Twenty Questions w/ Emily Day

It’s Day #1 of our week-long celebration for Day’s YA’s 3rd birthday, and we’re kicking things off with a round of 20 Questions with Library Marketing Coordinator & YA Specialist (and founder of Day’s YA), Emily Day!

Questions were submitted by the other members of the Library Marketing team.

1. How did you know that publishing was the industry for you?
I think once I realized that I could turn my love for books into a career, that was when I knew. I was getting my Masters in Children’s Literature and taking a publishing course when it really clicked.

2. How many different countries have you lived in?
Two! The US and Singapore.

3. Where did you work before Macmillan?
Before Macmillan, I was living in Boston and going to grad school. While I was in school, I worked at Trident Booksellers and Cafe as a bookseller. Before that, I lived in Singapore and worked as a fourth grade teacher at an international school.

4. Do you have a nickname? What is it?
Most people in my life call me Em. In college, a lot of people called me Emday because there was an abundance of Emilys.

5. Tell us about your tattoos… Which one is your favorite and why? [Leading question… I’m hoping it’s the one you got in NOLA!!!!]
I have 5 tattoos, and I’m not sure I can pick a favorite, but the one from NOLA is definitely the best story. Remember back in the day when we could travel and go to conferences in person? Well, I was at ALA Annual in New Orleans when a couple of unnamed coworkers and I decided to get spontaneous tattoos. It’s the only tattoo I have that I didn’t obsessively think about before getting it.

6. How do you feel about cats?
<3 <3 <3

7. What is your favorite movie based on a book and why?
Little Women, because it’s delightful and it was also the last movie I saw in theaters before the world shut down.
The Devil Wears Prada, because Meryl Streep + Stanley Tucci are the dream team.
Crazy Rich Asians, because it reminds me of living in Singapore (although my life there was quite different from the one portrayed).
The Princess Diaries, because I devoured those books during my teen years and the movie takes me right back to that time, in the best way.

8. When you’re not working, what is your favorite activity?
Hanging out in Prospect Park with a good book and good company

9. Do you have a favorite bookstore or library? If yes, name ‘em!
Library: Boston Public Library, specifically the courtyard
Bookstore: Books are Magic in Brooklyn

10. What is your favorite book genre to read, and why?
Lately, rom-coms, because they’re so cheerful and I feel like I need happiness by the bucketful these days. But I also really love psychological thrillers.

11. What is your favorite book / author and why?
This changes daily, but here are a few favorites at the moment:
THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V.E. Schwab — This book left me completely speechless. Once I regained my speech, I’ve been shouting about it to anyone who will listen.
DAISY JONES & THE SIX by Taylor Jenkins Reid — I cannot recommend this audiobook enough. It blew me away.
Literally anything by Ruth Ware — She’s one of the reigning queens of psychological thrillers and I’d read the phone book if she wrote it.
Molly Idle — Her Flora series of picture books are so incredibly sweet.

12. Favorite snack while working from home?
Strawberries with peanut butter

13. What’s the first book you remember reading as a kid?
BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL by Robert McClosky. Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk.

14. E-book, print, or audio?
All of the above! I don’t often have time to do much physical reading that’s not for work, so I listen to a lot of audiobooks during times when I can’t be reading (on a run, doing dishes, even in the shower).

15. What is your favorite music genre?
I’ll listen to most things and my music taste changes often. Some steady favorites are Broadway soundtracks and oldies. However, according to my 2020 Spotify Wrapped, TSwift was the star of my year.

16. What is on your TBR list?
Here are the audiobooks I currently have on hold from the library:
THE HEIR AFFAIR by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
QUEENIE by Candice Carty-Williams
ONE BY ONE by Ruth Ware
THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley
GROWN by Tiffany D. Jackson

17. What have you pretended to read?
Other than the assigned reading in school, I don’t think I’ve ever actually pretended to read something that I haven’t read. However, most people are shocked to find out that I’ve never read a single book by Jane Austen.

18. If you could eat anything at all for the rest of your life, what would it be? [Do not say cheese.]
I hate cheese, so it’s definitely not that. It’s probably pasta.

19. What have you missed the most while in quarantine?
So many things. I think I most miss just being able to do things. Go to shows, travel, eat at restaurants, hug my friends. I miss the old normal.

20. If you could trade places with one character from a book for a day who would it be?
Anne Shirley from ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. She sees the world in such a beautiful and imaginative way and I think it would be lovely to experience that, if only for a day.

Click here to view to see what the rest of the week has in store!