Character Interview: Jessie Spencer

Welcome back to day #3 of my "Books & Coffee" giveaway. For more information on how you can be entered into the drawing for a FREE pound of amazing coffee, locally roasted here in my hometown, as well as a signed copy of my YA novel, ONCE AGAIN, go here.
Today, we're chatting with Jessie Spencer, Layla's first AND best friend at Sky Cove Senior High School. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little more about Jessie!

To start off, give us some basic information aboutyourself… full name, hair color, that sort of thing.  Jessica Lee Spencer, but everyone calls me Jessie. And I'mshort. Five feet even. Brown hair, chin length. Brown eyes.
Since most of our readers today have not visited Sky Cove,Maine, give us a virtual tour and tell us a little about the town.  Well, I haven't been further south thanBoston, so Maine is really all I've ever known. From a tourist standpoint, Iguess Sky Cove is kind of quaint. It's a small town, but we have a busy harborwith fishing boats, and several stretches of beach that are nice, especially inwarm weather. In many ways, it's typical Maine life, so for tourists that wantthe "real deal", Sky Cove is it.
Describe how you and Layla became friends she moved to SkyCove.  Layla and I were paired as lab partners on the first day of our junioryear. She was a new student, and I figured she was pretty nervous. I thought shewas nice right off the bat. We sort of became friends instantly.
What's your favorite pastime?  Discovery Channel. Geeky, I know, but that's me.
What plans do you have post-high school?  Oh, being thescience-nerd, I'll probably major in biology, and then decide about med schoolversus some other form of grad school. I think some people at school thinkthey're insulting me when they call me the science-nerd, but I'm not insulted.I'll wear that badge with honor.
What makes you happiest at this point in your life?  I don't know if I know what it means tobe truly happy just yet. I mean, I'm not miserable or anything, but I sort offeel like my life hasn't started, like there's so much more that's just aroundthe corner. And that idea makes me happy… the idea that my happiness is waitingfor me.
If you could have one wish granted, what would it be?  I know this is going to soundincredibly "girly", but I'd like to be noticed. I mean, by a guy. It shouldn'tmatter that I've never had a real boyfriend. High school relationships areusually pretty lame and don't last. But… for once… I'd like a guy to notice meand think I'm cute.
Author's perspective on Jessie Spencer. Ah Jessie!  She's one of my most-loved characters.When I started writing "Once Again" I had a student in my high school choir.She was a senior, and she was reading "Breaking Dawn". Since she was an avidreader, I asked her if she'd read the first few chapters of my new book andgive me some "reader" feedback. Her name was Jessica, and I named Jessie'scharacter after her. In my mind, when I write about Jessie Spencer, I alwayssee my former student, Jessica. I imagine her with the same bubbly personalityand infectious smile… the same sweet nature and intelligent mind. So JessieSpencer is a very special character for me!
And YES! That picture IS, in fact, my former choirstudent, Jessica! Isn't she a doll?!
In fact, Jessie is going to get her own story. I'mcurrently working on a short story that will be released this summer, that willfocus on Jessie's character. Hopefully Jessie's story will help whet readers'appetites for book 2 in the series, "Once And For All", which will release inlate 2012!
Don't forget, every comment, tweet, or email that helps spread the word about my blog and this giveaway gets your name entered into the drawing for the coffee and signed book! For more information on the giveaway, go here.
Happy reading and writing!