Author Chat with Tiffany D Jackson (Allegedly), Plus Giveaway!

Today we’re excited to chat with Tiffany D Jackson,

author of Allegedly! 

Below you’ll find more about Tiffany, her book, plus a giveaway!

YABC:   What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Surfing the Internet late at night, I found an article on a ground breaking case of a 9-year old convicted of murder. Only question I had was, “What if she didn’t do it?” That sparked the idea!

YABC:   Who is your favorite character in the book?

Mary is my girl! Despite her somewhat pessimistic attitude, she is driven and determined, qualities I admire.

YABC:   Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel definitely came first. In fact, the first title was SO bad I think it affected my chances with agents I queried to.

YABC:    What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

Honestly, I’m most proud of the book’s excerpts and interviews. It was really exciting, using such a unique form to help tell the back-story of how Mary came to be.   

YABC:   Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

Save your pennies and hire a development editor before you put your book out in the world. Everyone needs a second, third, and fourth pair of eyes on their work.

YABC:   What do you like most about the cover of the book?

I really loved how mysterious it feels, the vast openness. I especially love the typography,; I’m a sucker for typewriter font.  

YABC:    What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2017?

Really excited about that there are so many books by POC coming out this year including When Dimple Met Rishi, by Sandhya Menon;, One Shadow on the Wall, by Leah Henderson,; The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas;, Dear Martin, by Nic Stone;, and Empress of Thousand Skies, by Rhoda Belleza.

YABC:   What was your favorite book in 2016?

It’s tied! In YA, Girl in Pieces, by Kathleen Glasgow, which is such a timely/riveting tale. In adult contemporary novel, The Star Side of Bird Hill, by Naomi Jackson, set in Barbados. I love Caribbean based novels. Reminds me of my gGrandparents.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

Working on my second book, currently untitled, about a girl looking for her best friend who no one notices is missing until her body shows up, one year later.  

YABC:    Is there anything that you would like to add?

Be open to stories from people who don’t look like you.

YABC:    Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

I did a lot of research before writing this book, including interviewing girls who lived through the system, so some of their stories are featured as experiences Mary went through. One particular scene where Mary is being abused in her jail cell, although it is only a few lines in the book, haunted me for days. I watched several Disney movies and read love stories just to clear my mind. (Watching Beauty and Beast and The Little Mermaid as an adult is SO much fun!)

YABC:   Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Not one character but seven. It was tough giving each girl in the house living with Mary the spotlight without it coming off as contrived or force-d fed. I wanted their back stories to shine organically.

YABC:   Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Drafting, without a doubt. I love free writing! That’s when the story really comes alive, when you’re not worried about the mechanics.  

YABC:    What would you say is your superpower?

I can have a full conversation half-asleep and not remember a single word of it when I actually wake up. Those are probably the best times to ask me for money.

YABC:   Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

I’m quite passionate about providing for and feeding the homeless. Hash tag Lunch bag is an awesome organization that uses the power of sSocial mMedia to help empower change.  http://www.hashtaglunchbag.org/

Meet Tiffany D Jackson!

Tiffany D. Jackson is a TV professional by day, novelist by night, awkward black girl 24/7. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Film from Howard University and her Master of Arts in Media Studies from The New School University. A Brooklyn native, she is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves with her adorable chihuahua Oscar, most likely multitasking. Her debut novel, ALLEGEDLY is due January 24th, 2017 through Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Instagram

Meet Allegedly!

Orange Is the New Black meets Walter Dean Myer’s Monster in this gritty, twisty, and haunting debut by Tiffany D. Jackson about a girl convicted of murder seeking the truth while surviving life in a group home.

Mary B. Addison killed a baby.

Allegedly. She didn’t say much in that first interview with detectives, and the media filled in the only blanks that mattered: a white baby had died while under the care of a churchgoing black woman and her nine-year-old daughter. The public convicted Mary and the jury made it official. But did she do it?

There wasn’t a point to setting the record straight before, but now she’s got Ted—and their unborn child—to think about. When the state threatens to take her baby, Mary’s fate now lies in the hands of the one person she distrusts the most: her Momma. No one knows the real Momma. But does anyone know the real Mary?

Website * Amazon * B & N * Indiebound

Allegedly

By: Tiffany D Jackson

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Release Date: January 24th, 2017

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

One winner will receive a copy of Allegedly (Tiffany D Jackson) ~ (US/Canada Only)

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

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