Jersey Shore Magazine

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 32 Reid. And I've read Dave Grohl's memoir The Storyteller countless times. Read-alike time: If you love ______, you would love Jill Ocone! Enduring the Waves is a great fit for fans of which authors? I think it's good for all types of readers, especially ones who like character-driven books with a side of adventure as well as books about the Shore and Ireland. But regarding authors, I think people who enjoy Virginia Woolf, Colm Toibin, and Lily King should definitely pick it up! You are a journalism teacher and yearbook advisor at Manchester High School. You are also active both in writing for Jersey Shore Magazine and contributing stories and poems to anthologies. On top of this, you have a busy family life that includes a husband and many nieces and nephews. My question to you is: How on earth did you find the time to write this novel? I get to school very early and write for about forty-five minutes each morning before I prepare for my daily lessons. My mind is sharper in the morning and early afternoon hours, and on weekends, I'll sometimes lose myself in writing for hours. When did you first realize that you wanted to become a writer? I "wrote" a book in second grade called "Greta and the Lemonade" that I tried to hock for twenty-five cents a copy to my classmates. My teacher, Mrs. Wilson, got wind of my scheme, and she graciously bought one and read it to the class. What advice would you give to your younger self? Like many others, I suffered from imposter syndrome, still do at times, and thought my writing was not "good" for far too long. I would encourage my younger self to stand up to the fear that kept my fingers from typing or my pen from flowing and let the words out. I would whole- heartedly believe in myself a lot earli- er because I am, indeed, a writer. What is your favorite part of being a writer? Painting with words. It is what makes me come alive. The colors of my soul and the textures of my heart combine with my mind's words to create unique masterpieces on the blank pages that are my canvases. Share some advice for aspiring authors. There's an old adage that says you cannot edit a blank page. Writers write. That's what they do. Write even the simplest of sentences, scribble them if you have to, without worrying about form, continuity, grammar, or repetition. You can fix all of that when you edit, but if the words don't exist, you have nothing to edit. And don't beat yourself up, either, if you can't write every day. Just write when writing serves your "right now" self, and the rest will take care of itself. Is there anything you would like people to take away from your novel? I hope readers find a kernel of inspiration within the novel's pages and connect with Kelly's story. With so many books to choose from, I am very grateful for those who read Enduring the Waves. What are you working on now? I have two half-written novels that I hope to complete within the next year, and I just finished a non-fiction book about a local Jersey Shore sub- ject close to my heart…stay tuned for that one! Finally: What's next for Jill Ocone? I plan to continue writing and providing editorial content for Jersey Shore Magazine and Jersey Shore Publications, and I am guest editor for an upcoming poetry anthology titled About Time that will be pub- lished by Red Penguin books in 2024. After I retire from teaching, I hope to transition into the role of a full-time author/writer. But most importantly, I want to continue seeing new places and making memories with my two nieces and three nephews, who are the absolute light of my life. Each makes me a better person, and collec- tively, they've taught me the impor- tance of LIVING. As we are wrapping up our chat, Jill jumps up. "Look!" she points. Squinting, I read the name of a fishing vessel passing by us in the inlet: the Shannon Rose. And now I am convinced, too: there are no coincidences. u Editor's Note: Enduring the Waves is available for pre-order on Amazon.com, BN.com, and Apple Books. Print and eBook versions will be available for purchase on November 20, 2023. Follow Jill Ocone at her website: JillOcone.com or on Linktree: linktr.ee/jillocone; as well as on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. JERSEY SHORE PEOPLE WAVES OF INSPIRATION, continued from page 31 from the back cover... •• •••• • ••• ••• • • -•••€• ••€• • ••••

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