JoDee Neathery Interview Published on: 09, Apr 2021

Born in Southern California, which your favorite childhood memory?

I’ve always had a love affair with the ocean…the salt air and the sound of the waves breaking on the beach are engrained in my memory. My mother’s relatives lived nearby, so we all would spend weekends with our toes in the sand. Unfortunately, my skin type did not handle the rays from the sun very well.

What hobby do you miss most from your childhood? Why?

I spent years in a dance studio learning ballet and modern jazz and student teaching in that studio as a teenager. I aspired for a career on the stage, but that pipedream remains unrealized. The love of dance burns brightly within me to this day and my husband and I enjoy ‘cutting a rug’ whenever possible.

At what age did you begin writing your first story? What was it about?

I’ve always been an avid reader with a love of writing. The fascination with the written word developed from my grandmother, a born storyteller, who instilled in me at an early age a sense of wonderment and endless possibilities. I honestly don’t remember writing anything specific at any specific age…it just seems as though it’s been a part of my life for a very long time. I was once asked if I couldn’t write what would I do…my answer was pout.

Who is the most supportive person in your life when it comes to your writing?

I didn’t consider myself an author until my book was published. If it had not been for the support and the prodding of my book club who believed in me before I did, Life in a Box would not have become a reality. They are still in my corner and I’m forever beholden to them for their cheerleading! My family’s support is a source of joy, although it’s difficult for non- authors to understand the time commitment, their sense of pride is obvious. My youngest grandson keeps tabs on my word count for my next novel.

What sparked the idea for your book, Life in a Box?

In the hall closet of my childhood home was a suitcase filled with photographs and several of my grandmother’s handwritten journals. She always recorded things that were both humorous and important to her. After my parents died, this treasure trove of antiquity became mine – the words and the faces telling a story of the past – our past – making the present more relevant. The literal title of my novel was derived from this suitcase, however, I wanted to tell a story about life inside a box – the one that protects you from failure, the one I was most familiar with but also the freedom of being outside the box that comes with fearless confidence.

Who inspired the character of Andee Camp in "Life in a Box"?

Many of the characters are plucked from my family tree, although what happened to them in the novel is fictional. Andee Camp mirrors my own dreams and insecurities and it was cathartic to develop this character from my own personality and experiences.

How do you feel about the shift of readers from physical books to digital ones?

I love holding a physical book in my hand, but I do read a great deal on my Kindle…it’s convenient especially for travel. Oddly, I do find it much easier to put it down if it’s not meeting my expectations whereas a physical book just stares at you until you pick it up again.

When you're not reading or writing a book, what are some other things that you love to do?

I love to play golf, although my handicap has suffered since I began writing novels.

If someone was going to make your life into a movie, who would play you?

Me…or if I wasn’t available, Jaclyn Smith.

How much would YOU sacrifice to hide a secret?

If it meant harm to my family, I would go to my grave without revealing it.

What are songs that you listen to that instantly make you feel like dancing?

Anything with a good dance beat from the oldies to disco to blues to rap.

What was your reaction when you handled publicity for the Women’s Club and became chairperson of your book club?

I loved handling the publicity and I’m still chair of our book club. The purpose of the publicity for the Women’s Club was to inform readers of the efforts of our club to contribute positively to the community in which we live. It was rewarding to report the college scholarships to deserving local students, provide kindergarten and first grade children a bag full of books to take home; to participate in a garage sale that would generate thousands of dollars for local charities – food pantries, women’s shelters, etc…Our book club is still a treasure in my life. We have a dynamic group of women who love the written word as much as I do.

What is the one advice you would like to give to young writers in the world?

Remember who you were before the world told you should be and ignore those who say you’re too old or too young to follow your dream and if that includes writing a book, be true, be authentic, and leave a piece of yourself in the work.

What books are you writing currently, or plan to write in the future?

March 30 2021, I typed The End to my second novel, A Kind of Hush, a family drama exploring if there is a gray area between right and wrong. A family of four is enjoying an outing when the parents and their thirteen-year-old girl plunge off a narrow cliff. Their seven-year-old son is found hiding in the woods nearby. Was this a tragic accident or something more heinous, and if so, whodunnit and whydunit? The young boy’s profile came to me in the middle of the night, and I knew Gabe had to be in whatever I wrote next. He is curious, vulnerable with an adeptness to be younger and older than his years. The other characters feed off his uniqueness and as he grows, so do they. He’s a part of me to the point that I think he’s certain to be in my will…HA!

How has your experience of being associated with AllAuthor been?

Wonderfully professional experience with a dedicated staff to make things simple for the author. It’s as though they care as much as I do about my book and its success. Many thanks from a grateful author.

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