Claire Zulkey

Claire Zulkey is used to being last alphabetically, but she doesn't mind. A 2001 graduate of Georgetown University, she lives in wonderful Chicago as an advertising copywriter until one day some brilliant patron will start paying to write things like you'll find here or at Sweet Fancy Moses, Dezmin, Opium Magazine, Popmatters, Pindeldyboz and Knowumsayin.

One day she'd like to utter the phrases "How many weeks has my book been on the best-seller list now?" and "I'd like to thank the Academy." Claire's been very lucky and has gotten to travel to lots of cool places: So far she's been to England, France, Germany, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Russia. She also lived for a year in Italy.

Claire loves: The Chicago White Sox, her dog Major, Elvis Costello, sending her friends packages, gerbera daises, macaroni and cheese, studying art, Diet Pepsi, black and white photography, truffle oil, Brunello wine, dancing like a fool, Wes Anderson movies and a bunch of people. On good days she loves all people.

Claire hates: Fat-free cream cheese, waking up too early, stagnation, when all the radio stations play commercials simultaneously, worms and big bugs, people who walk too slowly in front of her, crowded El trains, music by Shaggy, the smell of curry, hot and humid weather, fishy-tasting fish and when her faults rage.

Fun facts: Claire has never had a cavity or a broken bone, but she has had whooping cough and mono. She once worked for "Dateline NBC" and met Geraldo Riviera. She was born on April 15, 1979, Easter Sunday; her birthday falls on Easter every 11 years. She once met Michael Jordan and was rendered speechless. And she can touch her tongue to her nose. Claire dreads writing blurbs about herself because she always forgets something or somebody. If you think she forgot something important, you can e-mail her. She loves e-mail.

— Claire Zulkey (clairezulkey@hotmail.com)