Carolyn Jess-Cooke's "The Boy Who Could See Demons"

Carolyn Jess-Cooke was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland – right around the corner from C. S. Lewis’ birthplace. Following a first class honours degree in English Literature and Classical Studies at the Queen’s University of Belfast, she received a scholarship to study for a Masters degree in Creative Writing, during which she developed the first drafts of what would later become her debut poetry collection, Inroads. Working as a piano tutor, pianist, photographer, and the occasional acting stint, Jess-Cooke travelled the world during this time and lived for several years in Sydney, Australia. Later completing a PhD in Shakespeare on film, she took up an academic post in film studies at the University of Sunderland in 2005 followed by a senior post in Creative Writing at the University of Northumbria in 2009. She gave up tenure in 2011 to write full time.

Jess-Cooke is the author of The Guardian Angel’s Journal (2011), The Boy Who Could See Demons (2012), and the award-winning poetry collection Inroads (2010).

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of The Boy Who Could See Demons:

There’s been some interest in making the film of The Boy Who Could See Demons and as a former filmmaker, I would just love to see it happen. I see all my books as films.

For Anya, I think it’s a toss up between Carrie-Anne Moss (yep, from The Matrix) or Jennifer Connelly. For Alex, Asa Butterfield (of Hugo and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas fame) has my vote, though he’s already 16… (come on Hollywood, get cracking!) For me, Michael was always Sean Bean. For Alex’s Auntie Bev,  Amy Poehler. For Cindy – she’s a tough one – Niamh McGrady, a Northern Irish actress. For Alex’s father, Cillian Murphy.

Learn more about the book and author at Carolyn Jess-Cooke's website and blog, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Writers Read: Carolyn Jess-Cooke.

--Marshal Zeringue