Jennifer E. Smith is the author of four novels for young readers. The Comeback Season, You are Here, The Storm Makers (out in April) and her latest, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, which hit bookstores this week. Jennifer earned her master’s degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. (And, we must mention, she edited Deb Rachel’s MWF Seeking BFF!) Her writing has been translated into over twenty languages.
About The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight: Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18B. Hadley’s in 18A.Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.
Need more enticing (besides our assurance that the book is totally awesome)? Watch the trailer! It’s adorable.
The Debs are quite thrilled that Jennifer agreed to take The Deb Interview–and that she agreed to give away a free copy to one lucky commenter!
Talk about one thing that’s making you happy right now.
Having this book finally out in the world is making me incredibly happy. It feels like it’s been a long time coming, and the response from early readers has been really gratifying, so I’m pretty excited about the whole thing. It never gets old, watching your work go from a somewhat disastrous document on the computer to a hard rectangular object in the stores. It’s thrilling and nerve-wracking and deeply hopeful all at once.
What time of day do you love best?
I’m a morning person. Not one of those productive morning people who write pages and pages before dawn, or who are out running before it’s fully light. But I love getting up early and taking my dog to the park across the street, just wandering around before the rest of the world gets busy. It’s probably the only time of day where my mind has a chance to remain quiet, and there’s no better way to wake up.
Share one quirk you have that most people don’t know about.
I love silly jokes. Most of them are somewhere around a five-year-old level, but I can’t even get through telling one of them without starting to laugh. It’s actually sort of embarrassing how many I know. I’m sure that space in my brain could be put to much better use. But you can’t blame me. Especially after hearing this one: Why did the scarecrow win the Nobel Prize? For being outstanding in his field. (Hilarious, right?)
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Don’t be afraid to fail, because failure is useful when it comes to writing. Every single word, every single sentence, every single chapter – it’s all getting you to the next word or sentence or chapter, which might be the one that finally works. After all, writing isn’t an exact science. The only way to figure out whether to not you can write a book is to actually sit down and try to write one.
What’s your next big thing?
My first middle grade book, The Storm Makers, is coming out in April. It’s very different from anything I’ve ever written before, so I’m excited about that. And then I’m also working on a new YA novel called This is What Happy Looks Like, which will be out sometime in 2013.
You can find Jennifer all over the world wide web:
Believe us, you want to read this book. Comment below for the chance to win a copy!
Oh this sounds like a great YA. I’d love to read it.
Sounds like a wonderful book, Jennifer! Heck, I’d buy it for the title alone — that’s a great title!
You did a wonderful job editing Deb Rachel’s book, too. You are obviously a woman of many talents. 🙂
Thanks for taking a spin around the dance floor and telling us about your own books. Best of luck with all your writing endeavors.
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for visiting–I am so intrigued by your book! I LOVE stories set in a shorter time period–they make for such an exciting read!
Best of luck to you in the new year–and wishing you continued success with your writing!
I can’t wait to read The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight – it sounds right up my alley – I mean, who doesn’t love a story? And please, a hot guy with a British accent? SWOOOOOOON.
Thanks for being with us today, Jennifer and great interview! You probably don’t remember this, but we met a few years ago at the Rochester Teen Book festival. I was the dork going around with the camera and sat in on your talk about editing, which was really interesting (seriously – I loved that you passed around real edits for us newbs to look at). Anyway, congrats on your new book and thanks again for being here!
Hi Jennifer, I’m a big fan of YA books. And your book sounds great. I’d love to read it. I love the title, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The title makes me want to read it soon.
Congrats on your new book and I wishing you always success with your writing.
Ooh! I definitely have to read this one. I’ve added to my list on Goodreads.
My next big thing…..getting my book finished this year.
I’m always scared about insta-love books, but I feel like The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight will do it justice. The good reviews and from her past books that I’ve read point to that. Plus it’s in the title so she’ll definitely show (not tell) that love at first sight is possible 🙂
And Jennifer sounds like a lovely person! I love silly jokes. The cheesy, the better for me.
That sounds cute! The title also very catchy. I always love to read those novels with the love-at-first-sight thing. It’s just so cute and dreamy. I always wonder if I could have one.
Oh, and great interview right there. Hope your new novel will be the next big thing! 🙂