Sydney Jarrard - Writer/Editor
Writer - Editor - Storyteller
Sydney is a New Yorker. She’s good at the cold, terrible at the heat, knows how to drive in vengeful traffic and ridiculous snow, has no idea what a Waffle House is, causes scenes when Montell Jordan comes on the stereo, brings home stray cats, keeps a lot of secrets, wins every game (because she refuses to play any she loses), will buy any farmer’s market pastry if it’s attracted a swarm of bees, fills up her time so she doesn’t have to deal with real life, practices the philosophy of “It’s nice to be nice,” and tries hard, very, very hard, to make it in this world.
Previously the content director for the American Booksellers Association, Sydney currently serves as an adjunct professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies, teaching master’s level professional writing.
Sydney was born in an old house in a little town in the Catskill Mountains of New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in writing from Plattsburgh State University and her master’s of science in publishing from Pace University. Her career includes roles at major publishers such as Hachette Book Group, Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. She lives in Hudson, New York.
Are you from Australia?
No. Please stop asking. Why does everyone keep asking that?
What are you reading right now?
At the moment, I’m reading The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo and Palaver by Bryan Washington.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“Sorrow is like the ocean and sometimes I wish my heart would stop.” -Will Christopher Baer, Kiss Me, Judas
If you could only read one book over and over again, what would it be?
If it always felt like I was reading it for the first time, I’d have to go with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (not to be cliché). If it was because I was stuck on a deserted island and had nothing else to read for all eternity, I’d go for something complex that required a lot of thought, like Proust or Dostoyevsky or Marquez. OR a Where’s Waldo book. Gotta have something to do, right?
When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I was in second grade and Mrs. Brown made us write a book, and mine was about getting motion sick and vomiting out the window while on the way to Mars. That’s when.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Simple: everywhere. Something I see, something I read, something someone says. (That’s what spawned my next book. Gen, as we’re stacking hundreds of books for a work event: “You were really never a bookseller?” Me: “Nope, I was a hotel maid.” Gen: “Oh, that’s a book.” Me: “Oh. Oh, hell yeah.”)
What’s your low-key superpower?
Knowing exactly when something is done baking. (I credit my cavities. It’s like channeling radio waves.)
What were you like in high school?
A little dark, a little spooky, a little sad, but mostly just like I am today. Always charming!
What’s your favorite thing?
Cheese? Sweets? Cheese? Sweets? Don’t make me choose. Ok, sweets. Really delicious, decadent sweets. Ones that have passion fruit fillings or super shiny glazes or shaved chocolate or candied walnuts or torched meringue or sparkly sugar… you get the drift.
What do you wish for?
A time machine (so I can go to CBGBs), unlimited cake (NOT chocolate with vanilla frosting, though), and a basket of kittens (just two). That’s normal, right?
What’s your favorite band?
Raffi (1984-1990)
New Kids on the Block (1991-1991)
Phish (1992-1996)
Montell Jordan (1996-1997)
Suicidal Tendencies (1997-1998)
Tool (1998-eternity)
If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Let’s see. Fear of the ocean. Fear of heights. Fear of bears. Fear of spiders. Indoor cat, please and thank you.
What are your favorite podcasts?
Right now, it’s Normal Gossip, Ear Hustle, Criminal, The Sporkful, Sidedoor, 99% Invisible, I could keep going and going and going.
Are you a grown-up goth?
I prefer business goth, thank you.