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Author Revealed

Denise Jaden
Photograph © Cory Permack

Denise Jaden

Denise Jaden lives just outside Vancouver, Canada. When she’s not writing, she can often be found homeschooling her son or dancing with her Polynesian dance troupe. Losing Faith was her first novel. Find out more at denisejaden.com or follow her... Read full bio

Author Revealed:
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Chocolate will make it better.
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Denise Jaden Revealed
About Denise Jaden
  • What is your birthdate?:
    7/21
  • Previous occupations:
    Mushroom farmer, jewelry manager, cook, youth group leader, church secretary, Polynesian dancer
  • Favorite job:
    Author
  • High school and/or college:
    Abbotsford Senior Secondary and University of Victoria
  • Name of your favorite composer or music artist?:
    Ever-changing. I like a bit of everything.
  • Favorite movie:
    When Harry Met Sally, The Matrix, The Princess Bride
  • Favorite television show:
    Who's Line is it Anyway? - when it was on. I rarely watch TV now.
Revealing Questions
Q. How would you describe your life in only 8 words?
A. cook, teach, gym, write, read, dance, laugh, sleep
Q. What is your motto or maxim?
A. Chocolate will make it better.
Q. How would you describe perfect happiness?
A. Happiness is being published by Simon and Schuster. No. Seriously.
Q. What’s your greatest fear?
A. Jumping out of an airplane.
Q. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you choose to be?
A. In a beach front hut somewhere warm and tropical (as long as it has electricity and Internet.)
Q. With whom in history do you most identify?
A. Joan of Arc, I guess, in that I'm not afraid to do things my own way, regardless of what others think.
Q. Which living person do you most admire?
A. My dad - he's the one who made me believe I can do anything.
Q. What are your most overused words or phrases?
A. Seriously. No, seriously!
Q. What do you regret most?
A. Missing out on a movie opportunity with my dance troupe.
Q. If you could acquire any talent, what would it be?
A. Jedi mind tricks.
Q. What is your greatest achievement?
A. Raising my son.
Q. What’s your greatest flaw?
A. Self-critical
Q. What’s your best quality?
A. Discernment
Q. If you could be any person or thing, who or what would it be?
A. I love being me.
Q. What trait is most noticeable about you?
A. My curly hair or my smile.
Q. Who is your favorite fictional villain?
A. The Joker (RIP, Heath Ledger)
Q. If you could meet any historical character, who would it be and what would you say to him or her?
A. I'd love to meet Jesus face to face. Of course I have a million questions, but I'd also love to apologize for the bad rap he's gotten on Earth.
Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?
A. Clutter
Q. What is your favorite occupation, when you’re not writing?
A. Polynesian dancing
Q. What’s your fantasy profession?
A. Traveling around the world, while writing and dancing.
Q. What 3 personal qualities are most important to you?
A. Loyalty, creativity, passion.
Q. If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your days, what would it be?
A. This is ridiculously unfair. I've changed my answer 10 times, because every time I decide on something, just thinking about eating THAT MUCH of it makes me sick of it already. Hey, this is not a bad diet trick!
Q. What are your 5 favorite songs?
A. This is tough. I have ever-changing, eclectic taste in music. At the moment, I really like John Mayer and Jars of Clay.
On Books and Writing
Q. Who are your favorite authors?
A. Laurie Halse Anderson, Sarah Dessen, Sarra Manning, Jane Hamilton
Q. What are your 5 favorite books of all time?
A. Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, A Map of The World by Jane Hamilton, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning
Q. Is there a book you love to reread?
A. Who has time to re-read with so many amazing new books coming out each year?
Q. Do you have one sentence of advice for new writers?
A. Write every day, and do it because you love it.
Q. How did you come to write Losing Faith?
A. I had been itching to write a "sister story" and the idea came to me about a girl really finding her older sister only after she had died. When I started to come up with and share secrets about the deceased sister with my critique partners, I knew I was onto something by their reactions.

I came up with an outline ahead of time and I wrote the actual first draft of LOSING FAITH in 21 days during NaNoWriMo 2007.