CHRISTOPHER NULL

Renee Humphrey has been a friend of mine for years, and I have actually known her over the course of almost all of the points on the career path she outlines in the first question below. Hell, I’ve even read her dad’s book of short stories.

Renee’s first novel, Summer Fruit, just hit stores, and it turns out it is not about fruit at all but about wolves. I’ll allow her to explain in today’s Introducing the Author…

Who are you, and what do you write about?

A native Californian from a loving family, I’m a former kid-into-early-adulthood actress, domestic wine business woman turned copywriter for a wine importer, and a painter of colorful paintings mostly in acrylics. For my literary fiction endeavors, I’ve tended to write about healing from emotionally jarring/devastating experiences and how those experiences affect us, our families, our larger communities. My partner wishes I would write things that are funnier.

What is your favorite word?

“Ensorcelled” is my favorite word this week.

What is your least favorite word?

Why is this difficult? My first thought was the word ‘moist’ but honestly I don’t think I mind that word very much. That’s just a word other people used to say they hated, so it came to mind. Do I have a least favorite word? Phrases, maybe, like “you look ugly,” or “you’re stupid” — those are unpleasant.

What is the trait you most like about yourself?

My ability to fall off the horse, get back up and try again.

What is the trait you least like about yourself?

My propensity for falling off horses.

What is your greatest fear?

Oh, I fear the same things the next person fears, like pain and loss. My brain has had a tendency to fear things that aren’t actually happening, though, so I suppose I’m afraid of wasting too much more time being afraid of things that aren’t real.

How do other people describe you?

Here are three recent descriptions from different people: “No-filter Renee,” “T-shirt cannon mouth,” “Our lovely, wonderful daughter.”

What talent would you most like to have?

Playing the violin, both classical pieces and Americana fiddle.

If you weren’t working as a writer, what would you be doing?

Painting.

How would you like to die?

Comfortably.

If you were to die and then come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

The ocean.

When and where were you happiest?

Right now.

What is your greatest regret?

Hurting innocent bystanders. I’m not a person who lashes out when they’re angry in general, but I’ve acted out over the years a few times and you never hurt the person (or people) you’re really mad at, just those nearby.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Physically? Emotionally? I’ve spent a lot of time trying to accept myself as I am, so I don’t really want to fixate on what one thing could be different or better. As I mentioned, I can fixate irrationally. Whenever I come up against something about myself I want to change (which has been more than once!) and I have any control over it, I try to do so. Mostly I believe we cannot be different than we are.

Who is your fictional hero?

Spitballing here … Anne of Green Gables … Angelina Jolie

Who are your favorite writers?

Again with the favorites! These things tend to change for me over time. I more often have favorite books, like The Sea, The Sea and A Fairly Honourable Defeat by Iris Murdoch; A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki; Tell Me How Long The Train’s Been Gone and Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin; Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko; Orlando by Virginia Woolf.

What have you been working on lately?

Becoming a better painter and getting my first novel Summer Fruit out into the world. Here’s a brief synopsis of it:

When a dead man washes ashore on Hollow Island, a haunting summer unfolds for its reclusive residents. Woven with myth, mystery, and emotional depth, Summer Fruit is a literary journey through trauma, found family, and the wild instincts that guide us—set against the backdrop of nature’s beauty and danger.

Thanks for asking, Chris!

You can find Renee on Instagram and on her website.

Check out Summer Fruit at Amazon!

Want to be the next thriller writer profiled on the blog? Email me here!