Jacque Aye is redefining what it means to grow up, embrace self-care, and find joy in the chaos of life. From her witty exploration of adulthood in How to Be a Better Adult to her magical self-care manual, The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life, Aye blends humor, surrealism, and emotional honesty to create stories that resonate deeply with readers. Whether she’s writing about workplace struggles, mental health, or navigating cultural expectations, her work is a refreshing reminder that we’re all figuring life out one step at a time.
In this exclusive interview, Aye shares the inspirations behind her work, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what exciting projects are on the horizon.
How to Be a Better Adult: A Surreal Take on the Struggles of Growing Up
Adulthood isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be, and Jacque Aye knows this firsthand. Her book, How to Be a Better Adult, offers a surreal yet relatable take on the realities of growing up, filled with humor and heartfelt reflection. When asked what inspired her to explore this theme, she shared:
“I was inspired by my complete and utter confusion—seriously. When I graduated from college, I thought I’d finally be a real adult. And real adults wore cute suits and typed away at their computers in cool corporate offices and did brunch every Sunday without fail. Real adults wore kitten heels and paid their bills on time. But I realized that adulthood wasn’t what I imagined. It was much bleaker. With more meetings that could’ve been emails. More office mean girls and more dating frustrations. It was constantly feeling behind and inadequate. I also realized I’m neurodivergent, so there’s that, ha.
I feel like everyone got some adult script at birth, so they’ve had time to memorize their lines, while I’m just observing and scrambling to fill in the gaps in real time. My humor comes from tragedy. Because if you can’t cry, you can always laugh. And I do both!”
Her ability to blend humor with the struggles of adulthood makes this book an insightful and entertaining guide for anyone feeling lost in the chaos of grown-up life.
The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life: Fantasy Meets Self-Care
In The Magical Girl’s Guide to Life, Aye takes inspiration from beloved magical girl tropes to create an empowering self-care manual. She explains how fantasy has always been a way for her to cope with life’s challenges:
“I like to escape into fiction when the real world becomes overwhelming. And through fiction, I’m able to learn real-world lessons. I also write about what I learn from cartoons on my Substack, Diary of a Sad Black Woman.”
By merging self-help with fantasy, Aye offers readers a unique way to embrace their inner magic while navigating real-life obstacles.
Bringing Her Voice to Monster High
Aye’s ability to balance emotional depth with fun storytelling made her a perfect fit for Monster High: New Scaremester. Writing for an established franchise can be challenging, but Aye found it to be a natural extension of her style:
“Monster High is actually a perfect backdrop for my weepy girl writing. I relate to all the characters, honestly. Monsters embracing acceptance while being fierce and serving looks at the same time? That’s definitely me. But then the franchise goes deeper than that, with characters dealing with grief, embracing their sexual identities, and navigating changing family dynamics. I love it!”
Her work on Monster High allows her to explore themes of self-acceptance and transformation while still keeping things fun and fashionable.
Embracing Cultural Heritage Through Storytelling
As a Nigerian-American author, Aye infuses her writing with elements of her cultural background and personal experiences, particularly the pressures and expectations placed on success. She shares how this shapes her storytelling:
“When it comes to my own stories, many of my characters have issues with parental pressure and hyper-obedience. I love being Nigerian, but culturally there’s a high expectation for us to succeed. Luckily, as I’ve grown and rejected those expectations, I’ve freed myself from that feeling. But it does inspire my writings. I also love incorporating Igbo deities, cultural motifs, and food!”
These influences bring a rich authenticity to her characters and settings, making her work even more relatable for readers who have experienced similar cultural dynamics.
Mental Health: Writing Through the Feels
Mental health is a cornerstone of Aye’s writing, and she approaches it with raw honesty and openness. She describes her process as an emotional outpouring:
“Yes, mental health and emotional expression are the cornerstone of all that I do. I’m not sure how I approach it, though. I just kind of spew my guts, ha. I share exactly what’s happened and how it makes me feel. And I think people feel a sense of comfort through my lack of self-censoring. It’s so strange to me how things will literally happen to us, and we’re not allowed to express those truths? I hope to normalize emotional expression and honesty around our feelings—even the ‘bad’ ones.”
Her willingness to be vulnerable has resonated with readers who find solace in her work.
Connecting with Readers: A Community of Sad Girls
Aye values her connection with her readers and actively engages with them in meaningful ways. She shares a touching example of how their support has impacted her:
“Yes! I love talking to my readers. I know we’re not ‘supposed’ to do so in real-time, but I love engaging with people. When I was dealing with grief and loss, I got emails from readers telling me they’d also gone through the same. When I felt insecure about my work and asked for some words of encouragement, everyone was ready to support and uplift me. There’s a lot of bad in the world…but also so much goodness. And I sincerely appreciate everyone. Now, I even accept reader submissions so we can all share our emotions together.”
This ongoing dialogue with her audience has helped foster a supportive and understanding community.
What’s Next for Jacque Aye?
With her unique voice and passion for storytelling, Jacque Aye has exciting plans for the future. She’s diving deeper into surrealism and dark comedy, inspired by some of her favorite films and creative influences.
“I definitely plan on writing more surrealism and dark comedies. I love movies like Sorry to Bother You, Problemista, and Being John Malkovich. So more projects like that. I’d also love to write more comics and generally keep writing about woeful women going through it. Oh! I’m also working on a joint project with a hip-hop artist, so that will be cool! I want to do more of that.”
And her long-term vision?
“I see my arsenal of books growing, my community of Sad Girls growing, and one day I hope to see more Black women writing surrealism so we can squeal over each other’s writing together.”
Jacque Aye’s work continues to inspire readers to embrace their quirks, navigate life’s ups and downs with humor, and find empowerment in the most unexpected places. With each new project, she brings a fresh perspective and a whole lot of heart—making her a voice to watch in the world of literature.
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