Author Interview: Jackie Morse Kessler

Posted In: Author Interview

Jackie Morse Kessler

Books (young adult):

• Hunger
• Rage

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A unique approach to the topic of self-mutilation, Rage is the story of a young woman who discovers her own power and refuses to be defeated by the world.

JK: Before anything else, I have to say that I’m so lucky that Sammy Yuen is my cover artist. His work is phenomenal. Thank you, Sammy!

As for the sword, there are two reasons why it’s significant. In the book, the character War wields a sword; it’s her symbol of office. And the red on the blade hints at the blood the protagonist, Missy, spills every time she cuts herself with a razor.

Was the second title in the series easier to write, or harder?

JK: Oh, it was much harder. Part of that was due to having the idea for HUNGER percolate for 10 years before I wrote it, and I didn’t think about RAGE until my agent asked me which Horseman I’d be writing about next. But most of it had to do with how emotionally draining it was to write RAGE. Whereas HUNGER was cathartic for me, RAGE left me feeling raw. (And then there came the point when I threw out my synopsis and just let the story fly. I had no idea how the book was going to end until I wrote the last two chapters. That was both terrifying and incredibly freeing.)

Are you hoping that readers will take away any specific message from reading these books?

JK: If the books get readers to start talking about eating disorders and self-injury, I’d be very happy.

Is there a specific reason that you choose to portray a female protagonist versus a male protag in Rage as well as Hunger? Will the next two novels include female protags?

JK: HUNGER had a female protagonist because someone from my life was the inspiration for the character. And while there are a million males who have eating disorders, there are more than nine million females who are suffering with EDs (according to the National Eating Disorders Association). Having a female protag for HUNGER worked for me.

In HUNGER, the character War calls herself “Death’s Handmaiden.” So it felt right that in War’s book, RAGE, the protagonist would be female.

LOSS, however, has a teenage boy as the protagonist. (That book is about a bullied teen who gets tricked into becoming the new Pestilence.) Pestilence is male in HUNGER and RAGE, so having a male protag in LOSS made sense.

As for BREATH…stay tuned.

What’s in your reading pile? Any books you are particularly excited to read?

JK: I’m in a Sir Terry Pratchett sort of place, and I’m tearing through the Tiffany Aching series right now. The book that I’m most looking forward to is Jim Butcher’s GHOST STORY (July, July, July!!!) — when it hits the shelves, I plan on locking myself away and reading it cover to cover.

Riders of the Apocalypse giveaway! Three lucky winners will receive one copy each of HUNGER and RAGE along with postcards and a mini-poster! To enter, send an e-mail to RageGiveaway@gmail.com. In the body of the e-mail, include your name and e-mail address (if you’re under 13, submit a parent’s name and e-mail address). One entry per person and prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on 4/30/11. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on 5/1/11 and notified via email.

Related posts:

1. Rage by Jackie Morse Kessler
2. Author Interview: Jackie Kessler
3. Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
4. Author Interview: Tricia Rayburn
5. Author Interview: Carrie Ryan