Cindy Kilbourne: Associate Publisher
What is your favorite part about your role?
My favorite part of working at The Parliament House is finding opportunities for our wonderful books to reach a broader audience.
What challenges do you face in your role?
I want the best for our authors and the company. It can be a challenge to find the best possible platforms to promote both individual titles and The Parliament House as a whole.
Give us a fact about you that no one knows.
I’m a black belt in karate.
Tell us what you do when you're not doing Parliament work?
When I’m not doing Parliament work, I do freelance editing, read, travel, spend time with my son and three dogs, and work on my novels.
What is your favorite book genre to read?
Fantasy.
Where can readers find you on social media?
Twitter: @cmkilbourne and @CindyPHpress
Instagram: @cmkilbourne
Facebook: Facebook.com/cmkilbourne
*Cindy's Secret Society Induction Interview:
If you could choose any small animal and make it big, what would it be?
Ravens. I know they aren’t exactly tiny, but can you imagine flying around on the back of an enormous Raven? Magical.
If you had a house made of anything, what would it be?
Diamonds and sea glass.
Or some high-tech, impenetrable material that cleans the air and provides solar energy… Call me, Elon.
What is your deepest, darkest secret?
I accidently grabbed the posterior of a Marvel superstar. I didn’t know the back of the chair was open… I was mortified.
If you could be president, during what historical event would it be?
Let’s not open this political can of worms.
Would you rather lose all of your hair permanently or sweat melted cheese?
The hair can go, I’d rock all the wigs.
Cut an apple in half with your bare hands. What happens?
This is what comes to mind : Karate chopping an apple, and immediately regretting that decision.
Have you ever peed in a swimming pool?
Ew. Probably, but ew.
If you were a porn star, what would your name be?
I’m pretty sure there’s an online quiz for that…hold please.
…Madam Slamm. I disapprove.
What is your favorite sound?
I love the sound of the ocean, but rain storms are a close second.
What would you do if you worked on the set of Flubber and you caught Robin Williams with Flubber in his pants?
Laugh hysterically. What else would one do in Robin’s presence?
Amanda Wright: Submissions Director
What is your favorite part about your role?
Reading queries! Getting to know the authors work before we sign them on. I've loved being the one to send them their Formal Acceptance and then receiving their delighted reactions.
What challenges do you face in your role?
Determining which books best suit Parliament. It can't be about what kind of books I personally like to read, so I have to be objective in my role. The slush pile can build up, but we've done some restructuring that I think is going to streamline this part and make submissions much easier.
Give us a fact about you that no one knows.
I played softball year-round (sometimes three teams at a time) for 10+ years and I played at a Division II college for two years.
Tell us what you do when you're not doing Parliament work? Working at a tourism bureau! I also like to play video games with my fiance and I am an avid lover of The Sims (I get all of my best writing/character ideas from playing sometimes).
What is your favorite book genre to read?
I don't really have a favorite. I'm a mood reader, but I tend to go for darker books nowadays as opposed to the lighter reads (like Sarah Dessen).
Where can readers find you on social media?Instagram (@amwright_author) or on Twitter (@amandaphpress OR @i_AMWrighting).
*Amanda's Secret Society Induction Interview:
If you could choose any small animal and make it big, what would it be?
I think the better question is: what BIG animal would I choose to make SMALL and that is a bear. But really, I guess a hedgehog? They're kinda cute.
If you had a house made of anything, what would it be?
MAHOGANY.
What is your deepest, darkest secret? I'm actually a billionaire, moonlighting as a vigilante to clean up crime in my city.
If you could be president, during what historical event would it be?
The Civil War, specifically during the Battle of Schrute Farms.
Would you rather lose all of your hair permanently or sweat melted cheese?
Lose all of my hair permanently (this is what wigs are for). I already sweat enough as is.
Cut an apple in half with your bare hands. What happens?
It rips a hole into another dimension and pulls me through, rendering me lost and confused on a different Earth that isn't mine.
Have you ever peed in a swimming pool?
Yes. And my pants, on occasion (laughing too hard, sneezing too hard, etc).
If you were a porn star, what would your name be?
Mandy Lix.
What is your favorite sound?
Rain pattering against the windows; thunder booming overhead.
What would you do if you worked on the set of Flubber and you caught Robin Williams with Flubber in his pants?
"Two's a crowd—" wiggles eyebrows and smiles mischievously, "but three's a party."
Alyssa Barber: Author Liasion and Submissions Editor
What is your favorite part about your role?
Getting to work with all of the talented and amazing people that are part of the Parliament House.
What challenges do you face in your role?
There is never enough time in a day to get everything done.
Give us a fact about you that no one knows.
I once wrote a book and then when I tried to write the sequel, it (the sequel) turned out to be just maaajooorrrr fanfiction on the original novel…we don’t talk about it anymore.
Tell us what you do when you're not doing Parliament work?
Working at Starbucks…or reading…
What is your favorite book genre to read?
A little bit of everything.
Where can readers find you on social media?
Almost all of my usernames for any platform will be @confusedbutbeautiful ! However for twitter its @alyssaPHPress !
*Alyssa' Secret Society Induction Interview:
If you could choose any small animal and make it big, what would it be?
Bees? Just kidding, I had to say that at least once here though. *see my tattoo for reference* But probably rats, it would only be bringing the ROUS from The Princess Bride to life, so basically we already know how to deal with them.
If you had a house made of anything, what would it be?
According to The Three Little Pigs, I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to say ‘brick.’
If you could be president, during what historical event would it be?
Probably the American Revolution, as cliché as that sounds; I just want to see all the crazy stuff that the founding fathers did. Yes Hamilton, I’m looking at you.
Would you rather lose all of your hair permanently or sweat melted cheese?
As cool as sweating cheese might sound, I’m going to have to choose losing all of my hair permanently. Wigs exist for a reason, right?
Cut an apple in half with your bare hands. What happens?
You have knives for hands. Now cracking an apple in half with your bare hands…now that’s a different story. Either way you have an apple to eat—free snacks!
Have you ever peed in a swimming pool?
Sure, when I was younger.
If you were a porn star, what would your name be?
Great question. My name would be Candy Canesucker. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
What is your favorite sound?
Thunder and rain.
What would you do if you worked on the set of Flubber and you caught Robin Williams with Flubber in his pants?
“Nice,” followed by a curt nod. You do you Williams, you do you.
Erica Farner: Project Manager
What is your favorite part about your role?
I get to read allllll of the manuscripts in full, and help make all aspects of production easier. Plus, I never run out of reading material.
What challenges do you face in your role?
Sometimes, it's intimidating to read all of the books and come up with good ideas for each aspect of production. I want to make sure I'm providing helpful information, so I psych myself out!
Fact about me no one knows: I know more than one language! I'm fluent in English, conversational in French and ASL, and literate in Sanskrit (though I might not understand what I'm reading.)
Tell us what you do when you're not doing Parliament work?
When I'm not doing Parliament work, I'm wrangling my wild kiddos, working on my own book, or baking! I love baking.
What is your favorite book genre to read?
Dark Fantasy!
Where can readers find you on social media?
Just "Erica Farner" on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
*Erica's Secret Society Induction Interview:
If you could choose any small animal and make it big, what would it be?
Owls. I'm obsessed with owls as it is, but just imagine nuzzling up against a gigantic friggen owl. It's the dream, man.
If you had a house made of anything, what would it be?
Amethyst. Because amethyst > air.
What is your deepest, darkest secret?
I'm not actually a human. What species am I, you ask? Good luck figuring it out. *evil laughter*
If you could be president, during what historical event would it be?
The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, which gave women the right to vote. GIRL POWER.
Would you rather lose all of your hair permanently or sweat melted cheese?
Is that a question? Sweat cheese, no doubt.
Cut an apple in half with your bare hands. What happens?
It slices perfectly clean. Because, like Dwight Schrute, my hands are deadly weapons. BA BAM.
Have you ever peed in a swimming pool?
There are two types of people in the world: people who have peed in the swimming pool, and liars.
If you were a porn star, what would your name be?
Delilah Maddox. Dunno why. It's just an awesome name.
What is your favorite sound?
The sound of the blood of my enemies trickling down my blade, which was forged from ancient steel and sharpened by the hands of Athena. Baby laughter works, too.
What would you do if you worked on the set of Flubber and you caught Robin Williams with Flubber in his pants?
Put some Flubber down my pants. That sounds like a party. Plus, ROBIN WILLIAMS.
*According to Business Insider, this selection of questions were/ are allegedly presented to potential pledges of Yale University's secret societies.