Jersey Shore Magazine
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1509576
J e r s e y s h o r e • F A L L / H O L I D A Y 2 0 2 3 28 L JERSEY SHORE PEOPLE WaveS of InspiRation Jersey Shore Author Jill Ocone's Debut Novel, Enduring the Waves by Laura Kerwin continued on page 30 Living in such close proximity to the coast, Jersey Shore locals become in tune with the signs of the changing seasons. And writer Jill Ocone is no exception. To Jill, winter at the Shore reveals itself in the shiny black wet- suits of diehard surfers, bobbing like seals in the freezing surf. When spring's warm breezes begin to kiss the shore, Jill walks the beach, looking for signs of summer's harbingers: migrating shore- birds, whose dances in the shorebreak foreshadow the swimmers to come. After Memorial Day rolls around, however, Jill holds her breath; looking for signs that the crowded, blistering summer is nearing its end so she can finally exhale. "Fall at the Shore is well worth the wait," Jill remarks. "Besides the picture-perfect weather and relaxed pace, something very magical hap- pens: the annual migration of monarch butterflies." For Jill, these orange-and-black cloaked travelers bring with them more than just their beauty; they are, in fact, "signs." Signs: Jill is always on the look- out for the universe's subtle hints to help guide her life and her writing. Sometimes they appear in nature. Other times, they can appear to her in a dream, a song, or an address. Most recently, a trail of signs led Jill on the most important journey in her life: the path to pen her debut fiction novel, Enduring the Waves. If you are a regular reader of this magazine, you may recognize the name Jill Ocone as one of the publication's most prolific staff writers. Jill applies this gift to her debut, expertly expressing how her love of the sea transcends time and location. Enduring the Waves takes readers from the seaside swells of Point Pleasant to the tranquil tides of Dublin, following the main char- acter, Kelly Lynch, on her journey of self-discovery. I sat down recently with Jill at her "happy place," the Manasquan Inlet, to find out more about Enduring the Waves and her passion for writing. Suddenly, a monarch butterfly alights on our bench.