Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Jenny Jaeckel
Book Title: Boy, Falling
Released: 07/22/21
Genre: Historical Fiction
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Boy, Falling”?
Jaeckel: Boy, Falling is a continuation (companion book) of my first novel, House of Rougeaux. In the last section of House of Rougeaux we meet Gerard Rougeaux (Boy, Falling's main protagonist) as a ten year old boy, a child born out of wedlock and adopted by his aunt and uncle. Gerard meet's his "Aunt" Eleanor for the first time, not knowing she is his biological mother. When I finished writing House of Rougeaux I kept seeing images of Gerard as a grown man, playing the piano professionally, as Eleanor did, so the story grew from there.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Jaeckel: I tend to grope around with my intuition in naming characters, sometimes names just pop into my head. Eleanor named Gerard after his (dirtbag) father Gerard Batiste, also a musician. Though Batiste was not an honorable man, Eleanor wanted her son to have something of him, so he became Gerard Rougeaux. The second protagonist in Boy, Falling is Gerard's half sister Jeannette. Eleanor named her Jeannette for her mentor (Jeannette Meyers Thurber--a real person from history) and founder of the music conservatory where she, and later Gerard, studied. The third and final protagonist in Boy, Falling is one of Jeannette's daughters, Maudie. That name just came from the ether.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Jaeckel: My work is very character driven. When I write I do my best to get to know the characters--rather than create them--I need to know what they like and don't like, what drives them, what holds them back, their thoughts and feelings, their sense of humor, etc. When readers connect with the characters, when the characters seem real to them and readers even love them, that is the ultimate for me.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Jaeckel: I think people get writer's block for a whole variety of reasons, and each reason would take a different approach to address, according to what works for that particular writer. In the case of Boy, Falling, when I completed the first draft, I could tell it was flimsy and woefully incomplete, but I just could not get any farther. It was like a boat that had run aground and no amount of struggling to push it forward was going to help. What worked for me was turning it over to my editor for feedback. My editor, Neesa Sonoquie, is amazing. I call her my editorial Kung Fu master. She turned that first draft into confetti (which is what she does, and in the best way). First and foremost she helped me see what it was I was trying to do with Boy, Falling, and her feedback provided me a lot of guidance to get there. I spent an intensive six weeks reworking draft 1 into draft 2, which really brought the novel into being. After that there was polishing to do, but the bulk of the work had been done.
If "Boy, Falling” were adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Jaeckel: That is hard to say, because my knowledge of actors is so small. However, if I ever had that chance, I'd love to be in on the casting. I have such strong images in my mind of the characters--how they look, and how their personalities present in manner--I'd be able to say, "Yes! He's the one!" or "No, she's not quite right."
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Jaeckel: Number one, GO FOR IT! Only you can tell the story you want to tell. Number two, find people you trust that you can share it with, when you are ready to do so, get some feedback and be willing to do lots of rewriting. Honestly, first drafts usually suck, but they are a necessary step toward getting your book out. Rewriting is really where you earn your stripes. It can be humbling, even painful, to get feedback, but as long as it's in service of the work (and not your ego) it will help you grow as a writer and make your book a thousand times better. Good feedback should help you see specifically what is working and what isn't in a draft. Then you can get back to work.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Jaeckel: If I could fuse the extraordinary talents (and certain subjects) of Toni Morrison and Edith Wharton, and channel them into the writing of Boy, Falling, that would be more than I could ever hope for. Their works inspire me to illuminate my subject as best as I am able, from the inside--deep, complex emotion and interior life of the characters--and from the outside--attention to detail in environment, dress, manner, etc.
What are you working on next?
Jaeckel: Right now I'm working on two things: 1) Promoting a new novel called Eighteen, coming out Jan. 13, 2022, a contemporary (though a bit vintage, since it takes place in the late 80s to early 90s) coming-of-age / love story. And 2) Creating a book of comics made from illustrations in an old anthology of a christian magazine I found in a free box. The illustrations are all of somber figures in victorian or biblical dress staged in dramatic poses, and I am adding very silly word and thought balloons. I will start posting these pretty soon on my Instagram page and Facebook pages.
Learn More About the Author and Boy, Falling here:
@jennyjaeckel
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