Q&A with Jessica Siskin

  

 

 

Jessica Siskin is the author of the new novel Looks Perfect. She also has written the book Treat Yourself!. A former fashion executive, she's the founder of the business Misterkrisp. She lives in New York City. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Looks Perfect, and how did you create your character Stella?

 

A: Looks Perfect was inspired by my own experience as both a creator and consumer on Instagram.

 

I kept noticing that as a creator, people were constantly filling in the blanks about my life from what they'd seen me post with the most generous possible details, and that I was doing the same thing with the influencers I followed. But I knew from the other side how flawed that line of thinking was.

 

That observation is what sparked Stella's character; I wanted to explore the perspective of someone who is performing perfection amidst a really messy personal life that she doesn't have the space to really understand, and how she might come to understand that over the course of the story. 

 

Q: Can you say more about how your own experience in the fashion and social media worlds affected the writing of the novel? Did you need to do any additional research?

 

A: The only thing I remember researching is what color the napkins are at Auntie Anne's. I'm sure I researched other things, but I didn't have to do that for details related to social media or fashion because I'm so immersed in both worlds.

 

I think it's funny that I ended up writing a fashion novel, because I always had such a hard time reading them since so much was always inaccurate, and I'm easily distracted by that kind of thing.

 

But having grown up with my mom working in the fashion world and then working in it myself, it was really important to me to write about how legitimate, meaningful, and challenging that work is, when many people still view it as frivolous.

 

Same with social media. When I first started writing the novel, I was getting a lot of feedback that Stella's character was too smart to choose to be an influencer, but these women are smart. Sure, some of it is timing and luck, but I find it hard to believe someone is building an empire without a good amount of savvy. 

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Stella and her boyfriend, Alex?

 

A: Stella and Alex are just completely missing each other. They're both extremely busy, they're in that season of life where they're pouring into their careers, and I think they both get a bit complacent and stop actually seeing each other.

 

What happens, especially because of the nature of Stella's work and how online she is, is that they start imagining projections of one another. So they actually aren't in the same conversation, even though they live together. 

 

Q: Did you know how the novel would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: When I first started writing Stella, I'd envisioned a totally different project, which was a dual perspective story about an influencer and one of her followers. I was telling myself it was a novella because I'd never written fiction before and that was all I could imagine pulling together.

 

I think I wrote three pages from the other character's perspective before I knew that this was actually just Stella's story, and once I knew that, the plot came to me and I knew the ending right away. 

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Aside from the full time and very meta job of becoming an influencer to spread the word about Looks Perfect, I started writing another novel.

 

Looks Perfect is very much about being in your early 30s, which is the age I was when I started it, and the story I'm working on now is about being in your early 40s, which is where I am now. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: While being a mega-influencer with a million followers may not be something everyone can relate to, I wrote Stella's story in the hopes that it would help people connect to and reflect on their own relationship to performance on social media.

 

We put so much pressure on ourselves whether we have a million followers or 100, and I hope Looks Perfect helps people build a relationship to social media that feels good and grounded for them.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Venus Morris Griffin

  

 

 

Venus Morris Griffin is the author of the new memoir The Other Side of Perfect: A True Story of Love, Lies, and Learning to Forgive.  

 

Q: Why did you decide to write this memoir?

 

A: Honestly, I didn’t want to. Staying quiet felt safer for a long time. But keeping quiet never protected me or my kids. It only protected him.

 

When their dad went to prison, I had six children, hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and no idea what I was going to do. I remember praying that if God got us through it, I would spend the rest of my life helping other women get through their own hard things. This book is me keeping that promise.

 

Then Humans of New York shared my story, and women wrote to me from all over the world. Some told me they had been ready to give up. That’s when it stopped being my story and became a story about all of us.

 

Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: Most people thought my life was perfect. They saw a husband everyone loved, a beautiful family, a house full of kids, and later, the career I built. What they didn’t see was what was happening behind closed doors, or what it cost me to hold that picture up.

 

Keeping up perfect was a 20-year sentence for me, and I served every day of it.

 

That’s really what The Other Side of Perfect means. Every person has a story people can’t see. I hope this book reminds readers not to be too quick to judge someone else’s life, because we rarely know what they’re carrying.

 

And I can tell you there is far more happiness on this side of it. An honest life is lighter than a perfect one.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between you and your then-husband, Tripp?

 

A: That’s probably the hardest question to answer because there wasn’t just one Tripp. There was the man everyone loved. He was funny, generous, charismatic, and had a way of making people feel seen. I loved that man deeply, and so did almost everyone who knew him.

 

But there was another side that very few people ever saw. As the years went on, our marriage became filled with lies, manipulation, emotional abuse, and eventually things I never imagined I’d face.

 

Looking back, I spent years trying to make sense of two very different versions of the same person. I kept hoping the man I loved was the real one and that the other side would eventually disappear. It never did.

 

I also have to be honest that there were moments my gut told me something was wrong and I talked myself out of it, because leaving felt like failing and staying felt like faith. That’s one of the biggest lessons in my memoir. Love should never require you to ignore the truth.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope people take away from it?

 

A: It was harder than I expected. I had spent years not thinking about certain things on purpose, and writing meant going back and sitting in them until I could get them down on paper.

 

There were nights I quit. There were parts I did not want in there at all, and I put them in anyway, because leaving them out would have made it a different book.

 

What surprised me was how much lighter I felt afterward. I had kept quiet for a long time, partly to protect my children and partly because I didn’t want anyone to know. There was shame in it. I never believed his shame was mine to carry, but living inside it still made me want to hide.

 

As for what I hope people take from it, I want them to read it and think, if she got out of that, I can get out of mine.

 

That is the entire reason it exists.

 

Nothing in the book is dressed up. It is what happened, and then what I did next. And the second part is the part I really want people to see. I hope this book serves as a roadmap for somebody in the darkest moment of their life, so they know the way out exists even when they cannot see it yet.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Right now, the book. Getting it out into the world and into the hands of the people who might need it is my biggest focus.

 

I’m also still selling real estate, which is the career I built from nothing when I was trying to put my life back together. I still love it, and I’m proud of what that career allowed me to build for my family.

 

And then there’s the VMG Foundation. We give $10,000 college scholarships to children who have a parent who is currently incarcerated. Those kids are so often the forgotten ones. I want them to know that what happened in their family does not define their future, and that they are seen, they are heard, and they matter. 

 

I’m donating all of the proceeds from this book to the VMG Foundation and to other organizations that are changing people’s lives. That was the point from the very beginning. I have seven children now, and so much of what I did was about making sure they (my six children at the time) didn’t have to carry what I carried.

 

And I owe Brandon Stanton, founder of Humans of New York, more than he probably knows. I had been sharing my story and speaking around the country for years before I met him, but Brandon gave my story a reach I never could have imagined.

 

When he shared it through Humans of New York, millions of people around the world read it, and the response made me realize how many people could see pieces of their own lives in mine.

 

He wrote the foreword to this book, and I’ll always be grateful for the way he helped my story reach people I never could have reached on my own.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Lisa Cheek

  

 

Lisa Cheek is the author of the new memoir The Big Day: Saying "I Do" Only to Discover I Didn't. She also has written the memoir Sit, Cinderella, Sit. She lives in Los Angeles. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write The Big Day?

 

A: My later-in-life wedding day took a turn when I found out after the ceremony during the reception that we weren’t actually married . It’s a wedding story I hadn't heard before and makes for an amusing tale, I’m told.

 

Also, I’m a late bloomer when it comes to relationships. It took me a long time learning how to be in a long-term partnership. In addition to the wedding day, the memoir includes previous relationships that show why it took me so long to commit.

 

Q: The author Steven Rowley called the book a “hilarious, thoughtful, and modern look at marriage, partnership, family, and most importantly--self.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: I’m flattered. Steven is one of my favorite writers, so when he said “yes” to blurbing my book I was super excited. And, when I read what he said about The Big Day, he made me cry. Honored. very honored to have his words on my cover.

 

Q: How would you describe your relationship with your husband?

 

A: It’s the most supportive relationship I’ve ever been in. He loves me for me. He may not always agree with me, but he is always there for me.

 

When I’m around him, I never feel like I need to [please] someone else, which is how I spent so much of my life. I was a people pleaser. Being older and wiser now, I know who I am. And I like who I am.

 

Q: What impact did it have on you to write the book, and what do you hope readers take away from it?

 

A: I learned so much about myself and my family. A successful marriage was never modeled for me in my family of origin.

 

I hope readers take away love and compassion for themselves and others. Seeing ourselves in a book brings about connection and knowing that we aren’t alone in the world. That to me is the greatest gift.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I just started a third memoir about 10 days of my life.

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Thank you for featuring me today and sharing The Big Day with your friends and readers.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Lisa Cheek. 

Q&A with Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger

  

 

 

Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger are the authors and illustrators of the children's picture book The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan. They live in Switzerland. The book is available in an English translation by Tammi Reichel.  

 

Q: What inspired you to create The Fantastic Floating Mr. Finnegan?

 

A: The idea for this story actually grew out of our everyday conversations. We often find ourselves talking about the big and small questions of life, and at some point we started wondering why life feels so light when we are children, and when we lose that feeling.

  

It made both of us think back to our own childhood. That carefree feeling of simply being, without constantly worrying or being afraid.

 

And of course, we remembered those wonderful dreams where we could fly or float. As children, those dreams felt incredibly real. You wake up almost a little disappointed that you suddenly can't do it anymore.

 

That was exactly the feeling we wanted to capture. Not floating as a superpower, but as a symbol of lightness, freedom, and trust. Because we believe that feeling is still inside all of us. Sometimes, we've just forgotten it's there.

 

Q: What was your writing process like?

 

A: Our writing process is probably a little different from the usual one because we both write and illustrate. There isn't a traditional split between author and illustrator.

 

Everything starts with an idea. We talk about it a lot, each of us develops it further, and then we come back together. It's a constant back and forth. We challenge each other's ideas, add new ones, and gradually shape the story together. It's a bit like a game of ping pong. The story keeps moving between us until it finally feels right.

 

Q: Can you describe how you created the illustrations for the book? 

 

A: The illustrations usually begin with small sketches and lots of rough drawings. We experiment, throw ideas away, make changes, and sometimes start all over again.

 

Normally, the illustrations grow out of the text. But throughout the creative process, text and images constantly influence each other. Sometimes a drawing changes the story. Sometimes a new sentence makes us redraw an illustration.

 

The book grows step by step in this way. Countless small decisions come together to create each illustration. And then there is that moment when we both know: the character has come to life, the image tells its own story and it's ready for the book.

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between your characters Mr. Finnegan and Matilda?

 

A: Matilda reminds Mr. Finnegan of something he had forgotten long ago. As a child, floating came naturally to him. But over the years, he learned to stay on the ground and eventually forgot that he had ever been able to float.

 

Matilda sees the world differently. With her curiosity, openness, and quiet confidence, she gently leads Mr. Finnegan back to the lightness that has always been inside him. She doesn't really teach him anything new. She simply reminds him of what he already knew.

 

That's what makes their relationship so special. Sometimes, it takes a child to remind an adult of something they once knew by heart. And sometimes, that's all it takes to float again.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Right now, we're giving ourselves a little creative space. There are already quite a few ideas floating around in our heads. Some are still small, while others are getting a little louder every day. Nothing is ready to share just yet, but we hope that will change soon.

 

We've learned that stories have their own timing. Some arrive quietly. Others simply won't leave you alone until they finally find their way onto the page.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: Lightness begins in the mind. And sometimes, the only way to hold on to what really matters is to let go.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Sept. 23

 

 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
Sept. 23, 1863: Mary Church Terrell born.

Q&A with Maryam Kia

  

 

 

Maryam Kia is the author of the new children's picture book A Suitcase Full. She is also a psychologist, and she lives in Southern California. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write A Suitcase Full, and how much is your character Kimia based on your own childhood?

 

A: I was inspired to write A Suitcase Full by my own experiences as a child, and my desire as an adult to help children who are new to a classroom, community, or country.

 

Even though the story is fictional, Kimia’s travels mirror my own journey from Iran, to England, France, and the United States. I delved back into my own memories to make sure A Suitcase Full speaks from a child’s perspective, and what a child would notice or feel about new experiences.

 

It is very meaningful to put this book out into the world because of how personally connected it is to my own story.

 

Q: How was the book's title chosen, and what does it signify for you?

 

A: The title came to me because I realized that Kimia’s suitcase represented so many things – change, loss, hope, home, belonging, experience, growth, and resilience!

 

The suitcase bookends the story. So, A Suitcase Full is the perfect title. It represent how Kimia starts with receiving a suitcase, giving her a beautiful tie to her origins and important relationship with her grandmother. It ends with her having filled the suitcase with treasures that represent her journey.

 

Her suitcase (and heart) is “full” with all she is learning and gaining along the way. It gives her a way to share her story, and because of the activity her teacher creates in her classroom, to hear other people’s stories too.

 

Q: What do you think Jaclyn Sinquett’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Jaclyn Sinquett made every bit of magic come alive with her beautiful illustrations. She included so many little fun details for readers to find. Look for the grumpy French cat and the sweet curled up kitty in Iran.

 

She also brought the story to life visually and emotionally, and talks about that process thoughtfully in her illustrator’s note at the end of the book.

 

She is so skilled, she even made things like the ground interesting – look out for the chalk art in France, the puddle with a rainbow in England! Kimia’s postcards are an incredible addition, where she incorporated hand-lettering and stamps from each country.  

 

Q: Especially given the current situation in Iran, what do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: It was important to me to add a Persian character to children’s literature, where they are scarce. When I was growing up, I never got to read about an Iranian-American character and I read a lot of books!

 

Kimia’s story isn’t meant to tell the whole story of Iran, but at least it helps some people gain insights about the experiences of leaving a country and trying to find a new home.

 

I have actually already heard from readers with diverse backgrounds, like those in military families who really relate with the experience of switching schools and how it feels. 

 

I hope that many readers resonate with the universal elements of the book – facing change, being new, wanting to belong, carrying home in your heart, and building empathy for yourself and others.

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: I love to write, create, and imagine! As a psychologist and educator, I work closely with children and adolescents, so I get inspiration from their energy, optimism, and ways they see the world. I am working on a few projects that continue to draw on themes of mindfulness and resilience.

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I became a clinical psychologist to devote my life to children, families, and communities facing hardships and adversities, and provide them with the support they needed during those trying times.

 

And, now with A Suitcase Full, I’m so excited to be an author who I hope can reach more people through books that inspire and create compassion, empathy, and connection in the world! 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb 

Q&A with Ryan Cowan

  

 

 

Ryan Cowan is the author of the middle grade novel Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal and an accompanying book, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal Activity Book. He is also a longtime educator. 

 

Q: Why did you decide to create an activity book to accompany your novel Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal? 

 

A: I created the Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal Activity Book during the pandemic. It started off as a few lessons that I would post on Facebook to help parents/readers teach their kids while reading the novel. 

 

The momentum kept going, and I decided to write a lesson for every chapter in the novel. Eventually I had an entire book. 

 

Q: The book is geared toward kids in grades 3-5--do you see them as the key audience for the novel as well? 

 

A: Yes and no. In some ways, I see the novel as a perfect escape for adults too. I don’t limit myself in terms of who should read my book. Anyone who wants to read a Halloween adventure and enjoy a simple book during the Halloween season would enjoy Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal. 

 

However, I purposely edited the sentences into simple sentences to help any struggling fluent child reader fully comprehend the plot. 

 

Q: How has your background as a teacher affected the creation of your books? 

 

A: My background as a teacher influences the dialogue in my books, the characters’ wants and needs, Mr. Moonbeam’s personality, the classroom setting and so much more. I draw heavily from my work and try to write dialogue that is true to what it’s like to be an elementary teacher – based on my own experience. 

 

Additionally, Mr. Moonbeam’s patience, understanding, and charisma are all shaped by my teaching career. To me, he is the teacher every kid would want. He is also a teacher that every kid would respect because he is a role model. 

 

One of the best things about being an elementary teacher is celebrating holidays. Halloween is a wonderful holiday to celebrate as a teacher, so I wanted to capture the joy of the holiday and how it connects to schools and the teaching profession each year across the world. 

 

Q: What do you hope kids take away from the activity book? 

 

A: A deeper understanding of the plot and a better understanding and use of academic language. The questions in the activity book challenge kids to think critically about the book and make inferences, draw conclusions, make judgements and evaluate the characters actions, words, motivations, etc…

 

In this way, kids and parents can work together to build essential comprehension skills that will help their children develop higher-level thinking skills. 

 

Q: What are you working on now? 

 

A: In addition to my career as a school administrator, I am actively working with editors on the sequel, Mr. Moonbeam and the Legends of Moonstone. I am also promoting Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal. 

 

The sequel has been a major puzzle and a difficult book to write. I can’t wait to release it. Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal returns each Halloween, and for that, I am grateful. 

 

Q: Anything else we should know? 

 

A: I just want to thank everyone who reads my books. It means a lot to me that people take the time to read my stories. It means a lot to me that kids learn and acquire valuable skills from my books.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Ryan Cowan. This Q&A was conducted in partnership with Ryan Cowan. Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win a signed Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal book set! Ten winners will each receive a signed hardcover copy of the novel paired with its companion Activity Book. One grand-prize winner will receive an exclusive Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal T-shirt, plus a signed, out-of-print copy of the original edition featuring its original cover design.