Interview with Jackie Pilossoph

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
About nine years ago, I had a great idea for a romantic comedy. I used to go jogging on the lake front in Chicago and write the story in my head. Shortly after, I began writing my ideas down on my computer. One story lead to another, and another, and another, and nine years later, I’ve finished seven screenplays and four novels.
Q: In addition to novels, you have also written screenplays. How different and or/alike are writing novels and screenplays?
VERY different. Novels are a lot more fun for me to write, because I get to live inside the minds of my characters, and I get to tell readers what my characters are thinking and feeling. I enjoy creating funny and lovable people, or if someone’s a villain, it’s fun to make him or her really unlikeable. When it comes to movies, the actors and director both have so much more control over character personalities.
Writing novels and screenplays are similar in regards to dialogue. In both, I truly enjoy delivering great dialogue to make my characters’ conversations witty and funny and hip and dramatic. Then again, in movies, an actor can be flexible with his or her lines.

Q: Your fist novel, Hook, Line, and Sink Him! Is based on some of your dating experiences. What is the worst first date you have been on?
I actually have a name for my worst first date, worst date ever, in fact. Let’s call him, “Root Canal Rick.”
Several years ago, I met this guy at a diner while visiting friends in Boston. He lived in Minnesota, I lived in Chicago. After no more than a twelve minute conversation, we decided to exchange numbers. Neither of us knew if we’d ever see each other again, but we’d really hit it off, so we figured it was the right thing to do.
As fate would have it, about a year later, I got a TV reporting job in none other than Minnesota. So, one of the first things I did when I moved there was call the guy, who was pretty much a stranger to me, but who I’d thought about so many times during the past year. Maybe this was fate! It was really exciting!
We ended up going out to a bar/restaurant where we had dinner and where he consumed at least seven beers. ‘Maybe he’s just really nervous’ I rationalized to myself, as I watched him chug and chug and chug.
After dinner, we decided to play a couple games of pool in the next room. A very nice guy (who was also kind of cute) said “Nice shot,” to me, after I sank the 7 ball into the side pocket.
Staggering up to the guy, my date said, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing, jerk?”
“What?” asked the other guy.
“Is something wrong?” I asked my heavily buzzed date, who had just ordered another beer.
“Yes!” he practically shouted, “I just bought you dinner and you’re hitting on another guy!”
I was dumbfounded. “I’m not hitting on anyone,” I defended.
He then called me a few names that I’d rather not mention in this interview. All I can say is THANK GOD I drove separately that night. I put my pool stick down on a nearby rack, and then told my date I was leaving and that he should consider calling a cab versus driving home.
As I exited the place, I could hear him shouting obscenities. I was practically running out of there, which is why it shouldn’t have surprised me when I bumped into some guy on the way out, and his beer spilled and splashed all over me.
Driving home, drenched, cold, disappointed and hurt, I actually felt really happy, too. The guy I thought could be my soul mate had turned out to be a drunken, abusive idiot. It was sad, but I no longer had to wonder. Plus, I NEVER had to see the guy, EVER again!
If someone gave me a choice between experiencing this date and having a root canal, I’d choose the root canal, hands down!

Q: Are you currently working on a book # 2?
Yes, and it’s awesome! Just wait! I am so excited to share it!

Q: If you hadn’t started writing, what do you think would be your career?
I’ve had a bunch of different careers in my life. I’ve been a sales representative for a few different companies, I’ve been a financial advisor, I’ve been in sales management, I’ve been a TV news reporter, I’ve been a college professor, and now, I’m an author. I can’t imagine being anything else anymore. But one job I think would be really, really fun would be a barista at Starbucks. Stress free, talking to people all day, and free coffee! What could be better than that?!
Q: What is your biggest personal accomplishment?
Becoming a mother to my two beautiful, wonderful children and raising them.
Q: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Jonathan Tropper, Emily Giffen, Jennifer Weiner, Sophie Kinsella, Terry McMillan
Q: What is the perfect ‘girl’s night out’ for you?
I LOVE girl’s nights! It’s so much fun to get together with a bunch of chicks, all who dress up for each other. We wear our favorite designer jeans, cute little tops, big hoop earrings, heels, little hand bags and lots of lip gloss. I think it’s really sweet that girls dress to the hilt for other girls.
I enjoy drinking wine or sangria or martinis, and eating sushi or sharing a bunch of appetizers, while all the girls tell and listen to stories, and laugh and joke around. It’s entertaining and relaxing, but there are emotional moments, as well. One minute someone’s telling you her eye shadow’s Bobbi Brown, the next, someone starts crying about her impending divorce.
The nights almost always include funny encounters with strange men sitting at the bar, or someone running into a random acquaintance, such as the cousin of a friend of her ex-boyfriend from college. Funny memories are always created when girls get together!
At the end of the night, two things are guaranteed; girls hug like they’re never going to see each other again, and everyone vows to do it again real soon.
Q: What is your best advice for aspiring writers?
DON’T GIVE UP! It would be impossible for me to count the hundreds of rejections I received when submitting my work to agents and publishers. If you keep sending out your writing, people will give you advice and tips and they’ll help you become a better writer. And then, one day, someone will give you a contract! But remember, that’s only if you DON’T GIVE UP!
Q: What would be your dream vacation?
I’ve always wanted to go to the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It looks amazing! I would go there with my entire family, my kids, my parents, my brothers and sisters, and their families. We all love each other very much, but we drive each other crazy. That’s why I’d make sure we got separate villas!