The memoir follows her and her three children’s lives during Christmas 1999, shortly after her husband Rick’s sudden death due to a leaky heart valve. Though devastated by the loss, the family finds its way back to the spirit of Christmas through the surprise delivery of simple yet touching gifts from an anonymous “true friend” in the twelve days leading up to Christmas.
The 13th gift of the title is the family’s ability to reconnect with one another and find hope and solace.
Since its debut, Jo’s memoir has been translated into numerous languages, hit the New York Times’ Best Seller List, been a Woman’s Day Book Club pick, and garnered stellar praise from USA Today, The Good Life, Good Housekeeping, Book Reporter.com, and other reviewers.
And Jo has been hard at work, connecting with readers at libraries, book club meetings and other events.
Though the holiday season has become her busiest time of year in her new career, she took some time to share insights into her memoir and her writing life.
Learn more about Jo and her memoir at her website www.13thgift.com or on her Facebook author page,
Q. What inspired you to become a writer?
A. I've been writing since I was a little girl. I write every day in my journal, about what I'm grateful for, what I hope for, and thoughts about whatever I'm working on. I fill other notebooks with story ideas, poems, essay ideas. I even have a notebook that's entirely filled with stories I've made up about people in waiting rooms at doctors' offices! I probably have hundreds of journals in my home.
My dad, though well-intentioned, told me that a girl from Dayton couldn’t become a writer… those dreams were too big, from his point of view. He came from a humble background, the son of immigrant coal miners, and came to Dayton to work in the printing industry.
And yet, he knew how much I loved to read… and write in those journals. At work, he’d make up bound journals for me from scrap paper, and bring them home for me to fill. He’d have me read the newspapers—both the Dayton Daily News and the Dayton Journal Herald back in the day—and then quiz me on the content of articles. If I didn’t give the correct answer, he’d have me transcribe the sentences from the article!
So, he saw something in me that he wanted to encourage. I think he’d be very proud of what I’ve achieved, both as a reporter and with my memoir.
Also, I remember reading Erma Bombeck’s column. As a reader, I loved her work, and though it may sound like a cliché, as a girl secretly hoping to become a writer someday, I was inspired by her success.
Finally, I think we have such an amazing community of writers here in the Dayton area. So many people love writing and reading here, and so many writers have gone on to success. I take a great deal of courage and inspiration from that.
Q. How did you get your start as a writer, in terms of education and making connections in publishing?
A. I attended Wright State University and earned a bachelor's in English, and then went on to work for the Dayton Daily News. I learned so much from both experiences.
In terms of creative writing, I gained a great deal from attending and volunteering for the Antioch Writers’ Workshop over the years. The workshop organizers embraced me from the beginning, when I first attended years ago, and I’ve felt embraced and encouraged ever since by that community.
At the 2013 Antioch Writers’ Workshop’s summer program, I volunteered as a workfellow, as I’d done for many years prior, and was timing Hannah Brown Gordon, a visiting agent, during 8-minute pitch sessions.
She had just one slot open that no one had signed up for. I asked if I could pitch to her and timed myself! I’m usually a planner and have to think a long time before I do something. I’m not at all spur-of-the-moment, but I was with Hannah, and I’m so glad. Hannah was immediately taken with the concept of my memoir, took a chance on me and my story, and signed me as a client. She worked with me for several months and placed the book with Harmony Books.
The original plan was that the memoir would come out in 2015, but then the publisher wanted my memoir to launch right before the Christmas season of 2014. It was a bit of a whirlwind to complete all of the work, and it’s been a whirlwind—though a fun one—ever since in terms of promoting the book and connecting with readers, everything from writing guest blog posts for various publications, to going to book fairs, libraries, book stores and book clubs.
Q. What was the process like for you to write a memoir, fifteen years after the events you’re writing about?
A. Fortunately, as I said, I was already a life-long journaler. I started jotting notes about Rick's passing shortly after it happened. I knew that in grief I'd lose track of the events.
The notes became a journal, and I wrote about my and my children’s experiences and also about a bright note during this difficult time — Christmas gifts left anonymously to simply cheer us along, signed only from a ‘true friend.’
Frankly, I was ready to cancel Christmas, but the gifts helped me think about how I was approaching life after losing Rick. The thirteen gift is a spiritual one, realizing that our community truly cared about us and wanted to be supportive of us.
I wrote some essays about these experiences. My writers’ group — with whom I still meet — told me, “This is a book.” So I started going beyond my own memories and notes. I interviewed our kids, other family members and friends, colleagues, to get more insight into those days and the aftermath. It was tough, but everyone was generous.
Q. What has surprised you most since your memoir’s publication, about reader reaction or how the book’s publication has impacted your own life?
A. It seems that at almost every event that I do, someone comes up to me to share a personal loss. It can become very emotional. I listen to each story. It's cathartic for me and for the person sharing the story — the same intention as my memoir.
Q. What advice do you have for other writers?
A. Never give up! Write often, as often as you can. Though it's not for every writer, journaling is powerful and essential for my own process. And of course, tap into the writing community wherever you live… or create one! I can't imagine the writing journey without my writing community.
Q. What are you working on now?
A. All I can share at this time is that it's creative nonfiction—and that I'm very excited about it!
About the Author