Alexa Zackasee: I Am Barnes & Thornburg

I AM...

• A romantasy reader who got back into reading during the pandemic by devouring 121 books in 2020. I haven't slowed down since.
• From Youngstown, Ohio (Steel Valley, USA) which explains both my grit and my deep appreciation for true crime
• A Youngstown State University Penguin who traded the rust belt for NYC in October 2018. I still love the city, but at this stage of life, I'm genuinely asking myself: do I want a lawn?
• Obsessed with collecting Labubus, Sonny Angels, and York Ghosts because I finally have adult money. My shelves are bursting, but I have no plans to stop.
• A Marvel and sci-fi/fantasy movie lover through and through. Give me superheroes, space operas and epic world-building any day.
• A crystal collector and witchy soul who finds magic in the little things, even if some people think I'm a little woo-woo (and honestly, they're not wrong)
• Diagnosed with celiac disease in 2022, which completely upended my relationship with food, but I'm learning to navigate this gluten-free life one meal at a time
• A strategy board game enthusiast who gets fiercely competitive during Ticket to Ride. Consider yourself warned.
• Cat mom to Cleo, my sweet baby who has more attitude than should be legal. She runs this household more than my husband Brandan and I do, and we've accepted it.
• A traveler at heart, always planning the next adventure to literally anywhere, because life is far too short to stay in one place

This profile appeared in the January 2026 edition of I Am Barnes & Thornburg.

View the full publication.