I grew up in Mammoth Lakes, CA where stunning scenery and a few very special teachers inspired me to write. As soon as I graduated high school, I made for the beach and eventually ended up in Orange County with a happy little family and a job as an English teacher.
And then by luck, or coincidence, or some cosmic force, things lined up for me to take a shot at my dream. I moved to a little gem of a beach called Crystal Cove, which is the setting for MOONGLASS; I had the opportunity to go from working as a full-time English teacher to working as a part-time librarian; and...I was about to turn 30 (more on that in the FAQ section too.) Long story short: after deciding to go for it and putting in a lot of hard work, I finished MOONGLASS, which is my first novel.
Moonglass is your debut novel. When was the first moment that you really felt like an author?
Oh, that’s a tough one because I still have to remind myself that it’s perfectly reasonable to call myself that! If I had to pin down a moment though, it would have to be when I saw Moonglass on the shelf for the first time. I started to get all teary-eyed and then my five year old daughter brought me back to reality. She said “Mama, can we go now? We have a whole box of those at home.”
In a market overwhelmed with paranormal, what drew you to contemporary? Do you think you’ll continue to write in that genre, or branch out into others?
I don’t think I ever consciously thought ‘I want to write contemporary.’ Contemporary stories are the ones I’m most drawn to as a reader because I feel the strongest connection to them. They’re also the stories that inspire me as a writer so I think it was a natural, if subconscious, choice. I don’t see myself straying from that.
I saw in your bio that you live at the beach. Since that’s the typical vacation spot, where do you like to go when you want to get away?
I don’t get away too much, but I think the perfect place to do that is the mountains. I grew up in Mammoth Lakes, CA so I have a special place in my heart for towering peaks and crisp air. There is something so peaceful and inspiring about that environment. It’s magical like the beach, but in a totally different way.
Do you collect sea glass? Have you ever found a piece of moonglass? I don’t think I’ve ever seen sea glass at the beach – am I just not looking closely enough, or is it only found in certain areas of the coast?
Yes! I have a huge collection of seaglass and can’t seem to stop searching for more. It’s seriously addicting. I’ve never found Moonglass, though every time the moon is full I say I’m going to go look. But I did find a red piece (my one and o2 Comments on Author Interview: Jessi Kirby (Moonglass), last added: 8/12/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
.jpg?picon=590)
By: Melissa Walker,
on 5/15/2011
Blog: readergirlz (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: rgz street team, jessi kirby, moonglass, sarah, Add a tag
The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.
Today, Sarah reviews Moonglass by Jessi Kirby:
"I love the beach and beach reads seem to capture the sun on your skin, the sand between your toes, and the scent of the ocean. Moonglass had all of these feelings and more. The setting of Crystal Cove was a perfect setting. Anna was an awesome girl. She was very down to Earth and innocent."Unlike the protagonists in most young adult novels, she was still haunted by her mother's death and still hung out with her dad a lot, which meant that her parents were a huge part of the story. Tyler was so sweet and I adored him. He was unpredictable, which kept me guessing..." --Sarah
See Sarah's full review of this book on Sarah's Random Musings.
By: Casey (The Bookish Type),
on 5/9/2011
Blog: The Bookish Type (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Review, Young Adult, Giveaway, contemporary, debut author, 2011 Debut Author Challenge, Four and a Half Stars, Jessi Kirby, Moonglass, Add a tag
Moonglass is a stunning debut, written in elegant prose. The simple but detailed descriptions put readers directly in the scene, while the moments of beautiful, almost poetic language interspersed throughout the novel shine like sea glass. The precise details of the scuba diving expeditions also add texture to the typical beach read and allow readers with no scuba experience (like me) to perfectly visualize the breathtaking underwater scenes.
From the very first page, the emotion feels raw and authentic, and readers' hearts will break for the strong but fragile heroine. Though she occasionally seems excessively boy crazy, the way Anna copes with her troubled past feels achingly realistic, while her journey of healing is bittersweet. The uncontrollable wildness of the ocean is its own presence in the story, and the tragic tales the lifeguards tell gave me chills. In Moonglass, Jessi Kirby confronts the dark and painful moments in life with a soft sensitivity and evocative directness that readers won't soon forget.
This haunting story is populated with an eclectic cast of characters: from Anna's first friend in her new town, the oblivious but well-meaning Ashley, to her legendary father, to her off-limits love interest Tyler -- the quirky personalities each leave their mark on Anna's life. It was inspiring to watch how Kirby brought the seemingly disparate community together, showing the intricate and often surprising threads that bind us. This novel is the perfect summer read, packing a powerful emotional punch that will leave a lasting impression on readers' hearts.
Rating:
Disclosure: I received a review copy of the novel from the publicist. This did not affect my review in any way.
Click here to purchase Moonglass by Jessi Kirby.
Part of the 2011 Debut Author Challenge.
GIVEAWAY
Display Comments Add a Comment
.jpeg?picon=2058)
By: Shelli,
on 5/4/2011
Blog: Faeriality (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: jessi kirby, moonglass, release day, Add a tag
"The Story Book" winners: Joy D Fanning and Vidisha!!
"Divergent" winner: Caitlin Vincent!
email me your address at [email protected]
Now, for Moonglass by Jessi Kirby.
When Anna was little, she and her mother used to search for sea glass, but since they looked at night, they called it moonglass. Now, ten years after her mother's mysterious death, her father is working as head lifeguard on the same beach where her mother grew up and her parents first met and fell in love.
Reluctant to get close to anyone (including her father) and not pleased about having to start at a new school, Anna begins to spend more time alone, running the length of the beach and wondering about who her mother really was. After meeting a lifeguar
11 Comments on Happy Release Day - Moonglass, last added: 5/5/2011
Display Comments
Add a Comment
Great interview! I really enjoyed Moonglass and am excited to hear that a character from the novel will show up in a later novel.
Wow, I can't imagine what it would be like to see a real-life Crawler! *shivers*
I love that Jessi incorporated so much of her real life into Moongass! :)
Now I'm even more excited for In Honor--can't wait to see who makes a cameo! :P