The Secret Loves of Geek Girls is an awesome Kickstarter project that ends Friday, July 24. This will be a non-fiction anthology completely written by geeky women about love, dating, and sex. It includes work from Margaret Atwood, Sam Maggs, Soha Kareem, Hope Nicholson (also the editor), Adrienne Kress, and MANY more. Adrienne spoke to me about the project and some of her other work, which was a joy!

Kelsey: How did you get involved with The Secret Loves of Geek Girls?

Adrienne Kress: I’ve been friends with Hope Nicholson (the editor of the anthology, as well as a contributor herself) for a few years now, and was one of the geek girls featured in the pilot for her docuseries The Secret Lives of Geek Girls. We’d actually discussed the concept of Secret Loves a fair bit over the last couple years, from when it was just a small kernel of an idea to her determining she really wanted to do it. When she finally bit the bullet and decided the time was right, she asked if I’d want to write something for it and I was all in! Of course I was! It’s a fantastic concept and a book that I think is sorely needed.

Kelsey: Can you tell us about the concept for your contribution to the collection, I’m Your Biggest Fan?

Adrienne: It was based on an idea that I’d discussed with numerous geek girl friends on many different occasions. The concept behind it is that as geeks we are so good at being fans of things that we accidentally become fans of our real life crushes as well. This can have adverse effects on a healthy love life in many ways. But for me in particular it meant no one could live up to my expectations. It meant I never really felt comfortable dating or in a relationship. I didn’t want to date real flawed people. And I know this attitude is not unique to me, I’ve seen it a lot with others within our community as well. So I thought, let’s just bring it out into the open and talk about it.

Kelsey: I’m sure you’ll share more in I’m Your Biggest Fan, but can you remember who your first fandom crush was and the feelings surrounding that?

Adrienne: Well I don’t actually want to give away the big one that resulted in an “ah ha!” moment for me that I talk about in the essay (I will say it does have something to do with the movie versions of Lord of the Rings, but that’s all I’m saying for now! 🙂 I can say that my very first celebrity crush was Ralph Fiennes in Quiz Show. became pretty obsessed with him in my high school years. I think, though, one of my first fictional crushes I had was Kermit the Frog.

Kelsey: What are some of the other works you’re excited to read in the collection?

Adrienne: That’s not fair! I really can’t wait to read them all! But of course I have to say Margaret Atwood’s because I am, if not her “biggest fan”, quite a fan. I’m also very interested in Mariko Tamaki’s piece as well.  And J.M. Frey’s because she’s a good friend and also a great writer. (I’ve already read Hope’s piece and just love it, I think it’s going to speak to a lot of people.)

Kelsey: If people want to read some of your other work, what’s a good place to start?

Adrienne: Well my books are generally available in bookstores and online where sold (as they say). My website also has a list of all of them of course (along with some other fascinating facts about yours truly).

Kelsey: You’re also an actress – what have been some of your favorite roles to play?

Adrienne: That’s a tough question. I’m happy doing anything Shakespeare (playing Rosalind in As You Like It so far has been my fav), and last year had a blast playing an acting non-singing role with the Canadian Opera Company. Doing a small henchman stunt role for Lost Girl a while back was such a departure for me and really fun. As was performing in a Neil Simon play last summer. Honestly, I think I love acting so much that every role excites me in some way.

Kelsey: Where can people find you on the internet?

Adrienne: My website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Thank you so much again for speaking with me, Adrienne! Make sure to check out The Secret Loves of Geek Girls on Kickstarter; you only have a few more days to back it. I’m really looking forward to this anthology!