Jodi Rose

Author Bio: Jodi Rose Crump is an author, artist, and musician whose work explores creativity, perception, and the beauty of everyday life.

She writes and illustrates books that encourage curiosity, reflection, and joy in self-expression, including Mere Creativity: And Also Some Circus Skills and Simple Book of Shadows: Basic Secular Witchcraft for New Witches. 

Jodi is currently co-authoring Write Your Own Success Book, expanding on her late father’s final manuscript. When she’s not writing, she paints, plays violin in the South Kansas Symphony and captures color and light through art, music, and technology.

Author Interview:

1.What inspires you most to write?

My dad was an author and he got me interested in the concept of writing. I guess what inspires me the most is my kids - I write so they can learn about me later if they want to. I also write because I have things inside me that burn and it gives me some quiet after I have written a book.

2. What is your favorite genre?

I love science fiction the most.

3. Who is one author you admire if any and why?

Anne MacCaffrey of the “Dragonriders of Pern” stories is one of my favorite authors. I love that she combines science fiction and fantasy. Her worlds are rich and imaginative and I fall in love with characters in her book.

4. How do you overcome blank writing spells?

I rest. I sleep;A lot.

5. What legal publishing advice can you give?

Don’t plagiarize and don’t use AI except for proof-reading and chapter heading ideas.

6. How many books have you written, are any a bestseller yet?

I am about to publish my 5th book. None are a best seller yet. I hope to have one some day, though. Don’t we all?

7. If you had the opportunity to rewrite one movie script which would it be, why?

I would rewrite the original Star Trek TV series. Because Lt. Uhura’s character is so under-utilized. There is too much patriarchy in it, all those men-dominated spaces. I would love to see more equality in the series instead of cringing so often when I watch it, though I know it was pretty ground-breaking in the day.

8. What are some difficulties you've experienced in your writing career; how do you handle book critiques/criticism?

The first time I got panned on one of my books, it hurt pretty badly. But then, over time I thought about what they had said and it has helped me become more careful as a writer. Paying attention to reviews can help me get better, if I allow that to happen.

9. What are your best experiences in your writing career?

Publishing my books and when friends tell me they have read it and enjoyed it. I love when folks tell me my books are easy to read “like talking to a friend,” and that they become so engrossed in reading that it’s hard to put down the book. I love compliments like this!

10. Do you prefer to write in silence and or have some sort sound in the background?

I have ADHD so I prefer to have music on in the background. I consider good music to be “organized sound space.” I can’t organize my own brain’s thoughts the vast majority of the time. So, having music on can help me focus so I can write.

11. What are some encouraging words you'd give to another author/writer?

Keep on keeping on! Write as often as you can! I have recently discovered that the app Letterly helps me get ideas down quickly before they leap out of my head, never to be seen or heard from again.

Carry a notebook or keep notes in your phone about what you want to write about.

12. How did you decide the pricing of your material; how did you go about promotion/advertising and distribution of your work?

I generally pick what Amazon tells me is a good range to pick. A dedicated reader of mine tells me that I am underpricing my work, though, so I am thinking about raising the prices on my books.

I have a SubStack - http://JodiCrump.SubStack.com and a Facebook Jodi Arts page. These are how I promote my books for the most part.

I gift copies of my books to folks I know who are interested. And I basically let Amazon sell my books. I have been trying to figure out how to market my books now for a few years and I am still struggling with that piece of the puzzle.

13. Why should anyone read your book?

My books are fun to read. I am neuro-diverse and I see the world from a different angle from neurotypicals. People who read my books enjoy them and usually walk away with new information about a subject they hadn’t seen like that before. People enjoy my books, and you will, too!

14. Did you have a book coach?

No.

15. What was your favorite subject in school?

Either Creative Writing or Orchestra (I play violin and viola). I wish I had been able to take art classes though, that would have been another favorite.

16. Are you self-published or have an established publishing contract elsewhere?

I am self-published. It’s been quite the learning experience !

My next book coming out is “How to Write Your Own Success Book,” co-authored by my dad, Stuart F. Crump Jr. & me. 

For more: www.JodiArts.com