Please help me give a big Hoosblog welcome to Amalie Jahn!

USA Today Bestselling author Amalie Jahn is the recipient of the Literary Classics Seal of Approval and the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for her debut novel, The Clay Lion. Her latest novel, The Next to Last Mistake, is a character-driven YA contemporary about cows, the power of female friendships, and finding your place in the world. She is a contributing blogger to the Huffington Post and Southern Writers Magazine, as well as a finalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Awards. A TED speaker, human rights advocate, and active promoter of kindness, she lives in North Carolina with her husband, two children, and three extremely overfed cats.

When she’s not at the computer coaxing characters into submission, you can find Amalie swimming laps, cycling, or running on the treadmill, probably training for her next triathlon. She hates pairing socks and loves avocados. She is also very happy time travel does not yet exist.

Tell us about your latest book.

Tess Goodwin’s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at East Chester High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.

Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander’s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad’s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the societal challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she’ll never fit in with the students at her new school.

When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess’s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of cultural disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

Buy The Next to Last Mistake

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Now for the fun stuff!

What’s your favorite genre? Do you read what you write?

My favorite genre is definitely young adult contemporary. It’s about the only thing I read these days (although I do enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series – it’s my guilty pleasure!) Most of the adult fiction I used to read left me feeling hopeless and honestly, there’s enough hopelessness in the real world without having to read about it, too. YA offerings tend to be far more hopeful which is one of the many reasons I love reading it as much as I like writing it.

I love YA for the same reasons! And I’ve also read most of the Stephanie Plum series. I think I stopped around number 18…

What’s your favorite part about writing?

I have a few ‘favorite’ parts. I love meeting my new characters. Getting to know them. Falling in love with them. I love the great unknown of the drafting process—the not quite knowing how it’s all gonna play out until the end. I love editing more, though. Cleaning up my mess and filling in the blanks is so rewarding.

I hadn’t really thought about editing as rewarding, but you’re so right.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part is making time for it. Forcing myself to put aside the other things on my to-do list and ignoring the allure of social media!

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. For instance, we wouldn’t have met without it!

What’s an activity unrelated to writing that you love?

I love interior design and creating joyful spaces. I love walking around the neighborhood with my husband in the evenings to catch up with him at the end of a long day. I love watching my kids doing the things they love and putting their own marks on the world.

Those evening walks are amazing, aren’t they? We do that with our dog and it’s so nice to catch up without technology intruding.

Who’s your biggest cheerleader?

I have some amazing friends who are ALWAYS shouting my praises from the rooftops. My college roommate, Ann. My first editor, Anne. Oh, and my agent, Ann. I guess you could say I have a really great collection of Ann(e)s in my life!

Ann was my given middle name (long story), so I love it!

Now I’d like to play a fun little game called This or That. As a writer, I find that a lot of interviews ask the same questions, so I always appreciate sharing something new about myself. I’m super excited about these questions—and I hope you enjoy them!

Introvert or extrovert? Extrovert. I’ve never met a stranger.

Morning or night person? Midday? Is that an option?

Coffee or tea? Tea!

Sweet or salty? Mostly sweet, but sometimes salty. (Which coincidentally, also describes my personality.)

Eternal summer or four seasons? Oh, bring on the sunshine! I hate being cold! Eternal summer!

Mountains or beach? Beach.

Dogs or cats? Cats (I have a small herd!)

Over 5’5” or under? Way over.

Left or right-handed? Right.

Hoodie or yoga pants? Both. Every day.

I really should add midday as an option. I think that’s my preference as well.

Amalie, thank you so much for spending this time with me and my readers. Readers, you can find Amalie at these links and be sure to order The Next to Last Mistake!