An introduction to me!!

By Ellen Sophie

 

Intro to me!

Hi!

I’m Ellen, and at the time of writing this, I’m 21 years old. I recently graduated from the University of Leicester with a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. A whole bachelor’s degree in the arts. Arguably, the most unemployable degree I know. 

I love all things books and film, with a particular interest in all things horror and fantasy. I wish I could say that my love for horror has been consistent throughout my life, but unfortunately, I am not a member of the Addams family. 

My love for horror started as an act of rebellion after my parents decided that I was too young to watch Nightmare on Elm Street at a friend’s house. They said I was too young and refused to allow me to watch it until I was at least 16. I went behind their backs and used YouTube to watch clips and kill counts from countless horror movies. And thus, my admiration for the genre began.

DO NOT ask me to pick a favourite horror flick, it is impossible. But the top three would be the first Saw movie, Jordan Peele’s Get Out and the original IT mini-series (Not technically a film, but it’s a loophole, ok!). I’m sure I will one day go into detail as to why I adore these films, but I won’t today. I will contain the special interest rants for another day. 

In terms of literature, I am full anti-classics. Having spent the last three years of my life being subjected to Chaucer, Shakespeare and Austen, I would be quite happy to never pick up a piece of pre-21st Century literature ever again. I have nothing against people who love them; in fact, I have a lot of respect for them, you know, choosing to read books that are basically not in English. I tend to lean more towards YA and fantasy books.

Some of my favourites include Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha verse (particularly Six of Crows), The Inheritance games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and, of course, like every young reader at the moment, the Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yaros. I love a book with its own world, being able to pick up a book and be entered into a world with its own rules and politics fuels my desire to keep reading. They gain extra points in my book if there’s a map involved. I love a good map. Do I understand them? Not really, but I don’t let that stop me. Not for a second. 

Now you’re probably thinking this is all well and good. Great to get to know you but what can I expect going forward? Honestly, dear reader, I have no idea. I plan to write consistently about things that genuinely interest me. It might not always be about books and films, but it might be about music, another thing that takes up so much space in my mind, or it may be about anything else that takes my fancy at the time. Sometimes it may be serious and intellectual, think along the lines of an essay or literature review, or it may be 500 words about whatever is occupying my mind at the time. 

Now that you know a little bit more about me, I hope you will join me for this wild ride, wherever it’ll take us. 

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