Spotlighting Jackson Pearce's AS YOU WISH

Jackson is the fearless leader of the Feast of Awesome and has more energy in her little pinky than I have all year. She is twenty-four years old and lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy and currently works for a software company even though she auditioned for the circus (she juggled and twirled fire batons, but they still didn't want her). Other jobs she's had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn't tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since.

Her debut novel is AS YOU WISH: Seven months ago, Viola's boyfriend told her he was gay—moments before she was going to lose her virginity to him. Heartbroken, Viola has resigned herself to near invisibility, until she inadvertently summons a young jinn out of his world, Caliban, and into her own. Here he will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to get back to Caliban, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid her wishes will be manipulated into curses. Jinn knows that should she wait too long, the Ifrit, guardians of earthbound jinn, will press her to wish by hurting those around her.As they spend time together, Jinn can't deny that he's slowly falling in love with Viola, blurring the lines between master and servant. It's only after Viola makes her first wish—for a popular boy to love her—that she realizes the feelings are mutual.

With every wish Jinn's time with her diminishes, but the longer she waits to wish the greater danger she's in from the Ifrit. Together, Viola, Jinn, and Viola's ex-boyfriend try to outwit the Ifrit while dealing with their own romantic complexities and the alcohol-laced high school social scene.

Here are Jackson's answers to the Thorough Three...

NM: What is the age of your protagonist/s?

JP: 16ish

NM: What is the single, most important bit of advice you'd give to the You that was the same age as your protagonist/s?

JP: This too shall pass-- the good and the bad.

NM: Complete the following sentences:

Everyone should definitely, for sure _____________.

You should NEVER, EVER ____________, but if you absolutely must, make sure to __________.


JP: Everyone should definitely, for sure do what they love for a living.

You should NEVER, EVER skinny dip. But if you absolutely must, make sure to hide your clothes well.

Thanks, Jackson!

Seriously, go and get your copy of AS YOU WISH here. For more info on Jackson and her work, click here.