SOPHIE GRENHAM talks to author JILL SANTOPOLO about her experience of 9/11, living in NEW YORK and writing her FIRST NOVEL …
Photograph by Charles Grantham
New Yorker Jill Santopolo is an international bestselling author, as well as an academic and an editor of many critically-acclaimed children’s books. Her world has always been filled with books, scribbling down her first story ‘Stacey the Cat’, when she was just three years old. Jill has built a tremendous following as a children’s author for her Alex Flint mysteries, Sparkle Spa series and Follow Your Heart books. She holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, an MFA in Writing for Children from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and a certificate in Intellectual Property Law from New York University. She is the Editorial Director of Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group. Jill’s teaching work includes a thesis advisor position at the New School in the MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults and is on the faculty of the Columbia Publishing course.
Jill’s first novel is The Light We Lost, based on her own experience of the horrific moment in history that was 9/11. The passionate tale follows young lovers Gabe and Lucy as they meet one day at Columbia University – after which they are never the same. Delia Ephron has said, ‘As The Light We Lost enchanted and compelled me, I found myself considering my own choices’.
The Light We Lost (€18.20) is published by HarperCollins and available now from all good bookshops.
On home
I live in Manhattan, about ten blocks south of Columbia University. One of my favourite things about my neighbourhood is that it’s between Central Park and Riverside Park, and both are wonderful places to go running, to have a picnic, or to sit on a bench and read or write—all of which I do, especially in the summer. The neighbourhood is full of pre-war buildings, so it has a bit of Old New York charm, that I think makes it quite beautiful. There are lots of different restaurants with food from around the world—French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Greek, Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Korean, Mexican, Turkish, Spanish, Israeli, Lebanese, Moroccan – Irish, too. That’s actually another one of my favourite things about not just my neighbourhood, but about all of New York City—that the culture (and the food) is so diverse. It’s hard to pick a favourite place to eat or hang out, but I do especially love Buceo 95, which is a Spanish wine and tapas bar and is one of the few places in Manhattan I’ve found that stocks txakoli, one of my favourite summer drinks.
On roots
I grew up in a small town called Hewlett that’s about fifteen minutes east of JFK airport, and fifteen minutes north of the ocean. In the summer, I spent a lot of time at the beach, and I always associate the smells of sunscreen, low-tide, and salty air with my childhood summers.
On creating
My favourite place to work is on my living room couch, where I can see out the window to the buildings in my neighbourhood. The living room is also filled with books—four bookshelves-worth—and a framed piece of art by Maurice Sendak. My apartment isn’t very big, so I don’t have many choices as far as rooms to work in are concerned, but I’m quite happy with this one because it’s relaxing, bright and comfortable. I’m usually ensconced in pillows and blankets when I write—especially in the winter—and put my feet up on the coffee table, balancing my laptop on my legs.
On NYC rents
I have got more than one job, which helps with the financial piece. I teach and edit in addition to writing. But I think the people who are drawn to living in New York City are people for whom space doesn’t mean much—or at least doesn’t mean as much as living in such an energetic, exciting city does. I think a lot of us feed off of that energy and are inspired by our friends’ art and music and plays and books, and living in a tiny apartment doesn’t seem to be that bad of a trade off for what you get in return.
On bookshops
I love so many bookstores all over the country, but I do have a special place in my heart for two particular bookstores in New York City. One is called Books of Wonder and is a children’s only bookstore in Chelsea that has tons of wonderful author visits, a huge bookcase of rare children’s books, and original art hanging on all the walls. It always feels a bit magical in there. I also love McNally Jackson, which is in SoHo and is amazingly supportive of local authors. They have lots of events and book launch parties and they have a café, too, and many different sections of books spread out over two floors. It’s a great place to get lost in for a few hours.
On her nightstand
There are so many books on my nightstand right now that it’s hard to fit anything else. I’ve got Holiday in the Hamptons by Sarah Morgan, Elinor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, and Together by Julie Cohen, which were all much-desired and much-appreciated gifts from my British publisher, HQ Stories. I’ve also got I Sogni Di Einstein, which is the Italian version of Alan Lightman’s Einstein’s Dreams, and was a gift from my Italian publisher, Casa Editrice Nord. I have The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon on there, too, which I’ve heard wonderful things about and am looking forward to reading, and, as of yesterday, a brand new copy of Be True to Me by Adele Griffin, who is a friend of mine and whose book launch party I went to last night. I started reading her book on the way home on the subway, and can’t wait to get back to it.
On escapes
My family has had a beach house in East Hampton on the South Fork of Long Island for longer than I’ve been alive, and it’s a wonderful place to go to escape the chaos and craziness of the city. In the winter it’s quiet and often snowy, and I love going out there to write by the fire. And in the summer, there are beaches and people and barbecues… I’d definitely recommend a trip out there to anyone looking for a great, relaxing vacation. It’s also a location that plays an important role in my novel The Light We Lost.
On 9/11
Much like Gabe and Lucy in my book, I was in a Shakespeare class at Columbia University when the planes hit the Twin Towers. We had no idea what was going on until class ended; we were in a bubble. And I remember walking outside and realising that something huge had happened, that the world had changed while we were studying Shakespeare. I felt so many things that day, but I think the feeling I came away with was that nothing in the world is a sure thing, nothing is permanent and we can never take our lives or our safety for granted. My novel was inspired by a lot of things, but my experience that day is definitely one of them.
On what’s next
A new book! I’m working on a new novel right now called The Shape of Our Words, which will hopefully be out some time in 2018.
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