Readergirlz kindly invited me to write something for this blog - maybe on my latest book, they said, or my writing schedule, or on the theme of courage.
I'm a very indecisive girl. I couldn't choose. So I ended up doing all three.
My latest book: The Ghosts of Ashbury High is part of a series of connected books but it also stands alone. Some characters from The Year of Secret Assignments have starring roles, but there are also two new characters: scholarship students named Amelia and Riley who have mysterious pasts. I got the idea for the book when the foundations of a convicts barracks and lunatic asylum were uncovered just behind my parents' house. I had a lot of fun writing it, partly because I ate rocky road and drank apple-and-cinnamon tea. And the other night, when I was sick with a feverish flu, I became convinced that James Cameron should make a movie of this book. I was awake most of the night while my mind raced through a filmscript, and tried to figure out how to get in touch with James.
But that was just the fever. The book is nothing like a James Cameron film.
My writing schedule: It changes all the time. Used to be, I'd write into the night and sleep half the day. A lot of ideas came to me in the strange half-dreams of late morning. Then I had a baby and started writing whenever he slept. Now my baby's at preschool two days a week, and I start those days by walking to a café where I listen in to conversations, and read books that are connected to my current work. So, I'm working on a trilogy about the Kingdom of Cello at the moment, and I'm reading a novel about a cellist. In fact, my trilogy has nothing to do with the musical instrument, but I pretend to myself that this is research.
On the other days, a babysitter comes for the afternoons and I write upstairs while they play downstairs. Those are my favourite times - especially when I know they're baking cookies.
Courage: The other day I made an appointment to see my dentist. It was tricky to do because I couldn't remember his name. (It had been a while since I'd been to the dentist.) I had a feeling his first name was John, and I thought it was probably John Turturro or John Tarantula. But the first one's an actor, and the second one's a spider. Eventually, I called my sister - she goes to the same dentist - and then I made the appointment. Doing something that scares you, like going to the dentist – that takes some courage. But having to go through several steps to do it – including googling actors and spiders - now that is truly courageous.
- Jaclyn Moriarty
Jaclyn's novel The Year of Secret Assignments is one of this month's recommended reads. Check it out!
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readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
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7 comments:
Oh my goodness, I love Jaclyn Moriarty! So happy to see this interview!
Oh, how I LOVE Jaclyn Moriarty. GHOSTS was so clever and surprising, and I was glad to spend time with those terrific characters again. It's right up there with my other two favorites--THE SPELL BOOK OF LISTEN TAYLOR and THE MURDER OF BINDY MCKENZIE.
Such great books!
This was great, Jaclyn! Thanks so much!
Hi, Jaci: So great to see you featured -- I really enjoyed this! (It wasn't long enough!)
Best,
Cheryl (JGLM ;)
I was hoping you'd read this, Jackie!
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