Word Weavers Presidents

Word Weavers Presidents
Thursday, November 7, 2019 by Tammy Karasek

Getting to Know Your Presidents?

Today we meet Jennifer Odom

1. Where do you live? I’m a native of central Florida, where my dad’s grandparents migrated from South Carolina right
after the Civil War. I love the beauty of central Florida and the most places in the South.

2. How long have you been a Word Weaver? I’ve been a Word Weaver since 2013 when
Delores Kight and I started the Ocala chapter as co-presidents.

a) What chapter are you President of? Ocala

3. How long have you been writing—or when did you feel God was calling you to be a writer?
About 15 years ago. That’s when the idea for Summer On the Black Suwannee came to me early
one morning. I was still teaching elementary school, and it never occurred to me to write a book
myself. Being naive, I just thought the book idea would be a good one for a favorite author of
mine, Frank Peretti, to write about. But when I mentioned it to my pastor, he said God gave that
idea to me, not him, and I ought to write it. The light came on and though I enjoyed the task, I at
first tackled it out of simple obedience. The task was fun, but it took a long time before the drafts
were anything more than pathetic. Despite conferences, my self-help, and study, the education I
gained from two patient editors, Johnnie Donnelly Alexander and Fay Lamb, was my best
investment ever.

4. What do you like to read? I like to read a lot of things, historical novels, mysteries, thrillers,
but not horror.

5. What do you write? I write suspense for young adults in the Black Series; Then there is my
sweet book for middle graders, Peanut Man. One of my favorites, Peanut Man includes some
puppy love, and is the tale of a desperate young runaway, her survival adventures, and her
recognition of her true friends and helpers. It also contains a twist of mystery (but is not out yet).
For new adults I have my WIP, Under the Mango Trees, set in Fort Myers. A young neglected
girl is rescued by an elderly neighbor woman and an unexpected romance develops with the
woman’s relative.
a) If you are published:
1. First book? Summer on the Black Suwannee
2. How many written? I’ve written four, with one in the works. I also love
writing flash fiction and short stories with a punch. Along the way I did some correspondence
work for the local newspaper and have written some magazine articles.
3. Newest book? Summer on the Black Suwannee released in July of 2019, and
Secret of the Black Case is due out before Christmas, 2019.

6. Where’s your favorite place to write? At my desk.

7. If you have a dedicated writing space, describe it for us. I’ve adopted my grown son’s old
bedroom as an office. It’s sunny and bright. I keep my back to the palm tree at its southern
window so I’m not distracted. (I love working out in the yard and being outside). An array of
current files leans against its right corner, and though I try hard to get the stacks off my desk, I
have a series of “to do right now” piles arranged around the keyboard and monitor. Sticky notes
cling around the edges of its shelves. On the left corner sit the six copies of 1500 words from my
last Word Weavers meeting waiting for members’ comments to be evaluated for edits. A folded
list of ideas (in duplicate) lays in front of the monitor for me to study and weave into Secret of
the Black Case...today! And always, over there on the right corner where it stays out of trouble
stands my big styro-cup of unsweet iced tea!

8. What’s your ideal writing routine (time of day, with or without a beverage, snack to get to the
finish line, etc.) All times of the day. I try to turn off the computer by 8:00 pm or I won’t
ever get to sleep at night. I tend to work during the hot part of the day so I can save the cool part
of the day for any gardening. The tea keeps me alert. I don’t like to sit still very long, and I get
up and down a lot. I’ll go put something in the crock pot or throw in a load of laundry, but all the
time I’m thinking about that last edit. Then I hustle back and type some more. This editing, or
combing through material, is all very enjoyable. The challenge is new material, and I like to
work on it from a roadmap, not exactly an outline, but a series of notes or index cards revealing
main events, story arcs, etc. I bite the story off in chunks to write. One chunk a day or more.
These are very intense sessions. This is not a time to get up and down, it’s a time to really
visualize, to feel and to sense, and I don’t like to interrupt that thought process. It always amazes
me how time can simply disappear while I am writing.

9. We all have several authors we love to read so I won’t make you pick a favorite—but what has
been your favorite book this year and why? (Great story, impactful, educational, etc.) For
suspense, I’m very fond of many writers. On top of the list is Frank Peretti for great writing,
content and spiritual inspiration. Similarly, I appreciate Mark Mynheir. Other favorite authors
are not necessarily Christian, but are great writers and can teach me a lot. I enjoy plowing
through all of a writer’s books at one time in chronological order. But I do hate to have to wait
on that next book...from my favorite authors. In a different genre, my most recent favorite books
this year have been an old series I’ve just discovered. They are the My Folks books, full of
simple narrations from everyday people of stories their ancestors have passed down to them.
Examples are My Folks Rode The Rails, My Folks Back to the Basics, My Folks Came in a
Covered Wagon, etc. I’ve had to search the internet for each new title. I’ll be sorry when I am
finished with all of the books, it’s been quite a relaxing educational vacation reading them.

10. What’s one piece of writing advice you’d like to share with other Word Weaver members?
(Maybe something you wished you would have known as you began writing.)
Here’s my advice-cluster:
1. Get out of the house. GO PLACES, even small simple places. Learn about the places.
MEET PEOPLE. See and observe. You will always have material.
2. Study the craft of writing! (Read and go to conferences). You can always improve.
3. Read other things. Feed your imagination.
4. Don’t think you know it all or can write it once and edit it twice and be done. Comb,
comb, comb. Let it incubate for a few days or weeks. Read it again. Then read it aloud.
Comb some more.
5. Wait until you have polished it as much as you can, then get someone else to read it over.
You’ll probably still be surprised at what you missed, or what is not clear or completely
misunderstood by the other person. That’s one of the beauties of being part of a group
like Word Weavers. Iron sharpens iron.