Jessica Day George Author Interview

Photo Content from Jessica Day George

Jessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she has a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.

And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.

She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.

        

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
Along with being entertainment, a story can help us learn, without the lesson being so in-your-face that we automatically reject it.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?
I loathe sushi. I mean, you can’t even understand how much. It’s not food, people! IT’S NOT FOOD!

When did you write your first book and how old were you?
Well, I did write a book about my family in kindergarten. It had a lovely illustration of my sister in her red bathrobe that I’m still proud of. But my first “real” book was written when I was twenty-one. It’s not published. Yet. I had taken some time off from college to rest after an illness, and I decided that I would be a Real Serious Author and only write for adults. Looking back, this book isn’t terrible, but it’s clearly a YA novel that I tried to turn into a Serious Adult Novel by throwing in some random swearing and violence. *Memo to me: fix that book.*

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?
Old Norse.

How would you describe yourself in three words?
Redheaded bookworm chocoholic.

In your new book; Tuesdays at the Castle (Castle Glower #1), can you tell my Book Nerd Kids Community a little about your novel?
I can tell you that it’s fantastic! It’s about a young princess who lives in a magic castle. The castle can move rooms and hallways around. It can turn the staircases into slides and every Tuesday it grows a new room. Some baddies try to take over the castle, and the princess, along with her older brother and sister, fight back by using the castle as a weapon.

For those who are unfamiliar with Celie, how would you introduce her?
She’s very curious, and she wants to be the first person to make a map of the castle. She loves her family, but she’s a little bit sick of being the youngest and being treated like a baby. She also enjoys custard.

If you could introduce Celie to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I think Celie and Lucy Pevensie from the Chronicles of Narnia would get along swimmingly.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I met Guy Gavriel Kay at World Fantasy when Dragon Slippers had just been published. He has been one of my favorite authors since I was a teen. I very shyly gave him an advanced reader copy of Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow, and he took me aside and started asking me all about my career, and giving me advice on how to balance writing and family. Since then we have corresponded regularly, talked books and writing, and he has given me a wealth of great advice.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your readers. What would it be?
Never. Stop. Reading.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
I have a lot of film buff friends, and for years I’ve acted like I’ve seen the Dawn of the Dead zombie movies and the Alien movies, but I actually haven’t and have no real desire to. It has reached the point where I know so much about them that I forget I haven’t seen them, and I can totally be one of the cool kids and “talk the talk.”

What's the best summer job you've ever had?
I had two summer jobs. One was working in a wedding invitation factory, putting together catalogues on an assembly line, and the other was taking apart bookshelves in a library and rebuilding them in another library. Both were hot, sweaty, and horrible, honestly.

What scares you the most and why?
Living in a post-apocalyptic society. I am horrified by books about trying to live in the ruins, scavenging clothes and canned food, because I know I wouldn’t survive and I . . . I don’t want to think about it! (And WHY CAN’T I STOP READING THESE BOOKS ABOUT IT?!)

What is your greatest adventure?
Having three children. THREE. And they’re INSANE. Even the baby!

When was the last time you told someone you loved them?
About an hour ago. (My daughter.)

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
My mom.

When was the last time you cried?
Last Saturday. We had to bury our beloved little dog.

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.

You can purchase Tuesdays at the Castle at the following Retailers:
       
   

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you JESSICA DAY GEORGE for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a Copy of Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George.
1 Winner will receive a Signed Copy of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George.

jbnpastinterviews