The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat: JENNIFER CAMICCIA, author of the contemporary MG debut, THE MEMORY KEEPER (Aladdin/S&S, October 15).

 What is your idea of perfect happiness? Reading in front of a floor-to-ceiling picture window overlooking the ocean, with the promise of rain in the air and a fire crackling in the fireplace. Bonus: a hot chai latte and a blueberry scone placed carefully on the table next to me, and all my family playing games or reading nearby.

What is your greatest fear? Something bad happening to my kids.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Being afraid and anxious to try new things.

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Disloyalty.

Which living person do you most admire? A friend of mine who recently lost her husband. Her positivity and faith are inspiring to me.

What is your greatest extravagance? Face cream–the kind that costs way too much.

What is your current state of mind? Denial.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? The sort of kindness that doesn’t really help those in need. The appearance of kindness without the action to support it.

On what occasion do you lie? To protect those I love.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? ‘Just’ in my writing, and “You keep saying that word; I do not think it means what you think it means” in everyday life.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? To sing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? My children. I’m so proud of all four of them.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? Myself, but with a thousand years worth of wisdom and the ability to sing like Beyonce.

What is your most treasured possession? The pictures of my children growing up and of my wedding.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Death of a loved one.

What do you most value in your friends? Loyalty

Who are your favorite writers? Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, John Steinbeck, Judy Blume, Louisa May Alcott, Olive Ann Burns, Rebecca Stead, Margaret Atwood, Suzanne Collins, and so many more.

Who is your hero of fiction? Mr. Darcy.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Jane Eyre.

What is your motto? “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”

JENNIFER CAMICCIA has lived in the wilds of Los Angeles, where she wrote her first book at the tender age of five; Iran, where she developed a fear of camels and a fondness for pistachios; Hawaii, with its balmy breezes and memories of learning to swim; and the San Francisco Bay Area, where she now lives with her children and husband. THE MEMORY KEEPER is her debut middle-grade novel. Learn more about Jennifer on her website and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today, GAE POLISNER, author of the YA novels, In Sight of Stars; The Memory of Things; The Summer of Letting Go; The Pull of Gravity; and the forthcoming Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me (April 7, 2020). Her MG debut, Seven Clues to Home, co-authored with Nora Raleigh Baskin, is out Summer 2020.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Listening to my sons play their music and harmonize together.

What is your greatest fear? I can’t believe I’m this superstitious, but I don’t even want to write it down. Suffice it to say, I have many great fears. 🙄

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Wasting time on social media, insecurity, worrying about what might be rather than enjoying what is. 

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lately . . . righteousness. And, hypocrisy. And righteous hypocrisy. They so often go hand in hand.

Which living person do you most admire? Wow. Yeesh. Only one? Okay, okay. Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

What is your greatest extravagance? Lotions and potions. I crave things that smell good and can’t resist a lush body lotion or fragrance diffuser. . . even when I have too much already. Also, pretty sweaters and fall boots. See, even when I have too many already.

What is your current state of mind? Deeply worried about our world. Also, thinking about fall apples.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Clean language.

On what occasion do you lie? To avoid hurting feelings. Or, that is a lie. 😉 

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? “It’s good, right?” I say it so much, my husband will say it for me, ahead of the words coming out. In novels:” just,” “I mean,” and “mesmerized.” I mean, my characters just so love to be mesmerized.

Besides writing, which talent would you most like to have? I wish I were a really excellent dancer. Not ballroom. Just dance floor. Like, really shake-my-ass-like-Shakira excellent. So far, that hasn’t happened.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Becoming not only published by some of the best, most literary houses, but having my fifth and sixth “traditionally published” novels coming out. Also, I swam a freaking 10K in the open water. 

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? I would like to come back as a mermaid. No, really.

What is your most treasured possession? My mother’s paintings.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Seeing what this President is doing to — bringing out in  — our country. . . how he debases all that is good and truthful, and is destroying any progress we had made. Having to live this reality on a daily basis. Yeah, that has been pretty miserable.

What do you most value in your friends? An ability to first presume — and see — the best in me. And the ability to make me laugh.

Who are your favorite writers? William Goldman never leaves the list. Barbara Kingsolver.  Jennifer Egan. 

Who is your hero of fiction? Princess Buttercup (& the rest of the gang…)

Which historical figure do you most identify with? Monica Lewinsky. 

What is your motto? Courtesy of Teddy Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

GAE POLISNER is the award-winning author of In Sight of Stars, The Memory of Things, The Summer of Letting Go, The Pull of Gravity, and the forthcoming Jack Kerouac Is Dead to Me and her debut middle grade, Seven Clues to Home. She lives on Long Island with her husband, two sons, and a suspiciously fictional-looking dog. When Gae isn’t writing, you can find her in the pool or the open waters off Long Island. She’s still hoping that one day her wetsuit will turn her into a superhero. Learn more about Gae on her website and follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: ABBY COOPER, author of FRIEND OR FICTION (Charlesbridge, October 8, 2019), her third MG novel. [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: LINDA WILLIAMS JACKSON, MG author of MIDNIGHT WITHOUT A MOON (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2017) and A SKY FULL OF STARS (2018). [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Samantha M Clark, author of the MG adventure novel, THE BOY, THE BOAT, AND THE BEAST (Paula Wiseman Books/S&S, 2018). [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Hayley Chewins, author of the MG fantasy debut, THE TURNAWAY GIRLS (Candlewick, 2018). [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Dana Middleton, author of THE INFINITY YEAR OF AVALON JAMES and OPEN IF YOU DARE (Feiwel & Friends, 2016 and 2017). [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today: Melissa Sarno, author of the contemporary MG debut JUST UNDER THE CLOUDS (2018), and A SWIRL OF OCEAN (2019), both from Knopf Books for Young Readers. [Read more…]

The Proust Questionnaire, popularized by the French essayist and novelist Marcel Proust, is said to reveal a person’s true nature through a series of probing, soul-searching questions. In the hot seat today, Rebecca Donnelly, author of the MG contemporary novel, THE FRIENDSHIP LIE, (Capstone, 2019). [Read more…]