Featured Interview With Alegra Loewenstein
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Texas, in the Dallas Suburbs. I’m not really a suburb kind of gal. Now I live in San Diego, in the City proper, though even my neighborhood is a bit burby for me! I’m all or nothing: Heart of the city, or middle of the woods.
As far as pet status goes… It’s complicated. I have a cat, except that he has pretty much decided to move in with my neighbor. We asked her to scare him out of her house and to not feed him, but she’s a cat junk food enabler. I told you; it’s complicated.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I didn’t really like to read until I discovered teen fiction in college. I am a rather slow reader, and this made it hard to enjoy the reading that I had done for school. I got a job in the children’s department of a bookstore and realized that teen fiction was a thing! Those stories are quick to read, and that really turned the tide for me. Working in the bookstore also introduced me to my love of self help books!
I have rather eclectic taste in both reading and writing. I have always written poetry my whole life, and I got a degree in it, but that made me realize I like poetry, not love poetry. I combined my biology degree and creative writing degree in science education, and that was an easy step to writing health focused non-fiction!!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I’m pretty obsessed with non-fiction and in particular self help. It’s somewhat of an obligation I have, that if I’m going to read, I should be improving myself! I also love fiction, but sometimes I have to force myself to pick fiction!
Some favorite authors include Michale Pollan for food journalism, Mary Sheedy-Kurcinka is awesome for parenting, and Carol S. Pearson for archetype based self improvement.
I still love teen fiction, lately Squirm and Hoot – I love the environmental themes in them. My kids and I love listening to the Rick Riordan series; we’ve heard the first Percy Jackson, the Magnus Chase, and have started the Kane Chronicles.
I also make a point to make sure I’m reading a balanced number of women authors.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Kitchen Magic: Simple Recipes & Rituals to Manifest Health & Happiness is all about having fun in the kitchen with healthy food!! It’s also natural living 101, while keeping everything lighthearted and playful. No pressure! Just do things for the sheer joy of it! Plant some seeds or compost some banana peels, and you are participating in the cycle of life! It’s all the best advice from my younger self.
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