Jacqueline Green Author Interview ~ JeanBookNerd

Book Nerd Interview

A pen name of Jacqueline Resnick.

Jacqueline Green received her BA from Cornell University and her MFA in writing for children from The New School. She grew up in Wynnewood, PA and now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and their tiny dog (who sometimes moonlights as her writing companion). Truth or Dare, the first novel in a trilogy, is her young adult debut.

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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

I think it was when my mom gave me my very first chapter book. She brought it on vacation with us and she made this big event of giving it to me, and I remember thinking: this is something special.

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?

It gives us a way to connect with people and experiences outside of our own lives, which is something rare and incredible.

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?

I can never narrow it down! But I can say that Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor are two of the YA books I've been most inspired by in the past few years. Outside of the YA genre, my favorite middle grade author is Cornelia Funke. I love her books, particularly The Thief Lord and Inkheart.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

A graduate from my MFA program told our class something that really stuck with me. She said that the world of writing books is filled with constant up and downs, and the best way to navigate it is to be sure to celebrate those ups—take the time to pause and really appreciate them. That's something I always try to do now.

In your book; Truth or Dare, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it?

In the seaside town of Echo Bay, three very different girls get swept up in a real-life, high-stakes game of Truth or Dare.

For those who are unfamiliar with Tenley, how would you introduce her?

Tenley used to be the queen bee of Winslow Academy, but then she moved away. Now she's back, and her fear of being replaced brings out her catty side!

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?

I am working on the next two books in the Truth or Dare series! The second book is called Secrets and Lies.

What part of Caitlin did you enjoy writing the most?

Caitlin deals with a lot of fear and anxiety in this book. Although her circumstances are unusual, I think those are really common and normal emotions to experience near the end of high school. I was glad to have the chance to explore them a little.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I'd love to introduce Sydney to Wes from The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen! I think they might just hit it off... (Not that I’d want to steal him from Macy, of course!)

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Sydney?

I might not be an amazing photographer myself, but I discovered I love to write about photographs! I had so much fun describing the photographs she was taking and the new series she was working on.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

"How tall are you?" I always say 5'2" without hesitation and I really am just almost, barely, nearly 5'2"!

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

Listen to your gut. For me that's one of the most important rules to follow, but it can sometimes be hard when you have critique groups and early readers and editors all sharing their own opinions.

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?

I worked for the Red Cross one summer during college and I loved getting to see the inner-workings of such a great organization.

Who was your first boyfriend?

A boy at summer camp. As I remember it, I was scared to hold his hand.

Tell me about your first kiss.

Also at summer camp! (Do I have to say more? :)

What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or that you do not love them back?

I think the latter. I've always been open with my emotions, but having to hurt someone is a lot harder.

When was the last time you cried?

I'm a huge sap who has been known to tear up at TV commercials, so sometimes it's hard to remember! I know I watched the series finale of The Office recently (LOVE that show!) and definitely shed a few tears.

What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?

I was a little kid during the 80s, but I think it would have been a lot of fun to be a teenager then. (Think of all the crazy hair photos I'd have!)

What is your greatest adventure?

Traveling with my husband. It doesn't matter where we go; I just love exploring new places and having adventures (though very safe adventures—I’m kind of a wimp!) with him.

Where can readers stalk you?

My website is www.jacquelinewrites.com. You can also find me on twitter at @jacqwrites, or Truth or Dare on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TruthOrDareSeries.

When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.

Jacqueline Green’s suspenseful Truth or Dare is the story of three teenage girls whose darkest secrets are on the brink of exposure. After a party, Caitlin, Tenley, and Sydney began to receive strange dares. If the girls refuse, the requester will uncover their secrets. Caught up in a twisted game, just how long will the girls play along?

The predicament that the girls have found themselves into made the perfect avenue for an interesting and highly suspenseful plot. Readers will be on the edge of their seats throughout. The characters were very intriguing as each of the three girls had completely different lives. The narration provided by the girls gave more depth and completeness to the story. Readers are able to dig into their minds and see exactly what each of them thought of not just their unfortunate dilemma, but also of each other.

The addition of the town’s mysterious curse, brought on by the death of three girls during a fall festival, provided another level of depth to an already packed mystery novel. I applaud the author’s ability to maintain all highpoints to be suspenseful that made me really feel like it was total chaos and had no clue what of what was going to happen next. I was interested from the very start and kept that same feeling all the way towards the end. The book could’ve easily been a standalone if the last few pages were omitted. However, the ending comes to a major cliffhanger that will immediately spark interests in readers for the sequel for this trilogy. Truth or Dare delivered all the elements that make a book totally suspense. With two more books to continue this mysterious series, readers will have plenty of content to refill their need for mystery, suspense, and drama.

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