Interview & Giveaway With Jackie Morse Kessler
Today we have Jackie Morse Kessler, author of the upcoming YA novel, Hunger. It’s one of my MUST reads for 2010, as soon as it’s released (Oct 18) I suggest you all buy yourselves copies as well as copies for any teens you know.
WLP: Thanks for stopping by today, Jackie; I can’t believe I haven’t pestered you before now!
JK: No time like the present! **grin** Thanks for inviting me.
WLP: Can you tell us about HUNGER?
JK: Lisabeth Lewis is 17, anorexic, and has been chosen to become the new Famine, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
WLP: What led you to write HUNGER?
JK: I used to be bulimic. I’m not anymore, but the You’re Fat mindset never really went away. Maybe part of that is because of our culture, where supermodels get Photoshopped because apparently, they’re not beautiful enough. (Which is extremely messed up—if supermodels can’t achieve an acceptable level of beauty, who can?) So I’ve wanted to write something for a long time with a protagonist with an eating disorder. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse elements in the book have a lot of influences, from Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett to Marvel Comics.
WLP: I loved how you made this a YA Paranormal with a meaning; I really think all teenage girls should check this book out.
JK: Thanks! My biggest hope for the book is that it reaches its audience. I’ve got my fingers crossed!
WLP: RAGE (April 2011) is about a self-injurer, why did you choose to tackle “cutting”?
JK: When I finished HUNGER, my agent said to me, “So which Horseman is next?” And I said, “Uh oh. I better think about that!” **grin** Based on the events of HUNGER, having War as the focus of the next Horseman book made sense. Once I decided that, the notion of a self-injurer, specifically a cutter, becoming War felt absolutely right.
WLP: For HUNGER you are donating a portion of the sales to the National Eating Disorders Association & for RAGE a portion will go towards To Write Love On Her Arms. Will all of the books have similar charities associated with them?
JK: Yes, all four books in The Riders’ Quartet will have a portion of proceeds go to a specific charity. The underlying theme of the Horseman books is how we choose to destroy ourselves—and how we can save ourselves as well. If you’ve bought HUNGER or RAGE, thank you for helping make a difference!
WLP: Do you have an outline of what is next for the series?
JK: The third book, LOSS (which I’m writing now), is about how a bullied teenage boy is tricked into becoming Pestilence. That book tackles bullying and coping with Alzheimer’s. The fourth book, BREATH, is Death’s book. **rubs hands gleefully**
WLP: Death was my favorite character in HUNGER.
JK: Mine too. **grin**
WLP: What advice would you give woman about their bodies?
JK: It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being healthy. The sooner we stop hating ourselves for who we’re not, and accept ourselves for who we are, the better our lives will be.
WLP: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Jackie.
JK: Thanks so much!
I am a huge fan of Jackie’s message in Hunger and because of that I personally am giving away a copy of Hunger anywhere Book Depository ships.
Tell me, what was the worst issue with body image you’ve ever had. I know we all hate something about ourselves, even if no one else understands it.
+1 For new followers (yesterday counts as new still) via goggle friends connect
+2 For old followers via google friends connect
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Thanks for the chance to win! This sounds like an interesting read.
I think the thing with my body that I struggle with the most is my chest. When it’s summer and all my friends easily find cute bikinis, I get increasingly more frustrated when the tops just don’t cover me. Normal tops that smaller chested girls can get away with wearing get me labeled as a slut or draw a lot of unwanted attention. Most days I accept my body for what it is, but I don’t think I’ll ever enjoy shopping for bras or bathing suits.
Strong message and a great concept for all four books. These will definitely be in my Must Read list.
My worst body image issue…well, we all look in the mirror and see a reflection that isn’t what other people tell us they see.
I had major surgery 6 years ago, resulting in a huge scar and several little ones. Recovery took a long time and I gained significant weight. Not only was I scarred, but I felt like a beached whale. I couldn’t do anything I used to do and hated what I saw in the mirror.
I’ve lost so much weight this year and gotten back to many of the activities I love, like mma and dance. But when I look in the mirror, or worse, when I might be in a moment of intimacy with someone…I can’t show them me, especially not the scars. It’s really hard to let someone else see.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Qwill and Synde, Natasha. Natasha said: Interview & Giveaway with @JackieMorseKess http://bit.ly/cfOvLj [...]
+2 old follower via GFC
My worst body image issue…I’m kind of the ‘black sheep’ in my family. I’m the shortest (5 ft), I’m the bustiest (34D), and the palest. My younger sister has grown to be a long-legged blond with clear blue eyes, proportionate chest and tan skin. My cousins are all looking to amount to the same. My step sister, with no blood, is also the same. Standing with them I feel dumpy. Short and stumpy and fat and pale. When they go out shopping I feel awkward because they all shop in the size 4 section while I’m a size 8. At the beach I can’t wear a cute bathing suit because if I’m not careful I’ll burn horribly even with sunscreen on.
When I try to make myself look nice I feel like I look like a blimp–I can’t stand lending my clothes to my sisters because even if I love how it looks at me when I lend it to them, after they wear it and get complimented putting it back on makes me feel like a whale. I work out (7 mile walks 5 times a week! 30 minutes of cardio in the morning and evening!), I drink only water and three cups of tea a day, I’ve cut my portions in half and tried to eat more raw fruits and veggies, less red meat and potatoes.
Most days I’m okay with it, or at least I don’t let it get to me. I know I’m not hideous and I’m not obese and that I am cute/pretty/attractive. But next to them…I just want to cry and demand to know why they can have cake and steaks without so much as gaining an ounce and if I so much as stray towards a low fat smoothie I’ll gain back three pounds.
Lexie C.
Lexie.Cenni(@)Gmail.com
+2 old follower!
I haven’t read Hunger yet but I heard good things about it. I think it’s awesome how she donates to an organization. To Write Love On Her Arms is one of my favs, I use to be on their street team!
Great interview and giveaway!
Jackie – I just asked a question at another interview that you answered here – whether the main character was going to be the same or different in Rage.
My worst body image issue is my weight – Not only do I feel fat, but I am fat (really). the odd thing or ironic thing is I’ve felt fat all my life, and I would love to be the weight now that I was when I was a teen or even in my thirties. When I was a teen my mom used to get upset with me because I weighed 130 pounds (I was five foot 1) She was under four feet, and weiged 96 pounds and used to think anything over 100 pounds was horrible – EVEN though I was 6 inches taller than her. My other issue is my chi-chis. Way too big – I would love to be one of those girls who can get away with wearing no bras. Can’t stand the way bras feel, digging into my shoulders, binding me in on the sides… It’s hard being a big chested, overweight woman. Of course it’s hard being a person nowadays. The thing that keeps me happy is I have great kids and a pretty good husband, and grandchildren. Everything else is secondary all though I wished I had realized that when I was younger.
PJ – I also have had surgery on my shoulder with some complications – this left me with an oddly shaped shoulder, and a rather wide, curvy scar that is over four inches long. It turned bright flourescent lavender in the sun and everytime I wore a tank top during hot weather, I could FEEL the stares from people. I finally went to a tattoo shop and the tattoist put a beautiful flower over the scarred area. It hurt like hell in some of the spots, was blessedly numb in others, but I love to see a flower there instead of a scar now. Of course, now that I have the flower, it seems no one remembers the scar. LOL figures. Of course, I don’t know where your scar is, or how big it is, but like everything else, and everyone else – it most likely bothers you more than anyone else. And keep in mind that someday – a tattoo is a possibly viable option for covering a scar. The tattoo man said he gets a lot of requests to cover scars (as well as older tattoo mistakes).
And most men (if you go for men) aren’t as bothered by different body shapes as we women are. Even you happen to prefer women – women are more critical of themselves than other women. Take heart.
Wow what a powerful message for your books. I think that is wonderful to take such serious subjects and address them in a “safer” way. I wish you great success in your writing. I have seen the cover but admit I haven’t looked much further. Your interview was great and I am very much looking forward to reading your stories.
It sounds like a great book with a worthwhile message for all of us. We all have issues about things one should not care to change. I would love to change my nose but it would not change how I look at myself. We are all too vain for our own good.
GAH!! I still need t read this. I’m such a slacker. Growing up I had issues with being skinny, short, and having a prominent nose. Being 40, the body issues are gone and a whole new crop has surfaced-wrinkles. lol
I am now dealing with the issues my 9 yr old faces. In a sea of skinny tiny pixie girls she is taller and bigger. It really bothers her that she is not teeny tiny and I curse those who promote being whip thin is the anthem of beauty. My child is beautiful the way she is and I will her this 50 million times a day until she believes.
For me it has always been my weight. One time when I was younger, my mother was sewing a skirt for my cousin. I tried it on so she could see what it looked like. My mother actually said to her, don’t worry it will look better on you, you’re not as fat as she is. That attitude was passed on to my sister who is a size 2. She now refuses to be seen with me in public, because I am a embarrassement to her.
I am a old gfc follower. +3
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com
I’m a new follower.
I’m just not naturally “petite”. Even in the best of shape I’ll never be a 2 or 4.
From 17 untill 22 I was Anorexic. I have an overbite and we had no money to fix it, I got picked on because of it. Silly me thought I could take attention away from my teeth if I got thinner!! I wasnt big to begin with but it was my way of coping. I got so thin that I was just bones and was admitted to hospital. Nobody could tell me I was too thin because I just didnt believe them, I was delighted because it took attention away from my teeth just like I thought. My periods stopped. I was in a changing room one day when I really say myself, it was a shock, I realised then that I was slowly killing myself and nobody was going to stop it but me. It was such a struggle to put on weight, there was a lot of crying and self hatred but slowly over a year I put weight on, my periods came back and just when I thought things were looking up I got pregnant. That was the hardest time but the best thing that could of happened to me. It was hard see my body get so big but I knew I had someone inside me that needed me more. I started to not care too much about my weight. It was a long hard road but I have finally decided nobody is perfect, we all have stuff we dont like. I now have 4 wonderful boys and yes I have a bit extra weight but its no use killing myself over, and yes I still have my overbite and would change it if I could but I dont let it put me down I have been through too much and my kids tell me all the time I am pretty.
Oh and fogot to say I am an old follower +2
Jackie, I have wanted to read this since I first heard about it however long ago that was! I’m excited it’ll finally be out next week.
I have always had body image issues, most centered around weight. I am currently 121lbs and hate being so fat.
The underlying problem is that I’m not even 5′. 121 is fat for me. I have to be so much more careful than everyone I know, and no matter how skinny I get (a year ago I was *finally* down to 100) I feel inelegant and dumpy and awkward next to all my sleek tall friends. I will never be beautiful, I can only be cute.
Even though my husband says that’s not the case, it’s all I can think for myself, the fat is all I see. Even when I was down to 100 all I could think is that I still wasn’t slender and I never could be because of how short I am.
I don’t like feeling like this. … but I don’t want to just learn to “love” my body and accept it the way it is. I want to be back at 100. I felt healthy then, and while I knew I wasn’t slender, I knew I looked good because I felt good!
Sounds like a great series of books and for a great cause! The body image issue affects me as a guy too, although differently I’m sure. Male models are also probably photoshopped leaving us normal guys paling in comparison. But what’s more complicated is that the media’s false projection of women affects our idea of “the perfect girl.” I’m speaking from the perspective of a man who likes women, but this may of course span across the scale of gender and sexual orientation. The media distorts what we “think” we find attractive about women and the sad truth is, it’s hard to let go of those twisted fantasies when you’ve been raised by the TV. I talk about this openly with my friends. Comparing girls with movies, magazines and billboards is not only setting us up for a let down, but is also limiting our chances of meeting people we could potentially be really happy with! Whats more satisfying is using our own innate senses to gauge what we find attractive. Act from within or be left without that’s what I always say… ok so I just made that up, but it’s true! Oh and one more thing. I really appreciated reading the above stories. Stay strong and be confident. There is nothing more attractive than a person who exudes self confidence. Not arrogance, but that pure energy that radiates from people who simply love themselves.
Sounds really good! I’m looking to start reading YA and I already like Kessler’s books. As for body image- where do I start? I’ll just throw out there that I gained a lot of weight after I quit my job and I didn’t want even my husband to see me in anything but shirts that covered my gut.
I’m an old follower.
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for this giveaway!
I have to admit that I did have body issues growing up, but it was mostly due to anorexia nervosa. My parents were going through a rough patch, I was in junior high school and I just couldn’t deal with the fear, so I just stopped eating. I must have lost like 20 pounds in less than a month. I was pretty thin to begin with, so what became of me was kinda ghostly.
My mom found out and forced me to eat, but I would throw away the food or hide it so that I wouldn’t eat it.
Eventually, I started feeling pretty weak and had headaches and I suffered dehydration…till I came to my sense again!
New follower +1
yvantis[at]hotmail[dot]com
+1 New Follower
First of all, thanks for the opportunity
My body issues are linked with weight. I have more than what I should for some years now.
2 months ago I started a diet, not a specific one, just avoiding to eat so much crap. I know I have several variables that I can’t control (hormonal ones for example) but at least I can stop eating so much and controling what kind of food I choose for meals.
I lost some weight know. It’s great but I still know I have so much more to loose.
Contrary to some believes, people around me criticise that I avoid chocolats for example. I can’t understand them, cause if you’re fat and eat crap, people judge that you’re fat cause you want to, cause you let yourself eat all those things. But when you stop, people make you feel miserable anyway.
I don’t listen to them. I’m making my diet, period. Not to be a model, but to feel better and healthier. That’s what matters to me.
fairy dot morgaine at gmail dot com
err.. by the way I’m following the blog as fs1
silly little me :/ lol
I hated my freckles and arms as a kid, so I’d wear full-length sleeves, even in the hot Australian summer, without air-con. This was in…second grade.
In sixth grade, I discovered shaving, and totally went over the top. Not just armpits and legs, but also my actual arms, eyebrows and…”map of Tasmania”, as we say down here.
TezMillerOz at gmail dot com
I have hated most of me at some point. I think right now I hate my fat from my babies. And I have big ears *winks*.
+2 For old followers via google friends connect
I have wanted to read this book so badly, since WLP first reviewed it. As someone who “matured” and “grew” a lot faster than her peers, combined with an addictive/obsessive-compulsive personality, this is a book I truly truly wish I had when I was 13 years old. Now in my 30s I’ve definitely grown to be more accepting of myself, but the food and body issues I spent most of my 20s trying to get through were beyond brutal and in many ways crippling. If and when I have a child, I look forward to reading this book with him or her, as well. Don’t enter me, Natalicious, I just wanted to comment
I’ve always been the fat kid. Even when I was playing soccer I was a big kid and I found out the reason why when I was 16.. I have insulin resistance issues. It’s still a huge problem of mine and one that gets me down from time to time. I can’t wait to read this book and I hope I win! :0
+2 old follower
dragonzgoil at gmail dot com
Its weight and always has been, sadly I think it will be a neverending battle I have to get used to.
Im a follower (I think old and just wasnt logged in, but I could be wrong)
bacchus76 at myself dot com
I used to feel too big. My statue just isn’t small and elegant like a pixies. So that made me feel really uncomfortable, especially next to thin, small friends.
+1 new follower
bookoholiker(at)gmail(dot)com
Natasha, thank you for doing such an awesome giveaway. And everyone, thank you for sharing your stories. You all rock, each and every one of you!
Before, I hated my body. I hated that I was curvy instead of say, stick thin. I don’t know why my perception suddenly changed. One day, I hated my body, and then suddenly, I didn’t anymore. This is not to say that I don’t wish to be a little less “curvier” because I do.
+1 new follower
sylvia_uy4(at)yahoo(Dot)com
I have large bust issues. To make it worse I developed young, at least a year earlier than my class mates.
Finding underwear is an expensive nightmare and when I am at my proper weight I look like Barbie – out of proportion.
Most clothes don’t fit and when they do I look too sexy which sounds great but, as someone else said, it gets you labeled as a slut and draws too much attention.
Now my daughter has the opposite problem and this year decided to forego the swimming pool.
I immediately bought her padded bras and a padded swimsuit which seems to have helped her regain her confidence. Going by the way she preens in the mirror she seems to be quite proud of her new figure.
Opps forgot my email!
eva.s.black[@]gmail[.]com
Scars. Sigh. I used to wear my socks high near to the knees, and wear only jeans to cover them. Now they’re getting lesser and less obvious so it’s better. I don’t even like talking about those freaking scars. *denial*
+1 new follower
thank you
feeyonachan at gmail dot com
I’ve always had issues with my weight, to the point that during a period in my life where I was clinically depressed I barely ate anything for a few months. That is all behind me now and everything is better now. However, and this may sound silly especially compared to some other stories, I hate my feet. I will not wear sandals or in other kind of open toed shoe in public because I have very ugly feet.
+2 Old follower
spettolij AT gmail DOT com
Whats the odds that you would ask this question? Even though the post was from last week. (I am playing catch up from a training trip.) I am actually going later today to the doctor to: Having a mole on my chin/face removed. My whole life, I’ve been told, “It’s a Beauty Mark” why bother? Maybe it’s cool when you are young, when they are small and flat but did you know that some moles as you age, plump up like cauliflowers and get big even if they aren’t considered the bad ones not to leave out, that if inspected, by self, up this close this mole is really ugly up close. After 4pm central time, it will be no more
I am a GFC Follower & newsletter subscriber
Stephmartin71(at)yahoo(dot)com
This book definitely peaked my interest. I had a very awkward 12 – 15 year old stage. As a female, I didn’t fit the type of being little, petite, and girly. Plus, I had a really bad perm to top it all off. Being a geek, along with not being a supermodel, put me in prime line to get teased quite a bit. I had a really hard time until I met some amazing friends in high school. Sort of the square peg finally finding the square hole.
+2 – old follower
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com