Jewell Parker Rhodes began her writing career with three works of historical fiction–Voodoo Dreams, Magic City, and Douglass’ Women. She has also written a trilogy of contemporary mystery novels–Season, Moon, and Hurricane. As if all that wasn’t trouble enough (Jewell believes writing is some of the hardest work in the world!), she has also published a memoir, Porch Stories, and two books of nonfiction on writing technique. Her most recent book, Ninth Ward, is her first book for children.
Jewell has received multiple awards for her writing, including the American Book Award, the National Endowment of the Arts Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award for Outstanding Writing, and two Arizona Book Awards.
Jewell lives with four wild things: a feisty Jack Russell, and three incorrigible cats. She has two children, now grown and gone. She has one husband, without whom none of her books would ever have been completed.
Jewell Parker Rhodes is also the Artistic Director for Global Engagement and the Piper Endowed Chair of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University.
She loves her work as a teacher at Arizona State. Most recently, she taught a class on the short story, and had a blast!
Hi Jewell, u know I love ninth ward. I have recommended it to anyone who will listen . I’m registered for the blog. I look forward to receiving a copy of ninth.ward to share with others. When is your next lanesha novel coming. Good luck with the blog.
Hi Lori! It is so sweet of your to recommend Ninth Ward. I’m so glad you’re subscribing to the blog! I’ll have a brand-new copy of the book out to you soon, I promise. I’m not sure when the next Lanesha book is coming, but I can tell you that I’m writing another middle-grade novel about a Louisiana girl named Sugar. I hope you’ll like her just as much! Maybe we’ll see Lanesha later…I’d like to check in with her around high school! I’ve always wondered what kind of teenager she’d grow up to be.
All the best,
Jewell
So glad I found this blog. I have heard wonderful things about The Ninth Ward and am eager to read it.
Hi Kristen,
Thanks! I really hope this blog becomes a forum for children’s book readers and writers. I’m just getting started, but I hope to learn a lot.
All the Best,
Jewell