Jo Maeder

Author

Chapter 1 of Zerk ‘Em and Pull the Push Rods: A Wry Squint at Aviation in the Mid-20th Century

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“Something went terribly wrong,” the stranger said. “Katie’s been in the hospital since her operation last month. She wanted me to call you. She’s on a ventilator and can’t speak.” Katie was my father’s widow. After George Weitz died in 1985 at age 75, the British Katie, almost two decades his junior and not prone […]

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Life Works in Mysterious Ways: How losing my last sibling gave me more than just a new perspective

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I once wrote an essay for AOL about getting through Mother’s Day when Mom is no longer here (the essay is no longer here as well—so much for everything living forever online). Now I’m faced with Mother’s Day without my brother, Art. Every day without him has been hard, but we always shared memories of “Mama […]

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How to leave a book review on Amazon (anonymously or not)

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When a tech-savvy friend confessed that she loved my book yet had no idea how to leave a review on Amazon, I decided to write this for her and anyone else who may not know. Books depend on word-of-mouth and mouse. It’s part of my job description now to ask readers to leave book reviews the way […]

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Behind NAKED DJ, the audiobook

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  I’m so thrilled Rachel Butera has been nominated for a SOVAS Voice Arts Awards for her narration of NAKED DJ, as have I for my narration of WHEN I MARRIED MY MOTHER. Known as “The Oscars of Voice Acting” it’s indeed an honor. The awards ceremony is Nov 13, 2016 at the Warner Brothers […]

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Is Self-publishing Worth It?

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I never dreamed in 2016 that I would see my little memoir’s audiobook up there next to blockbuster ones on Audible’s site. The hardcover version of When I Married My Mother (Da Capo Press) had been released in the spring of 2009, unintentionally timed six months after the devastating stock market crash. Everyone’s wallet was stapled […]

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Mother’s Day without Mama

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This Mother’s Day, 2016, marks the eleventh one without Mama Jo. It’s always been tinged with sadness since her passing, but this one will be particularly hard. I recently completed reading and editing the audiobook of When I Married My Mother. I read it once. Didn’t like the way I did my mother’s parts. Re-read them […]

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PISSALADIERE RECIPE – THE QUICK AND EASY (ALYCE) WAY

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Hi. This is Alyce speaking. Or Al-ees, as the French say. I chained Jean-Luc to his computer to write. Also so he can’t see me make my E-Z pissaladiére (or the spelling of easy). Pissala is a fish paste made from sardines and anchovies. I’ve left it out. This is supposed to be quick and easy, […]

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AUTHOR 2 AUTHOR: SUSAN CRANDALL’S Q&A WITH JO MAEDER

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From Lady Banks Commonplace Books (“Front porch literary gossip from your favorite Southern bookshops”) where I explain the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee, and more. This is part of the Authors Round the South’s “Author 2 Author” series. Thank you Nicki Leone and Susan Crandall. Be sure to check out Susan’s outstanding […]

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SOCCA!

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Somewhere in my Opposites Attack research of foods popular in the South of France, I read about socca, a flat bread/pancake/crêpe made from chick pea (a.k.a. garbanzo bean) flour. It sounded more like a Latin-American dance than something you would eat. One passage stuck in my head about a man at a big outdoor market […]

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WILD BOAR DAUBE FEAST (PART FOUR) – MORE COOKING & DEVOURING

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When I decided to dive into this challenge with the same naive pluck as Alyce, the heroine in Opposites Attack, I thought what was the worst that could happen? It would be awful, we’d order pizza and drinks lots of French wine. In the end it’s about the company. Fortunately, pizza was never delivered. You’ve […]

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