Nyxen Interviews Jackson Pearce

Today is a very special day here at Nyxen's Sidewalk Journey Through Life. Today I have my first interview! And it's by none other than Jackson Pearce herself!

So, let's begin!
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1) Thanks Jackson for doing this! In honor of Fairy Tale week here at Nyxen's Adventure, what are your top five favorite fairy tales?

JP: This list is always changing, but at present:
-The Snow Queen
-12 Dancing Princesses
-The Little Mermaid
-Little Red Riding Hood
-Hansel and Gretel


2) What fairy tales gave you the most fright when you were younger?

JP: There were specific parts of fairytales that scared me when I was younger-- even though it's not a part of the original fairytale, I remember that when the sea witch went all ENORMOUS and stormy in the Little Mermaid movie, it terrified me!

3) If you could be apart of any fairy tale, which would it and why?

JP: Hm, probably the 12 Dancing Princesses. Who wouldn't want to dance all night? Plus, I wouldn't want to tromp through the woods with monsters or take on a witch, personally...

4) You just released your sophmore novel "Sisters Red" which is a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood. Does that mean fairy tales have always been apart of your life? Did you always love reading different kinds of fairy tales?

JP: I think fairytales have always been a part of my life-- and everyone's life. They're so engrained into our culture that even if you don't read the stories, you know them. In the past few years, I've been especially caught up in reading every version of certain fairytales-- the Chinese Red Riding Hood, the Native American Cinderella...all of them!

5) Will we expect more fairy tale re-tellings from you, if yes would you mind sharing some details about them?

JP: My third book, SWEETLY, is set in the same world as SISTERS RED. It's a retelling of Hansel and Gretel, set in a South Carolina chocolatier.

6) And one last question before you go. Could you tell us about a memory you had when you were younger about that involved and fairy tales?

JP: Oh, that's really tough. Pinocchio isn't really a fairytale, so to speak (or at least, it's not an old one-- it was written in the 1880s or so), but I loved it. I even had Pinnochio themed Christmas ornaments!

Jackson Pearce
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Thanks again, Jackson! Catch Jackson on her website at www.jacksonpearce.com and make sure you buy both her books:
AS YOU WISH
SISTERS RED

Stay tuned tomorrow for another guest post by an awesome blogger!

Nyxen's Review of "As You Wish"

As You Wish By Jackson Pearce

Ever since Viola's boyfriend broke up with her, she has spent her days silently wishing-to have someone to love her again and, more importantly, to belong again-until one day she inadvertently summons a young genie out of his world and into her own. He will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to return home, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid she will not wish for the right thing, the thing that will make her truly happy. As the two spend time together, the lines between master and servant begin to blur, and soon Jinn can't deny that he's falling for Viola. But it's only after Viola makes her first wish that she realizes she's in love with Jinn as well... and that if she wishes twice more, he will disappear from her life-and her world-forever.

Jackson Pearce spins a magical tale about star-crossed lovers, what it means to belong...and how important it is to be careful what you wish for.

This was my second time reading this book. And that's a shocker because I have never read a book more than one time. The first time I read As You Wish I was entranced with Jackson's story-telling. I loved how the words seemed to flow so smoothly and endlessly. This debut novel really had me going. It got me to laugh, cry, and yell endless profanities at Aaron, a supporting character.

It all starts with a simple girl, Viola. Now, Viola isn't an outcast or a freak. She is a regular teenage girl who has friends but she can't see that because she thinks she doesn't belong. She feels as if she doesn't belong with anyone or to any group at school because her ex boyfriend-now best friend Lawrence- told her he was gay before they were about to do "It." Ever since that fateful night all Viola wanted is to have someone to love her to feel like she belongs in this world. She wishes endlessly which causes a jinn, or genie, to magically appear.

Viola now has three wishes to make but she doesn't know what to wish for. Not knowing what to wish for causes Jinn, the genie, to stay on Earth longer which makes him grow and age. Because in Caliban, Jinn's world, it's as if time stops. No one ages; no one grows. But as soon as they step foot on Earth they do. As Viola doesn't wish that's just more time Jinn has on Earth. But as time slowly progresses, Jinn finds out that being human isn't bad and that having human emotions isn't either, especially when they are directed to Viola. But it isn't until Viola makes her first wish that she starts realizing her feelings for Jinn. Everything after that is like a blur for Viola as she is finally "accepted" and feels like she belongs. But the only problem is Viola coming to terms with her feelings for Jinn. Not only that but she is slowly losing her time with Jinn as an ifrit starts pressing her to wish, making Jinn go back to Caliban.

It seems like this story won't have a happy ending, but on the contrary, there is. I just loved how this novel made my emotions go haywire and I loved that I could definitely relate to some characters. Viola was a bit stubborn at times and I just wanted to yell at her for being clueless at times. I fell in love with As You Wish from beginning to end. I loved every word in this novel and I was extremely sad to finish it. I want Viola and Jinn's story to continue.

Overall I rate this Five Stars.