Jaclyn Goldis
Author Interview - Jaclyn Goldis
Author of When We Were Young
“When secrets from summers spent on the island of Corfu converge in the lead-up to a beach wedding, three generations of women must face both the love and the tragedy dealt by their island—and by each other. The book spans World War II-era Greece to present day Florida.”
Author I draw inspiration from: Pat Conroy. Beach Music is my favorite book of all time, and I am both mesmerized and envious of how he makes places come alive.
Favorite place to read a book: In my fluffy, white bed.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Gabriel Allon from the Daniel Silva series. He is brilliant, fascinating, and could probably get the elevator moving again in half a second.
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: I don’t have a memory of when I didn’t want to become an author. It has always felt like my path.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Nothing beats the feeling of a paperback book in my hands. But to maintain minimalist living, I veer toward ebooks and reserve paperbacks only for those cherished books I intend to re-read. Plus, I live in Tel Aviv—English books are more limited in stores, so ebook is clutch when I don’t want to wait weeks for shipments from overseas.
The last book I read: The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. (A re-read.)
Pen & paper or computer: Both. Pen and paper for when I am in a brainstorming or plotting phase, or on those days I feel like I’ve overdone it on technology and have a discrete scene in mind to write. But mostly computer.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Elizabeth Wakefield from the Sweet Valley series created by Francine Pascal. Oh how I loved those books as a kid. Liz is kind and a great friend, loves to write, and is a bit quieter and introspective but still fun. (Her twin, Jessica, may occasionally disagree on the fun point.)
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: Life coach or meditation teacher. Or estate planning lawyer, which is what I did prior to novel writing.
Favorite decade in fashion history: Now. I love that anything goes. A close second would be the 1970s: free-spirited, casual, great denim, and shorts. I am exceptionally grateful to live in a climate where I can wear shorts eight-plus months of the year.
Place I’d most like to travel: Portugal.
My signature drink: Espresso over ice.
Favorite artist: Paul Ferney. He does stunning oil beachscapes. I own a small one, and it brings me inordinate joy.
Number one on my bucket list: Love and starting a family.
Anything else you'd like to add: This is my first published novel but not the first one I ever wrote by a long shot. (That would be a novel I wrote at age seventeen—twenty years ago.) If you are a writer who wants to be published, then find your joy in the creation process and promise yourself you’ll never give up. And if you are a reader, I hope you enjoy my debut novel!
Find more from the author:
I'm @jaclyngoldis on Instagram and Twitter.
Author Bio: Jaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU Law. She practiced trust and estate law at a large Chicago law firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling in Tel Aviv, where she can often be found writing from cafés near the beach. She loves to hear from readers. Please visit jaclyngoldis.com to learn more.