Jenny Mattern is a crafter of stories, a poet, and a cake-for-breakfast enthusiast who wishes she lived in a tiny cottage on a windswept cliff above the sea. Alas, she lives in the mountains in a landlocked state—lovely, yes, but much too far from the roar of the ocean for her liking.

(Photo by Kate Russell, from Unsplash)

Super-important FAQs

Did you always know you wanted to be an author?

I did not. When I was younger, I fully intended to make my fortune as a famous actress.

What’s your favorite kind of breakfast cereal?

Corn Pops! (Unless it’s my mom asking…then it’s Grape Nuts.)

If you could be a character in any movie, who would it be?

I would 100% play the parts of Sharon & Susan in the original 1961 movie, The Parent Trap, because it’s one of my favorite movies and I always thought it would be a blast to play both parts.

Do you have a favorite author?

I love the way Kate DiCamillo writes timeless stories for children that are jam-packed with heart, and I’m also a huge fan of Maeve Binchy’s novels for adults.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Seattle and grew up in western Washington. Even though I no longer live in the Pacific Northwest, my forthcoming novel, WHERE THE LIGHT SHINES IN, features some of my favorite places from that area.

What’s the best ice cream flavor?

I can’t pick just one. Cookie dough & lemon custard are my two favorites, though not at the same time.

What qualities do you most admire in a friend?

Transparency, Humor, Honesty

Do you consider yourself a lemon or a lime?

This is an absolutely ridiculous question and I refuse to have any part in answering it.

Do you have any pets? Or kids?

I have five pets: two dogs—Maylee and Perry Como, and three cats—Charley, Kate, and Gary. I also have five kids (though some of them are all grown up now).

Where do you get your ideas for stories?

I watch people. I listen. I pay attention. (And yes, there are times I’m bent over my phone screen instead of observing, which makes me sad for myself.) Mostly, though, the world is so full of stories that it feels impossible not to write some of them down.

Eight-year-old Jenny dreaming of a lead role opposite Michael J. Fox on Family Ties.