I had the pleasure to be able to interview Jessica Brody about her novels. Jessica is a fairly new author to me and I have only known about her novels for about 4/5 months while having a look around the goodreads website.
Jessica is the best selling author of:
1) Where are you from?
I was born in Los Angeles, CA but my family moved to Franktown, CO (near Denver) when I was 12. I moved back to LA right after college and now I actually go back and forth between CA and CO. I guess you could say I'm "Undecided." Haha!
2) When and why did you begin writing?
In the second grade, my teacher assigned us to write a 1 paragraph book report and I turned in 4 pages. She thought it was such a big deal but I couldn't really understand why. It didn't feel like a big deal to me! It was at that time that I realised that writing was something that I loved and something that came easy. And not many things come easy to me, so I thought I might as well stick with it!
3) How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?
I write 5 days a week for 2-3 hours a day. I like to give myself days off so I don't feel like I'm cheating when I decide not to write one day. I also can't write more than 3 hours a day. I have a short attention span!
4) What do you do when your not writing?
Think about writing. LOL! Seriously though, when I'm in the middle of a book, it completely consumes me. I live that book. I inhabit that world. I react to things as my character would. It's actually a really cool process and I love it.
5) In your spare time what do you like to read?
I love to read YA. Not just because it's the genre I write in but because I think some of the best stories today are written in the young adult genre. Plus, I love going back to being a teen and living that age through someone else's eyes.
6) What are you reading at the moment?
Right now I'm reading an Advanced Reader's Copy of Jennifer Bosworth's Struck. It's her debut and it comes out in May 2012. She's published at my same publisher. The book is phenomenal. I think it's going to be a HUGE hit!
7) If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?
I would have to say Sophie Kinsella. She's one of my favourites. She's so freaking hilarious! I could read her books over and over again and still die laughing each time. I would love to see how she works.
8) When you were younger who was your favourite author?
Christopher Pike. I read his books all through high school. I'm so glad they started bringing back his stuff! He's great!
9) If you could turn any of your novels into a Movie or T.V. Show which novel would you choose and why?
Oh, that's so tough! I'd love to see all my books as a Movie or TV show. I think the one that's best fitted for the screen would have to be my forthcoming novel, 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER, which releases in Summer 2012. It feels very cinematic to me. And it was actually already optioned for film! So I guess we're off to a good start!
10) What inspired you to write your novels?
For MY LIFE UNDECIDED, it was definitely one of those "aha" moments that I hear writers talk about. My husband and I were watching TV, an ad for a reality show came on and I said "Wouldn't it be cool if there was a reality show where you could vote on what the characters did. As in, "Who they went out with?" or "Whether or not they forgave their backstabbing best friend." Like American Idol meets The Hills. We both agreed although it would be cool, it wouldn't be practical from a production standpoint since they shoot those reality shows months before they air. I was not deterred though. I said, "Fine, I'll write it as a book," and then marched up the stairs and in ten shot minutes, wrote a page-long synopsis for what would become MY LIFE UNDECIDED and sent it to my editor. She wrote back right away saying that she loved it and the book was born!
11) Are you working on anything at the moment if so can you tell us anything about it?
YES! I just finished the first draft of a new book in a sci-fi trilogy for teens that will be released in early 2013. It's called UNREMEMBERED and it's about a sixteen year old who wakes up amongst the wreckage of a devastating plane crash with no memories and no identity. The only clue to her forgotten past is a mysterious boy who claims she was part of a science experiment. It's going to be so much fun, I can't wait!
12) For you what is the easiest part of the book to write?
The easiest part of every book I write is the beginning. I LOOOOVE set ups. I love setting up new worlds and characters and giving them all sorts of fun challenges and embarking them on great adventures.
13) ..... And the hardest?
The hardest (and my least favourite part) is the middle (act 2 for all you screenwriters) when I actually have to deal with all these fun challenges and great adventures. I end up not only hating my characters and my story, I hate myself for setting up so many impossible storylines. Then by Act 3, all is forgiven and I'm back to loving everyone again.
14) What do you do when you get writer's block?
For starters, I never use the term "writer's block" ...well, except right there. I'm a firm believer in the law of attraction. What you resist persists. What you focus on only gets bigger. If I went around saying, "Crap, I have writer's block," then yes, I would have writer's block. If I refuse to even acknowledge the concept, then it doesn't exist. And guess what? I've never had it. Of course, I get stuck from time to time as any writer does. To deal with it, I usually just step away and allow the problem to stew in the back of my mind. It's amazing how much problem solving you can do when you don't try.
15) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
First off, thank you! I have such great readers and I love hearing from all of you by email, Facebook and Twitter!
And secondly, I write my books primarily for entertainment. They're meant to be funny and light hearted and take you away from everyday life. If you find a deeper message somewhere within the pages, then that's just a bonus for me. But if you laugh when you're reading it, then I have fulfilled my mission in life. Enjoy! J
I would just like to thank Jessica for taking the time out from her busy schedule to answer my questions much appreciated.
To find out more about Jessica and her novels visit her website by clicking the link provided above.
