We chat with author Kosoko Jackson all about his latest book release A Dash of Salt and Pepper, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Kosoko! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, everyone! I’m Kosoko Jackson! I’m the author of I’M SO NOT OVER YOU, and A DASH OF SALT AND PEPPER, my two adult rom-coms. I also write young adult fiction, mostly science fiction and thrillers! I’m from the Atlantic area, love Taylor Swift (praise be to the gods for getting me tickets to The Eras Tour) and watching movies.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I wrote my first story when I was 6. It was about some kids who went camping and got eaten by a bear. I continued to write on my Mom’s Palm Pilot (dating myself here) and wrote two “novels” (each about 100 pages) when I was about 12, and then my first “novel” in 9th grade. I always loved creating worlds, did a lot of fan fiction, and made personality quizzes for my friends!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
- First Book: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
- Made me want to be an author: The Pendragon Series by DJ McHale and Atonement by Ian McEwan
- Can’t Stop Thinking About: For The Wolf by Hannah Whitten
Your latest novel, A Dash of Salt and Pepper, is out December 6th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Hmmm…good question! Flirtatious, scholastic, drool-worthy, steamy, and homey.
What can readers expect?
A Dash of Salt and Pepper is my homage to small towns, finding your way after losing it, and my love for Milo Ventimiglia. It’s a fun story, but also has depth and heart, focusing on a kid who was expected to be great and felt like he fell short. A lot of people, I think, will be able to identify with that. You didn’t have to grow up in a small town to sympathize with Xavier!
Where did the inspiration for A Dash of Salt and Pepper come from?
HONESTLY, this book was very different when I submitted it. It was an AIRBNB romance. And then when I started writing, Xavier kinda came out fully fleshed out. I watched a few episodes of Gilmore Girls, talked to my mom, who used to own a restaurant, and bam. Also, Hannah Montana’s “You Can Always Find Your Way Back Home” helped too!
Can you tell us a bit about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
This was the hardest book for me to write. I felt like I was never hitting the mark. I tend to always compare my drafts to the final project, and forget the work that went into getting those books there. You have to learn to trust the process. It never gets easier, but you learn each time.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love writing strong female characters as best friends. I love meet cutes, or hate cutes, and I love first date chapters. I also love singing scenes? There seems to be every one of those in my rom-coms.
What’s next for you?
My next rom com comes out in 2024, and it’s a grumpy sunshine city slicker meets cowboy book! My next YA comes out in 2023, which is a dark academia horror novel called THE FOREST DEMANDS ITS DUE!
Lastly, what have been some of your favourite 2022 reads? Any 2023 releases our readers should look out for?
Oh wow, good question! Jen Deluca’s Well Traveled was such a joy. Ryan La Sala’s The Honeys. I’m really looking forward to The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton too.
