Meet Jendia Gammon

We were lucky to catch up with Jendia Gammon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jendia , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Every day, we see or hear or read things that make us shake our head. We’re fed information through various filters, often to try to bring out reactions or motivate us, or worse, defeat us. I’m often told I’m an optimist, and I think generally that’s true. So where do I get it, in this age of bombardment of instantaneous comparison and competition?

My dad used to impress upon me “Do your best, and then at the end of the day, you can say you did your best.” I took this to heart and understood that he also implied that not every day is going to be a good day. So how you do on a bad day doesn’t have to look like it would on a good day, and so on.

I see each new day as an opportunity to start over, but not wipe clean what came before. I learn from what came before and I build on that. We all suffer, we go through life changes, we work hard to get things done. But that new dawn is a wonderful thing. I remember that.

My optimism comes from the fact that I have struggled and yet I have overcome many things. I know that I have friends, family, and a world of information at my fingertips when things get hard. I learned that asking for help is hard but necessary. From these resources and help, I feel better about the spectrum of days, both good and bad. I always have hope.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am the author of fantasy, science fiction, and horror novels and short stories. I write compelling characters within rich world-building, often with fantastical elements. I have also written under the pen name J. Dianne Dotson. I am represented by Laura Bennett of Liverpool Literary Agency.

My short fiction features in magazines and anthologies such as INTERZONE, RHAPSODY OF THE SPHERES, and SEASIDE GOTHIC, and the upcoming CYBERSALON anthology in 2024. I have several books out under both my pen names, so please see https://jendiagammon.com/books for more on those.

I conduct workshops and participate in panels on creative writing for international conventions. I am a member of the Science Fiction Writers Association, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Horror Writers Association, the British Science Fiction Association, and the British Fantasy Society.

I hold a degree in Ecology. I am also a science writer and an artist. Born in Southern Appalachia, I now live in Los Angeles with my family. I am married to British author Gareth L. Powell. We have formed a production company and we are building a publishing imprint as an offshoot of that.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think my three most important qualities that impacted my journey include open-mindedness, persistence, and curiosity.

My advice to people early in their journey would be to frame a mindset of openness, determination, and wonder. With these three points of view, you can do almost anything.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents believed in me and my ability to get things done. They knew I was not like a lot of other children; I grew up as a true nerd when it wasn’t “cool” to be one. But they indulged my curiosity and sense of wonder. That gave me the optimism I now have.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
All images copyright Jendia Gammon 2023.

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