Interview with Zoe Weil
October, 2009
Zoe Weil
SS: What is your favorite movie?
ZW: Harold and Maude
SS: What is your favorite television show?
ZW: Star Trek, by far
SS: What is your birthdate?
ZW: 7/13
SS: What were your previous occupations?
ZW: I've been a humane educator for over 20 years, and all my jobs prior to that were leading me in that direction
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
ZW: The one I have now as president and head of faculty at the Institute for Humane Education
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
ZW: I went to the Nightingale-Bamford School for girls for 12 years and then received my B.A. and M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
ZW: Joyfully trying to live the MOGO principle
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
ZW: My life is my message
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
ZW: Living a meaningful life in which we try to do the most good and the least harm to all and engage in authentic, caring relationships leads to happiness.
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
ZW: My greatest fear is not living fully, deeply, and kindly and thus, having significant regrets.
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
ZW: Right where I am.
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
ZW: My role model is Mahatma Gandhi.
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
ZW: I admire so many people; I can't name one, but right now I especially admire Barack Obama and Van Jones
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
ZW: MOGO!
SS: What do you regret most?
ZW: That my father didn't live long enough to meet my husband or son or know what I did with my life.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
ZW: Being a comedian.
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
ZW: My contribution to the growing comprehensive humane education movement
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
ZW: I react to things too quickly.
SS: What’s your best quality?
ZW: A lifelong commitment to self reflection that leads me to live with greater integrity
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
ZW: I would be myself, with fewer flaws
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
ZW: The first thing that surprises people when they have read my books and they meet me is that I'm short
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
ZW: Medea in Claude and Medea. I wrote this book so it's no wonder Medea is my favorite fictional hero!
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
ZW: The black oily thing in Star Trek: The Next Generation
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
ZW: Mahatma Gandhi. Thank you.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
ZW: Rudeness, snottyness.
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
ZW: I have more than one: hiking, ice skating, swimming on a hot day in a pond or the ocean, x-country skiing, observing nature, laughing
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
ZW: I love my profession as a humane educator, president of the Institute for Humane Education, and writer, but my fantasy profession would be hosting The Daily Show and being as funny as Jon Stewart
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
ZW: Kindness, Humor, Integrity
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
ZW: Avocados
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
ZW: Roald Dahl short stories
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
ZW: Write what you know and what you're passionate about.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
ZW: There isn't one I can think of, but now I'll pay more attention!
Get more on Zoe Weil at SimonandSchuster.com
Zoe Weil
General Questions
SS: What is your favorite movie?
ZW: Harold and Maude
SS: What is your favorite television show?
ZW: Star Trek, by far
SS: What is your birthdate?
ZW: 7/13
SS: What were your previous occupations?
ZW: I've been a humane educator for over 20 years, and all my jobs prior to that were leading me in that direction
SS: What was/is your favorite job?
ZW: The one I have now as president and head of faculty at the Institute for Humane Education
SS: Where did you go to high school and/or college?
ZW: I went to the Nightingale-Bamford School for girls for 12 years and then received my B.A. and M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School
Quick Start
SS: How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
ZW: Joyfully trying to live the MOGO principle
SS: What is your motto or maxim?
ZW: My life is my message
What Readers want to know...
SS: How would you describe perfect happiness?
ZW: Living a meaningful life in which we try to do the most good and the least harm to all and engage in authentic, caring relationships leads to happiness.
SS: What’s your greatest fear?
ZW: My greatest fear is not living fully, deeply, and kindly and thus, having significant regrets.
SS: If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
ZW: Right where I am.
SS: With whom in history do you most identify?
ZW: My role model is Mahatma Gandhi.
SS: Which living person do you most admire?
ZW: I admire so many people; I can't name one, but right now I especially admire Barack Obama and Van Jones
SS: What are your most overused words or phrases?
ZW: MOGO!
SS: What do you regret most?
ZW: That my father didn't live long enough to meet my husband or son or know what I did with my life.
SS: If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
ZW: Being a comedian.
SS: What is your greatest achievement?
ZW: My contribution to the growing comprehensive humane education movement
SS: What’s your greatest flaw?
ZW: I react to things too quickly.
SS: What’s your best quality?
ZW: A lifelong commitment to self reflection that leads me to live with greater integrity
SS: If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
ZW: I would be myself, with fewer flaws
SS: What trait is most noticeable about you?
ZW: The first thing that surprises people when they have read my books and they meet me is that I'm short
SS: Who is your favorite fictional hero?
ZW: Medea in Claude and Medea. I wrote this book so it's no wonder Medea is my favorite fictional hero!
SS: Who is your favorite fictional villain?
ZW: The black oily thing in Star Trek: The Next Generation
SS: If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
ZW: Mahatma Gandhi. Thank you.
SS: What is your biggest pet peeve?
ZW: Rudeness, snottyness.
SS: What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
ZW: I have more than one: hiking, ice skating, swimming on a hot day in a pond or the ocean, x-country skiing, observing nature, laughing
SS: What’s your fantasy profession?
ZW: I love my profession as a humane educator, president of the Institute for Humane Education, and writer, but my fantasy profession would be hosting The Daily Show and being as funny as Jon Stewart
SS: What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
ZW: Kindness, Humor, Integrity
SS: If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
ZW: Avocados
Questions About Books and Writing
SS: Is there a book you love to reread?
ZW: Roald Dahl short stories
SS: Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
ZW: Write what you know and what you're passionate about.
SS: What comment do you hear most often from your readers?
ZW: There isn't one I can think of, but now I'll pay more attention!
Get more on Zoe Weil at SimonandSchuster.com
