Interview with Melissa Erin Jackson, author of The Forgotten Child

What can you tell us about your new release, The Forgotten Child?

The Forgotten Child is a paranormal mystery starring a 25-year-old reluctant medium who gets pulled into a decades-old cold case after being contacted by the ghost of a little boy. There are spooky elements featuring ghosts, a splash of romance, and a bit of humor mixed in. While there are dark moments in the book, I wouldn’t label it as horror. Though, if you’re a bit of a chicken like me, it might be best to read it with the lights on!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always had a love of stories. I attempted my first mystery when I was 10 or so. All I remember was that the smoking gun that was going to blow the case wide open was a can of cat food. I didn’t start seriously writing until my freshman year of college, neck-deep as I was in science classes. When I was supposed to be taking notes on physics and organic chemistry, I was sitting in the back of the room writing about fairies and trolls and magic. I love getting lost in worlds other people create, and I think some part of me has always wanted to create worlds for others. Thankfully, cat food cans are far less important in my books now.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Bird Box by Josh Malerman

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I would love to have a chat with Maggie Stiefvater. I don’t have any specific, burning questions for her; I just think she would be a fascinating person to get to know. She’s an artist, a musician, and a writer—and she’s exceedingly good at all three. Her Twitter feed is quite funny—that’s a feat in and of itself, as far as I’m concerned. (I’m terrible at Twitter.) I believe either she or her kids have had a few run-ins with ghosts, too, so I would love to learn more about that. Listening to people’s ghost stories is one of my favorite pastimes.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Writing really helps get me out of my own head. I realize that sounds odd, since the stories are in my head, but when I’m writing, I’m transported somewhere else. I’m not thinking about my job or that I need to do laundry or the fact that I’m still a season behind on Game of Thrones. I’m in some other world or some other part of the country. I’m on a pirate ship or a campus for kids who can see the future or hunting ghosts.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m a dog walker for my day job (yes, really), so I’m out walking 5+ miles a day. Sometimes as many as 14 miles during the summer. I’m either listening to audiobooks (I usually listen to 50 or so a year) or I’m drafting my next book on my Word app. Have to make time for writing when your time is limited! In the evening, I’m working on my books, or editing for my clients. In short, I’m always in desperate need of a nap.

What scene inThe Forgotten Child was your favorite to write?

Some of my favorites were the ones from the POV of the (dead) serial killer, Orin Jacobs—who the book starts with. It was “fun” to slip into the mind of someone who’s totally different from myself. His were often the easiest to write, too. Not sure what what says about me!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“Try even if it scares you.” I’m someone who is constantly thinking of the worst-case scenario for everything. It’s an anxiety thing, I think. It’s easy to get derailed from making a choice when you’re scared of what the outcome might be—or being scared of the unknown in general. So I allow myself to come up with as many horrible scenarios as possible before I make a decision. Really let my creative mind run amuck. But if the worst thing I can come up with as a potential outcome is something I think I can handle if said ridiculous, not-likely-thing were to happen, then I go for it. Even if I’m scared. That’s what I did when it came to publishing The Forgotten Child. I was terrified, but did it anyway. And I wasn’t immediately attacked by a vengeful ghost, so my worst case scenario didn’t come true.

Melissa Erin Jackson is the author of the new book The Forgotten Child.

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