Meet The Staff
Arianna
Twitter: @AwesomeArianna
State: California
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Catching Fire. Oddly enough the premise behind the arena being a clock intrigues me. Peeta’s character also develops more in CF and the ending makes me feel for him even more.
Favorite Character: PEETA! I have never loved a character in a book more then I love Peeta. He’s honest, loyal to Katniss, a fighter…shall I go on? His character makes me wish there was a real life Peeta out there.
Favorite Quote:
“But I have a mission. No, it’s more than a mission. It’s my dying wish. Keep Peeta Alive.” -Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire
“That what I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That is can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that.” Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay
Facts:
- I started kindergarten when I was 4, graduated high school when I was 17 and graduated from college when I was 19. I’m now a licensed RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) at the age of 21. I will be going back to college in the next two years to continue my education.
- I own 4 cats, 5 guinea pigs, a bird, and a fish named Jason. Full house much?
- I have met Suzanne Collins and she was the best author/celebrity/all around person I have ever met in my life.
Theresa aka “T”
Twitter: @RealorNotReal
State: Michigan
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Mockingjay! Why? In one word “Real”, in one adjective “Amazing” and in one feeling “Heart Wrenching.” The journey is real and the characters are true to that journey. The book is just amazing!
Favorite Character: Peeta, I may be a card carrying member of Team Katniss, but Peeta is my favorite character. Why? He’s Peeta…lol
Favorite Quotes:
- “You love me. Real or Not Real?” -Peeta Mellark, Mockingjay
- “Always” -Peeta Mellark, Mockingjay
- “…there are much worse games to play” -Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay
Facts:
- I have 2 amazing kids, Kayla and Joshua who I am excited to say LOVE to read.
- I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan and JK Rowling is my hero.
- My nickname for Suzanne Collins is “the goddess” and she knows it.
Shylah
Twitter: @JediShywalker
State: New York
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: I love them all for different reasons, but if I absolutely have to pick, I choose Hunger Games. The experience of reading it for the first time (having no idea what it was about and no expectations) was incredible– it was so good, in fact, that I put off reading the other books in the series for months because I was worried they wouldn’t be as good (I was wrong).
Favorite Character: Cinna. He’s a reminder to all of us that people from all walks of life (rich or poor, Capitol or Seam) are capable of love, kindness, and sacrifice.
Favorite Quote:
- “Well, if you put enough pressure on coal it turns to pearls!” -Effie Trinket, Hunger Games
Facts About Me:
- I have a husband and two cats named Hank and Dean.
- I love to crochet and create things inspired by books I love.
- I was once on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire!
Mary
Twitter: @maryms1980
State: West Virginia
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Catching Fire. I love this book because we can see what happen after the Games, the good and the bad. We also get to see how vulnerable Katniss is and how much she grows.
Favorite Character: HAYMITCH! Haymitch is the person that I want in my corner. He truly cares about Katniss and Peeta. I cannot imagine how hard it would be for year after year watch kids that you mentor to die right there in front of you and there is nothing you can do. When he mentored Katniss and Peeta he was right there trying everything that he could do to help them survive.
Favorite Quotes:
- “Well, you better learn fast. You’ve got about as much charm as a dead slug” – Haymitch Abernathy, Hunger Games
- “Do you know she asked me to give you away? I told her the sooner the better.” – Haymitch Abernathy, Catching Fire
- “What is it sweetheart? More boy trouble?” – Haymitch Abernathy, Mockingjay
Facts About Me:
- I am happily married to the world’s greatest man.
- I am obsessed with reading, going to the movies, going to school, and going to church.
Flo
Twitter: @FloeticFlo
State: Florida
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Mockingjay. Because I was in no way expecting it. It was powerful. It hit me hard, but it was honest and real, sad and hopeful, all at the same time. I really admire Suzanne Collins for the courage to write it the way she did.
Favorite Character: Katniss. Because of her strength. In light of everything she endures in the saga, she never backs down from her goal of keeping those she loves fed and safe.
Favorite Quote:
- “You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him, you know.” -Haymitch Abernathy, Catching Fire
Facts About Me:
- The last two people that have some into my house have seen my piles of books and been shocked by the number
- I love to travel and to make scrapbooks of my travels, but I am horribly behind in them
- Not only does my name begin with F, but also the three things most important to me: Faith, Family, Friends
Sam
- “Leave the district. Run off. Live in the woods. You and I, we could make it.” Gale Hawthorn, The Hunger Games
- “I take his hand, holding on tightly, preparing for the cameras, and dreading the moment when I will finally have to let go.” Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games (This quote inspired my song “Preparing To Let Go” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVFKP4A2274)
Facts:
- I write music about books. I have written music inspired by Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, Alice in Wonderland, Paper Towns, and even Jurassic Park! If I don’t have a book to read or a song in the works, then I am doing something wrong.
- I am married and have 2 children, 1 boy an 1 girl.
- I graduated high school when I was 16. Not because I am smarter than anyone else, I just wanted to get out and that motivated me to work hard enough to graduate 2 years early. haha
Ellie
Twitter: @muchmoremacho
State: Washington DC (though New Jersey when I’m not at college)
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Mockingjay! Even though it’s the book that annoyed me the most, it also gave me the most emotion. I love emoting from books. I almost always like the last book in a series the best because it brings it all together. The series is just incomplete until that point. And I love the whole package.
Favorite Character: Peeta, without a doubt. I know it’s over-said, but Peeta is just so perfect, I can’t understand how people could say anyone else. He’s moral, funny, devoted, peaceful, strong, sunny, talented, and just wonderful. His mind works the way mine does, and there is just nothing to dislike about him. He is the character I love most in all of literature.
Favorite Quote: I have been dreading answering this question, because I find it so difficult to choose. But I think I can narrow it down to three.
- “I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don’t hurt anyone but myself.” – Cinna, Catching Fire
- “Yes, frosting. The final defense of the dying.” – Peeta, The Hunger Games
- “It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” – Finnick, Mockingjay
Facts:
- For my fandoms, I write fan fiction, make music videos, and make graphics.
- I am currently in my last year of undergraduate school and spending it student teaching.
- I waited outside in 20 degree weather for 13 hours to see Daniel Radcliffe host Saturday Night Live, and I was the last person let into the dress rehearsal.
Jessica
State: New Jersey
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: I’d have to go with The Hunger Games, because it is there that we meet most of our favorite characters and are introduced to the long-lasting relationships we have come to love. It made me cry in a way I hadn’t in a long time, and I think that the ability to evoke such strong emotions from readers is something to be highly valued.
Favorite Character: I’m a HUGE fan of Haymitch! He remains surly and strong throughout the trilogy, helping his tributes to “stay alive” even when the odds aren’t in their favor. He doesn’t have to have some enormous character arc– he already knew what he had to do, it was just finding the right time to do it.
Favorite Quote: “I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don’t hurt anyone but myself.” Cinna
Facts about Me:
- I was introduced to the Hunger Games trilogy through a book exchange with a friend.
- My sister and I write and perform Rockingjay (HG-inspired music) in a band called District 13.
- We are also working on a Hunger Games Musical for all fans to enjoy!
Emily
Twitter: @CinnaSketchbook
State: Arizona
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: Catching Fire because we meet so many wonderful new characters like Johanna, Finnick, and Beetee. I also loved the intricacy of the clock arena and the further development of Gale’s character and Katniss and Peeta’s relationship.
Favorite Character: Hands down it has to be Finnick. At first I didn’t like him much because of his cockiness, but I enjoyed trying to figure out his motives in Catching Fire and finally learning his story in Mockingjay (there may have been tears). Plus, the love he holds for Annie is just beautiful.
Favorite Quotes:
- “I came for a drink.” -Katniss
- “Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.” –Peeta
Facts about me:
- I’m a thespian; I’ve been performing on stage since age five.
- I don’t have a sense of smell.
- I read the whole trilogy aloud to my little sister.
Aldrin
Twitter: @agamos
State: California
Favorite Hunger Games Trilogy Book: The Hunger Games. While I loved the entire trilogy, there was nothing like being introduced to The Games, the characters, and everything else I love about the series for the first time.
Favorite Character: Peeta, for sure. Many times in my life I’ve told myself not to let anyone change me, and just to be me in the way only I know how. That and we’re both hopeless romantics. Peeta is basically me, only he’s a billion times cooler, haha.
Favorite Quote:
- “You’re a painter. You’re a baker. You like to sleep with the windows open. You never take sugar in your tea. And you always double-knot your shoelaces.” Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay
- “I must have loved you a lot.” Peeta Mellark, Mockingjay
- “I’m something of an expert in architectural design, you know,” [Effie] says.
- ”Oh, yes, I’ve heard that,” says Portia before the pause gets too long.
Facts:
- I made a YouTube video about squirrels called “Try to Do” in 2009. It’s received millions of hits since then, and was featured on Good Morning America, the front page of Yahoo! twice, and TV stations in Japan.
- I am the first ever Mayor of District 2, and love interacting with Hunger Games fans all over the world!
- My obsession with The Hunger Games crosses over into my other obsessions. Currently, I imagine One Direction as Tributes in the arena, and I’ve wondered what it would be like if Disneyland were an arena.
Honorary DWTC Staff Members:
Kevin De La Paz: Kevin is the amazing creator of our Hunger Games quote section graphics. He will be creating more graphics for us in the future and we cannot wait to see what else he comes up with. Thank you Kevin for your amazing creativity! Also, be sure to follow Kevin on his Facebook page.
Penelope Lolohea: Penelope is the amazing artist behind our banner. She was the winner of our banner contest when DWTC was going through the remodel.
