Janica Hall has been a bartender for over a decade. With a
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, she has combined her love for writing, health,
and making drinks. Hall’s healthy cocktails appear on menus in the Los Angeles
area. She currently lives in Santa Monica with her husband and rambunctious
dog, where she continues to sling drinks and teach others how to be a conscious
drinker.
Conscious Drinker looks like a great health guide to alcohol. Any plans to release similar books?
I had so much fun writing this book. My
husband and I got to taste many many cocktails! This will be a standalone
title, but I have plans to continue to educate people online. Next week I’ll be
launching a FREE five-day liver detox. Your liver is not only where you process
alcohol but every other toxin you consume, like medications, fructose, plastics,
and air pollutants. You can sign up to get the free meal plan and printable
daily check-lists HERE!
What will
readers get out of your guide?
Conscious
Drinker is all about alcohol education. You will learn what alcohol is,
how it’s digested, how to avoid hangovers, and even care for your liver long
term. I talk about what alcohol does to the body and how you can choose better
ingredients for that perfect after-work drink. I also include 36 plant-based cocktail
recipes, each specifically geared to increase micronutrients and decrease
sugars and additives that are in so many traditional cocktails.
What
inspired you when writing Conscious Drinker?
As a bartender in a busy
tourist location, I hear a lot of bar talk. People toss around misinformation
about alcohol as if it were fact! For example, that whiskey is mostly sugar,
which is absolutely false, or that tequila is the healthiest liquor choice, a
statement with absolutely no science backing.
We live in a time with so much
focus on personal health, but when it comes to alcohol, we’re all just guessing
or making it up as we go along. I have found a lot of joy learning about
alcohol, but the real inspiration comes from wanting to share what I’ve learned
with others.
When
did you decide to become a writer?
I don’t know if I ever really
decided! I just started writing at a very young age. In first grade, I
illustrated a story about bears going into a haunted house. My mom put the
pages in ziplock bags and tied them all together so I had a little book that I
had written myself. I’ve always been a writer. I went to school to study
writing and to “become” a writer. I graduated knowing I was the next great
American author….you know, like every other naïve 20-some. I’m not concerned with
that now of course. I just really enjoy writing and telling stories!
When
writing Conscious Drinker did anything stand out as
particularly challenging?
I have a Bachelor of Arts in
Journalism, which means I’m basically a trained researcher! I did extensive
research into peer-reviewed studies, scholarly papers, and science-backed
articles. The hardest part was delving into these dense chemical and biological
papers that I, first, had to make sense of and then transpose into digestible
information for the masses. Organizing that information was pretty difficult.
But I think it all came together well! I keep it really witty and light-hearted
without dumbing down the information too much. It’s a very informative read
with about three pages of reference material in case you want to nerd out with
me!
What
does your title Conscious Drinker actually mean?
I’ve been a bartender
for ten years. A lot of people are very interested in health and in alcohol.
They want to drink but they want to take care of their bodies at the same time.
I don’t think this is impossible despite the fact that alcohol is a toxin. Being a
“conscious drinker” means making smart choices and being aware of what you
are doing to your body. “Conscious” does not mean never. It doesn’t mean you
can’t enjoy, indulge, or have fun. Being conscious means to be aware, to
research, understand, and use that knowledge wisely in your everyday choices
AND your happy hour.
What do
you like to do when not writing?
My husband and I love to
travel! We just recently got back from a three-week Japan trip. Traveling and
writing are why I became a bartender in the first place! And when we’re not
flying off to exotic countries, we’re hiking, camping, riding motorcycles or
just laying around snuggling with our dog!
How can
readers discover more about you and your work?
The best way is to follow me on Instagram. I
share drink recipes and inspiration mostly through that platform. However, you
can also sign up for my
newsletter if you want updates on the book or to receive your FREE
five-day liver detox. Stay tuned for what’s coming up as well! My next book
will be another helpful guide for women! The
Tom Boy’s Guide on How to Be a Girl. Follow me for these updates and more!