| Interview with Jenny Pollack |
First off, thanks so much for joining us for an up-close and personal interview for TeensReadToo.com!
My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time
out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers
and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
Well, I grew up really wanting to be an actress, and I was for many years, only becoming a writer later in
my life in 2003. But as a little kid I always wrote short stories (I started writing them for my grandfather who
was an editor and loved my stories and encouraged me). I also started keeping a diary from about age 11
and I really enjoyed that.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
My novel Klepto began as a one-woman show called Goodnight Diary. As I did readings of the show and
then workshop productions, some of the consistent feedback I got was “this might make a good teen
book” so I decided to change the writing from theater to fiction. I got into a great writing workshop which
helped me to stay motivated and get the writing done. I networked with other writer friends which led me to
3 publishing houses to pursue and I was lucky enough that Viking showed the greatest interest. There
was also a lot of serendipity – a friend who became my editor had just been promoted to Senior Editor of
Young Adult Books at Viking at the right time.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one
thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
Julie P., the main character in Klepto is a real teen – funny, freaked out, and also smart, a good friend
and able to grow.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My own real best friendship with my best friend – we met the first day of high school, freshman year (as
Julie and Julie do in Klepto), and we’re still best friends (25 years later). Her family, who I practically lived
with during my teenage years, also inspired me. All through those years I knew I would write about them.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My husband Rob is a psychologist who is funny and smart and fun to talk to about everything and we
have a hilarious 2-year old son, Charlie. My dad has been an actor and teacher all my life (and a great
dad) and my mom (who, sadly passed away recently) was an editor and worked in publishing for many
years. I also have a big sister who was an artist for many years and then changed careers some years
ago to become a therapist.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Chocolate – almost any kind, but chocolate chip cookies are a HUGE favorite, chocolate cake, chocolate
peanut butter ice cream, oh I could go on and on…
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
You mean after I pee? I usually feed our 2 cats, Mike and Harry, make coffee and then go get Charlie out
of his crib.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
That I’m extremely organized. Almost to a fault. That, and I don’t have a huge wardrobe.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Purple, because it’s regal and beautiful and is usually everyone’s favorite.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Well, lately, I’m liking Dora the Explorer ‘cause she’s my son’s favorite. I love that she always says, “Let’s
stop and think.” But growing up I loved the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats and Bugs Bunny. I think I’m a
bit like Bugs ‘cause I can be manipulative and I’m funny.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
This is a tough one for me, because I definitely feel I am meant to live in this time. But I guess I’d say New
York City in the 1920’s when women wore flapper dresses and smoked with cigarette holders – but only if
I was friends with Dorothy Parker and other famous writers and got to go to all the fun parties.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I don’t listen to music when I’m writing because it’s too distracting and I like to sing along. But I love a lot of
folksie singers: Shawn Colvin, Rickie Lee Jones, the Dixie Chicks and soul like Luther Vandross, Regina
Belle and Phoebe Snow and I LOVE musical theater!
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie
you saw at the theater?
I love TV. Current shows I watch are Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Huff, Oprah, 60 minutes and when I can,
the Today Show. Although I have a lot of favorite movies, I don’t tend to watch them over and over – (but I
can’t wait until my son is old enough to introduce him to Finding Nemo!) The last movie I saw in the
theater was Spike Lee’s Inside Man – it was excellent.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Try very hard not to compare yourself to anyone (or everyone – as I did!) And listen to your inner voice –
it’s always right.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on my 2nd novel – about a 16 year old girl who is an aspiring journalist, growing up in
Brooklyn. She falls for a guy who turns out to be gay.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
You’re welcome, it was fun!
My name is Jen, and I’ll be your server toda…oh, wait, wrong job! Anyway, thanks so much for taking time
out of your writing schedule—which I’m sure is busy!—and answering a few questions for your readers
and fans.
Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you
wanted to be a writer?
Well, I grew up really wanting to be an actress, and I was for many years, only becoming a writer later in
my life in 2003. But as a little kid I always wrote short stories (I started writing them for my grandfather who
was an editor and loved my stories and encouraged me). I also started keeping a diary from about age 11
and I really enjoyed that.
Can you tell us a little bit about your road to publishing?
My novel Klepto began as a one-woman show called Goodnight Diary. As I did readings of the show and
then workshop productions, some of the consistent feedback I got was “this might make a good teen
book” so I decided to change the writing from theater to fiction. I got into a great writing workshop which
helped me to stay motivated and get the writing done. I networked with other writer friends which led me to
3 publishing houses to pursue and I was lucky enough that Viking showed the greatest interest. There
was also a lot of serendipity – a friend who became my editor had just been promoted to Senior Editor of
Young Adult Books at Viking at the right time.
Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one
thing about the story that had to convince us to buy the book, what would it be?
Julie P., the main character in Klepto is a real teen – funny, freaked out, and also smart, a good friend
and able to grow.
What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?
My own real best friendship with my best friend – we met the first day of high school, freshman year (as
Julie and Julie do in Klepto), and we’re still best friends (25 years later). Her family, who I practically lived
with during my teenage years, also inspired me. All through those years I knew I would write about them.
Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!
My husband Rob is a psychologist who is funny and smart and fun to talk to about everything and we
have a hilarious 2-year old son, Charlie. My dad has been an actor and teacher all my life (and a great
dad) and my mom (who, sadly passed away recently) was an editor and worked in publishing for many
years. I also have a big sister who was an artist for many years and then changed careers some years
ago to become a therapist.
Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?
Chocolate – almost any kind, but chocolate chip cookies are a HUGE favorite, chocolate cake, chocolate
peanut butter ice cream, oh I could go on and on…
What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?
You mean after I pee? I usually feed our 2 cats, Mike and Harry, make coffee and then go get Charlie out
of his crib.
If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise
me the most?
That I’m extremely organized. Almost to a fault. That, and I don’t have a huge wardrobe.
Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If
you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?
Purple, because it’s regal and beautiful and is usually everyone’s favorite.
Who is your favorite cartoon character? Which cartoon character is most like you?
Well, lately, I’m liking Dora the Explorer ‘cause she’s my son’s favorite. I love that she always says, “Let’s
stop and think.” But growing up I loved the Archies, Josie and the Pussycats and Bugs Bunny. I think I’m a
bit like Bugs ‘cause I can be manipulative and I’m funny.
If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history,
where and when would it be—and why?
This is a tough one for me, because I definitely feel I am meant to live in this time. But I guess I’d say New
York City in the 1920’s when women wore flapper dresses and smoked with cigarette holders – but only if
I was friends with Dorothy Parker and other famous writers and got to go to all the fun parties.
So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while
you’re writing?
I don’t listen to music when I’m writing because it’s too distracting and I like to sing along. But I love a lot of
folksie singers: Shawn Colvin, Rickie Lee Jones, the Dixie Chicks and soul like Luther Vandross, Regina
Belle and Phoebe Snow and I LOVE musical theater!
Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie
you saw at the theater?
I love TV. Current shows I watch are Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, Huff, Oprah, 60 minutes and when I can,
the Today Show. Although I have a lot of favorite movies, I don’t tend to watch them over and over – (but I
can’t wait until my son is old enough to introduce him to Finding Nemo!) The last movie I saw in the
theater was Spike Lee’s Inside Man – it was excellent.
You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?
Try very hard not to compare yourself to anyone (or everyone – as I did!) And listen to your inner voice –
it’s always right.
One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m working on my 2nd novel – about a 16 year old girl who is an aspiring journalist, growing up in
Brooklyn. She falls for a guy who turns out to be gay.
Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!
You’re welcome, it was fun!
