1. Briefly share the path to your current career — why journalism?
Believe it or not, journalism was the fallback plan — I wanted to be a famous novelist but that obviously did not work out.
2. What is your favorite thing about your job?
I love that my job is to learn new things. I can call or email people and ask them to talk about their work or their lives or the things that are most important to them and they’ll just tell me.
3. Tell us about a moment in your career you are particularly proud of.
A recent highlight was when I wrote a very long story about Josh Henderson, a celebrated chef who made a major mark on Seattle’s dining scene before his businesses fell apart. Someone in the restaurant industry who I didn’t talk to for the story emailed me to say that my story was “accurate,” which is just about the highest compliment a journalist can get.
4. What do you look for in a story?
Ideally I start with a question I don’t know the answer to. My reporting and research is an attempt to answer that question.
5. What’s the best way for someone to get your attention?
Say “I have a story for you.” And then actually tell me a story.
6. What skills have you found most useful in your career?
Writing clean prose very quickly is a necessity in this business. Also letting people talk.
7. What is something unexpected that you have learned during your career?
Most people are trying to do their best most of the time.
Fill in the blank:
If I am not working, I am… chasing my two kids around.
If I could interview anyone, it would be… Bernie Sanders.
My children inspire me.
My favorite thing about Seattle is… how beautiful it is. Something I didn’t appreciate until I moved away from here is that not everywhere is surrounded by mountains and water.