Olivia with YA-Mag: Chloe, welcome to the Young Adult Magazine! I’ve been admiring GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING from afar for a while now. I’m so pleased to have this chance to talk!
Chloe Jacobs: Thank you, Olivia! I’m so excited to be able to chat with you! I brought cookies! (Because I bring cookies everywhere, it’s my “please love me!” gift) Um… here, have some!
YA:So let’s talk about Greta. She’s not only the main character, not only the title character, but she also has people abuzz over what a strong female lead and kick ass heroine she is! How did Greta assert herself as your main character; what about her personality made her right for this story?
CJ: I knew right from the beginning that if I was going to tell this story, Greta would have to be a warrior. Of course, no warrior is born, right? They’re made. And the last four years have forged her into the person she needs to be if she’s going to make the choices she has to make throughout the course of the book. My only regret while I was writing was that I couldn’t show the reader all of those years without really dragging that opening down LOL…but then again, I think everyone gets the idea.
YA: So we have references to Hansel & Gretel, plus there’s a band of Lost Boys (Peter Pan, anyone?) What other myths, fables, and folklore might sharp-eyed readers be on the lookout for in Mylena?
CJ: Ah, I wondered how many people would pick up on those little things. *rubbing hands* So far nobody has caught everything, which I think is awesome! I don’t want to give away too much, but besides the obvious Hansel and Gretel / Peter Pan references, there’s also a bit of Alice in Wonderland, some Lord of the Flies, a dash of that 1980s movie Labyrinth, and even reference to an Ancient Greek myth about a child eating demon—this is where I got my inspiration for the Lamia, the witch that searches the human realms for children and throws them through the fire portals…kind of like tossing an after-dinner mint in your purse for munching on later.
YA: What sets Greta’s story apart from other YA fantasy and modern fairytale titles, like the Jessica Day George’s Princess series or The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long? What will readers find in you and your latest work that they can’t find anywhere else in YA books?
CJ: Well, heck. Those books are freaking amazing! I’d love to be considered in their group instead of apart from them, LOL. Then again, I think the thing about GRETA is that it’s not just a fairy tale retelling, or it’s not just a fantasy. I liked the idea of taking themes and ideas from multiple sources and then twisting them around and around until I could they fit together so well you think they’ve always gone together.
YA: What non-book influences (films, television shows, music, plays, etc) helped spark this story or your writing career in general?
CJ: I have a degree in history and theology, and also a background in law, so I really like to explore the evolution of concepts. It’s fascinating to me how history has treated both law and religion, and the way the two have worked both together and apart from each other to shape so many civilizations. I think as a writer, no matter what “world” you create, the law and religion of that world are the two most important societal constructs you should know inside and out. It will not only determine how your world operates, but how the characters within it will react.
And…well…I’m also a zombie freak and I love Romeo and Juliet. I know, freaky eh?
| YA: When you were a teen, what was your favorite book (YA or otherwise)? Now that you’re an author for teens, what is your favorite contemporary YA? CJ: You do realize, this is tantamount to asking me what my age is, right? LOL – truthfully, when I was a teen I didn’t read YA. There really wasn’t the same kickass options for reading in my own age group as there are now. I went from kiddie books like The Babysitters Club and RL Stine to Stephen King and Anne Rice. (WOW *flashbacks*) I think some of the books I was reading then might be considered YA now. There were mature themes and adult language, but the protagonists were still younger. (ie. Talisman by King). My favorite YA right now is the Anna Dressed in Blood/Girl of Nightmares series by Kendare Blake. I love good horror that can also evoke an emotional connection, and I love that the protagonist is male! |
From the Book: |
YA: I have to admit, Chloe, that reading your teenage favorites was like reading my own list! I’m certainly going to have to check out those more modern ones now!
Next question! Sometimes a title sticks from rough draft to published novel; sometime the author works with their agent or editor to find the perfect title. What is GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING’s story?
CJ: For the longest time while I was writing this book, it was just called GRETA. But the deeper and deeper I got into the story, I realized that even though Greta is definitely the main character, this story wouldn’t be the same without Isaac, the Goblin King. I changed the title to reflect that just before I was ready to send it out into the world. I honestly think my editor wanted to buy it just because of the title. It is truly the most awesome title I’ve ever come up with.
But there’s a down side to having the perfect title…because I’m having a really tough time finding something just as good for Book 2!
YA: GRETA is listed as the first book in the Mylena Chronicles. Tell us a little more about this next story in the series?
CJ: I can’t say much, sorry! Except that Greta and Isaac still have much to overcome and a dangerous path to follow in Book 2. I hope that readers will be excited by their journey and the reappearance of certain characters from book 1!
YA: If you could cast the Dream Film Adaptation of your work, who would you cast?
CJ: I recently saw something with Emma Stone in it and thought that she would make a good Greta. It’s probably the combination of sweet and strength that she seems to have. Greta would totally work harder to hide the softer side of herself than Emma, but it’s still there and I wanted the reader to be able to see it peeking out from behind her strength.
And maybe it’s just because I’m obsessed with The Vampire Diaries, but I can totally see Michael Trevino as Isaac. Let’s all take a moment to drool over him, shall we? LOL
YA: Do you have any secret pet projects you’d like to try out sometime soon?
CJ: Like the scarf I’ve been “knitting” for three years? I’ve been thinking of taking up boxing, and wrestling the dust bunnies under the kitchen table. Part of me would like to learn to ski, but another part of me knows that’s just asking for a broken leg because I have absolutely NO coordination. LOL
For me, there are always books. More stories. I want to write more fantasy. I want to write horror. I want to write contemporary. I want to write steampunk. I’m only limited by time, alas. For if I spent any more time writing, my family would disown me.
YA: All right, last one! In Spring, our world has holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Pi Day, Peach Blossom Day, Ostara, and so forth. Are there any holidays this time of year in Mylena? If you were to spend that day celebrating with Greta, Isaac, Wyatt, and/or the others, what would you do together?
CJ: Well, Mylena isn’t so much about the celebrating, at least not since it was cursed with eternal winter. In fact, springtime has got to be about the saddest time of the year because of the fact that all that darn ice and snow still isn’t melting! The sprites especially have a very strong connection to the Great Mother, and a world in constant hibernation makes them feel disconnected from their heart and soul. Now, that’s not to say that certain pockets of Mylean sprites don’t still perform the ancient rituals in the hopes of regaining the Great Mother’s favour. Can you imagine the party that would break out all over if the curse were to actually be broken?
YA:Thank you very much, Chloe! And again, from YA Mag, congratulations on your debut novel! We look forward to hearing a lot more from you in years to come!
CJ: No way, thank you! I had a blast. This was so much fun and I’m very honoured that you asked me to join you. Did you enjoy the cookies? š
YA: You know we did!
~*~
While trying to save her brother from a witch’s fire four years ago, Greta was thrown in herself, falling through a portal to Mylena, a dangerous world where humans are the enemy and every ogre, ghoul, and goblin has a dark side that comes out with the eclipse.
To survive, Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young goblin king, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her will to escape.
But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. An ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal, and with the next eclipse mere days away, every bloodthirsty creature in the realm is after her—including Isaac. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…
Readers, be sure to check out Chloe Jacobs at her website ChloeJacobs.com! Or follow her on Twitter @Jacobs_Chloe.
GRETA AND THE GOBLIN KING, published by Entangled Teen, is now available at your favorite retailers and local independent bookstores!
————————————————
Olivia Hennis is a transplanted New England girl dropped by a tornado into the magical Land of Jersey. For more info, follow her on Twitter or at her blog, Olivia’s Secret Reading Room.
(Twitter link: https://twitter.com/#!/OliviaHennis)
(Blog link: http://www.oliviahennis.wordpress.com)