We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Weaver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I’m an all or nothing person. I don’t know how to do anything halfway, which at times, has served me well, and at times, has caused me to lose sight of what’s important. When I started pursuing writing as a career, it became everything to me. I was so hyper-focused on writing about fictional lives and finding success in the industry, that I forgot how important it is for me to live a full life myself outside my stories. I need to live my own adventures in order to write them for other people. Sometimes, my adventures are actually considered adventures by the world—hiking, traveling, trying new things—but more often, they involve parenting my kids and the day-to-day mundane of real life. But I’ve learned to find the beauty in the commonplace. It’s made me a better writer, so really, the healthier my work/life balance becomes, the better I become at my job. Win win.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I write young adult thriller novels, currently for Disney Books/Melissa de la Cruz Studios. I think what sets me apart is my teaching experience. I spent ten years hanging out with teenagers on a daily basis, which inspired me to write stories for and about them. Currently, I’m most excited to see my debut novel on bookstore shelves January 24th. It’s so surreal!

It’s been a difficult, long journey to get to this point. My first book was rejected by agents 35 times. That’s…a lot of times. My debut Live Your Best Lie, which comes out January 24th, is proof that even though it wasn’t easy, it was so worth it.
If I could give any piece of advice to aspiring novelists, it would be that the people who succeed in publishing are the people who don’t give up. If it’s your dream, keep going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’ve gotten really into hiking, so anytime friends come to visit, I love to take them to Golden Gate Canyon State Park. I also just did the Horsetooth Rock Trail this summer and loved it, especially the view from the top, so that’s a new one that’ll be on my list for sure. If they’re up for it, we also love to take friends to Rocky Mountain National Park, especially this time of year to see the elk.

I am a huge fan of the Denver Nature and Science Museum. Their rotating exhibits like the Da Vinci experience and the Egypt exhibit recently are always so interesting, and my kids love the dinosaurs.

I’m an author and obviously book obsessed, so I also take all my friends to at least one Tattered Cover Location and the Boulder Bookstore when they visit. I’ll probably be even more insufferable about this when my books are on the shelves! I also love writing in coffee shops, so I’ll typically bring my friends to a few of my favorites like Sweet Bloom…which conveniently is across the street from Tattered Cover Westminster.

Restaurant-wise, my favorites are LeRoux (for the French onion soup that is absolute perfection) and Mercantile downtown, and Hickory and Ash in Broomfield. If I’m in the mood for something fun and casual, I also love Avanti!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Definitely my husband Ben. For ten years, I taught middle and high school English and loved it, but my husband is the one who convinced me that I have it in me to write stories of my own. Even when selling a book seemed like a pipe dream, he believed in me and cheered me on. He’s also read multiple drafts of every book with unwavering enthusiasm and made me endless cups of tea to help me survive deadlines. Without him, my books wouldn’t exist.

Website: jessieweaverbooks.com

Instagram: @author_jessie_weaver

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