Jordan Leach shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jordan, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Nothing in life has brought me more joy than my family. Since last we spoke, I have gotten married and had a little girl. Being a father has changed me more than I could have ever anticipated. As writers, we like to say, “Our stories are our children.” To a certain degree, this is true; yet nothing will ever compare to the joy and the fulfillment bringing a life into this world has given me. My family makes me want to be better; to try harder. Every day I strive to move mountains and slay dragons, all in the name of my beautiful family. God has truly blessed me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Years ago I was working with Crooked Jaw Productions as the Chief Coordinating Officer. Simultaneously, I had published my first book – a science-fiction, time-travel thriller called “Echo.” Since then, my life has been simplified, yet is no less chaotic. I am now a father and have diminished my position with Crooked Jaw as more of an advisory role. The company itself has moved out of Los Angeles to the city of Portland, where the crew are still working on projects on a regular basis.
As for me, my creative endeavors have focused solely onto writing. “Echo” saw decent success, and the reviews have been exceedingly positive. Writing a book brought a creative freedom I never knew possible, and so I have since shifted to bring my arsenal of stories to life through the written page.
Within the next two months, I will be publishing not one, but two new books of differing genres. “The Tug of War” follows a family during the Weimar Republic of Germany, divided and positioned against each other when one of the members grows enamored with a the charismatic rebel named Adolf Hitler. “Love Me Perfect” is a post-modern noir thriller where consumers have the ability to manufacturer their ideal romantic partners from scratch. The story follows a private investigator whose prejudices against the amoral corporation steers him head-first into a global conspiracy involving corruption, murder, slavery and even genocide.
I could not be more proud with how these stories developed, and I can’t wait to bring them to market.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I would be remiss to provide any answer other than the COVID pandemic. Without getting too political, that two-year period exposed the world for how it truly was, rather than what me and my generation were led to believe. I witnessed first-hand how humanity would react to such a chaotic event, both at a personal and a societal level. I saw the lies pedaled at every level of our nation’s infrastructure, up to the very highest echelons of our government. I stood helpless as corporations swallowed up the hopes and dreams of the masses. Small businesses destroyed. Opportunities vanished. Friends divided. The event was so catastrophic, that to this day many have been unable to process the ramifications of the fallout.
No event in my lifetime tore back the veil of reality greater than the pandemic. The world is not what we were told. America is not what we were told. It was a wake-up call that revealed what was important and who I could trust. It refocused my faith and strengthened my resolve. In spite of all the paranoia and cynicism and corruption, one thing was made abundantly clear – God is in control.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Our concept of success is a lie – a prison.
For years I strove to be the greatest in my field, hoping to achieve the accolades and awards and admiration of those before me. I believed if only I became a millionaire…if I could buy that house or that car…if I could be loved and adored by the masses…only then could I say I was a true success. I needed affirmation that I wasn’t a failure, that my life wasn’t a waste. I wanted to do something important. I wanted to be remembered. I wanted to matter.
Of course, striving for such a specific dream only leads to suffering. I became the very failure I so desperately tried to avoid. The more one is incapable of achieving such goals, the more this drive becomes an obsession. The dreamer becomes so fixated upon his dreams, that his entire world becomes self-focused. Obsession gives way to bitterness. And bitterness gives way to self-loathing.
The truth of the matter is that I already am a success, but my ambitions blinded me to this reality. The goals I aspired to achieve were based on the promises of the world. Not on what my heart truly desired. I am not a millionaire. I don’t own a fancy home or drive a luxurious car. My stories have not brought wealth and fame. Yet I have published books. I have seen the world. I have friends and a family who love me. I am in the best shape of my life and I have a God who’s chosen me.
I did not start writing for the awards or money or fame. I started writing because I love it. And should I never make a single penny off any of my books, I’ll never stop writing. Once published, these stories exist in the world for anyone to hear and read. My children will know I never gave up and I lived my life doing what I loved. Life is suffering, and only through suffering can we create something that matters.
That’s the true meaning of success.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Having come from the film industry and now in the literary industry, I believe this particular lie applies to both. The controlling interests (executive producers, studio boards, publishing agencies, literary agents, etc.) seem convinced they can tell their audience what to consume and what to enjoy. Their numbers would suggest otherwise.
Hollywood, in particular, is an industry that survives off of trends. Yet they are not the trend setters, they are the trend followers. When a particular genre or film takes the nation by surprise and makes a killing at the box office, Hollywood takes no time to jump on that bandwagon and ride that vessel into the ground. Musicals became noirs became westerns became space odysseys became superheroes became…well, we’ll have to wait and see.
The reason, I believe, executives invest so heavily into successful genres and IP’s is because they have no idea what the general public actually wants. Rather than take small, calculated risks on new ideas and new talent, they throw their money at the wall in hopes something will stick. This strategy is no longer profitable. Spending hundreds of millions of dollars on one action film does not guarantee a blockbuster. Ridiculing your audience for disliking your product is not merely a bad business practice – it’s the definition of stupidity. There is no greater detriment to the arts than that of hubris.
The literary industry is not immune. While I cannot recall the specific year, a few decades ago the publishing agencies conducted studies to find which demographics read which particular genres in order to better cater to their readers. What they found was a slim majority of men fancied non-fiction; whereas, a slim majority of women preferred fiction. After these findings went public, the publishing houses went all in. In a moment of a self-fulfilling prophecy, almost all fiction is written by and catered to women. Almost all non-fiction is written by and catered to men.
The sad reality is, there is no place for niche audiences in industries controlled by the almighty dollar. At least, until trends dictate otherwise.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I consider myself an indoor cat. I’d rather spend time at home watching a movie or reading a book or writing my next novel. Yet, this merely brings comfort. Peace is about bringing balance to the soul, and nothing brings me peace more than being alone in nature. Lying on the beach hearing the waves crash against the shore as seagulls caw overhead. Being in the woods as the crickets chirp, the river babbling across the brook, and the wind rustling the leaves. Standing in the center of the desert in the middle of the night to see a vast horizon lit up by a cosmos of stars.
These moments give me an all-encompassing feeling. That sense of being home. Being whole. As though the noise and minutia of reality fades from existence and all that remains is me and my creator.
That is where I find the most peace.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @JordanLeach_Author
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JordanMichaelLeach
Image Credits
Book covers created by Sarabeth Goodwin-Kett.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarabeth.kett
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