Jaime Adoff

Considering the “source material”–parents Arnold Adoff and Virginia Hamilton–many readers and educators had high expectation when Jaime Adoff hit the literary scene with his first work, The Song Shoots Out of My Mouth: A Celebration of Music (Dutton, 2002). Adoff did not disappoint–the collection of poetry was praised by critics and named a Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award-Honor Book. The author followed up this award-winning book with Names Will Never Hurt Me (Dutton, 2004) and Jimi and Me (Hyperion-Jump at the Sun, 2005), with the author receiving the Coretta Scott King / John Steptoe New Talent Award for the latter in 2006. In a starred review, Booklist called his latest novel, The Death of Jayson Porter (Hyperion-Jump at the Sun, 2008), a “forceful story [that] will appeal to the many readers, some in despair, who will find Jayson a character they can cling to.” They went on to call the novel “a hard book to read, and even harder to put down.”

For the 22^nd Day of 28 Days Later, we are proud to present Jaime Adoff.

Your latest novel, The Death of Jayson Porter, deals with some very dark subject matter–drinking, drugs, violence and suicide–but you approach the novel in a very realistic and inspiring manner. What was your approach to writing the novel? How did you come to understand Jayson and his world?

From the beginning I knew it was important to be completely in Jayson’s world. Meaning, as I was writing I needed to really see, hear, smell and taste everything he did. I used a lot of my own past inner emotional turmoil to fuel many aspects of Jayson’s character. Once the fire was lit I was able to expand from what I had felt to create a completely authentic and original emotional landscape that was all Jayson Porter’s.  Although I have never lived in Jayson’s world, his environment per se, that is never a pre-requisite for a writer. Sadly, I have met and known many “Jayson’s” that live in various parts of the country, from varying backgrounds. His story is not unique, but in telling it I hoped to shed some light on a disturbing but all too common problem in the lives of many of our young people. Although drug use amongst teens gets much attention, teen suicide and attempted suicide still does not, especially in the African-American community. I hope in some small way this book can start a discussion and dialogue between teens, parents, teachers and community leaders alike.

You use a combination of prose and blank verse in the novel? What drew you to write the novel in this way?

The “Death of Jayson Porter” is the third novel I have written in this style. This poetic-prose style was a perfect fit to tell Jayson’s story. The immediacy and emotional impact that was absolutely necessary in the telling of Jayson’s story could only be told in this style.  As the reader you are catapulted into Jayson’s life. The sparseness and poetic nature of the writing I feel, breaks down the wall between reader and character until the two are one.

In addition to your novels, you’ve also written picture books. Your latest, Small Fry (Dutton, 2008), celebrates the challenges and benefits of being short. What inspired you to write this picture book?

Well, I was a small fry until about my sophomore year in high school and I really wanted to create a book that showed how you could triumph and persevere no matter what your size. And as I say in the book, “there are no small ball players just small bats.”

Your father, Arnold Adoff, is a celebrated poet and anthologist, and your mother, Virginia Hamilton, was one of the most honored and cherished voices in writing for children and young adults. How did their respective careers impact your career?

Besides being incredible parents, just seeing the creative process up close at an early age had a profound effect on me and the person I would become later in life. When I was younger I never wanted to be a writer, my path was music until I was almost thirty years old. So as I was pursuing a music career their writing careers were a shining beacon of what was possible, and what could be in terms of being an artist.  When I turned to writing they were overjoyed and equally as supportive of my writing career as they were of my music career.

Tough Question–Do you consider yourself more of a poet, a novelist or a musician?

I think I am at the heart of it all a poet, but I love to tell a good story too 🙂

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

I would say to aspiring authors to write and write and write and read and read and read. Develop your own voice and way of telling the story that is uniquely your own, that is what will set you apart from the rest.

Can you tell us a little about what you’re working on next?

I am currently working on two novels. Both are Young-Adult and both God willing will get finished!!