“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain
If someone asked me to describe Jo in one word (or even ten), I wouldn't be able to. She's simply too awesome for words (I kid you not), and, luckily for us, she talks a lot (and, I daresay, enjoys it too).
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1. What's the story behind your username (or pen name)?
I wrote a play once and it was based on the idea of vertigo which is very complicated and if you want me to explain it in detail I will but for the sake of the interview I'm going to skip it at the mo. So anyway, the title was Alis Grave Nil which is Latin for "There's no burden for those that have wings" and so : alis grave nil --> Alis Gravenil --> Alice Graivenille.
2. Do you like music? If yes, what's on your playlist at the moment?
Oh, wow. I've so many playlists. I can listen to anything, really, so long as the music and the lyrics speak to me. My favourite type of music is Jazz, Swing, Blues and Classic Rock. But I also have a soft spot for Classical and Opera and Latin/Tango tunes. What I can tell you is that I'm not fond of pop music or the tunes they play at clubs. Oh, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE vinyl records from the Roaring 20s till early 60s.
3. What is your favourite performing art?
I'm an artsy person. I've been playing the piano for years (turned it into a part-time job to make some extra quid) but I've also taken dance classes and theatre and basically... I'm into all kids of artistic activities. Well I can tell you I'm not good at painting and sculpting. I've taken classes and I can draw somewhat decently with lots of time and effort but no, I've no talent in that area. None whatsoever. Photography, music, dancing, writing and theatre are my area of expertise.
(Artsy, yes. Very artsy.)
4. Would you rather be a performer or work behind the scenes?
That's a tough one. I like switching between the two mostly because I believe to be good at any of them you've got to have tried them both. I've performed on stage numerous times and I've directed plays that I wrote myself or simply adapted and I can tell you, after having done both, my eyes were opened. When directing you have a vision, you know what you want your performers to do but you have to know how to guide them in order for them to deliver. That's hard because they don't share your vision. They rely solely on your verbal instructions. If you haven't walked in their shoes you don't know how to speak the right words, how to make them feel what you feel and vice versa if you haven't directed or written, you don't know what it's like for a whole dream, a whole plan to come together. It's a very fulfilling experience. All this babbling to say, I can't pick. I'd rather be both.
5. What are your favourite foods? (List as many as you like)
Ha! I'm a culinary buffoon. I love food. Cooking it, decorating it, *eating it*!
I love sushi and Asian food. My being Greek makes me very fond of the Mediterranean cuisine as well. I'd like to think that growing up in France allowed me to better understand and ultimately appreciate the French cuisine as well. I love meat and rice and spaghetti. Gnocchi are a food coming straight from heaven. I don't mind vegetables, I do like them, it's just that I need to accompany them with something else. I'm not that into green food you see.
("Culinary buffoon"! I'm afraid I can't equate you with a buffoon, Jo xD)
6. Where would you go if you could travel anywhere? And why?
