Where does Jandy Nelson live?

So, Where Exactly Does Jandy Nelson Hang Her Hat?

If you’re a fan of Jandy Nelson, the author who brought us the beautifully heart-wrenching “The Sky Is Everywhere” and the sun-drenched “I’ll Give You the Sun,” you might be wondering where she gets her inspiration – and, well, where she actually lives. The answer? San Francisco, California. She’s been a Bay Area resident for over a quarter of a century now, which is quite a stretch!

But here’s a little secret: San Francisco wasn’t always home. Jandy’s story actually begins on the opposite coast, in the bustling city of New York. Born in ’65, she also spent some formative years in Boston before her mom packed up and headed west when Jandy was twelve. Can you imagine trading snow boots for sunshine at that age? Talk about a life change!

And it seems California has really stuck with her. You can almost feel the Northern California vibe oozing from the pages of her books. While the towns she creates are fictional, they’re clearly inspired by the landscapes and the overall feel of that part of the world. It’s like she’s painting a picture with words, using the scenery she knows and loves as her palette.

Before she dove headfirst into the world of writing, Jandy actually spent 13 years working as a literary agent in San Francisco. Talk about knowing the industry inside and out! She’s also got some serious academic chops, with degrees from Cornell, Brown, and Vermont College of Fine Arts. So, yeah, she knows her stuff. From East Coast beginnings to West Coast inspiration, Jandy Nelson’s journey has definitely shaped the stories she tells.