Writer
ABOUT JODY
Jody Hobbs Hesler has written ever since she could hold a pencil and now lives and writes in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Growing up, she split time between suburban Richmond, Virginia, and the mountains outside Winchester, Virginia. Experiences of all these regions flavor her writing. Her debut story collection, What Makes You Think You're Supposed to Feel Better is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press in October 2023, and her debut novel, Without You Here is forthcoming from Flexible Press in November 2024. She teaches at WriterHouse in Charlottesville, Virginia and reads for The Los Angeles Review.
SELECTED EXCERPTS
Other People's Pain
The Westchester Review, Summer 2023
The sound of tamping grounds raps like gunfire and Vera jerks in surprise. The woman in front of her lasers her best understanding glance Vera’s way, as if she’s made the same connection. Even though neither of them was at the office building that day. TV cop shows are as close as Vera has come to hearing real gunshots, and she doesn’t watch them anymore.
Things Are Already Better Someplace Else
The Los Angeles Review, March 2021
Your Beverly is a smudge of a child. A shadow of herself, but powdery pale so she catches what light there is and shimmers in it. When her daddy pulled up to the curb, she must have figured he wouldn’t see her. When was Bucky ever looking for her? She’s his own child, but you have to force him to watch her nights you work late. His mama’s your only other choice, but she won’t say yes unless you ask him first.
Grown-up Party
Pithead Chapel, Winter 2018, Larry Brown Short Story Award finalist
“Where would you rather be?” He tips his sunglasses out of the way to look at her, and his eyes are as blue as lakewater at night. “If you could pick?”
It’s the first grownup all day to ask her what she wants instead of telling her. She looks closer at him. Scrubby sideburns. Fluffy brown hair. Crooked yellow teeth. It’s really hot outside, but he’s not sweating. “Anywhere,” she says and gives a sly smile.
CONTACT
Please direct all media and speaking inquiries to Jody Hobbs Hesler’s publicist, Julia Borcherts, julia(at)kayepublicity(dot)com, 773.878.0722