Squeetus exclusive: Jessica Day George

And presenting...Jessica Day George! Ah, well I remember the fervent young redheaded lass, knitting on the front row when I spoke on a fantasy author panel. And here she is a few years later, kicking booty in the big league. Jessica is a fellow Utahan, Bloomsbury author (I had nothing to do with it), mother of a toddler boy, and a redhead (no, we're not twins). Her first book, Dragon Slippers, came out this year. It's a funny and delightful romp into fairytale fantasy land, the type of book that will please a good eight-year-old reader and still delight the teenagers. And she declares that the author photo she sent is a perfect photographic representation...

ME: You’ve had an adventure getting to this point in your career. Would you sum up for us your writing history?

JDG: Three words: rejection, rejection, rejection!  I got rejected almost 200 times, but I believe it was because I was barking up the wrong tree.  I'd written five novels in nine years and had tried contacting agents and editors and had attended many a writer's conference, with no luck.  None of these books were YA, even though YA fantasy is my true love and comprises 90% of what I read.  When I wrote Dragon Slippers, it was a bolt of inspiration.  I took it to two conferences in the summer of 2005, and both editors I pitched it to were wild about it.  It was a refreshing change, after all the rejection!  When Melanie from Bloomsbury Children's made me an offer, I screamed and danced around for HOURS.  Bloomsbury was my dream publisher (and still is)!  After spending years trying to get published, I did it with a manuscript that I had only finished a few weeks before!

Is being a published writer different than how you had imagined when you were younger?

Where's the glamor?  Where's the servants peeling me grapes?  Why doesn't my toddler nap like a little angel for four hours a day while I write?  Okay, but as far as realistic ideas about being a writer: I did think the turnaround was much faster.  I thought you wrote a book in the spring, you and the editor fiddled with any little problems (there of course were no big flaws) during the summer, and the book came out at Christmas!  And of course you got huge checks in the mail every month!  I had no idea that it would be over a YEAR before my book came out, or that my first check wouldn't allow my husband to quit his job so we could move to Maui.  Sigh.

In Dragon Slippers, your main character embroiders fabulous designs in dresses. I know you’re a fantastic knitter. Do you do embroidery too? Did you sketch out the designs of those dresses?

Ah, it's my dark secret.  I don't do embroidery.  I don't have the slightest clue how it's done.  I'm fascinated by it, though.  I also can't draw, so I just had to use my imagination about the gowns.  Then I described Creel's ball gown to a friend, and she drew it for me.  You can see it on www.dragonslippers.net.  I've got a knitter in my fourth book, though, and it was a relief to not have to guess wildly about how you would hold the needles or what you could actually make with the yarn.

Initially, you were looking to write fantasy for adults, but you ended up in the great world of children’s literature. Were you ever disappointed? What do you think about children’s literature?

I wasn't disappointed at all.  Like I said earlier, I am a children's lit junkie.  It was just that all my early book ideas were about grown ups with grown up problems.  (Some dragon-related, but still, very grown up.)  When I got the idea for Dragon Slippers, I was punching the air and dancing around.  (I do that a lot.)  (I also enjoy using parentheses.)  Everything just clicked, and I knew that I had found the place for me at last.  I think it's harder to write children's lit, though.  I am very conscious of the fact that readers might look up to Creel the way I looked up to Aerin or Harry in Robin McKinley's books.  You also have the pressure to keep it short.  My editor is a big fan of short and sweet, so you have to say what you need to say more efficiently than if you had 800 pages, like some of the adult fantasy authors.  I'm just glad that we have J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer out there to prove that readers will still take on something over 400 pages.  Maybe one day I'll be famous enough to publish something that big.

You’ve got a new book based on East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Any other favorite fairy tales?

Well, East o' the Sun was my big one.  I had a picture book of that story that I would read over and over.  So wonderful.  I'm also a big fan of Twelve Dancing Princesses, which will be my fourth book (the one with the knitter).  Disney's Sleeping Beauty was a childhood favorite, too.  I used to tell people that my middle name was Aurora, and argue with my friends that the blue dress was much better than the pink.  Mostly I wanted a big swishy dress, and a grand ball just for me.  If there were talking polar bears, well, that would just be the icing on the cake.  There also needed to be lots of magic, and mysterious old ladies who may or may not be fairies.  I demand a lot of a fairy tale, you see.  I could go on and on for hours about them, actually, so I'd better stop now.

Thanks, Jessica! And we're all so happy you got rejected off your butt by those inferior adult publishing people so we could have you here in children's lit.

Comments

[asha]

That is awesome, thankyou! and i think you two might actually be twins.

[Rachel]

Ah, Shannon. You're becoming the next Oprah. I had several requests tonight at my bookstore for Dragon Slippers, and so did the other bookstore in town. Couldn't figure out why (it was really popular when it first came out but then died down) until I saw the topic of your blog! Will have to get some in for sure. Fantastic interview. :)

[Summermoon]

I am glad I am not the only one who had a thing going for Aurora and Sleeping Beauty. I used to love that Disney version!

[Anidori-Isilee]

I loved Dragon Slippers and can't wait for Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow. And the second Dragon Slippers book and pretty much everything that Jessica's writing. ;)

Great interview, Shannon and Jessica! :D

[Elizabeth O. Dulemba]

My local indie recommended "Dragon Slippers" and I'm so glad they did. I loved it and am anxiously waiting for my copy of "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" to arrive!
:)
e

[Holly]

Another "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" retelling? Sweet...

I've been meaning to read _Dragon Slippers_ for a while; LRRHers have recommended it so highly!

[Celes]

Wow! Thanks for the interview! Dragon Slippers was just amazing, and I'm exited for her next book! Eee!

[Celes]

Wow! Thanks for the interview! Dragon Slippers was just amazing, and I'm exited for her next book! Eee!

[Erin]

Fabulous interview, ladies! I can't wait for Twelve Dancing Princesses.....and what Anidori Isilee said: anything by Jessica!

[Lena]

ooooooh sounds great! i absolutely adore the fairy tale 'east of the sun and west of the moon' !!! also YAY for everyone who knows that aurora looks so much better in blue!

[Chelsea]

The blue dress is oh so much better! I loved Dragon slippers and can't wait for your other books. And red hair rocks!

[Ellenboro]

I haven't read this book. Yet. I've been meaning to though because it sits on a library shelf staring at me everytime I pass by.
I also had a thing for Aurora. Since I don't have a middle name, I would dream that my first name was Aurora because it was my second favorite name.
And I mayn't have red hair, but red hair so completely rocks. So keep rocking!

[Kelsey]

Wow, you people have great taste in fairytales. :) I mean, between "East of the Sun," "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," and of course "The Goose Girl", I am a very happy girl. Those are all my favorites. (Especially if you throw in more of the odd ones like "The Enchanted Wreath" and "Princess Rosaline".) I'm so excited; I didn't realize "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" was coming out so soon!

[Calliope1of9]

I wish I had red hair...
This is about the tenth time I've seen Dragon Slippers reccomended... I need to read it!

[Bohae]

I love Dragon Slippers!!!

[smileynann]

No way -- the pink dress was WAY better! Although, of course everyone loves Merryweather best of all the fairies.

Doesn't Jessica Day George just sound like someone you could really LIKE? She seems so nice! I'm excited to get my hands on a copy.

[Faith #2]

calliope- I want red hair too.

Aurora looks AWESOME in Blue! Though Belle is always by favorite, she and Ariel both have tons of personality.

[Q]

I like the pink, and my favorite color is blue. ("Make it pink!")

[Chelsea]

I must admit, Belle rocks. But Aurora is one of the only princesses that was actually born a princess, go figure.

[maribeth_kayla]

I LOVED DRAGON SLIPPERS!
I'm really excited for all her new books. :D

[Calliope1of9]

Yeah, Faith dos. All the awesome people in my life are redheads. Go figure.
Is *Draggon Slippers* out in paperback?

[Ellenbro]

Actually Aurora isn't the only princess. Ariel was born a princess. As was Pocahontas, though she never comes up as a Disney Princess. Go figure that.

[Q]

Auguri di buon natale,
Auguri di buon natale,
E di un felice anno nuovo
al mondo inter.

Le strene piu belle
Ad ogni bambin.

Auguri di buon natale,
I buon anno di cuor.

I might have missed a few spellings, but it should be pretty close. Do any of you remember from so long ago what this is?

[Q]

Auguri di buon natale,
Auguri di buon natale,
E di un felice anno nuovo
al mondo inter.

Le strene piu belle
Ad ogni bambin.

Auguri di buon natale,
I buon anno di cuor.

I might have missed a few spellings, but it should be pretty close. Do any of you remember from so long ago what this is?

[Q]

Sorry about that double post. I'm close to being an unspeakable horror. And my internet does not like to cooperate.

[Gretchen]

Excellent interview, although I'm afraid I'm in the pink dress camp.
Happy holidays to all you wonderful Squeetusers!

[myrna]

So I was reading this blog and thinking--Hey! That sounds like a fun read and my daughter would probably like it too.

And then I recognized Jessica's picture on her website and realized that we were English majors at BYU at the same time and took classes together.

Weird, but cool.

[Ellenboro]

Q, it's easy to tell that whatever it is you wrote on there is in Italian. I think it sounds like a song. I can't tell exactly what it means but I can closely translate a few parts.

Wishes for a good Christmas
Wishes for a good Christmas,
And (have) a happy new year
to the entire world.

Le strene more beautiful
To every child (or baby)

Wishes for a good Christmas,
And a good year from the heart.

I think the parts I translated are about right. If anyone knows Italian please check this out and translate it.

[Jessica]

Wait, Myrna, who are you? I never was an English major. . . .

[Q]

Ah, yes, but Ellenboro, what song is it? It fits with the song, and you should know this song.

[myrna]

I shouldn't have assumed you were an English major, Jessica. I'm sorry, but I recognized your picture and was trying to remember where I'd seen you. I thought I remembered having classes with you in the JKHB, but I must be losing my memory. You see, I turned 31 last week (though I think it's more likely a symptom of having 3 kids--every time I get pregnant my memory gets worse).

[Katie]

I had been putting off Dragon Slippers behind a few other books I'm reading but after reading the interview, I decided I should read it. It was worth it.
I always thought Disney should have done a twelve dancing princesses fairy tale when I was younger. So now I'm writing my own version of the story too.

[Faith #2]

OH! I forgot to say I loved it how they slipped TGG into Dragon Slippers.

[Rinna-girl]

OMG, I love JDG