Author Discussion Group discussion

Jodi is a fascinating and intelligent human being. I had the luxury of sitting and talking with her for over an hour this summer at the Book Expo America and was enthralled by her stories and humor. In this thread we'll be posting 10 things you probably don't know about her.

Jodi is a Fantastic Lindy Hopper (swing dancing)
The Lindy Hop is an American dance that evolved in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and 1930s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. Lindy was a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz, tap, breakaway and Charleston. It is frequently described as a jazz dance and is a member of the swing dance family.

Jodi is a Cancer survivor
I wrote an essay about my treatment that Joyce Carol Oates actually nominated for a prize. I think cancer can bring out the best in you emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. And the worst, of course. The essay is called "Under the Electric Sun," and it's online and at my website, jodidaynard.com. I'm okay now. Knock wood. But those were very tough times...

Jodi Speaks Russian (and fluent French!)
From theweek.com : Over 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. For purposes of analysis they are categorized into 39 groups (e.g., Slavic languages besides Russian, Polish, and Serbo-Croatian are under "Other Slavic Languages." Indian languages besides Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu are under "Other Indic Languages.")

Jodi was Born in New York
From www.enchantedlearing.com : New York was the 11th state in the USA, it became a state on July 26, 1788. It’s state capital is Albany, the largest City is New York City and at approximately 54,475 square miles it is the 27th largest state in the USA.

Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!
I was in the Expository Writing program, aka "Freshman Comp." I taught creative and expository writing. Had no idea what I was doing--but on their evaluation forms students said I had great fashion sense.

Jodi plays the Renaissance Lute
From Wikipedia: The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from theMedieval to the late Baroque eras and was the most important instrument for secular music in the Renaissance.[1] It is also an accompanying instrument, especially in vocal works, often realizing a basso continuo or playing a written-out accompaniment. The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist, "lewtist" or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any string instrument) is referred to as a luthier.

Jodi has published 2 other books
“An Evening with Claire by Gaito Gazdanov” – translated from Russian, published by Ardis Press, it is being re-released by Overlook Press this Spring. (available through Jodi’s website)

The Place Within: Portraits of the American Landscape by Twenty Contemporary Writers (available on amazon.com)

Jodi wrote her first “book” at the age of 6
A book of "My Friends," which included a whole bunch of invented animals/characters. I recall flat out plagiarizing the epigraph, "From here to there, from there to here, funny things are everywhere." Ring a bell?

Jodi's favorite film is Hitchcock’s “Notorious”
From IMDb: [A 1946 film where] A woman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America.

Jodi is a self taught piano player (by listening to records)
My family was very musical, so I was on the piano at maybe two years of age. I tried lessons at an early age and hated my teacher (I never could take directions very well--still can't!) So I just put a record player on top of the piano and played the Glen Gould Bach preludes and fugues over and over and copied it...sounds crazy, I know!

From ezinearticles.com: Famous self-taught piano players include – Art Tatum (1909-1956), Floyd Cramer (1933-1997), Walter Wilhelm Gleseking (1895-1956), Les McCann (1935 - ) and Gene Harris (1933-2000).

I went Swing Dancing in college a few times, it was so much fun. Maybe you'll take me next time I see you!

Yes, in fact, I just came back from "Lindy Hop Camp" called Swingout New Hampshire. Five days of non-stop dancing. Plus, I wrote and acted out a comedic skit for Cabaret Night.

Jodi is a Cancer survivor
From www.cancer.org : About 1,660,290 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2013, and in 2013 about 580,350 Americans are projected to die of cancer, almost 1,600 people a day. Cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths

Jodi Speaks Russian (and fluent French!)
From theweek.com : Over 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. For purposes of analysis they are categorized into 39 groups (e.g., Slavic languages besides Russian, Polish, and Serbo-Croatian are under "Other Slavic Languages." Indian languages besides Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu are under "Other Indic Languages.")

I am far to uncoordinated to dance any kind of dance let alone a Lindy Hop! lol

That's so awesome. My french is ABYSMAL. Like, an insult to the french speaking world. Even in Paris the people there took pity on me and would OFFER to speak to me in English. I wish I could speak another language!

Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!

Jodi wrote: "Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!"

I'm so glad you're still hear with us! My mom went through that when I was little.

Jodi was Born in New York
From www.enchantedlearing.com : New York was the 11th state in the USA, it became a state on July 26, 1788. It’s state capital is Albany, the largest City is New York City and at approximately 54,475 square miles it is the 27th largest state in the USA.

Question from Pav, were you born in NYC or NY State?

Marie wrote: "I am far to uncoordinated to dance any kind of dance let alone a Lindy Hop! lol"
That's what everyone says. But you could do it.

Pavarti wrote: "Jodi was Born in New York
From www.enchantedlearing.com : New York was the 11th state in the USA, it became a state on July 26, 1788. It’s state capital is Albany, the largest City is New York City..."
Bronxville, New York. Half way between the city and the burbs!

Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!

What did you teach??

Pavarti wrote: "That's so awesome. My french is ABYSMAL. Like, an insult to the french speaking world. Even in Paris the people there took pity on me and would OFFER to speak to me in English. I wish I could s..."

Since I lived there when I was fairly young, I have no accent when I speak. Or so my French friends tell me!

Jodi plays the Renaissance Lute



From Wikipedia: The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The lute is used in a great variety of instrumental music from theMedieval to the late Baroque eras and was the most important instrument for secular music in the Renaissance.[1] It is also an accompanying instrument, especially in vocal works, often realizing a basso continuo or playing a written-out accompaniment. The player of a lute is called a lutenist, lutanist, "lewtist" or lutist, and a maker of lutes (or any string instrument) is referred to as a luthier.

Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!

What did you teach??"

I was in the Expository Writing program, aka "Freshman Comp." I taught creative and expository writing. Had no idea what I was doing--but on their evaluation forms students said I had great fashion sense.

Hahahaha - that's an awesome evaluation! And true!

The Lindy Hop sounds like such a fun Dance, I am afraid I have 2 left feet

Pavarti wrote: "Jodi Speaks Russian (and fluent French!)
From theweek.com : Over 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. For purposes of analysis they are categorized into 39 groups (e.g., Slavic languages besides Ru..."

WOW I understand thatRussian is a super complicated language!

Pavarti wrote: "Jodi plays the Renaissance Lute

Yeah, when I lived in New York, and was in a 4th-floor walk-up, I despaired of getting a piano up there, so I took up lute instead.


From Wikipedia: The European lute and the modern Near-Eastern oud both descend from a common ancestor via diverging evolutionary paths. The lute is used in a grea..."

Jodi has published 2 other books
“An Evening with Claire by Gaito Gazdanov” – translated from Russian, published by Ardis Press, it is being re-released by Overlook Press this Spring. (available through Jodi’s website)

The Place Within: Portraits of the American Landscape by Twenty Contemporary Writers (available on amazon.com)

So Jodi, do you know the Cyrillic alphabet if you speak Russian? That's gotta be hard like Arabic or Chinese huh?

Jodi wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "That's so awesome. My french is ABYSMAL. Like, an insult to the french speaking world. Even in Paris the people there took pity on me and would OFFER to speak to me in English. ..."

I lived in France for two years, and my French has it's ups and downs! If I am really tired I think I speak Franglish or Fragnol a combo of both in horrible days

M.C.V. wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "Jodi Speaks Russian (and fluent French!)
From theweek.com : Over 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. For purposes of analysis they are categorized into 39 groups (e.g., Slavic lang..."
Well, in some ways. But in terms of the written language it's much more phonetic than English.

Jodi wrote her first “book” at the age of 6
A book of "My Friends," which included a whole bunch of invented animals/characters. I recall flat out plagiarizing the epigraph, "From here to there, from there to here, funny things are everywhere." Ring a bell?

Jodi wrote: "Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!

What did you teach??"

I was in the Expository Writing program, aka "Freshman Comp." I taught creative and expository writing...."

Sometimes I feel the same way but things are always better than they seem in such cases :D

Jodi's favorite film is Hitchcock’s “Notorious”
From IMDb: [A 1946 film where] A woman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America.

So for those of you who are here, what's YOUR favorite movie?

Pavarti wrote: "So Jodi, do you know the Cyrillic alphabet if you speak Russian? That's gotta be hard like Arabic or Chinese huh?"

Cyrillic isn't hard. Russian words can be very LONG, with all the declined endings (different endings depending on whether it's a subject, object, masculine, feminine, etc.), so reading it can be tough sledding...

Pavarti wrote: " Jodi has published 2 other books
“An Evening with Claire by Gaito Gazdanov” – translated from Russian, published by Ardis Press, it is being re-released by Overlook Press this Spring. (available t..."
I am super excited that An Evening With Claire is being re-released. It's a beautiful book, a classic of 20th century Russian Literature.

Jodi wrote: "Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!"

Wow, I'm glad you are a survivor! My grandmother faught breast cancer too. Cancer is such a big issue in our society these days.

M.C.V. wrote: "The Lindy Hop sounds like such a fun Dance, I am afraid I have 2 left feet"

No, everyone feels that way at first. It's just a matter of a little training...

Jodi wrote: "Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!

What did you teach??"

I was in the Expository Writing program, aka "Freshman Comp." I taught creative and expository writing...."

At least they were positive! I taught a freshman "rocks for jocks" class but it was about basic drugs. Yeah, a 25 year old sub, a bunch of freshman football players, talking about every day drugs like caffeine and use your imagination....that was a recipe for disaster!

Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's favorite film is Hitchcock’s “Notorious”
From IMDb: [A 1946 film where] A woman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America.
10. Self taught piano player (by listening to re..."

one of my all time fav movies is Forest Gump w/Tom Hanks - i love a good underdog story! <3

Andrea wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!"

Wow, I'm glad you are a survivor! My grandmother faught breast cancer too. Cancer is such a big issue in ou..."

I wrote an essay about my treatment that Joyce Carol Oates actually nominated for a prize. I think cancer can bring out the best in you emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. And the worst, of course. The essay is called "Under the Electric Sun," and it's online and at my website, jodidaynard.com. I'm okay now. Knock wood. But those were very tough times...

For me I'd have to go with FIRE by Deepa Mehta (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116308/) It's a beautiful movie and really engaging and so full of love. Plus it's an important story and a great retelling of Sita.



Either that or Ferngully (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104254/)

Marie wrote: "Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's favorite film is Hitchcock’s “Notorious”
From IMDb: [A 1946 film where] A woman is asked to spy on a group of Nazi friends in South America.
10. Self taught piano player (by..."
I'm a huge Hitchcock fan. I made my son see them all before he was ten! And that's just a SLIGHT exaggeration.

Jodi is a self taught piano player (by listening to records)
From ezinearticles.com: Famous self-taught piano players include – Art Tatum (1909-1956), Floyd Cramer (1933-1997), Walter Wilhelm Gleseking (1895-1956), Les McCann (1935 - ) and Gene Harris (1933-2000).

And that's our last factoid, but stick around and chat with Jodi for a while. Our next event will start at 11AM!

Jodi wrote: "M.C.V. wrote: "The Lindy Hop sounds like such a fun Dance, I am afraid I have 2 left feet"

No, everyone feels that way at first. It's just a matter of a little training..."

Thanks but I really have taken dance classes and tried, I have two left feet!

M.C.V. wrote: "Jodi wrote: "M.C.V. wrote: "The Lindy Hop sounds like such a fun Dance, I am afraid I have 2 left feet"

No, everyone feels that way at first. It's just a matter of a little training..."

Thanks bu..."
I'd have to see you to know what the difficulty is for you!

Andrea wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!"

Wow, I'm glad you are a survivor! My grandmother fought breast cancer too. Cancer is such a big issue in ou..."
My sister is a 27 year survivor. Keep healthy and so glad that you are a survivor.

Pavarti wrote: " Jodi wrote her first “book” at the age of 6
A book of "My Friends," which included a whole bunch of invented animals/characters. I recall flat out plagiarizing the epigraph, "From here to there, f..."

Haha, you gotta love kid's creativity! I know I do. Did you continue to write through childhood or did you give it a break until you were older?

Pavarti wrote: " Jodi is a self taught piano player (by listening to records)
From ezinearticles.com: Famous self-taught piano players include – Art Tatum (1909-1956), Floyd Cramer (1933-1997), Walter Wilhelm Gles..."

My family was very musical, so I was on the piano at maybe two years of age. I tried lessons at an early age and hated my teacher (I never could take directions very well--still can't!) So I just put a record player on top of the piano and played the Glen Gould Bach preludes and fugues over and over and copied it...sounds crazy, I know!

Pavarti wrote: "Jodi Speaks Russian (and fluent French!)
From theweek.com : Over 300 languages are spoken in the U.S. For purposes of analysis they are categorized into 39 groups (e.g., Slavic languages besides Ru..."

You must have a gift for languages... Longer ago than I care to admit, I studied French for 4 1/2 years, but I am certain that I never spoke it well. My reading fluency was a bit better, but I have lost almost all of it now. :-(

You're a savant (note I left out the idiot part) :)

Hey, at my dance camp there are people well into their seventies and eighties! It's never too late. You just have to catch the bug....

Karen wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "Jodi is a fascinating and intelligent human being. I had the luxury of sitting and talking with her for over an hour this summer at the Book Expo America and was enthralled by her ..."

Karen wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "Jodi is a fascinating and intelligent human being. I had the luxury of sitting and talking with her for over an hour this summer at the Book Expo America and was enthralled by her ..."

Karen wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "Jodi is a fascinating and intelligent human being. I had the luxury of sitting and talking with her for over an hour this summer at the Book Expo America and was enthralled by her ..."

Karen wrote: "Pavarti wrote: "Jodi is a fascinating and intelligent human being. I had the luxury of sitting and talking with her for over an hour this summer at the Book Expo America and was enthralled by her ..."

Andrea wrote: "Pavarti wrote: " Jodi wrote her first “book” at the age of 6
A book of "My Friends," which included a whole bunch of invented animals/characters. I recall flat out plagiarizing the epigraph, "From ..."
I always wrote. I had an enormous diary I carried around everywhere with me, like Moses's 10 commandments or something. I think it was the only way I knew how to process my experience.

Pavarti wrote: "Jodi is a Fantastic Lindy Hopper (swing dancing)"

That's pretty impressive to me. I'm much too out of shape for anything like that. :-)

M.C.V. wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Breast cancer, twelve years ago. It gets your priorities straight. Fast!"

Wow, I'm glad you are a survivor! My grandmother fought breast cancer too. Cancer is such a ..."

I have this wonderful Irish ob-gyn, and when I first was diagnosed with the disease, he said (imagine thick Irish accent), "Phaw, you're going to die an old lady in your bed." I hope he's right!!

Rebecca wrote: "Jodi wrote: "Pavarti wrote: " Jodi's first teaching job was at Harvard University!

What did you teach??"

I was in the Expository Writing program, aka "Freshman Comp." I taught creative and exposi..."

My boss came to see my class early on (she's now a best friend). Afterwards, she looked me in the eye and asked, "So you think that was a good class?" I said yes, but she shook her head. "That was not a good class." Oy! I had a lot to learn...

I taught highschool theatre for a year. Those were not good classes either!