2021 Mentee Interviews

Tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, what do you write, and what are you working on right now?

Hi! I'm Jessie, a pension lawyer who ran away to Canada from the US to get gay married (yes, really). I currently live in Toronto with my wife and two cats and write queer SFF! I'm currently working on a queer Jewish fantasy that I would describe as The Book of Exodus meets THE POPPY WAR. I'm pretty excited about it.

What kind of stories are you interested in exploring in your career as an author?

Queer stories that don't position queerness as something traumatic. I want more queer joy, especially in the adult SFF space. My goal as an author is to write the stories that I desperately wanted to read growing up: queer people going on fantastical adventures!

What's the best thing about you as an author?

Oh, this is a tough one. Maybe my determination and persistence? Whenever I get an edit letter, I, like most people, get that initial wave of 'Oh god what do you mean it's not perfect?' and wallow for a bit. But when I pull myself out of it, I'm always ready to get started on revisions and making my work better. So, yeah, that. It counts, right?

How have you developed as an author during this mentorship period? Is there anything that you didn't think before about the craft that you think now?

LOTS. Honestly, my process has changed SO much thanks to the work I've done with Andrea. Before, I didn't think about story structure or character arcs. I basically just wrote what felt right and called it a day. Now, I'm much more purposeful with my writing and how I craft a story. Andrea single-handedly converted me from a panster to a plotter. I'm serious. She also helped me become a lot more purposeful about my beginnings, making sure the plot is front and center and, most importantly, moving at a good pace! I was definitely the sort of writer that would get caught up in character development and setting building, which is all lovely and great until suddenly the book is 50+ pages in and the main plot is nowhere to be found. I'm definitely crafting my beginnings now with an eye to making sure that the main plot is hooking the reader in early.

If every book is a book baby, then it takes a village to raise a book. Are there any people who stand out to you as people who helped you in your writing journey?

Um. My mentor, Andrea, of course. She picked me as a mentee at a time when I was starting to lose faith in this particular story and reignited my love for it. Also, the pre-Andrea draft of the manuscript and the post-Andrea draft are like night and day. This story would never be where it is now without her help. Furthermore, her guidance has also had a lasting impact on me as a writer more generally. Like I said earlier, I don't approach my stories in the same way I used to, and they are so much better for it!

Another person who was instrumental in the writing process would be my wife. She had the dubious honor of reading the very first draft of my WTMP novel (though she has made me promise to never send her any more first drafts) and helped me whip it into shape so that when I eventually sent it to Andrea as part of WTMP it wasn't an embarrassing mess. She's also the first person I turn to when I need a sounding board for ideas and knows just what to say when the Query Anxiety™ sets in. I honestly couldn't ask for a better or more supportive partner.

What do you think is the biggest necessity for a group of writing friends?

Definitely a sweet slack server. Honestly, having a place to chat and vent is SO important. Writing is tough. It's a deeply emotional process, and the publishing industry just adds a whole new layer of 'ugh' to the whole thing. Rejection, as a writer, is inevitable, but being able to turn to your sweet slack server, where all your writing friends are, makes the rejection lows so much easier to weather.

Any parting words for young writers looking for guidance, or a community?

Persistence is the name of the game. Also, be kind to yourself. We are often our own worst critics, and I think life (and writing too) is much more fulfilling when we're our best champions instead. Of course, it never hurts to get a bunch of friends to cheerlead for you too ;)

What about your own craft, interests, and abilities drew you to your mentee and their work?

Oh, I love a good magic system and a good romance, and Jessie's work had both. Probability magic sounded so cool, and I thought the way she executed it was so clever! When I was reading the materials that I'd requested, hers stood out. Her writing immediately pulled me in from the first chapter. It was just incredibly smooth and descriptive, filling in details of the world as it went and setting up the main conflict of the story. A real banger of an opener. I do a lot of worldbuilding in my own work and try to make it as seamless as possible, so I knew how difficult that was and how much skill it took!

Do you have a message for anyone interested in your mentee's work?

Jessie is not only incredibly talented, she's easy to work with, a great communicator, and does an amazing job with feedback! I really cannot wait to see what she writes next; she has oodles of creativity and writes some incredible characters. Help her get her foot in the door! She will astonish you.