Page Turners is part of my "Literary Luminary" series, featuring insights on writing and publishing straight from the folks who do it for a living. Page Turner Kristina DeMichele is an Associate Marketing Manager at America's Test Kitchen, managing the email newsletter program and writing about food every day. You can find her raiding the take-home fridge.
What are you reading right now?
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby
Who are your top 5 authors?
Jane Austen, Ruth Reichl, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Susan Branch, and Rainbow Rowell
What gets you excited about a book you're reading?
When a book can transport me to another state of consciousness, to the point where I cannot hear anything else around me except for the world that has bloomed in my brain from the text on the page, that's when I know. That's when a book has unequivocally rooted itself into my heart. Also, if a book makes me literally laugh out loud (which is a huge rarity for me), then it's a pure gem.
And what turns you off?
I can't stand clichés, rushed plots, and predictable endings. Not all the loose ends need to be tied; that's just not how life works.
Is there one book in particular that changed your life?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen changed my life. To see a woman from her era write something so meaningful and relatable to a girl living 200 years later is just extraordinary. I promptly gobbled up the rest of her written work and took a tutorial on her work at Oxford. Her books, and the books that have resonated with me, make me feel far less alone and far more human.
What made you want to work in the book world?
I've always wanted to bring quality literature to the public. I also have a deep love for food and cooking, so working at America's Test Kitchen is incredible. Each publication includes recipes, reviews, and tests that are of the highest quality, and it's a relief to know that I'm marketing products with such high caliber content.
Which book do you wish you could read again for the first time?
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Are you or someone you know a book publishing professional who would like to be featured in this series?
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This means if you click through one of the Amazon links above, I get a small cut of your purchase. This helps me keep my website up and running so I can continue helping authors tell their best stories.