The IMWA is excited to announce Jessica Keith, author of “Saying Inshallah With Chutzpah,” as our May 2023 Member of the Month! She has just sold her book and it will be published later in 2023! Here is Jessica’s interview with IMWA Board Member Janet Hafner.
- How did you first discover IMWA?
My mother told me to do it. She nagged me for two years, saying the Memoir Certificate at San Diego Writers, Ink with Marni Freedman and Tracy J. Jones would be the best class I ever took. Ugh, it turns out my mother was right… yet again.
- Have you always been a writer?
I wrote what I thought was a finished book and gave it to Marni to review in 2017. She read it through and said, “This is a good idea. You should learn how to write.” Sending emails at work was the only “writing” I was familiar with. I didn’t realize all the techniques involved in putting a story together. Now that I know how to write, I wouldn’t call myself a writer—yet, I am an author.
- We’d love to hear about your writing projects.
“Saying Inshallah With Chutzpah” (publication date: November 14, 2023) is a gefilte fish out of water story that follows my unorthodox path as a Jewish woman hired by a Muslim government—the Consulate of Kuwait. From floundering to navigating, this story is about discovering our strength and the courage to go on the journey.
- Who are your favorite authors? Favorite memoirs?
I love reading memoirs of strong women on a journey. “The Book of Mormon Girl” by Joanna Brooks and “Fortune Favors the Brave: An Extraordinary Memoir” by Kiri Westby are two of my favorites. “Orange is the New Black” by Piper Kerman and “Beautiful Country: A Memoir” by Qian Julie Wang are also incredible stories. The latter were guest speakers at the San Diego Writers Festival. I’ve met all four of these authors in person and asked questions about their writing and their journeys— it felt like meeting a real-life superhero.
- What advice do you have for new writers?
Marni is the most masterful person as a writing coach. Listen to her. You can fight her about what your opinion is, but it will save you time if you absorb her message and trust the process. Her advice is to help guide you— listen to it.
- Jessica, please tell us about the book you’re working on and some challenges you’ve overcome.
Don’t take “no” as a rejection. Take it as a challenge.
Around 2012, I started writing a book— my first child was born this year. I spent two hours, once a week, writing. In 2014, I had my second child and still tried to write once a week for two hours. In 2017, I was pregnant with my third child and decided to hire Marni to edit the book when I thought it was done. When my third child was eight weeks old, I received her feedback. She told me I needed to take a writing class. I waited a full year to take her class.
In 2018, I spent the year learning how to write. Then I rewrote the book. Again and again and again. I edited the book, got beta readers…all the things you do. In 2020, I pitched it to a slew of agents. Crickets of no response. Not one. Not even an email rejection. I pitched it at the San Diego Writers Festival, where I got three minutes to pitch the idea. The agent loved it but didn’t think I had a large enough platform. True.
In 2021, I decided to write a proposal for the book. I paid an editor to review the proposal. She told me it wouldn’t sell, and she didn’t understand my message. I kept editing the proposal. I pitched my synopsis to other writers and got feedback, and it wasn’t positive—no one liked the title, for example.
Regardless, I always appreciate the feedback. I sent out A TON of feelers with the synopsis. I got no’s as responses— but this was better than crickets. I then spent a lot of time researching an agent interested in my specific type of story. I pitched it to a narrowed list of agents and found two interested. One was a new agent, and one was an A-list agent. The A-list agent passed but gave me great positive feedback and said he looked forward to reading it. Well, it’s 2023, and I’ve got myself a publication date. “Saying Inshallah With Chutzpah” will be out on November 14th, 2023.
- Please let us know how we can reach you. Website? Social channels?
Website: www.jessicakeithwriter.com
Instagram: @jessicakeithwriter
Email: jessicakeithwriter@gmail.com