Named a 2011 Young Adult Library Services Association “Best Fiction for Young Adults pick” for her debut novel, The Sky is Everywhere, Not Your Mother’s Book Club™ proudly presents presents highly acclaimed author Jandy Nelson sharing her latest masterpiece, I’ll Give You the Sun. With rave reviews by the likes of New York Times-bestselling authors Ransom Riggs and Tahereh Mafi, I’ll Give You the Sunis a radiant novel which will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.
Joining Jandy is actress and audio book narrator Julia Whelan, who provided narration for Jandy’s audio recording of I’ll Give You the Sun. Julia has co-starred in Fifteen and Pregnant alongside Kirsten Dunst (1998), played Grace Manning in the Golden Globe-winning television series Once and Again (1999-2002), and was the star of the film The Secret Life of Zoey alongside Mia Farrow (2002).
No matter what, I had to see Jandy Nelson. I needed to tell her that I’ll Give You The Sun destroyed me. Rain nor shine. I was going to tell her. Absolutely imperative to my health. And see her I did.
I walked almost a mile to get to the bookstore, only because I had time to kill so I got off the train a stop earlier. (Note to self: Don’t walk the way you did. Not very safe.) And when I got to the bookstore, I was early enough that I got a very good seat.
Donuts, little sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and fruits were set up on the side. They were really delicious.
Maggie, the former Books Inc Children’s Director, introduced Jandy, and it was the sweetest introduction ever. Jandy entered the room in a sea of applause. She read the passage of Noah meeting the boy across the street. Afterwards, Julia Whelan and Jeri Lynn Cohen, a San Francisco based actress, enacted scenes that had Jude, Oscar, and Guillermo in it. It was verrry funny.
Q & A
Why Noah and Jude?
For Jandy, the characters are the first to arrive, and for I’ll Give You The Sun, Jude and Guillermo were those characters. And she soon realized that Jude had a brother. A twin brother. It just connected like a long chain. She talked about how art is another important character in this book because it is complicatedly involved in the twin’s life.
How did Jandy write the book?
She wrote I’ll Give You The Sun in a pitch black room with the curtains drawn and a sound machine blasting and ear plugs in for three years, writing the book. She felt really intimate with the characters this way. (Oh man, can you just imagine this?)
How did Jandy come up with the old wives’ tales/superstitions?
Throughout the book, specifically during Jude’s chapters, Jude has a bible of superstitions that her grandmother left her. Jandy said she made a lot of them up. She also used superstitions from her own mother and grandmother. And she pluck ideas from a 1900s book about folklore and superstitions from all over the world.
How did Jandy come up with Noah’s portraits?
Jandy said Noah’s portraits are her favorite part of writing the book because she would love to be a painter so much (if she had artistic abilities, her words). It just flashed in her head in the midst of Noah’s emotions. There’s more portraits she didn’t use for the books (which I personally would love to read).
(* I did not take these pictures. Nancy did. My own camera weren’t working. :( )
SIGNING
Oh man, such a longgggg line. There’s a reason why I always get in line immediately during signings. Unfortunately, I wasn’t very quick. Jandy took the time to speak to every person because it’s been a while since her first book came out. It’s not every day she gets to interact with fans.
As soon as Jandy read my name, she recognized me from Twitter! Eeeeek. She asked me if I was the person saying those sweet things about her book the other day. I was completely flustered and said no. (I was actual the person she was referring to. How many Cee’s are tweeting at Jandy? Not one except I.) I told Jandy how much I loved I’ll Give You the Sun and how it destroyed me. I told her I am impatiently waiting for 2017 to come for her next book and I would wait forever for any book of hers. (YES! You read that right! 2017! I don’t know if I can survive.) Jandy told me I was the sweetest to say these things, but it’s all true. Her books are totally out of this world!
A lucky reader will get these two signed books by the amazing Jandy Nelson!
I wanted to share the awesomeness of her, and why not do a special giveaway for one of my absolutely favorite authors? I want you all to feeeeeel the pain I felt! I want it to destroy you like it did to me!
THE RULES
- This giveaway is only opened to the US. (Too broke to send it anywhere else.)
- It will run from September 24 to October 9, 2014.
- You must be 13 years (with your parent’s permission) or older.
- You will be disqualified if you pick up entries you haven’t done.
- If the winner does not respond to my e-mail within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner.
- I am not responsible for any items lost in the mail.
Want to win books by Jandy Nelson? Look no further!
I hate that the paperback size of The Sky is Everywhere is different from the size of the ARC of I’ll Give You the Sun. ):
But yeah, I want to read Jandy Nelson’s work because you’ve been absolutely crazy about her books? :P
Very, very cool that you recognized you off of Twitter! It seems like it was a very fun and exciting event! I actually haven’t read any of her works (eh he he) but I’m really looking forward to soon!
I’m just interested because I’ve read nothing but great reviews about them!
Ahhh Cee I’m utterly jealous you met Jandy Nelson! But oh my goodness she sounds like the sweetest person ever and I wish I were there *cries* <///3 I just absolutely love her books and her writing and ahhh new book in 2017?? Have yet to read I'll Give You The Sun but I know it'll be gorgeous and so will Jandy Nelson book #3!! I'm so excited. :DDD
PS: why isn't this giveaway international???? *heart breaks*
All this fangirling just from how much I loved The Sky Is Everywhere!! Have you read it yet, Cee? :)
I’ll Give You The Sun is sooooo awesome, Hazel! You must read pronto!
I have not! I’m gonna read it soon! I’m hoping I love it, but I’m sure I will because c’mon, Jandy Nelsonnnnnnnnnn! <3
Can I say how much I love your write up? Especially about the food? LOL! No seriously, why can’t the signings I go to have yum stuff! Anyway, can you believe I’ve never read anything by her? I keep meaning to but alas, no. On the plus side maybe I should wait until 2017? So by then I have 3 books to read! Okay, maybe not.
I haven’t read anything by Jandy Nelson yet, but I’ve read lots of extremely enthusiastic and positive reviews of her books. If there is a great writer out there I haven’t tried… well, of course I have to put her work on my to-read list!
I’ve heard amazing things about Jandy Nelson’s books. I’m particularly interested in I’ll Give You The Sun because of the way it’s told (in two parts, from two perspectives) and the sibling aspect (which I adore). I’m excited to read her books.
I have not read any of her books yet, but I really want too. I’m a big fan of wonderful, contemporary literature.
I looove Jandy Nelson’s books and I adore I’ll Give You The Sun so much!! I want to win because I need hard copies of her newest book!! (I read the e-book) I also love the new edition of The Sky Is Everywhere, the matching pleases me haha.
I’ve only read the Sky is Everywhere and it’s one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I have a pinterest board with some of my favorite book quotes from that book :) I’ve been told that I’ll Give You the Sun is just as amazing so I can’t wait to read it!!! Thanks for the giveaway!
I haven’t read any of her books, but I’ve heard a lot about them and am curious about what all the hype is about.
I haven’t yet!! But plan to!:) Thanks for the giveaway<3
I’ve really been wanting to read these books, they sound amazing :) Thanks for the giveaway, it’s super sweet of you!
Yes, I’m a fan. I’m sad to know as a fan I didn’t know that the book had so many different covers! I walked right by one in the store a while back! The agony!
I’m a fan because who doesn’t like contemporary? Thank you (and those awesome donuts are starting to make me crave)!
I haven’t read any of her books yet, but I’ve heard great things about them and I would love to read them. Thanks for the giveaway!
I haven’t read any of her books yet, but everyone is raving about it. I feel like I’m missing something here. This would be a great opportunity to catch up! (Plus, the covers are colorful!) Thank you for the awesome giveaway! <3
The Sky is Everywhere is one of my favorites, can’t wait to read I’ll Give You the Sun! Thanks for the giveaway!
I can’t believe you met Jandy Nelson! That’s awesome! She seems like such a cool person. I loved The Sky Is Everywhere, and I’m super excited to read I’ll Give You the Sun. Everyone seems to love it!