy reads fall in that category. So, my tastes might seem eclectic, but there is a lot of overlap.

Usha: What do you prefer : paperback, hardback , e books or Audiobooks?

Dina: I’d rank them in the same order as in the question. Given the choice, I’ll always opt for paperback, but I’d choose a hardback over an e-book. I have to admit, I’m not much of an audiobook fan, although that might be because I haven’t given them a fair chance. With my Kindle, especially due to our lifestyle of moving between countries, I find myself using it more than I initially expected. It’s handy for downloading library books from the US. Hardbacks, on the other hand, have become almost like keepsakes for me. They’re reserved for books by authors I adore or ones I know I’ll revisit.

Usha: What was the first book you read that you remember?

Dina: This question really made me ponder. I have two distinct books that stand out for me. The first one I truly remember choosing and devouring was “The Girl Who Owned a City” by O.T. Nelson. I must have been around 9 or 10 years old. It’s a captivating tale about a city ravaged by a plague that wipes out all adults, leaving only children under 12 or 13. This story stuck with me, especially in the context of recent events like COVID-19.

The other pivotal book for me was “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. It was a kind of literary coming-of-age for me. I remember my mother taking me to the library when I was around 12 or 13, where she had to approve my entry into the adult literature section to borrow the book. Despite its problematic aspects, particularly regarding race, I was captivated by the epic romance at that age. As I grew older, I became more cognizant of the racial issues within the book, but at the time, as a 13 year old kid I was not adept at identifying racial biases and I predominantly saw it through the lens of romance.

“Gone with the Wind” has been described as a “love song to the Confederacy,” and while I cherished my well-worn paperback copy as a relic of my literary journey, I came to realize its role in perpetuating systemic racism. When I moved to Berlin and sorted through my books, I realized it was time to confront the problematic elements of the book’s narrative and its role in perpetuating systemic racism. While I don’t advocate for pulling books off the shelves, I do believe in using them to educate and confront uncomfortable truths about our history and societal norms.

Usha: What is your Writing Mantra ?

Dina: My journey with writing started in first grade when my teacher handed out lined paper, and I’ve been writing ever since. From bad poetry to fiction and live performances, writing has been a constant in my life. However, there was a time when I stopped writing until I went to school and studied creative writing. In one of my workshops, a professor emphasized the importance of speaking the truth in writing, even if it meant using hard words. She taught us that sometimes we dance around difficult topics, but we need to be brave enough to confront them head-on. This idea stuck with me as a guiding principle for my writing.

Another piece of advice that has resonated with me is the simple act of sitting down and writing. No matter how challenging or daunting it may seem, I’ve learned that I just have to sit in the chair and do it. It’s not always easy or scheduled, but when I know something needs to be done, I push through and write. Sometimes, it’s about getting all the rough ideas out first and then polishing them later. These two guiding principles—speaking the truth and sitting down to write—are what drive my writing process.

Usha: What is your current writing genre and is there a reason you choose memoir ?

Dina: My writing journey has taken me across various genres, from poetry to fiction, and even two completed novels that remain unpublished. However, I didn’t venture into nonfiction until I started a blog to rekindle my writing habit after a 10-year hiatus. The blog allowed me to experiment with creative nonfiction, blending facts with a more imaginative narrative style. What began as a series of blog posts eventually evolved into my first book, a compilation of essays drawn from my blog and some new pieces.

Although I didn’t set out to write a memoir initially, I found myself following where the words led me, resulting in a memoir-like narrative. I’ve always felt that my writing falls somewhere on a spectrum between memoir and essay, with shades of creativity woven in. I believe in allowing the writing process to guide me rather than forcing a story into a predetermined framework. This freedom often leads to the most authentic and compelling narratives.

While I’m not sure if I have enough captivating stories left for another memoir, I’m open to where my writing journey takes me next.

Usha: If you could pick one literary figure from past or present, to meet and chat / to interview, who would you choose?

Dina: It’s definitely a tough choice, but I’d have to go with Mary Shelley. Most renowned for “Frankenstein,” which she wrote at the young age of 19. However, it’s not just her literary prowess that intrigues me. As the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, a pioneering women’s rights activist, Mary Shelley would have been exposed to a wealth of intellectual influence from her mother’s letters and the Romantic circles she frequented. Despite the constraints of her time, she carved a path as a creative woman, earning her place as a godmother of Gothic fiction and perhaps even science fiction.

I’m fascinated by what it must have been like for her as a young woman in an era when female writers were not encouraged or taken seriously. Even now, there are doubters who question whether a woman of her age could have authored such a groundbreaking work. I see Mary Shelley as a window into the past, offering insights into the challenges and triumphs of creative women in her time.

I often wonder if there were other women like her, whose names have been lost to history. Or was Mary truly a once-in-a-lifetime figure? I imagine conversing with her would shed light on these questions and provide a deeper understanding of the creative landscape of her era.

Usha: If you could choose a celebrity to narrate your book as an audiobook which celebrity would you choose to narrate the book? 

Dina: Molly Ringwald. It might seem like a random choice, but as a solid Gen X woman, my upbringing was heavily influenced by cultural references from the 1980s, particularly John Hughes movies. Despite their problematic aspects, these films shaped my identity as a person and as a writer. Molly Ringwald, with her iconic roles in movies like “The Breakfast Club,” embodies the essence of that era for me. Her characters resonated with me as a teenager, navigating the complexities of life and love. Even today, phrases from these movies have become part of our family lexicon, passed down to my Gen Z children. So, when it comes to choosing a celebrity to narrate my book, Molly Ringwald is the perfect fit.

Usha: If you were not a writer, what would you have become?

Dina : Well, considering that writing doesn’t quite pay the bills, I often ponder what alternative career I might have chosen. One possibility is teaching, which I dabbled in briefly. I taught in an underfunded area of Brooklyn, and while it was challenging and I felt unprepared, I recognize now that I may have given up too easily. Another option that intrigues me is urban planning. Despite not being particularly adept at subjects like physics or math, I’m fascinated by the inner workings of cities. As a New Yorker, I’m especially drawn to the evolution of urban landscapes and how we can make cities more sustainable and accessible for all demographics.

These two interests might seem disparate, but they complement each other quite well. And if I could squeeze in some linguistics, exploring the nuances of gendered language would be a dream niche for me.

In a Marvel multiverse scenario, perhaps I’d inhabit different versions of myself—a teacher in one universe, an urban planner in another, and a sociolinguist specializing in gendered language in yet another. It’s a whimsical thought, but one that encapsulates the diverse facets of my interests.

Usha: When was the last time you googled yourself and what did you find?

Dina: I must admit, I find myself Googling my name quite frequently, mainly to ensure that the content I want to prioritize appears at the top of search results. The last time I was genuinely surprised by what I found was a few years ago, around 2021. It was quite an unexpected turn of events when CNN published an article about how I met my husband. To my amazement, the story garnered significant attention, being featured prominently on CNN’s online platform. What truly astonished me was the reach of that single article—it was translated into multiple languages and picked up by newspapers across the globe, from Portugal to Russia, Australia to India. It makes me sound vain, but I am just being transparent. It’s not an everyday occurrence, but it does happen from time to time.

Usha: What is the current show/ latest show you are watching which gave you a further creative impetus?

Dina: I recently finished watching “One Day”. Since I had read the book, I knew what was coming. As expected, it was emotionally challenging but excellently executed. Reflecting on this, I realized that while I don’t often find inspiration from television, it’s an integral part of our cultural landscape and can serve as a significant source of connection. For instance, memorable TV moments like the Red Wedding episode of “Game of Thrones” become cultural touchstones that we share and discuss.

However, the last show that truly inspired me was unexpectedly “The Last of Us,” particularly its standout episode, possibly Episode 3. Despite not being my typical genre preference—zombie apocalypse fare—the episode’s nuanced storytelling captivated me. What struck me was how it tackled profound themes through unconventional lenses. It reminded me of the impactful storytelling in “Chernobyl,” only to later discover that they shared producers and writers. Both series took horrific events and explored them through unexpected perspectives: stray dogs in “Chernobyl” and a love story in “The Last of Us.” This unique approach to storytelling left a lasting impression on me and ignited a sense of creative exploration, challenging me to consider new narrative angles in my own writing.

Usha: What s next ? Any upcoming projects.

Dina: What’s next for me? Well, as March approaches in the US, it’s Women’s History Month, and for the past seven years, I’ve dedicated my social media platforms to spotlighting lesser-known women from history. Over time, this has evolved into a project that many have encouraged me to turn into a book. So, after years of compiling research and notes, I’ve decided to take on this endeavour. I’ve started pulling together about 50 women from history to feature in the first volume. As I sift through my database, I realize I could probably fill three volumes with the incredible women I’ve discovered. My favourite aspect of this project is how people send me suggestions throughout the year, introducing me to new fierce women from history.

My aim with this book is to showcase diverse women from various backgrounds and time periods, focusing particularly on those further back in history. I want to challenge the misconception that women only recently started making significant contributions to society. By shedding light on these overlooked figures, I hope to prompt deeper discussions about why their names aren’t more widely known.

Additionally, I’m collaborating with my sister, who is an illustrator, to bring these stories to life visually. Alongside this project, I’m also toying with the idea of returning to fiction writing, perhaps trying my hand at a thriller. It’s a shift in gears from nonfiction, but I’m intrigued by the prospect of letting my imagination roam freely in the realm of fiction once again.

That brings us to end of the Q and A Session. Thank you so much Dina , it was an absolute delight to chat with you, talk about amongst other things the cultural references of being a Gen X and being a 80s kid and for book recommending “ All the single ladies” by Rebecca Traister.

Here is the link which Dina found when she Googled herself.

A British guy crashed her Thanksgiving dinner. They’ve been married for 20 years | CNN

Here is  Dina s website. Do have a nose around.

About – Dina Honour

Please do connect with her on her Instagram page

https://www.instagram.com/d.m.honour

That’s all from me. Happy reading folks until next time.