Where are you from?
Born and raised in Northwest Ohio.
When and why did you begin writing?
I'd say the writing started when I was about 12 or 13. Back then I was more interested in writing and publishing my poetry (which I'd love to do someday still). There was just something about expressing myself on paper. It was cathartic and exhilarating, I loved being able to express myself and let my imagination roam free.
What books have most influenced your life most?
The books that stand out to me the most are probably Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery from my childhood, and more recently Just One Day by Gayle Forman. Anne is just one of the most lovable literary characters, beloved to me because of her imagination. Just One Day is one of those eye-openers as far as "What do you want to do with your life?" kind of things. I am really, REALLY loving those books lately. They're inspirational.
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Kirsten Hubbard. She's a travel writer and that's what I would LOVE to be someday.
What book are you reading now?
I'm reading four, lol. I'm usually in the middle of more than one. I'll start several but focus on one. Right now I'm trying to focus on finishing Allegiant by Veronica Roth.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I just discovered Sophie Jordan a couple months ago and now I want to read all of her books in every genre that she writes. She's pretty amazing and definitely has a way with words.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
There are so many that I love, but I have to mention Gayle Forman again. Her books are the most poignant and they pull you in under their spell almost immediately. The emotions alone are enough to do you in, but the honesty of it is even more brilliant.
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Keeping track of the story. There is a parallel, Adrienne reliving three months of her life, and I had to keep all the lines straight and not deviate from the timeline.
Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Pretty much, yeah. There were certain longer periods of time where I wasn't reading constantly, but I've always loved to read.
What character in your books do you relate to most?
Adrienne, the main character in If Only We. I always relate most to my protagonist, probably because I inadvertently add a lot of myself to them.
Ok now some fun questions:
What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
Skateboarding.
Favorite Movie?
Persuasion, the Masterpiece Theater adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate.
Puppy's or Kittens?
Kittens.
Beach or Mountains?
Beach.
If you could be a color, what color would you be?
Purple.
Favorite Dessert?
At the moment it is Candy Corn M&Ms. Pure deliciousness in a candy shell.
If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Bria Sandoval from Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. Breaking out into the world of travel for the first time and discovering the world around her. It just sounds so glorious and amazing.
They say all it takes is one wrong move and you lose the game. One false step and you’re trapped. One slip-up in your choice of words and you ruin a friendship forever. That is what they say. They say I lost.
I do not believe them.
At the end of the summer after graduation, Adrienne wonders what happened to cause her life to be in ruins. She isn’t getting along with her mom, her stepsister isn’t talking to her, and, to top it off, the boy she’s been in love with doesn’t want anything to do with her. She believes the turning point was a choice she made at graduation. When she wakes up the next day, she has been transported back three months to that moment, the one where everything started to fall apart.
Adrienne realizes she has been given a second chance—and this time she doesn’t want to mess anything up. Reliving the entire summer, though, turns out to be a lot harder than she thought. As the same days and weeks go by, she starts to see how simple decisions can make a huge impact on the world around her. Despite knowing some of what lies ahead, there are some things she didn’t anticipate. She thought she knew what mistake led her to where she ended up the first time. She was wrong.
And by the time summer is over, she discovers what was really at stake.
About this author
Jessica is the 28-year-old author of IF ONLY WE, a YA contemporary. You can often find her either reading or marathon watching TV on DVD, her favorites being Castle and Veronica Mars. She frequently mismatches her clothes and giggles uncontrollably. She knows almost every Billy Joel song by heart. She collects books and toys, and she has an intense love of cats and lemurs. Currently in the midst of her quarter-life-crisis, she is still takin' names and getting very close to reaching an epiphany.
