Jennifer E. Smith
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith
Author of The Unsinkable Greta James
Just after the sudden death of her mother — her first and most devoted fan — and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes sophomore album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing, her career suddenly in jeopardy — the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always predicted; the kind he warned her about when he urged her to make more practical choices with her life.
Months later, Greta — still heartbroken and very much adrift — reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian, onboard to lecture about The Call of the Wild, who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life. As Greta works to build back her confidence and Ben confronts an uncertain future, they find themselves drawn to and relying on each other.
It’s here in this unlikeliest of places — at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning scenery of Alaska — Greta will finally confront the choices she’s made, the heartbreak she’s suffered, and the family hurts that run deep. In the end, she’ll have to decide what her path forward might look like — and how to find her voice again.
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith
Author I draw inspiration from: There are so many! I'm a huge fan of Ann Patchett, Jennifer Egan, Toni Morrison, David Mitchell, Kazuo Ishiguro, Curtis Sittenfeld...I could go on and on!
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: In a hammock on a nice day!
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: I wrote a book called The Geography of You and Me where two teens get stuck in an elevator during a blackout, which turns out to be the beginning of a love story. But since I'm not personally a huge fan of small spaces, I'm going to pick a more practical answer: The Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist. I feel like he'd have us out of there in no time.
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: In fourth grade, I won a school-wide contest for a short story about a horse (what else?), and from that point on, I fancied myself a writer and was always scribbling away.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Generally hardcover or paperback, but I also really enjoy listening to audiobooks while I walk my dog!
The last book I read: Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead, which I absolutely loved.
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Computer! If you saw my handwriting, you'd know why.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Jo from Little Women
Author Interview - Jennifer E. Smith | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: I was lucky enough to be an editor for a long time, so probably that. If not, maybe an English teacher or a librarian. Or I wouldn't mind being a farmer with some Highland cows and a few horses and maybe some apple trees!
Favorite decade in fashion history: Fashion is not my strong suit (so to speak), but I do love watching shows and movies that take places in the Sixties. The clothes were so great!
Place I’d most like to travel: I've been lucky enough to travel a lot, but my wish list is still long. I'd love to go to Tanzania for the Great Migration, to Patagonia, to Greece and Bali and Halifax and Brazil and the Faroe Islands and Mexico City and Antarctica and Chile and the Orkney Islands and so, so, so many more!
My signature drink: Is it too boring to say a beer?
Favorite artist: Is it too boring to say Van Gogh?
Number one on my bucket list: I've been to six of the seven continents, so it would be amazing to see Antarctica.
Anything else you'd like to add: I've written a lot of YA books, but this is my first one for adults, and I'm very, very proud of it, and very, very excited, so I hope you all enjoy it!
Find more from the author:
Twitter -- @JenESmith
Instagram -- @jenniferesmith
Author Bio: Jennifer E. Smith is the author of nine books for young adults, including The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, both of which have recently been adapted for film. She earned a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and her work has been translated into thirty-three languages. She lives in Los Angeles.
