Five Questions: Eleisha Perez

Eleisha Perez is a recent professional writing and publishing, and creative writing graduate. She enjoys reading and editing multicultural-focused stories, learning new facts, and is consistently amazed by how broad the writing sector is. In her free time, you will find her closely annotating a book (with way too many sticky notes) or running in the early hours of the morning.

Tell us about a typical day?

I’m certainly a creature of habit! I have a routine for each day of the week– for example, on Tuesdays I get up at 4:30 am to meet with my running group, where I practice for our Saturday running meetups and afterwards, I head to my full-time job. I usually spend the rest of the day riding off the endorphins and mulling over what I’m currently reading or editing. If only my ten-year-old self could see me now!

What is your future hope?

I’d say my biggest future hope right now is to be able to continue doing what I love– writing and editing– and build a portfolio of my work. I’ve always had a timeline for when I’d like to achieve things, but in these past few years I’ve learnt to expect the unexpected and take each day as it comes. I’d love to eventually go on to enrol in my Masters in a field related to human rights or education (or both!).

If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be and where would you take them in your city?

I’d find it interesting to invite a stranger with an entirely different cultural upbringing to me and take them out to dinner along the shore in Fremantle. Purely because I adore Fremantle and I’d love to have a conversation with that person and get their perspective on Perth.

What is your favourite bookstore?

New Edition Bookshop in Fremantle. I’ve found so many beautifully illustrated books there and they have a lot of non-fiction books. Although, I also enjoy buying books on my kindle or thrifting them as I’m conscious of sustainability.

What does a port culture look like to you?

To me, port culture looks like connections formed through a blend of cultural exchange, open-minded thinking, and environmental awareness. When I think of a port, I think of the dual meaning of a harbour– being a safe place on the coast where ships moor in shelter. I think of unity and a positive future.