Y'all I am SO excited for this interview. Sisi has taken my life by storm and led me through some very windy and difficult times. She is a very dear friend and someone I greatly rely on. Never would I have thought that the girl I met up with in August of 2023 would be one of my absolute best of friends. I don't know a single person who doesn't love Sisi and see her shining light, so please enjoy this interview and get to know one of my favorite people.
P.s. Just so you know, all of my (Rachel's) comments are italicized!!
Your Name: Sisi Boyer
General Bio About You:
I'm a 26 year old mama of 2 boys, currently in Cosmetology school and set to graduate in May!
Sisi is 100% selling herself short in her bio, she is mother, sisters, daughter, wife, cosplayer, friends and bookish babe! She is part of the Tales & Tea book club, very activite in the #booktok and #booksta community and an all around rockstar when it comes to hair and makeup. Let me just say, I trust her to cut my hair, like that is a BIG deal! She has also cut, colored, and styled my moms hair. Literally, she is queen.
What are your passions? Hobbies? (Please tell us about this, if you are a cosplayer, author, or vendor feel free to brag and drop whatever information you would like here!)
My passion, involve baking, gardening, being a mama, reading, hair and makeup, painting/drawing and of course and cosplaying! I love it all ❤️
Sisi started cosplaying in June of 2023 and has taken the bookish world by the horns.
How did you get involved in the books or events community?
It all started with ACOTAR, and honestly Sarah pulled me back into a world I didn't know I was missing since I put down my last book.
If you could escape to anywhere, fantasy or not, where would it be? Velaris or The Spring Court!
If this doesn't just immediately give you all the vibes for Sisi, who is basically just Elain, in the Spring Court then I don't think anything else will. Like 10/10 you would also find me in the Spring Court.
What is your favorite quote (whether book related or not)?
"Normality is a paved road, it's comfortable to walk on but no flowers grow there."
OR
"If I'm too much, go find less."
P.s. if anyone ever thinks that Sisi is too much, then I'll just cry....
What is your “Why?” (interpret this however you would like)?
Because my Kids ❤️ (The good and the bad)
Okay, her kiddos are my favorite little humans ever. They are toddlers and have so much joy, so many questions, and a whole lot of attitude. Sisi and I were just on the phone for like an hour the other day and it was her driving home from work, to making the boys dinner, to all their shenanigans and I just kept cackling. Sisi is a DO IT ALL kind of women. Like she is an amazing cosplayer and friend, but she is also a beautiful and strong mother, she is going to school and doing it all at the same time. ALSO she makes her own flower, because she makes her own bread. That right there just says the kind of woman that Sisi is.
If you had an anthem (song about who you are) what would it be?
Ariana Grande- Keep Breathing OR Shawn Mendes- In my blood
What is your favorite book and why?
This is difficult.. probably the ZA series r.n.
LET ME, Rach, just say that I am SO freaking excited that Sisi is freaking the Zodiac Academy series. This is by far my absolute FAVORITE series and I talk about it all the time. I actually have this theory, that if I talk about things, especially books then I can just make them become a thing. Like it is basically a life goal at this to have every single person I know read the Zodiac Academy series. Funny enough, it was my little sister who first started them and introduced me to the world of Solaria.
What is your bookish "ICK"?
Bullying, but I love ZA, so now I'm like.... "do I even have one??"
Okay Rach's thoughts on the "bullying" in Zodiac Academy. It is really ONLY a big deal when you read the first few books, like I truly don't think that ZA is a "bully romance", it is literally the most intense world that I have ever read and been able to escape into. The character growth and development that you see through all the books shows you that it is more than just bullying. I would go a step further and just say that it is good vs evil, but it depends on your point of view to determine who and what you think is good vs evil. Yes, there is 100% some not okay things that happen, but the fighting, hatred and bullying is basically evident in all fantasy books. And the perseverance and power that the Vega's find through not just surviving, but wanting to fight is what makes the story so good. If you just judge the entire ZA series by the first book you are sorely mistaken, these books are so much more than a "bully romance". They are empowering, they are found family, they are witty, they make you laugh so hard you cry, they make you cry so hard you think you won't make it to the next page, they truly let you into the characters heads and then there is the entire plot. I literally NEED everyone to read ZA, nothing would make me happier.
On the flip side, what is a book that you really just do not recommend?
I never don't, experiences with books are often interpreted differently by others and sometimes making it through the first book unlocks the beauty of the rest of the series.
Who was your first cosplay and why?
My first cosplay was the sweet and lovely Elain Archeron. I stepped into the world of cosplay with Alain first becuase I just felt like I related to her the best, she was the character that I looked like the most. We both have the brown hair and the brown eyes, it just felt natural being Elain. Not only do I feel like I look like her but I related to her actions, Elain has a garden and loves being out in all the flowers and so do I!
Controversial opinion, who do you want Elain to end up with?
Tbh...Lucien
Totally unrelated to any of these questions BUT did you know that Sisi won a cosplay contest at the release party for House of Flame and Shadow as Danika!! Like, first of all, obsessed, second of all she got a signed print by SJM as her prize!! She also freaking kicked ass at trivia, meanwhile I struggled. Like kid you not, Sisi won like 6 different prizes at the release party, and when I finally won a trivia question I about cried.
Is there a particular book or character that you have carried with you, or severely impacted you? SO MANY!
Luna Lovegood, Tonks, Bryce Quinlan, Feyre Archeron, Nesta Archeron, Katniss Everdean, Tory Vega! SO MANY!
Are you a fan of the “Playlists” feature that many new books are having, why or why not?
I don't know what this is!
I told her what this meant, with an example, she is a fan!
What has been the biggest blessing in being a part of this community or in the world of social media for you?
The biggest blessing is the connections I have been blessed with. These friendships are unmatched 🥺❤️
What is your favorite book trope and your least favorite?
Enemies to lovers/ Least favorite is probably Bully Romance HOWEVER, I'm pushing through.
What is your story with RMK Events by Rachel (whether a particular event, specific story, experience, convo, etc - again interpret however you want)?
OMG! Everytime we get together, it never drains my social battery! I'm also so pumped and leave feeling just as good, if not better. And that's super rewarding. Rachel is so supportive and talented! She is so unique and creates magic with her bare hands. She brings these books to life with her events! I can't say enough good about her!
Okay, another moment that Sisi is sell hersef short. I met Sisi in August of 2023 becuase she DM'd me and told me that she was attending Starfall and wanted to meet up. Let me just say, this is the first ever experince like this that I had ever had. Until Sisi, I didn't really truly understand what this bookish community was or what it could be. Like Sisi showed me the community that I could build. It started out small, DMing every once in a while, and then Starfall changed everything. I found someone who truly saw all my visions and had the passion and creativity from being a cosplayer to be a part of the RMK family. Following Starfall, we casually got together, and then Sisi was my first ever regular contracted cosplayer and influencer. She taught me her TikTok ways, she loved on me, she listened to all my plans. Her friendship truly means so much to me, and not jut me but my family and all of you too. She offers me words of encouragements, she celebrates all my wins and uplifts me through the loses, she is the kind of friend that we didn't immediately click, but the friendship that I couldn't live without. Sisi goes along with all my wild ideas and lets me create so much content with her. I took her first pictures at her cosplay shoot as Bryce and Andarna content, and since have also captured her graduation pictures and so much Elain Archeron content. Like our friendship is just so sweet and pure. Besides the bookish interests do we have that much in common, no? Sisi is a mom, I'm not, she is an Android girly and I am all about the Apple, she is in school and I'm running a business. These aren't huge differences, but they can impact how you think, and we don't let it get in the way of our friendship, we love all these differences, and we celebrate all that we do have in common. Again, this brand and community that I am building would not be what it is without Sisi. I am so thankful that she reached out and asked me to get coffee all those months ago.
If you need encouragement, my advice is to be like Sisi, ask someone to meet up. Community starts somewhere, and at RMK it started with Sisi. Now, kid you not I'm getting coffee with 3 different strangers this week, and 8 months ago I probably would have been freaked out and said no. Now, I look forward to everyone that I get to connect with and talk to daily. You all are the lights in my life and what push me forward to keep hosting these events and being active in this community.
ALSO Sisi has been a tremendous supporter of my Calan Mai event and has literally hyped me up throughout this entire process. Absolutely obsessed! Here are event details in case you haven't seen it anywhere else.
Literally, Sisi being my model behind most of the Calan Mai content!! HEART EYES!
What are you most looking forward to reading and experiencing in 2024?
HOPING 🤞 For a book about Elain.
10/10 same. I literally cannot wait to read about our dear sweet Elain, I truly think that while she is sweet on the outside, we are going to get to see a lot and learn about all of her demons.
Anything else that you want to add, feel free, to put in here - let our followers and readers get to know you!
I feel like answering these made me literally forget everything about myself 😅
Okay, final thoughts from Rach. First of all, if you didn't immediately just love Sisi, whyyyy not?? Second of all, this has very quickly become one of my very favorite series that I have started. While I know everyone who is doing these interviews, I still learn new things. I got to kick this series off with a feature on Andre Ujcich, who has been a best friend and roommate since college, and getting to shift into Sisi has been so sweet. These interviews will feature so many wonderful people and vendors that I love having the pleasure of getting to work with! Love you all so much and thank you for always going on this adventure with me!
Cheers,
Rach