It’s Tuesday! I hope everyone had a good weekend!

Today I’m excited to introduce Jaime Questell, author of the upcoming YA fantasy, By a Charm and a Curse! Featuring a circus surrounded by mystery and magic, this book is likened to The Night Circus and definitely worth checking out! Stay tuned for my review, coming soon!

All About Jaime

---

You wrote a book! That’s pretty awesome. Why don’t you tell us a bit about what inspired By a Charm and a Curse?

Sure! I had been listening to this song by the Dresden Dolls, Coin-Operated Boy, and had an image of a girl falling from a great height. That set my mind churning. Did she survive? What did she fall from and why? All of that turned into a short story that I submitted to my writing group, who urged me to expand on it. And that novel became By a Charm and a Curse.

---

Introduce us to your main character!

First, we have Emmaline King. Emma has been dropped off in a small town to live with her dad while her mom does research. She’s used to living in a bigger city, where she has access to coffee shops and art supply stores, and all the entertainment she could ask for. So moving to Claremore is a bit like moving to a deserted island for her.

Then we have Benjamin Singer. Ben has lived with the carnival since he was a kid, and even though he has first-hand knowledge of the magic running through the place, he’s tired of moving around all the time. All he wants is to stop in a place of his choosing, and to build a life there.

---

I know asking someone’s all-time favorite book is a loaded question so what’s your current favorite read?

At the moment, I’m loving Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao. Her writing is sumptuous, and the world she’s created is amazing. I can’t wait for the second book to come out!

---

Alright, the ultimate question: why should we read your book?

Ha! Okay. If you like your fantasy to have a touch of darkness, your love stories to have a bit of angst, and if you’re prepared to never look at a Ferris wheel the same way ever again, you should definitely read my book.

Now for the Fun…

---

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Creative. Loud. Extrovert.

---

What is your most embarrassing memory?

There are too many! 😀

---

What is your Hogwarts/Ilvermorny house?

Gryffindor!

---

Your characters are sent into the Hunger Games. Who wins?

This is hard! But I think it would be Whiskey, because that girl is ruthless.

---

A famous movie producer wants to make your books into movies and they want you to cast your characters. Which actors/actresses make the cut?

Okay, so I think you have to squint your eyes and pretend that the ages and hair colors aren’t off, but this is who I’d pick:

Emma: Kara Hayward, because she was wonderful in Moonrise Kingdom

Ben: Taron Egerton, because Sing! Proves that he has heart and The Kingsman proves he can rock a pair of glasses

Leslie & Lars: Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman because they were the inspiration for both of those characters

Marcel: Trevor Jackson

Duncan and Pia, fortune telling twins: Cameron Boyce and Skai Jackson

Gin and Whiskey, equestrian sisters: Dakota and Elle Fanning

---

You just won America’s Got Talent. What’s your talent?

I want to say singing, but I know I’m not that good of a singer. It’s far more likely that I’d win because I was able to bake an awesome cake.

---

This morning you woke up with the ability to time travel to only one time period. Where/when would you go?

I’d want to jump forward to a point in time where people of color and women have equal rights. Because as a half-Mexican woman, going back would not be fun times.

---

Coffee or tea?

Coffee, all the way.

---

Best ice cream flavor ever?

Chocolate Therapy by Ben and Jerry’s

---

Your theme song/personal anthem?

She’s a Rebel by Green Day

---