Despite her experiences researching eugenics, ghosts, death row, Amish country and forensic science, the most fascinating thing about Jodi Picoult just may be how down to earth she is.
Her personality and wit seem to be part of why readers relate to her storytelling.
On Saturday afternoon, March 10, the 1,040 person auditorium at Scotia-Glenville High School was filled for An Afternoon with Jodi Picoult, sponsored by the Schenectady County Public Library.
The event honored Picoult’s bestseller, My Sister’s Keeper, which was chosen as the current `One County, One Book` read.
Since its publication in 2003, the book has generated a lot of buzz, mostly with readers calling it the best book they have ever read. Like in Picoult’s other 13 other successful novels, the book addresses complicated issues.
Picoult said when she first started writing books, she wasn’t sure her all-American childhood would give her enough to tap into to. The Long Island native soon discovered that being a woman and being a mother of three would serve her well.
`Being a mom has made me a better writer. The ‘what ifs’ that every mother asks herself; the love we have for our children; it allows me to think in a way I never did before. In My Sister’s Keeper, the direction came to me with the question of how far are we willing to go for our children,` said Picoult on Saturday.
After speaking at the high school, Picoult met with a smaller group for interviews. Talking with Picoult is like talking with a sister or friend, who immediately makes you feel as if you already know her.
Combining motherhood and writing comes down to two things, she said: time management and motivation.
`When my children were younger, I would grab 15 minutes to write whenever I could, like when they were watching Barney. The great thing about writing is that you can always go back and edit. It’s a balance of prioritizing and using your time very wisely,` said Picoult.
Picoult received her bachelor’s in creative writing from Princeton and a master’s in education from Harvard. At Princeton, she studied with author Mary Morris, who she said inspired her to follow her love for writing. Picoult told the audience of a different type of experience in education when she was a young girl.
`I can trace back to a moment in fourth grade. I had a teacher who asked the class to write about their summer vacation. I wrote my story through the eyes of my piano. I got my paper back with an F, and was told this was not a creative writing assignment. It was then that I felt I knew creative writing was going to be my niche,` said Picoult.
Picoult told the audience of another experience that helped her connect with characters in her latest novel, `Nineteen Minutes,` which deals with school violence. She said in high school she and some fellow students petitioned for an honors English course. She said after the request was denied, she returned to school the next day to have her fingers slammed in her locker. A boy walked passed her closed locker door on her hand and called her a `freak.`
`I am still not over that experience,` said Picoult.
The enthusiasm about Picoult’s books has been an exciting and positive time for the Schenectady County Library. Karen Bradley, coordinator for the `One County, One Book` project, said bringing the idea of One County, One Book to fruition has been more successful than anyone ever anticipated.
`This exciting community read is not only benefiting the residents of Schenectady County, it has put us on the map. Books can bring people together from all ages and from all walks of life,` said Bradley.
In addition to answering questions from the audience, including one on her perfect curls, Picoult said the audience members should give themselves a round of applause.
`Congratulate yourselves on coming together to celebrate the power of books,` said Picoult.
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