Welcome
Hello, my darlings. Thank you for visiting my site today. Scroll down to check out my upcoming books, appearances, and random thoughts—you know I have plenty!
"This is women unleashed!" Lewis Slawsky, Crowsnest Books
In Huet Pointe, ambition is as dangerous as the brackish water that surrounds the sliver of land. But, the women of this antebellum hamlet yearn for more than society insists they be—devout, feminine, and content with living according to cultural norms. So, what's a girl to do? She could employ poison, perhaps a bit of adultery, and drowning in alligator-infested waters is always a choice—whatever it takes to achieve her goal. A novel-in-stories, Bayou Cresting: The Wanting Women of Huet Pointe, tells the stories of ten women brought together by proximity, forever entangled by the actions they take.
Award-winning second edition with bonus material included.
One shot fired deep in the pine forests of her youth was all it took to change Hattie's life forever. At the age of fourteen, Hattie learns that her mother, Addie, is dead, and her father, Hubbard, stands accused of Addie's murder, along with countless other shocking betrayals. Overnight, Hattie becomes mother to her three siblings while still very much a child herself. The life she had dreamt of now seems impossible to achieve. How will Hattie break away from the father who prevents her from living the life she desperately wants? Will her heart ever be able to heal in the height of The Great Depression?
A Little Bit of Backstory
As a teen in Mobile, Alabama, my grandmother told me the gripping story of an adolescence spent in 1930’s rural Alabama, the rumors surrounding her parents, and the murder trial that would alter her life. The tale took root until at last it becameThe Woods at Barlow Bend, my debut novel, first released in 2014.
While attending the Universi
As a teen in Mobile, Alabama, my grandmother told me the gripping story of an adolescence spent in 1930’s rural Alabama, the rumors surrounding her parents, and the murder trial that would alter her life. The tale took root until at last it becameThe Woods at Barlow Bend, my debut novel, first released in 2014.
While attending the University of South Alabama, where I earned a BFA in Theatre Arts, I met Jay, the husband. We spent fifteen years moving here and there with the Army. Jay chased the bad guys, and I chased my dream of becoming a storyteller. Along the way I earned my Master's and had one baby—a little boy who turns me into a puddle with a flash of blue eyes and bright grin. In 2016, we bid military life farewell and moved home. Now, I spend my days writing and planning book events for my favorite indie bookstore and my nights in the land of Legos and superheroes.
My second long work came out of this rollercoaster life and the need for a bit of creative writing therapy. A novel-in-stories, Bayou Cresting: The Wanting Women of Huet Pointe is my latest book baby and asks the question, "What does a woman have to do to succeed?" Well, I found the answer wasn't always ladylike. My imagination took over, and I learned that when left to its own devices, my imagination can be quite wicked.
In 2023, I found who I hope will be my last agent. With a big grin, I signed with Amy Collins of Talcott Notch. With her by my side, the last two years have been a wide, wonderful ride - perfecting Splintered Reeds, signing a contract with Aethon Thrills, and readying the first of the Brackish Waters series for publication.
As the founder of the Mobile Literary Festival, I believe reading and writing can cure all sorts of ills. From being at times confused and brokenhearted to injecting society with a good dose of empathy, reading and writing speaks to my soul. I believe in helping writers become better with their craft and in introducing youth to the craft of writing. If you are looking for a creative writing or publishing workshop, message me below.
XOXO,
Jodie