for a bit, which I consider a mild success. I can still recite it to this day, so if you ever end up in my bad books … consider yourself warned.
2. What is your nickname?
Unless ‘Muuuuum!’ counts, I don’t have one. I’ve never been quite cool enough to earn one, but I’m open to suggestions. That said, I do have a sign name, gifted to me in Auslan by a Deaf friend years ago. It combines the word ‘shy’ and the letter J. Very on-brand.
3. What is your greatest fear?
Flying. But also vomiting. Fascinatingly, I discovered on a tiny four-seater plane that vomiting mid-flight is a very effective cure for fear of flying. Turns out your brain can only panic about one thing at a time. Choose wisely.
4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Ten words aren’t many when you waffle like a pro.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Playful, divergent, inclusive, metacognitive, caffeinated.
6. What book character would you be, and why?
Morrigan Crow, because I want to be a Wundersmith and live at the Deucalion.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Whatever year next Friday lands in. Friday is my favourite day. It means Thai takeaway night (yes, I get the same thing every week), the work week is over, and the weekend of parenting chaos hasn’t yet begun. I wouldn’t go back in time because medicine and mindsets weren’t exactly thriving. And I wouldn’t visit the future because the world is futury enough already, thanks!
8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
‘Dude, you don’t suck nearly as much as you think you do.’
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Honestly? Probably whoever I’m talking to at the time. I’m pretty agreeable. And very spongey.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Me! I’ve always loved words and that little buzz you get when they fall into place. I became a ‘proper’ writer after a friend gave me a nudge toward the Australian Writers’ Centre, and I discovered that being a writer was a real thing you could actually do. Who knew?
11. What is your favourite word and why?
It was SO hard not to give you a list. But I’m going with ‘pickle’. It’s light and bouncy on the tongue (the word, not the food) and has a great zing to it (the food, not the word).
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
What a cruel question. I’m going to say The Jane Doe Chronicles by Jeremy Lachlan, but bound as one Very Big Book. Is that cheating? Possibly. Am I doing it anyway? Yes. Yes I am.
What a cruel question. I’m going to say The Jane Doe Chronicles by Jeremy Lachlan, but bound as one Very Big Book. Is that cheating? Possibly. Am I doing it anyway? Yes. Yes I am.
Jess Horn is a neurodivergent children’s author with a background in speech pathology and a passion for empowering kids. Her CBCA Notable debut picture book, Bernie Thinks in Boxes, was selected for the 2025 Victorian Government Prep Bags. Aside from writing, she enjoys coffee (who doesn’t?) and spoonerisms (doo husn’t?). For more information, see www.jesshornauthor.com.
