What is the best thing that I love about my work? Writing is like having a blank canvas with a brush and paint.  Only in this case, I am creating a picture using words.  The picture has to appeal to children, which requires that I put myself in the frame of mind of a child.  I really enjoy being able to put myself into that childlike innocent frame of mind and using that perspective to examine the world around me.  Children tend to speak truth and I love giving voice to truth by allowing myself to have that childlike perspective.

What is my idea of happiness? I like to get up early, have a great cup of coffee and let my mind float.  I love the feel of the cool morning air and the quiet that only happens in the early morning hours.  If I am enjoying my coffee in the morning by the ocean, then I am in heaven.

What is my greatest fear? Currently, my greatest fear is being kidnapped by ICE.  Although I am a U.S. citizen, I am an indigenous woman.  I read about ICE racially profiling people, and about how they have illegally taken U.S. citizens and deported them to prisons in El Salvador without the opportunity of a hearing.  It is shameful and terrifying.  I cannot express in words how I feel about how the government is treating people, especially children.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I think when I was young, I was more critical of myself, but as I have aged, those things have become less important.  That having been said, I have always felt very self-conscious about my short stature.

Which living person in my profession do I most admire? I admire Stephen King.  I became a fan by seeing the film, “Misery.”  He really drew me in with his character study in psychosis.  There were scenes from Misery that really resonated with me such as the burning of the manuscript, and the hobbling of the author.  I recently read “Fairy Tale,” and was struck by the similarity between that story and The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, which is one of my all-time favorites.

What is the thing that I dislike most in my work? I am very critical of my own writing.  I read a lot and compare what I write with what I read.  For that reason, I do not read other author’s children’s books while I am writing.  I am constantly worried that I have not done enough to convey an idea or a theme in my writing.  For that reason, it is often difficult for me to get to the point where I tell myself that a book is finished.

When and where was I the happiest in my work? I am the happiest when I get an idea that helps me overcome writer’s block or a particular place in the story where I am unsure what direction to go.  That inspiration comes when I daydream, and the daydreams come in the oddest places and at the oddest times.

If I could, what would I change about myself? For me, as with many women, we need to learn how to love ourselves more.  Loving yourself means putting your own needs and wants first.  If you want a piece of cake, eat it.  If you want to go to a particular place, take that trip.  The important thing is pursuing your dream, not necessarily in achieving an objective.  I was at an art gallery in San Francisco a few years ago and the owner of the gallery asked me what I did.  I told her that I wrote children’s books.  “Oh, you’re an artist,” she exclaimed.  I wasn’t comfortable describing myself as an artist, and the gallery owner told me something that has stayed with me ever since.  She told me that I was an artist and that I should own it.  So, now I see myself as an author and artist.

What is my greatest achievement in work? My greatest achievement is having an idea, starting the book, and completing it.  When you start a project, you have no idea how it will turn out.  The most important thing about writing though are those two magic words, “The End.”

Where would I most like to live? I am a native Californian, so California is one of my favorite places to live.  If I had to choose one place in California, I would have to pick Carmel.  I love the little fairy tale cottages there and the rocky coastline.  It is adjacent to the wine country, and there is a train from Salinas, a short drive away, that will take you into San Francisco.

What is my most treasured possession? I keep cards and letters that friends and family have sent me over the years.  I have letters from children about my books and letters from friends all over the world.

What is my most marked characteristic? People tell me that I have very intense eyes.  My eyes are dark, and I have been told that I can say a lot with just a glance.   They say that if you look into someone’s eyes you can see their soul.  I guess I wear my soul on my sleeve.

What is my most inspirational location in my city? Seeing the surfers on Pacific Coast Highway while cruising along the beach.  There is nothing like it.  Huntington Beach, California, has a lengthy stretch of highway that is right next to the beach.  From it, you can see surfers, sail boats, big cargo ships heading into the ports of Long Beach or Los Angeles, awesome sunsets, and people enjoying the beach.

What books influenced my life and how? The books of John Steinbeck have had tremendous influence on me.  I like John Steinbeck because he writes about the struggles of farm workers and injustice in the San Joaquin valley.  In The Grapes of Wrath, he writes about the town of Weedpatch, which is close to where I grew up.  I have visited his home in Salinas, CA.  Another author that I enjoy reading is Jeanette Walls.  Her book, The Glass Castle, really impacted me because it spoke about her experience growing up in an environment of tragedy.  I can relate to it and found it inspiring.  I am also a big fan of Charles Dickens.  I particularly like Oliver Twist.  Dickens’s theme of social justice and morality are consistent with those of Steinbeck.

You Only Die Once.  What music would I listen to on my last day? My son plays classical guitar.  I love listening to him play any classical Spanish guitar music.  One of my favorites is called “La Tristesa.”

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, is my favorite heroine.  I like Dorothy because I believe that home is a special place that should be treasured and nurtured.  I like her also because she travels to a fantasy place to find something that she (and her traveling companions) are missing.  In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is running away from something, but finds that trying to escape a bad thing by fleeing only leads her to another bad thing.  Dorothy is a great heroine because she learns the most important thing for her – her home and family.

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? There are many heroes in real life.  People who feed the hungry and take care of the sick are heroes.  People who sacrifice their own lives to fight for human rights are heroes.  Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, Bernie Sanders, and Mother Teresa are heroes.  But so are the local firemen and paramedics and people working at the food bank in my hometown.

Which movie would I recommend seeing once in a lifetime? Everyone should see The Wizard of Oz, at least once during their life.  It has important messages such as the fight between good and evil, the importance of home and family, and the ability to draw on reserves within each of us to meet the challenges of our time.

What role play stories in my life and work? In my first book, The Marble Harvest, the main character draws on my own experience growing up in a family of farm workers.  I still remember traveling throughout the San Joaquin Valley, following the pickers from town to town to harvest vegetables.  The story explores the role that family relationships play and the importance of role models such as teachers to influence life choices.

What do the words, “You are the storyteller of your own life” mean to me? I grew up in a life that was traumatic from an early age.  My mother left me and my siblings with an abusive aunt and uncle when I was very young.  As such, I felt that I was robbed of much of childhood.  I was doing laundry and making meals when I was 8 and 9 years old and was working in the fields when not doing chores at home.  I was constantly taken out of class to help put food on the table.  I write children’s stories to help me use the story of my own childhood in a way that touches other children in a meaningful way.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, and partner in crime? One of my girlfriends, Cecelia, has filled the role of partner in crime and we have been traveling companions to San Francisco and other places.  My other great fan and partner in crime is my husband, Robert.  The secrets of my two partners in crime shall stay with me to the grave.

Which people or companies would I like to work with? I would really love to work with Johnny Depp because of the range of characters he has portrayed and because I am a fan of his music and art as well as his acting.  I went to New York City recently to view his art at an exhibition called “A Bunch of Stuff.”  I’m his biggest fan (apologies to Stephen King).  I would also like to work with Senator Bernie Sanders because I agree with his focus on helping working class people.  I have never liked working with companies.  I have been self-employed for much of my adult life.  I am happier working without the constraints of corporations.  If I had to pick a company, it would likely be a nonprofit art museum such as the Guggenheim Museum.

What project am I looking forward to work on? I would like to do a children’s book that is set in the world of foster care and institutional care of children.  A lot of children in the system feel unseen and I would like to bring some visibility to what life is like for kids who spend time in the foster / orphanage system.

Where can you see me or my work? The best place to find out more about me is to visit my website, www.montalvojen.com.  I am also very active on social media.  Follow me on Youtube.com, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.  My books are available on Amazon.com under my pen name, Jennie M. Bragaw.  You can also read my blog at montalvojen.wordpress.com.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? One of the advantages of life in the 21^st century is that you have the luxury of doing what you love no matter what your age is.  The key is to find something about which you are passionate and want to engage in doing.  I can write from anywhere, and I frequently write from my home office, my dining room table, or from the coffee table.  If my hands are not cooperating, I don’t even have to type.  I can turn on my dictation and the computer will type what I say. 

How can you contact me?

Please contact me via email at heartjen@aol.com.