Jamie A. Swenson
Megan O'Leary Photography & Design
Jamie A. Swenson received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University in Minnesota. Jamie is an early literacy storyteller/library associate at the Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, Wisconsin, sharing her love of books and reading with children and their families.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Anne of Green Gables
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”—Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Mem Fox, Roald Dahl, E. B. White
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I grew up in a family of Irish storytellers who valued reading, writing, and the craft of telling a great story (and retelling it a bit differently each time to get the proper reaction). I cannot remember a time before stories were a part of my life. My fondest memories include sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen table, listening to the stories and laughter of my aunts, and being told, “You will have a great story to tell one day!” Now I’m fortunate to be able to share some of my stories with the world!
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Read everything. Learn to tell a great story—and then learn to write that way. Never give up.
