Introducing Jessica Day George

Our next children's writer/mama interview is with Jessica Day George, mother of a young son, who has her first two published young adult novels out right now, DRAGON SLIPPERS and SUN AND MOON, ICE AND SNOW. Both novels I thoroughly enjoyed, and even cried at the end of SUN. Being that I also write middle grade and young adult fantasy and historical fiction, I had to find out what her writing secrets were.

HOW DO YOU JUGGLE WRITING AND RAISING A FAMILY? DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT? OR DOES ONE ROLE INSPIRE THE OTHER?

It's quite the circus act! You just have to allow that there will be days when you won't get any writing done, and days when the dishes will not be done and the kids are in their pj's until lunch, so that you can finish a chapter. But then, of course, there are always the golden times when you manage to get everyone dressed and fed, and still hit your writing goals. It makes you feel like a superhero! Dinner is on the table, ta da! And I finished Chapter 7!

DO YOU EVER FEEL FRAZZLED BEYOND BELIEF FROM BEING PULLED IN TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS?

Oh, my yes! I sometimes feel like I've spent the day running back and forth between my toddler and my computer, because I'm so caught up in what I'm writing, but I can't completely neglect my child! And there's the neverending concern that your child will feel like they're being dismissed in favor of Mommy's book, while at the same time you're hoping that what you're writing isn't gibberish because you keep having to leave off mid-sentence to wipe up spills.

WHAT ARE SOME PRACTICAL TIPS THAT YOU CAN SUGGEST TO HELP A WRITER WHO ALSO HAS YOUNG CHILDREN?

Grab whatever quiet time you can, whether it's getting up a little early/staying up a little late to do some writing or letting them watch a movie so that you can sit down and write. (The good people at PIXAR are my best friends right now.) Taking fifteen minutes to read some books or play a game with your child let's them feel important, and then you will often be able to let them play on their own while you take some writing time.


WHAT DOES YOUR WRITING SCHEDULE/WORK DAY LOOK LIKE DURING A TYPICAL DAY OR WEEK?

I generally write in the afternoons, when my son still (Thank heavens!) takes a nap sometimes. If he doesn't nap, then he'll have some quiet time with a movie on the couch, and I grab the laptop and head into the next room to write. If a day is going well, I get in two hours. Also, with my husband's support, I've started taking 3 hours or so on Saturdays, at a library or other quiet place, to write.

HOW DO YOU MENTALLY FOCUS ON YOUR STORIES WHILE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY? DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SWITCH YOUR MINDSET FROM YOUR FAMILY'S NEEDS TO YOUR CHARACTERS, SETTING , OR PLOT?

I need full concentration to get going with a writing "session" usually. During naps/movies/or out of the house I plan out in my head what I want to get written that day. But once I get going and know where I'm taking a scene or a chapter, if I'm interrupted I can still keep running back and jotting down a sentence or two, even with a toddler driving a car over my feet. But this is just with first drafts. When I'm editing, I need full concentration, so I just can't do it while making dinner or playing with a child one-handed. That's when I really start staying up after everyone's gone to bed, and ordering pizza for dinner!

THE IDEA FOR DRAGON SLIPPERS CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AFTER YOUR SON WAS BORN. DID THE IDEA FOR SUN AND MOON, ICE AND SNOW, COME TO YOU AFTER THAT, OR BEFORE YOUR SON WAS BORN? ARE YOU HAVING ANY LUCK PLACING WRITING THAT YOU DID BEFOREHAND WITH A PUBLISHER? OR HAVE THEY BEEN PLACED INTO A "DRAWER" UNTIL LATER?


SUN AND MOON was something I'd wanted to do since I was a teenager. "East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon" has always been my favorite fairy tale, and I decided in high school that one day, after I studied Scandinavia and got some experience, I was going to novelize it with lots of authentic detail. While I was working on the edits of DRAGON SLIPPERS, I suddenly had some more ideas come to me: like adding the fauns and other mythic creatures, and I thought, "It's time for my version."

My first few manuscripts have definite potential, and right now my agent is looking at one of them. The first novel I ever wrote is waiting for me to write a prequel to it, because it would be much better as book 2, rather than book 1, of a possible trilogy. They're for adults, though, so I want to get myself good and established in YA before I jump the fence.

DO YOU EVER GET INSPIRATION FROM YOUR FAMILY?

Not as such. I'm wary of using things people have said or done, in case they didn't want it spread all over the pages of a book.

BOTH DRAGON SLIPPERS AND SUN AND MOON HAVE QUITE A BIT OF BEAUTIFUL TEXTILE/ CLOTHING DESCRIPTIONS. ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE INTO KNITTING. HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO DO ANOTHER HOBBY WHILE BEING A WRTER AND A MOTHER AND A WIFE?

I just don't ever sleep.

YOUR NOVELS ARE FILLED WITH WONDERFUL PERIOD DETAILS. HOW DO YOU DELEGATE WRITING TIME VERSUS RESEARCH TIME FOR YOUR NOVELS, WHEN IT IS HARD TO FIND TIME TO WRITE AS IT IS?

I don't do half as much research as I should. DRAGON SLIPPERS was a made up world, so I could do whatever I wanted with it (within reason). SUN AND MOON was just sort of the accumulation of everything I'd learned about 19th century Norway in college, and reading I'd done myself over the years, finally being used. I've got one of those picky little brains that remembers lots of stupid little details, but once in a while it comes in handy. I did look a few things up, but I mostly stuck to what I think of as common knowlege, since I didn't want it to be too tediously full of minutiae and obscure references anyway.

HOW DO COOKING, CLEANING, OTHER HOUSEHOLD CHORES, OR EVEN EXERCISE EVER GET DONE?

I usually manage to exercise in the mornings, but it means I probably won't be dressed until noon. As for the cooking and cleaning, two words: Hus Band.

HAD YOU PLANNED ON WRITING A SEQUEL TO DRAGON SLIPPERS?

Not even slightly. To me, the story was finished, but my editor kept saying that I shouldn't say 'never.' Then the idea for it came to me as I was complaining to my husband that I had no ideas!

DID YOU TRAVEL TO NORWAY BEFORE YOUR SON WAS BORN, OR DID YOU TAKE HIM ON A TRIP?

I went to Norway a few years ago, and can't wait to go again.

HOW MANY PROJECTS DO YOU WORK ON AT ONE TIME? HOW DO YOU KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANIZED? DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN OFFICE? WHERE DO YOU FIND PEACE AND QUIET TO WORK?

I usually have a couple of "works in progress", but I can only work on one thing per day, or I get confused and Creel starts talking like the Lass, and vice versa. If I'm in a groove with a story, everything else gets shelved until I'm done. My "office" is also known as the kitchen table, and peace and quiet are no longer in my vocabulary. I've learned to work while Disney movies play in the background.

DO YOU FIND TIME TO MEET WITH A CRITIQUE GROUP? OR DO YOU JUST WORK WITH YOUR EDITOR?

I used to have a critique group, but had to quit just this month. I just haven't had time to critique or be critiqued in ages, so now I'm just working with an editor.

WHEN DO YOU FIND TIME TO READ?

I've spent my entire life with a book in my left hand. My brothers used to joke that one day my hand was going to freeze into this claw shape from holding the books open. I can cook, brush my teeth, blow my hair dry, and millions of other things while reading. My son is so used to me carrying a book from room to room that sometimes he brings it for me.

ANY OTHER ADVICE/TIPS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE FELLOW CHILDREN'S WRITERS/ MOTHERS WITH?

Remember that you're doing this (both mothering and writing) because you love it! If you're not loving it anymore, you need a break! Get a babysitter, and get out of the house for an evening or an afternoon. Shelve your writing project and read some favorite books. And I know it's hard when you're already mothering /writing /cooking /cleaning/etc., but reading is a very important part of being a writer, and I think too many busy writers aren't taking the time to read something for themselves. It's so helpful to your writing and your well-being . . . don't neglect the reading! (Knuffle Bunny, much as I love that book, doesn't count.)