The Rye Crop: Which book are you currently reading? 

Avila: I am reading The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip and Dan Heath. This book examines why we tend to remember the best and worst moments of our lives and forget everything else. I picked this book because I’m endlessly interested in the science behind this topic and how we can shape our lives for the better. 

TRC: What is your all time favorite book and why?

Avila: My favorite book is Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. It tells the story of a young Andalucean shepherd boy named Santiago who dreams about a treasure in the Egyptian pyramids and embarks on a journey to find it.  Along the way, he meets teachers and friends, a love interest, experiences setbacks, follows the signs that lead him forward, and finds his way back home. The message of the book is to listen to your heart and follow your dreams, but it can conjure up so much more.

TRC: Who are your favorite authors and/or poets and why?

Avila: In graduate school, I studied with Susan Cheever, Honor Moore, and John Freeman. They’re still my favorites! I admire a range of writers’ prose like James Baldwin, Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou, and Joan Didion for their technique and style. I’ve also enjoyed Italian authors, Italo Calvino and Dante. But for me it depends on the moment in time. Lately, the content that pulls me are books by Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson and Dr. Joe Dispenza.

TRC: Which genre do you tend to pick up to read?

Avila: Definitely memoir and biography books are my favorite books to read. I love to learn about people’s lives, their upbringing, figures who influenced them, what roadblocks they encountered, how they got to where they are, what decisions they made, and what lessons they learned along the way. I read about political figures, sports figures, the royal family, celebrities and women’s biographies.

TRC: Which book protagonist would you invite for a cup of coffee and why?

Avila: Michelle Obama or Tara Westover come to mind. Their biographies (Becoming by Michelle Obama and Educated by Tara Westover) are among my favorite, interesting reads!

TRC: Do you have a favorite banned book, and what do you think about censorship in books?

Avila:  In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is creative non-fiction at its best and the first of its kind, a nonfiction book that reads like a novel. This is the genre that I studied for my MFA. Regarding book censorship, I think libraries display banned books, authors celebrate their works, and publishers take good measures in making sure the content is reflective of what society wants to read.

TRC: If not your favorite book, which book had the greatest impact on you and why? 

Avila: The latest book that had a great impact on me was Untamed by Glennon Doyle. It was gifted to me by my friend who was the author’s publicist. In women’s memoirs, it’s such a standout as it’s about learning to trust your own voice, honor your emotions, and live authentically.

TRC: What is a must read for high school students in your opinion? 

Avila: If you’re going to read something in the next few years, read What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles. This book is a guidebook for life. 

TRC: What’s next on your TBR (to be read) list?Avila: I was hoping to read Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, this fall but it’s delayed until January. I would also like to read a new memoir by Joanna Gaines, The Stories We Tell.