Author Interview: Melissa Jensen

Hitting up the blog today is debut author Melissa Jensen, the lady behind the charming romance The Find Art of Truth or Dare, to talk about her book!


What museum would you want to play Truth or Dare in?

My very fave museum is the National Portrait Gallery in London. Love it there. It’s literally the face of British history. Henry VIII and his uncomfortable-looking wives. Shakespeare with his earring. The one confirmed picture of Jane Austen’s face. Byron looking Byronic. Queen Elizabeth with her corgis. Lucien Freud by…Lucien Freud. Okay, I really really want to be in London. Right now.

What language were you dying to study in high school, whether it was offered or not?

I studied French. I was actually pretty fluent when I was seventeen. Now? I’m really good at using my iPhone app to translate. I tried learning Gaelic a few years ago. Impossible language. I can read some signs in Ireland. Best if they have pictures. Like I’m pretty confident I could find my way to the hospital versus, say, the zoo.

If you could pair Ella and Alex with any character from any book, who would you pick for each?

For Ella, I tried to think of an artist. But most literary artists are kinda depressing, aren’t they? Joyce’s Stephen Deadalus, Maugham’s Philip Carey, Irving Stone’s Van Gogh… I like Ella too much for that. So I decided on Neville Longbottom. Sweet, likely to bring her really good flowers, and he’d put himself between her and a Dementor without thinking twice. Do comic books count? I would pair Alex with Catwoman or maybe Elektra. He would be delighted. And I’ve pretty much just expended my knowledge of interesting female comic book characters.

You're dropped into a room full of Death Eaters with your characters! What happens?

We’d probably end up stupefied, at best. Actually, Alex would likely make a decent wizard. He’s good with sticks (plays lacrosse) and remembering words (fluent in French). Ella tends to be conflict averse, but she would probably enjoy a good piertotem locomotor spell. Personally, I would hope for Harry, Ginny, or Neville to show up. Or McGonagall. She’s awesome.

What kind of shoe would you describe yourself as?

I’m an Alexander McQueen ballet flat: sensible, classic, dependable at the core, but with a definite dose of quirk.


Thank you, Melissa, and congrats on the release! The Fine Art of Truth or Dare is on shelves now, so be sure you check it out! There's kissing, and art, and other sweet stuff.