Topher Cyll

I was the Bus Project Volunteer Spotlight for this week, which was really nice of them. Here's the interview:

Rising Star Spotlight: Topher Cyll

Born on *Halloween* of all days, Topher is a 2004 graduate of Williams College, a software engineer at Intel and a newly anointed novelist. At the Bus, he's a regular anchor on the technology committee (Rebooting Democracy, if you will) and a stalwart on bus trips. We'd write something funny about him, but are well aware that we'd be overshadowed by his wit. So we won't.

Hometown: I'm from Buxton, Maine. You ever watched The Shawshank Redemption? The treasure was supposedly buried in Buxton, Maine. But for the novelty factor, at parties I tell people that I'm from Portland, Maine, which is only about 25 minutes away. "Oh, how nice it must be to still live in a Portland," they tell me.

The coolest thing about you: Well, I just finished a 50,115 word novel for National Novel Writing Month. I wrote it in 16 days, which may have been overkill, considering they give you a whole month. It's titled "How the United States of the West Was Won (On the Backs of the Dinosaur Army)," and in case the title didn't give it away, it's alternative historical fiction about Dinosaurs, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War.

First "political" moment? I came home from kindergarten one day before the '88 election. They'd handed out a little fake presidential ballot in class. "Mom," I asked, showing it to her, "Did I vote for the right one?" "Sweetie, there's no right or wrong answer." she told me. But I was pretty sure that couldn't be true, because I think I voted for George Bush by accident, and it felt terrible!

Your most unusual or impressive talent: I make a really good waffle.

What brought you to the Bus Project: I attended the Bus party of a family friend, just weeks after driving here from Portland, ME. See? I just lied about being from Portland, ME again.

The direction you'd like to see Oregon go over the next couple decades: I think there's a fantastic opportunity for Oregon to be the Open Source Software capital of the United States.

Quick! In 3 words - describe the Bus: "Not enough words!"

posted on: 11/22/2005 | path: /life