Not many people know that when I was 13, I volunteered to work for free in a bookshop, in the hopes of earning an ongoing position. After cleaning every shelf in that shop (which took a full day), I scored my first casual job at QBD The Bookshop. I later found out that cleaning every shelf in one go was a dreaded once-a-year occurrence. I didn’t care. I was happy to be surrounded by books and use my staff
discount to start collecting picture books, YA novels and art and history resources that I felt I would use one day when I become a teacher (which I did, eight years later). Those formative years in the workforce continued to foster and fund my love of reading!
2. What is your nickname?
Most people know me as Jess. In primary school, I had about four other Jessicas in every class, so that was probably the moment I took one for the team and chose to be Jess. Even as a 40-year-old woman, the use of my full name instils a fear in me, that I am in serious trouble. Not really sure what that is all about as I don’t remember being in trouble too often. Whenever I was though, the sheer call of ‘Jessica’ through the house was enough for me to know it.
3. What is your greatest fear?
This may be cliché and ridiculous all at once but, for the longest time, I had a fear of clowns. I believe the term is ‘coulrophobia’. I am the youngest child and my siblings are 10 and 12 years older, so I may have been exposed to Tim Curry playing ‘IT’ much too early on in life. I never recovered. How good is Tim Curry? How awful are clowns? My sister and I also had matching clown bedspreads and, one night, full of a fever and bad dreams about clowns chasing me through the house, I woke up and was sick all over my bedspread. I’d say that was the moment I really hated clowns! As an adult and a high school drama teacher, I have had to get over it, as there are entire drama units on clowning.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Developing as I go, influenced by poetry and life experience.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Empathetic, silly, intuitive, open and lifelong learner (does the extra word count because - alliteration!)
6. What book character would you be, and why?
As a child I would have chosen Beth from The Magic Faraway Tree, so I could go on amazing adventures in far away lands above the tree and then slide down the slippery slip in Moonface’s living room. As an adult… I’d probably stick with that answer.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I’d love to meet Shakespeare, maybe from 1608 onwards, when he was writing great tragedies like Macbeth and Hamlet. Or was he? If I met him, I bet I could put an end to the great debate that Shakespeare didn’t actually write all those plays! Was it a rich aristocrat or a clever female companion who wrote stories with him? I guess we’ll never really know. Interesting fact: My son, William, was born on the same date as Shakespeare, 23rd April. However, my William was not named after the bard.
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
I can’t believe you are not a marine biologist! But, wow, an author? That’s a pretty cool job. Remember that picture book we wrote in Grade 2? Publish that.
9. Who is your greatest influence?
My greatest influence is my mum. She taught me from a very early age to strive for big things, work hard and make my dreams happen. She bought me endless books, even though she warned me not to read them in one day and I always did. My mum has always been my rock and paved the way for me to always try my best and stay positive. We share the same optimism and love for life. She never made me feel like there was anything I couldn’t do, and she has encouraged me to chase every dream. No one is prouder of my debut book than my mum.
10. What/who made you start writing?
In 2020, when the world turned on its head, so too did my family life. I was starting the process of a separation and I had a difficult task ahead of me, explaining to my (then) two and four-year-olds that our family was about to change drastically. I didn’t know where to begin and I thought the best way to help them understand would be a book. Knowing I didn’t have much time to find the right book, I decided to write one. That night, I sat down to write, and our story poured out of me. Later, when I shared it with some close friends and family, they encouraged me to try and publish it. I honestly had no idea where to start so I began the research, and the rest is history in the making.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
Shenanigans. I love the way it sounds, I love the mischief it denotes and I love to say I’m up to shenanigans.
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Cloud Street, by Tim Winton. It is my favourite book, and it makes me cry, every time. I love magic realism and I love the character of Fish. It is a truly magical book that I fell in love with as a teen and as a teacher, I loved working with the play text.
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Jessica Galatola published her first picture book, Some Families Change, in 2024, with another EK book to follow in 2025. Recently she received a highly commended in the 2023 Pitch It competition for her picture book, Sneeze Adventure. She is a mother to two wriggly boys who love to read picture books before bed. As a teacher, she has worked in the education sector for 15 years, specialising in English and Drama curriculum. Jessica has a passion for helping young people discover a love of reading. She believes that the magic of reading begins with picture books. For more information, see www.jessgalatola.com.au.
