jeff zentner

Jeff Zentner: Vital Reading for Aspiring Authors

Phil Treagus-Evans

Jeff Zentner’s reading list

13 books mentioned in this interview

  1. Role Models · John Waters
  2. The House With a Clock In Its Walls · John Bellairs
  3. The Road · Cormac McCarthyRecommended 8 times
  4. Where Things Come Back · John Corey Whaley
  5. On Writing · Stephen KingRecommended 31 times
  6. The First Time She Drowned · Kerry Kletter
  7. Old School · Tobias Wolff
  8. Between The World And Me · Ta-Nehisi CoatesRecommended 13 times
  9. Men We Reaped · Jesmyn Ward
  10. Salvage The Bones · Jesmyn Ward
  11. All The Light We Cannot See · Anthony DoerrRecommended 11 times
  12. Just Kids · Patti SmithRecommended 7 times
  13. Blue Nights · Joan Didion

Rank these books in a tier list

Jeff Zentner is an author, who came to writing after first being a guitarist and then a songwriter. Although known for his writing, Jeff has also released five albums and can be found on recordings with legends like Nick Cave, Iggy Pop and Debbie Harry, among others! These days, Jeff writers novels for young adults and is building a very dedicated following. Jeff’s interest in writing for young adults was peaked after doing some voluntary work at the Tennessee Teen Rock Camp and the Southern Girls Rock Camp. Growing up, he would spend endless hours in the library and also worked in various bookstores whilst he was in education. I was excited to speak to such a popular author about the books that have inspired his life and career. Here is my interview with Jeff Zentner…

When someone asks you ‘what do you do for a living?’ – How do you respond?

I say, “a couple of different things, but writing books is the most interesting one.”

What are you reading at the moment?

I am currently reading Role Models by John Waters.

When you think about your childhood, what book comes to mind?

The House With a Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs. The proto Harry Potter.

Can you remember the first real story you wrote?

In fifth grade, I wrote a story about a hilariously (at least I thought) dysfunctional family with a Bart Simpson-like child (this was before The Simpsons).

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. I’m not a monster, after all.

What do you think your school aged self would think of the present day you?

He would be very impressed that I get paid to write books. He would be very unimpressed by how much I love the Restoration Hardware catalog and cooking shows.

If you could wrap up a single book and gift it to yourself as you left education – which book would it be?

That would be The Road by Cormac McCarthy. My favorite book of all time.

Does your reading have routine? Is there a particular time or place that you like to read?

I like to read on the bus to and from work. I also listen to lots of books on tape while exercising.

Which book has had the biggest impact on your career so far?

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley. It showed me that there was a place for character-driven Southern lit in the Young Adult genre.

What two pieces of advice would you give a young aspiring writer?

Read On Writing by Stephen King; read lots of the best books you can find and study what makes them great.

Do you have any books that you strongly associate with someone important in your life?

I associate all Pat Conroy books with my writer BFF Kerry Kletter

The book I have recommend most would be The First Time She Drowned by Kerry Kletter.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?

I love them equally but I read more fiction because it’s more relevant to my job.

Do you think reading is important?

I think it’s vital. It’s how we learn empathy.

What’s the best book you’ve read in the last 6 months?

The best book I’ve read in the last six months would be Old School by Tobias Wolff.

Do you prefer real books or digital books?

Real books.

Name a book that you feel every human should have to read by law.

Between The World And Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward.

What is the book that you feel has had the single biggest impact on your life?

The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Are there any books you haven’t mentioned that you feel would make your reading list?

Salvage The Bones by Jesmyn Ward, All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, Just Kids by Patti Smith, Blue Nights by Joan Didion.

What books or subject matter do you plan on reading in the next year?

I plan on reading all of John Waters’ books

If you were to write an autobiography – what would it be called?

Well, I Guess Here’s Some Stuff I Haven’t Already Told You On Twitter: The Jeff Zentner Story.

If you’d like to learn more about Jeff Zentner, you can find him on his website, Facebook or Twitter.

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