About | Jessica Aud Diaz

About Jessica

Writing a novel stayed on my someday list for years. I finally started my first one at forty-one and discovered that creating fictional worlds was every bit as absorbing as I had imagined-and considerably more complicated.

I'm an unapologetic overthinker, a devoted reviser, and the sort of person who will pause a movie to explain exactly why a character's decision makes no sense.

Jessica Aud Diaz, fantasy and science fiction author

Ideal Friday night?

At home with a book and nowhere I have to be.

A few things about me

Unexpected part of writing my first novel?

I wrote the whole first draft by hand.

Current challenge?

Learning modern calligraphy.

Introvert level?

I like people. I just prefer them in small groups and manageable doses.

Before the fictional kingdoms

Before writing novels, I spent ten years teaching and earned a master’s degree in reading, writing, and literacy. Most of my graduate work focused on helping kids become stronger readers, but my own love of stories grew in a much simpler way: I’ve spent the last fifteen years reading a lot of books.

When I'm not writing

I'm usually reading, attempting to keep the housework under control, or trying to learn something new. (My latest challenge is modern calligraphy.)

I live in Texas with my husband, two children, and two dogs, who remain largely unconcerned with plot structure.