Jacci Turner, author of "Tree Singer"
Nevada author Jacci Turner is an Amazon bestselling author of middle-grade and young adult fiction who has been a therapist, school counselor, campus minister, and mom. She is the author of several novels, most of which are geared toward young adults.
Her novels include Bending Willow, the first book in the Finding Home Series, a finalist for the Wishing Shelf Contest, which represented Nevada at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. She’s also the author of the Amazon bestselling YA novel The Cage, the first book in The Birthright Series, as well as The Retreat: A Tale of Spiritual Awakening, her first book geared toward adults, which was published by Harper One.
Other YA books include Snapped, about Snapchat and standing up to cyberbullying; and Cracker, an alternative history that examines what it’s like to be a marginalized person.
She graciously consented to sit down for an interview about Tree Singer, her first fantasy novel for young adults.
THE AUTHOR
Jacci can be found on her website, jacciturner.com.
She’s active on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jacciturnerauthor
You can find her on Twitter at @jacciturner, but she’s more active on TikTok and Instagram. Her linktree address is: linktr.ee/Jacciturner
Who are you? My name is Jacci Turner and I’m a recently retired trauma therapist.
Where and with whom do you live? I live in Northern Nevada with my husband of 39 years and our dog, Rosie.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? I’d love to co-write a book with Madeleine L’Engle. She was a brilliant and thoughtful person with a huge imagination, but also a spiritual person, which I appreciate.
Why do you write? To add a touch of hope and light to this difficult world.
Where do you write? Mostly in my writing room, in my home. Before Covid, I wrote in the library every week.
Are you a planner or a “pantser”? I’m a pantser, but I plot in my head. I guess you could call me a muller or a plantser!
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? I want to live at Hogwarts. I love the magic system there. So fun!
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? A dragon! I love books about dragons.
What do you collect? Besides books, I guess I’d say earrings. I like to get them when I travel to remember the places I’ve been. They don’t take up a lot of room in my suitcase!
Historical period you’d like to visit: I’m writing a historical fiction about the transcontinental railroad in 1869. What an exciting time. I’d love to see some of that. Not too much. though. Most of the past hasn’t been kind to women.
Famous person you’ve met: I was virtually mentored for a podcast by Gail Carson Levine. She writes retellings of fairytales like Ella Enchanted. The podcast hosts asked who I’d like to be mentored by, and I said her and she said yes! I was fangirling hard!
Complete this sentence: People are most surprised to learn that I… got a black belt in Karate when I was 48.
THE BOOK
Title, genre and length? Tree Singer, young adult fantasy, 244 pages
When and where does it take place? This book takes place in a fantasy world, where everyone has ended up on the island from other countries and over time become assimilated into a new culture. They all have practical gifts to help the population function well.
Would you live there and why/why not? I’d love to live there. It’s a very interesting place and I’d want to visit all the different clans: ocean, forest, and sun, plus the castle!
How did you come up with the title? Tree Singer is about a girl that sings to trees to help them grow so the title was a natural!
What inspired you to write it? I live in the desert, and I miss trees. So, I go to California as often as I can to be in the trees. One day I was sitting, looking out at a beautiful redwood tree, and thought, what if there was a girl who could help the trees grow by singing to them? Weird, I know, but that’s how my brain works and Tree Singer was born!
Is there a sequel in the works? There is one in my head, and several people have asked for one. But writing is expensive and I currently have four books on my computer I need to get published first.
Where, how can you get it? It’s available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and all the usual places. And it’s on Audible! The reader is fantastic. She sings the songs I wrote, and it made me cry to listen to them.
How long did it take you to write it? It probably took six months to write and a year to rewrite.
What was your biggest challenge in writing it? I’ve never written fantasy before, and my editor was wonderful in helping me with the world-building. That is why the writing took so long. She kept asking me to describe things and explain things. It made for a better book.
THE HERO
Name, age, and occupation: Mayten, a tree singer in training. She is fifteen.
Where and with whom does he/she live? She has a very large family and lives with them at her homestead in the forest clan on the island of Triggensfeld. At the beginning of the story, this character is … A homebody, content to stay in her clan.
Who would play this character in a movie? Halle Bailey
What real-life person would be this character’s hero, mentor, or role model? Michelle Obama would be a good role model for her. She’s a strong woman who has overcome a lot.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? Her crush would be Tanner Buchanan. I had to google young actors, and he is very handsome!
What’s his/her favorite quote or motto? All living things are connected.
Worst habit? Self-Doubt.
Best feature? Bravery. She grows in this during the book as she takes risks and learns to lead.