FAQ/FGA*

*Frequently Asked Questions / Frequently Given Answers

Q. Why do you often pop up online as “Gillian”?

A.  A thousand years ago, when the internet was young, women were told to never use their real names online (it was dangerous!) So I was trying to find a name that I could (a) live with and (b) remember. I was at a video store (that dates it, doesn’t it?!) and reading the back of some videos and saw the name “Gillian” but misread it as “GilliGan”. It struck me that I might not be the only one to make that mistake. I didn’t want to go for a genderless name so Gillian it was.

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Q. How old were you when you learned to knit?

A.  Five. I think. My maternal grandmother taught me to knit and crochet. I also sketeched with my Mom, did cross stitch, needlepoint, (lousy) embroidery, and learned to cook with my Mom and Great-grandmother.

I was a very lucky kid.