An Interview with Jacqueline Kelly

Q: Do you have a pet (pets)?  Tell us about it (them) and how they help/hinder your writing.

A: My husband and I have three cats (Callie, Tiger Lilly, Petunia) and two dogs (Molly, Laika).  Callie Cat likes to sit on top of me when I read in bed, and she likes to sleep on top of whatever I'm working on.  She is a talkative calico, and we have long, involved conversations about reading and writing.

Q: What do you hear from your readers?

A: I get lovely fan letters, mainly from young girls, but occasionally from boys as well.  They send me drawings and little bits of nature, such as leaves and bug stickers (but not real bugs). One girl sent me a piece of her grandmother's tatting!

Q: In high school, where did you fall? (Prom Queen/King, Gamer Geek, Brainy/Book Nerd, Jock, Shy/Quiet Scholar, Skate Rat, Stoner, Class Clown, etc.)

A: In high school, I was definitely the shy/scholar type.  When I got to college, that all changed.  One of the great things about going to university is that no one cares or remembers what you were like in high school. No. One.  (Hurray!)

Thanks so much for your time Jacqueline! We look forward to seeing you at the Festival.

Visit Jacqueline Kelly's website to learn more about her. 

Introducing 2013 MCBF Author, Jacqueline Kelly

Jacqueline Kelly was born in New Zealand and moved with her parents to western Canada at an early age. She grew up in the dense rain forests of Vancouver Island, so you can imagine her shock some years later when her family moved to the desert of El Paso, Texas. She attended university in El Paso and medical school in Galveston (lovingly known as “Galvatraz” among the inmates). She practiced medicine for many years and then attended the University of Texas School of Law. She practiced law for several more years before realizing that what would really make her happy is to write fiction. Her first published short story appeared in 2001 in the Mississippi Review (one of her proudest accomplishments). Her debut novel, The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, was released by Henry Holt on May 12, 2009 (another one of her proudest accomplishments). The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate was named a Newbery Honor book in 2010.

Learn more about Jacqueline Kelly at her website.