Interview by Shannon Barnes
Tell us about your latest book or a project you are working on.
I also have the outline complete for another novel for kids ages 8 to 12, but I’m still working on that. I’ll have a draft of that one done by spring, and it’s scheduled to come out in fall 2028. This one will also be part of the Mortified universe like the others.
And I have a book for teens I’m working on, too! So I’m always working on lots of writing projects.
Tell us about your writing process.
I always wished I was the kind of writer who could just start writing, but I just get stuck that way. I tried for many years to make this work, and I have hundreds of story starts that I never finished until I learned how to do a basic plot. Now I can finish a draft of a novel in about 6 months. I’m sure I could do it faster if I didn’t work full time, but I do.
I spend a good 2 to 3 months thinking through a novel and planning it out. I start with a basic one-sentence pitch, then I turn it into a “back of the book” paragraph. Then I get to know the characters and write a full outline. My character outline is usually a page, and it’s a mix of pictures and words. My outline is usually about 3 pages.
After that, I test the idea. I go to classrooms and talk about the book and see what the kids think. If most of them aren’t excited to read it, I scrap it and work on a different idea.
After that, I write the novel. That takes me about 3 to 4 months. I celebrate when I write “THE END,” leave the book alone for a while, and then roll up my sleeves, because now the real work begins. It takes me at least 6 months to finish editing, and I always get other people involved – test readers, editors, proofreaders. I think the best books take a full team of people to make them happen.
How did you first get published?
It took me a long time to get published. I've written stories almost my whole life, starting when I was four years
old. When I was a teen, I tried to get some of them published, but I just got a lot of rejections. I gave up trying to get published for a long time after that, but I never stopped writing because I love it so much. I wish I had known then what I know now – that all writers get lots of rejections, and it’s important to keep trying.
About six years ago, I started trying to get published again. I wrote a novel for my kids, who were 7 and 11 years old at the time. It was a superhero story about two brothers, and I still really like that one. I tried to find an agent, but again, I just got a lot of rejections. During that time, I wrote Mortified and thought it might have a better chance. I pitched it to agents, and still got a lot of rejections. I was rejected 100 times before I got my “yes” letter. Agent Olga Filina signed me on, quickly signed me with HarperCollins in a two-book deal, and in May 2024, Mortified was published. Touching Grass came out a year and a half later. And then I got a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster, who will be publishing Safe Travels.
What do you like about writing for young people?
I love writing for kids, especially kids ages 8 to 10 because that’s when you first start to really get into novels and discover the magic and the fun there. I’ve always been a huge reader, and I still remember the books I loved as a kid, how happy I was when I was reading them, and how much they helped me when life was hard or sad or awkward.
I’ve met kids who think they don’t like reading, and I always say that’s because they haven’t been introduced to the right book for them yet. When I write books, I hope to find readers who are looking for a fun story that makes them laugh, and I’m proud that some readers who normally don’t like reading have told me they enjoyed my books. Not everyone will be a fan of my work, but I know everyone will be a fan of someone’s book. You just have to find the right one.
I also really enjoy school visits. Kids are the very best book fans, and nothing beats meeting a kid who read your book and has that look of joy in their eyes, and knowing that’s because they read the book I wrote. It’s pure, wonderful magic.
Tell us about writers who inspire you.
I always find this question so hard, because there are so many amazing writers out there, both published and yet to be discovered. My brain tries to think of them all at once and freezes like an overloaded computer. So I’m glad I get a chance to think about my answer!
As a kid, I remember being obsessed with C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia books. I got a set for my ninth birthday and read them all so many times that they literally fell apart, and my parents had to buy me a new set. I still read those every now and again.
I’ll focus on Canadian authors, particularly Indigenous writers who share their stories. I’m really in awe of David A. Robertson. I got a chance to meet him, and he’s a nice guy who also happens to be a brilliant writer. He’s written over 30 books now, won so many awards, and he’s so open to sharing his personal mental health struggles, his teachings and his stories so it can help others. He really inspires me to be a better author.
I also love the works of Katherena Vermette, Cherie Dimaline, Monique Gray Smith, Richard Van Camp… and so many more. And of course, Rhael McGregor, who illustrates my books, also illustrates for others, and Charlotte’s Moccasins has to be one of my favourite picture books ever. I’m really excited about how many more books there are by Indigenous authors and illustrators now, and I encourage all readers to explore and learn from these stories.
For more information on Kristy Jackson, follow her on Instagram at @kaj306 or visit her website at kristyjackson.ca.
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Disclaimer
Interview responses reflect the views of the interview subjects. Opinions and views expressed by interview subjects are their own and are published as part of the CCBC’s coverage of Canadian children’s books and creators. Please see our Editorial Policy for further details.