(Josie
Sayz: Okay, so for those of you who don’t know JL Mystery is one of my
favourite authors/singers/upcoming actresses. If this doesn’t make her a triple
threat then I don’t know what does. Getting to interview her was a dream come
true! Winning a competition to interview my most favourite person ever was the
best thing ever! I didn’t want to go for the usual interview questions. You
could read all her answers to them online anyway. I had to come up with
something original. Something that she would remember me for as being
The-Best-Question-Asker, something more... gonzo (although I don’t think I’ve
quite pulled that off) and not just the usual, boring, “You write fantasy, so
you’re into ‘Harry Potter’, right?” or, “I bet your dream’s to become next JK
Rowling,” and, “What do your friends think of your work?” She’s in her early
twenties people, not thirteen! And she hates that question. Jeez!)
(Josie Sayz: Update: Okay, so this was me having a go at a prank that I saw online, done in the middle of New York City. Basically someone created a fake-celebrity and had a small group of people begin a hype, added in a fake camera crew and before you know it, the entire city had gone gar-gar over someone they believed was a big celebrity, yet, no one actually knew the celebrity, because they weren’t real. People just believed and swallowed the hype. This was my April Fool’s prank at attempting to create a fake-celebrity. I know it was very dorky, but I had fun and no one got hurt… so that’s what counts, right? Oh and Russia didn’t stork me this year because of my April Fool’s prank, so yey.)
My interview with the JL Mystery
My heart hammered in my ribcage as a cascade of copper hair emerged in the doorway and slid into the seat opposite me. Poking her purple specs up her nose she let out a nervous laugh as she gazed down at the selection of biscuits, chocolates and sweets on the plate between us. “Is everything okay?” I blurted out. I wanted to slam my head into the table. That was it? That was my big opening line? What was the matter with me? I guess thinking that something was the matter with her was what was the matter with me. Did she think I was just another stupid reporter? Of course she did; that’s what all celebrities think when someone interviews them, isn’t it? I found myself clearing my throat of nerves as Mystery shuffled in her seat and looked over at me.
“Yeah,” she insisted, as her cheeks reddened. Brushing a hand to her face, she nudged up her glasses once more. “Sorry, I guess I’m just a little nervous,” she admitted, reaching out for the glass in front of her. She didn’t take a sip, just hugged both palms around it, lacing her fingers together.
“Nervous?” I laughed, gazing at the rose-gold butterfly ring sat on her ring-finger. I didn’t know she was engaged. Maybe she’s married. Why hadn’t I read about this? I couldn’t ask her now, could I? I’d be just like all the other boring, gossipy journalist and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to spread gossip. I just wanted to know the real Mystery: the girl behind the story. The girl behind the voice. The girl behind the camera.
Staring as the light shimmered off her ring, my eyes blurred. I shuddered. “But I’m the nervous one.”
“Don’t be,” she said lowering her chin. “I’m just your typical, boring, fantasy-nerd. Nothing special.” Okay, so this girl clearly doesn’t realise just how much of a big deal she actually is. I’ve been obsessing over her books for the past three years. I’ve probably watched every single video there is of hers on ‘YouTube’ (not in a stalker way. In a supportive, admirational way. She only has a small handful of videos). I’ve watched the trailer for her first film over and over – I can’t wait for it to be released next month. How could she go on like she was nothing special, sat there opposite me in her probably expensive, designer jacket, hundreds-of-pounds billion-carat rose-gold ring and fancy sparkling water that probably costs more than my train fare here? My palms grew sweaty. I gripped my notecards tight. My heart raced in my ribcage. I still had a chance to redeem myself. As Mystery ran a hand through her hair, I forced myself to swallow a lump in my throat and shifted my eyes down to my notecards. The ink where my thumbs had been pressed down on had smudged. I knew my questions off by heart, but the pounding in my chest and the thumping through my body made the words spiral in my brain.
“But you are a big deal,” I blurted out. “You’re an author, a singer, an actress.” Why was I reminding her of these things? She already knew them. “You’re like… one of them,” I said pointing at the director’s name on the movie poster (from her upcoming film) behind her.
“Goodness no,” she gasped, curling a piece of hair behind her ear.
“But I bet things have changed for you since getting your book published, becoming an actress in a big-budget production, getting recognised as an actress and singer…”
“No,” she smiled, loosening her hands from her glass. Leaning towards me she smiled, “I’m nothing like that at all,” wafting a hand towards me. “I’m like the complete opposite. The media are forever glamming up their new interest, but I can assure you, I’m nothing like those glamourised young actors or teen-pop sensations. For a start,” she gave a laugh, before tugging at her black jacket. “I’m wearing a blazer I found in a charity shop, a hand-me-down pair of trousers and my shoes aren’t even real ‘Converse’, they’re just some cheap imitation pair I picked up at some bargain-sales store. I’m wearing a home-made bracelet and a broken pair of glasses. I even cut my own hair, so I don’t have to go to the hairdressers. How Hollywood is that?” Holding my breath, I was scared I offended her, but the smile on her face reassured me that I hadn’t. She finds the whole stardom thing just as ludacris as I do.
Mystery may have been trying to give me reasons not picture her as a perfect idol to well… idolise, but it was only making me think she was more amazing. Making cheap, second-hand, hand-me-down clothes cool… and making her own jewellery and being able to cut her own hair – she looks amazing! I wish I could do all that!
“And I bet you thought this was some fancy, French bottled water, didn’t you?” Shifting my vision to the glass in front of her I shrugged. Well at first I thought it might be some posh French carbonated beverage, but now… I don’t know. Maybe it was tap water… or just plain lemonade – there were bubbles. “It’s cream soda!” she confessed pointing at the glass in her hands. My eyes widened.
“Wow,” I smiled. “Cream soda is my absolute favourite.”
“Mine too! I know, it’s super sweet, but it’s so good,” she said with an actual genuine smile. She was relaxed. JL Mystery was comfortable in my company!
To me just finding out this teeny-tiny little fact was something interesting. It adds more to Mystery’s personality than her age, what she studied at university and what she plans to do with her book – I mean any basic ‘Google’ search will tell you that. This was deeper. This was much deeper. This was an actual insight to a real person.
Through a soft giggle, Mystery leant across the table, picking up a custard cream. Glancing up at me, she gave a weak smile, before muttering, “Another favourite, sorry.” Coiling her hand back, she crossed her right leg over her left knee and prodded he elbows in, towards her hips; almost scrunching herself up away from me.
Sorry? What was this girl sorry for? For liking biscuits? For eating? I was hardly about to judge her for eating one biscuit. After all, isn’t that what the magazine company put the treats there for: to eat. Why do girls feel the need to have to apologise for eating? Or feel bad for eating? Or feel the need to not eat at all and let the guys take whatever food is available. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming Mystery. Not at all. I mean society does this all the time to women. I, of all people, know what that feels like it, having suffered from an eating disorder since I was fifteen, from society and peer-pressure to be like that skinny girl on the front cover of the magazine. But why? Why does everyone have to be like this? It’s just something I’ll never understand. Gazing down at the other biscuits, coloured jellybeans, milk and white chocolate buttons covered in rainbow sprinkles and various old-school colourful sweets and lollypops, I wish I’d have said something. Told her not to worry or care about that stuff. Okay, I’d be being hypocritical; I cared about how people preserved me. I just didn’t want to see my idol go through what I did.
The silence had spoken. It was now or never. I needed to get on to some of my intended questions, before Mystery became too uncomfortable and decided to end the interview. Would she do that? Could she do that? Of course she could; she’s a human being just like everybody else. She has a right to free will, the same as we all do. She could just come up with some excuse to leave and all my chances would be over.
“So,” I said straightening my back and giving my biggest smile. “You’ve mentioned in various interviews that the first book in your series is based on true events. Would you say that if these events hadn’t occurred in your life then maybe, you would have taken a different approach in life altogether? Maybe not even become an author at all?”
“Wow, I guess I’ve never thought of it like that.” Pushing herself up on the chair, a smile curled into the right corner of Mystery’s mouth as she gazed at the blank space over my shoulder. “Maybe… I guess I’m just trying to get across a variety of everyday issues that go on in teenage life, like bullying, peer-pressure and family struggles, but adding the sense of fantasy, for me, is what made all of the school struggles easier to cope with. Like a sort of escapism. That’s why Kimi gets so involved in the strangeness, because, yes, it’s scary. I mean without giving anything away, situations like what she goes through in the book, and movie, would terrify me; but she happily goes along with it, because she wants to break away from the bullying, peer-pressure and struggles she faces at home. Getting herself entwined in all that mischief is almost like something that she purposely brought on herself, yet it’s something she feels like she can control, unlike all of her other typical-teenage problems.” Breaking her gaze with the wall, Mystery shuddered, before gazing down at the table and muttered, “Sorry, you weren’t after that, were you?”
“What do you mean?” I gasped. “That was amazing!” She tugged at the cuffs of her jacket, pulling them around her wrists as her cheeks turned a deep pink.
I’d been looking at Mystery all the while she was talking. Not in a creepy way. I was admiring her. She looked so cool, so pretty and she wasn’t even trying. Her feathered hair fell against her flawless face. The purple steak in her hair matched the exact shade of her glasses. Her black, blazer jacket suited her perfectly. I loved her purple leopard-print jumper, her silver and lilac butterfly necklace. Her trousers even had a black and purple polka dot bow on them. Everything about her was unique. She wasn’t afraid to show off her personality and be exactly who she wanted to be. I admire that. I love that. She even wore several sparkling broaches and pins on the collar of her blazer. “Hey, is that ‘Eyeshine’?” I asked, wide-eyed, pointing at one of her pins.
“Yeah,” she laughed with a frown. “You’ve heard of them?
“Heard of them? They’re amazing! I thought I was the only person this side of the globe who knew of their existence.”
“Me too,” she giggled, picking out a lemon jellybean. “Help yourself,” she muttered, jerking her head towards the plate of sweet treats.
I couldn’t believe it. We had the same favourite band in common – I swear, I had no idea that she liked them. I still can’t believe that she had even heard of them. Our talk of bands led us onto her musical career. I didn’t bother asking her of signings and record labels. Everyone’s been nagging her about that. Yes, she’s finally signed with one, but to me, that’s not interesting. That’s just random pop-culture gossip. “Were there any bands or albums in particular that inspired your movement from writing into music?”
“I’ve always loved music; it’s inspired me in my stories in so many ways. And there are so many bands that have inspired me over the years. I’ve always loved classic rock, mixed with a little bit of the ‘Beach Boys’ and ‘The Monkees’, but it was punk-pop that influenced me most. Artists like ‘FutureBoy’ and bands like ‘The Dollyrots’, ‘Eyeshine’ and even the fictional band ‘Josie and the Pussycats’ [from the film] helped me to figure out who I was at the time of Kimi being at school.” Her eyes widened and the smile across her face grew. “I guess I kind of used a mixture of all that as inspiration in the stories. My music kind of just spiralled from that. I could be just walking along the street or sat waiting for an interview or I could just see an inspiring image or feel a particularly strong emotion and a melody or a rhyme will just pop into my head. It’s not like the cookie-cutter pop-star stuff and it doesn’t have to have a clear message or a particular meaning to me. I could see a person sat in the park and picking up from their emotions or what they were doing I could just sit and write a song about it.” Our eyes met and she let out the sweetest little giggle. Biting her bottom lip, her eyes shot down at the table. “You probably think I’m crazy now, don’t you?”
“Not at all,” I gasped. Pressing my elbows into the table, I leant towards her. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe how much we have in common… except for the part that you actually have talent.” Letting out a nervous laugh, Mystery grabbed her glass and took a sip.
Half of the questions that I went on to ask JL Mystery almost don’t seem as interesting or as meaningful as the teeny tiny little things that I noticed about her. Her little giggles. The way she seemed so shy and unaware of her populating image. I love her quirky style, her hair, her pins. Her taste in music surprised me tremendously, yet it shapes her personality perfectly – if you’ve read her book, then you’d totally understand how all of the references that she made fit in and so perfectly. Even the selection of favourite treats that were provided by the magazine/her management show so much of her personality. Hopefully she won’t be too afraid to let the public see, know and embrace all that is JL Mystery.
JL Mystery even signed a picture for me and my books, as well as giving me a signed copy of her new EP. She has to be one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth people out there. I just want to take the time to thank ‘NTK’ for giving me this amazing opportunity to interview the JL Mystery. I will never, ever forget this. I also apologise for my overuse of the word ‘amazing’ – I was just so over excited, sorry.
(Josie Sayz: Update: Okay, so this was me having a go at a prank that I saw online, done in the middle of New York City. Basically someone created a fake-celebrity and had a small group of people begin a hype, added in a fake camera crew and before you know it, the entire city had gone gar-gar over someone they believed was a big celebrity, yet, no one actually knew the celebrity, because they weren’t real. People just believed and swallowed the hype. This was my April Fool’s prank at attempting to create a fake-celebrity. I know it was very dorky, but I had fun and no one got hurt… so that’s what counts, right? Oh and Russia didn’t stork me this year because of my April Fool’s prank, so yey.)
My interview with the JL Mystery
My heart hammered in my ribcage as a cascade of copper hair emerged in the doorway and slid into the seat opposite me. Poking her purple specs up her nose she let out a nervous laugh as she gazed down at the selection of biscuits, chocolates and sweets on the plate between us. “Is everything okay?” I blurted out. I wanted to slam my head into the table. That was it? That was my big opening line? What was the matter with me? I guess thinking that something was the matter with her was what was the matter with me. Did she think I was just another stupid reporter? Of course she did; that’s what all celebrities think when someone interviews them, isn’t it? I found myself clearing my throat of nerves as Mystery shuffled in her seat and looked over at me.
“Yeah,” she insisted, as her cheeks reddened. Brushing a hand to her face, she nudged up her glasses once more. “Sorry, I guess I’m just a little nervous,” she admitted, reaching out for the glass in front of her. She didn’t take a sip, just hugged both palms around it, lacing her fingers together.
“Nervous?” I laughed, gazing at the rose-gold butterfly ring sat on her ring-finger. I didn’t know she was engaged. Maybe she’s married. Why hadn’t I read about this? I couldn’t ask her now, could I? I’d be just like all the other boring, gossipy journalist and I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to spread gossip. I just wanted to know the real Mystery: the girl behind the story. The girl behind the voice. The girl behind the camera.
Staring as the light shimmered off her ring, my eyes blurred. I shuddered. “But I’m the nervous one.”
“Don’t be,” she said lowering her chin. “I’m just your typical, boring, fantasy-nerd. Nothing special.” Okay, so this girl clearly doesn’t realise just how much of a big deal she actually is. I’ve been obsessing over her books for the past three years. I’ve probably watched every single video there is of hers on ‘YouTube’ (not in a stalker way. In a supportive, admirational way. She only has a small handful of videos). I’ve watched the trailer for her first film over and over – I can’t wait for it to be released next month. How could she go on like she was nothing special, sat there opposite me in her probably expensive, designer jacket, hundreds-of-pounds billion-carat rose-gold ring and fancy sparkling water that probably costs more than my train fare here? My palms grew sweaty. I gripped my notecards tight. My heart raced in my ribcage. I still had a chance to redeem myself. As Mystery ran a hand through her hair, I forced myself to swallow a lump in my throat and shifted my eyes down to my notecards. The ink where my thumbs had been pressed down on had smudged. I knew my questions off by heart, but the pounding in my chest and the thumping through my body made the words spiral in my brain.
“But you are a big deal,” I blurted out. “You’re an author, a singer, an actress.” Why was I reminding her of these things? She already knew them. “You’re like… one of them,” I said pointing at the director’s name on the movie poster (from her upcoming film) behind her.
“Goodness no,” she gasped, curling a piece of hair behind her ear.
“But I bet things have changed for you since getting your book published, becoming an actress in a big-budget production, getting recognised as an actress and singer…”
“No,” she smiled, loosening her hands from her glass. Leaning towards me she smiled, “I’m nothing like that at all,” wafting a hand towards me. “I’m like the complete opposite. The media are forever glamming up their new interest, but I can assure you, I’m nothing like those glamourised young actors or teen-pop sensations. For a start,” she gave a laugh, before tugging at her black jacket. “I’m wearing a blazer I found in a charity shop, a hand-me-down pair of trousers and my shoes aren’t even real ‘Converse’, they’re just some cheap imitation pair I picked up at some bargain-sales store. I’m wearing a home-made bracelet and a broken pair of glasses. I even cut my own hair, so I don’t have to go to the hairdressers. How Hollywood is that?” Holding my breath, I was scared I offended her, but the smile on her face reassured me that I hadn’t. She finds the whole stardom thing just as ludacris as I do.
Mystery may have been trying to give me reasons not picture her as a perfect idol to well… idolise, but it was only making me think she was more amazing. Making cheap, second-hand, hand-me-down clothes cool… and making her own jewellery and being able to cut her own hair – she looks amazing! I wish I could do all that!
“And I bet you thought this was some fancy, French bottled water, didn’t you?” Shifting my vision to the glass in front of her I shrugged. Well at first I thought it might be some posh French carbonated beverage, but now… I don’t know. Maybe it was tap water… or just plain lemonade – there were bubbles. “It’s cream soda!” she confessed pointing at the glass in her hands. My eyes widened.
“Wow,” I smiled. “Cream soda is my absolute favourite.”
“Mine too! I know, it’s super sweet, but it’s so good,” she said with an actual genuine smile. She was relaxed. JL Mystery was comfortable in my company!
To me just finding out this teeny-tiny little fact was something interesting. It adds more to Mystery’s personality than her age, what she studied at university and what she plans to do with her book – I mean any basic ‘Google’ search will tell you that. This was deeper. This was much deeper. This was an actual insight to a real person.
Through a soft giggle, Mystery leant across the table, picking up a custard cream. Glancing up at me, she gave a weak smile, before muttering, “Another favourite, sorry.” Coiling her hand back, she crossed her right leg over her left knee and prodded he elbows in, towards her hips; almost scrunching herself up away from me.
Sorry? What was this girl sorry for? For liking biscuits? For eating? I was hardly about to judge her for eating one biscuit. After all, isn’t that what the magazine company put the treats there for: to eat. Why do girls feel the need to have to apologise for eating? Or feel bad for eating? Or feel the need to not eat at all and let the guys take whatever food is available. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming Mystery. Not at all. I mean society does this all the time to women. I, of all people, know what that feels like it, having suffered from an eating disorder since I was fifteen, from society and peer-pressure to be like that skinny girl on the front cover of the magazine. But why? Why does everyone have to be like this? It’s just something I’ll never understand. Gazing down at the other biscuits, coloured jellybeans, milk and white chocolate buttons covered in rainbow sprinkles and various old-school colourful sweets and lollypops, I wish I’d have said something. Told her not to worry or care about that stuff. Okay, I’d be being hypocritical; I cared about how people preserved me. I just didn’t want to see my idol go through what I did.
The silence had spoken. It was now or never. I needed to get on to some of my intended questions, before Mystery became too uncomfortable and decided to end the interview. Would she do that? Could she do that? Of course she could; she’s a human being just like everybody else. She has a right to free will, the same as we all do. She could just come up with some excuse to leave and all my chances would be over.
“So,” I said straightening my back and giving my biggest smile. “You’ve mentioned in various interviews that the first book in your series is based on true events. Would you say that if these events hadn’t occurred in your life then maybe, you would have taken a different approach in life altogether? Maybe not even become an author at all?”
“Wow, I guess I’ve never thought of it like that.” Pushing herself up on the chair, a smile curled into the right corner of Mystery’s mouth as she gazed at the blank space over my shoulder. “Maybe… I guess I’m just trying to get across a variety of everyday issues that go on in teenage life, like bullying, peer-pressure and family struggles, but adding the sense of fantasy, for me, is what made all of the school struggles easier to cope with. Like a sort of escapism. That’s why Kimi gets so involved in the strangeness, because, yes, it’s scary. I mean without giving anything away, situations like what she goes through in the book, and movie, would terrify me; but she happily goes along with it, because she wants to break away from the bullying, peer-pressure and struggles she faces at home. Getting herself entwined in all that mischief is almost like something that she purposely brought on herself, yet it’s something she feels like she can control, unlike all of her other typical-teenage problems.” Breaking her gaze with the wall, Mystery shuddered, before gazing down at the table and muttered, “Sorry, you weren’t after that, were you?”
“What do you mean?” I gasped. “That was amazing!” She tugged at the cuffs of her jacket, pulling them around her wrists as her cheeks turned a deep pink.
I’d been looking at Mystery all the while she was talking. Not in a creepy way. I was admiring her. She looked so cool, so pretty and she wasn’t even trying. Her feathered hair fell against her flawless face. The purple steak in her hair matched the exact shade of her glasses. Her black, blazer jacket suited her perfectly. I loved her purple leopard-print jumper, her silver and lilac butterfly necklace. Her trousers even had a black and purple polka dot bow on them. Everything about her was unique. She wasn’t afraid to show off her personality and be exactly who she wanted to be. I admire that. I love that. She even wore several sparkling broaches and pins on the collar of her blazer. “Hey, is that ‘Eyeshine’?” I asked, wide-eyed, pointing at one of her pins.
“Yeah,” she laughed with a frown. “You’ve heard of them?
“Heard of them? They’re amazing! I thought I was the only person this side of the globe who knew of their existence.”
“Me too,” she giggled, picking out a lemon jellybean. “Help yourself,” she muttered, jerking her head towards the plate of sweet treats.
I couldn’t believe it. We had the same favourite band in common – I swear, I had no idea that she liked them. I still can’t believe that she had even heard of them. Our talk of bands led us onto her musical career. I didn’t bother asking her of signings and record labels. Everyone’s been nagging her about that. Yes, she’s finally signed with one, but to me, that’s not interesting. That’s just random pop-culture gossip. “Were there any bands or albums in particular that inspired your movement from writing into music?”
“I’ve always loved music; it’s inspired me in my stories in so many ways. And there are so many bands that have inspired me over the years. I’ve always loved classic rock, mixed with a little bit of the ‘Beach Boys’ and ‘The Monkees’, but it was punk-pop that influenced me most. Artists like ‘FutureBoy’ and bands like ‘The Dollyrots’, ‘Eyeshine’ and even the fictional band ‘Josie and the Pussycats’ [from the film] helped me to figure out who I was at the time of Kimi being at school.” Her eyes widened and the smile across her face grew. “I guess I kind of used a mixture of all that as inspiration in the stories. My music kind of just spiralled from that. I could be just walking along the street or sat waiting for an interview or I could just see an inspiring image or feel a particularly strong emotion and a melody or a rhyme will just pop into my head. It’s not like the cookie-cutter pop-star stuff and it doesn’t have to have a clear message or a particular meaning to me. I could see a person sat in the park and picking up from their emotions or what they were doing I could just sit and write a song about it.” Our eyes met and she let out the sweetest little giggle. Biting her bottom lip, her eyes shot down at the table. “You probably think I’m crazy now, don’t you?”
“Not at all,” I gasped. Pressing my elbows into the table, I leant towards her. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe how much we have in common… except for the part that you actually have talent.” Letting out a nervous laugh, Mystery grabbed her glass and took a sip.
Half of the questions that I went on to ask JL Mystery almost don’t seem as interesting or as meaningful as the teeny tiny little things that I noticed about her. Her little giggles. The way she seemed so shy and unaware of her populating image. I love her quirky style, her hair, her pins. Her taste in music surprised me tremendously, yet it shapes her personality perfectly – if you’ve read her book, then you’d totally understand how all of the references that she made fit in and so perfectly. Even the selection of favourite treats that were provided by the magazine/her management show so much of her personality. Hopefully she won’t be too afraid to let the public see, know and embrace all that is JL Mystery.
JL Mystery even signed a picture for me and my books, as well as giving me a signed copy of her new EP. She has to be one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth people out there. I just want to take the time to thank ‘NTK’ for giving me this amazing opportunity to interview the JL Mystery. I will never, ever forget this. I also apologise for my overuse of the word ‘amazing’ – I was just so over excited, sorry.
- Josie -
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