Q & A with author Jennifer Coburn and Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications

SJF: In a nutshell, tell us about your book or written piece.
JC: I have eight books; the most recent (and my favorite) is my mother-daughter travel memoir We’ll Always Have Paris, which follows my daughter’s and my adventures through 12 European cities over the course of eight years.

SJF: What has your experience been as a writer in San Diego?
JC: I’ve written for most of the local publications, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego Magazine, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, and San Diego Metro. I’ve also written for the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Enquirer, Newsday, Mothering, and others.

My experience has been that San Diego is an extremely supportive environment for writers. Dozens of authors live here and regularly get together to chat, share info, and support one another. I am in three different writing groups and love the friendships I’ve made through them. There’s nothing competitive or petty about San Diego writers. Additionally there are so many places for writers to get feedback on their work, like San Diego Writers, Ink and So Say We All’s Green Room. There are three separate Moth-like storytelling organizations: So Say We All, The New Narrative, and The Narrators. And Susan McBeth’s Adventures by the Book is a gem! You can sit down for dinner or lunch (or high tea!) with visiting or local authors several times a month through her events. And if that’s not enough, Adventures by the Book takes readers on overseas trips to meet authors and discuss their books. But please . . . shhh, we don’t want everyone moving here, so let’s let the rest of the world think of us as a sleepy little beach town.

SJF: How has storytelling influenced your life?
JC: Telling stories has always been a creative outlet for me, but in the past few years I’ve become an avid story listener. I am a big fan of So Say We All, a literary nonprofit that hosts several storytelling events. (They also publish books and have an education program.) Every time I hear people share their true stories about their lives — their vulnerabilities, their heartbreaks, their hilarity, and their triumphs — it is a reminder that there is so much more to people than what we show each other in everyday life. I am utterly in awe at the bravery of people who get onstage and speak their truth. Honestly, I feel like I walk out of these shows a better person than the one who walked in.

SJF: If you had a magic wand, what kind of opportunities would be available to writers in San Diego?
JC: Magic wand? I’d love a time machine so I could go back and explore the turn of the last century. I think local historical-fiction writers like Susan Meissner, Michelle Gable, and Jill G. Hall would really appreciate this time machine for their research as well. And that would mean I get to read their wonderful books even sooner! It’s a win-win!

SJF: What are you excited about when it comes to participating in the inaugural San Diego Writers Festival?
JC: I am thrilled to participate and of course I’m looking forward to hearing Piper Kerman. But what I am most excited about is Black Stories Matter. Writers of color, African American authors in particular, have long been marginalized, and I’m excited to see them take center stage to share their stories. Marivi Soliven has been leading the charge in creating spaces for writers of color in San Diego for the past two years, hosting several events, including a recent three-day conference. I’m so proud that SDWF is following Soliven’s lead and expanding platforms for voices of color.

SJF: What advice would you give to a new writer in San Diego?
JC: We have a wealth of resources for the writer — and reader — in you. Take classes at San Diego Writers, Ink; participate in shows at So Say We All; go to an Adventures by the Book event. Caveat: There’s so much to do here, so be sure to carve out time to write! For any writer: write what you want to read, not what you think will sell books.

SJF: Many thanks, Jennifer!

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Learn More about Susan J. Farese of SJF Communications