Meet the editor

Thanks for having me on your blog! I’m happy to share my typical day though I have to say, every day is different. I’m new to the area but I have to tell you, of all the places I’ve lived, and there’s been many, it’s one of my very favorites.

Every day starts with a walk. I’m not sure who needs that fresh morning ocean air more: me or my dog, Tigger. I try to get into the Britton Bay Bulletin around six. Tigger and I like some alone time before the rest of the staff comes in.

If it’s a quiet day, it means I’m stuck at my desk with the proverbial red pen in hand. . .but in reality, I’m on the computer, high lighting and making notes to give back to the staff reporters.

When it’s not a quiet day? I actually prefer these, as much as I love the editing portion of my job. I like getting out of the office and being part of the fabric of Britton Bay. It’s an adorably sweet town and if you get the opportunity to visit, I have a bed and breakfast I could recommend.

While my boyfriend, Sam—he’s the best mechanic around if you have car trouble, would tell you I like to leave the office for treats from Morning Muffins, he’d only be partially correct. I also like the beach 😉 Put those together, a piece of Bella’s lemon loaf and the early morning tide? Perfection. Especially if Sam and Tigger can join me.

This makes my job seem fairly easy, doesn’t it? In a way, it is. Working for a small-town publication is so different than editing for a larger operation. I think the biggest challenge at the Bulletin has been getting the social media piece up and running. Every day includes multiple updates of what’s happening around town, both immediate news and things coming up. In fact, if there’s a traffic accident on the way out of town, the best way to spread the word is through Twitter.

Chatting with people is another great part of my job. As I said, news in a small town has a different vibe. News is meant to share relevant information with the people who need it. For Britton Bay, that might include what’s on sale this week, the new program being run at the rec center for teens or discussing how we can help the homeless population in our community.

I try to get out of the office at least once a day, rain or shine to connect with people. You’ll find the best gossip over at Come N’ Get It. You can also get a delicious burger while you’re there. The owner, Calliope, spreads news faster than my fingers can type.

Every day includes a meeting with my staff. We get together in a building built over one hundred years ago, and chat about what we’re working on, what help we need, who is covering what, what needs updating, what needs proofing.

We get a lot of phone calls at the Bulletin and I tend to field these, deciding if we need to send one of our reporters to check something.

As with all small towns, there’s more than meets the eye. The town is steeped in rich and interesting history. Many descendants of the first families to settle in Britton Bay are still in the area. We’re always looking for human interest pieces at the Bulletin and those are great sources. Of course, those can be somewhat risky sources as not all people like to have the skeletons in their closets rattled.

Once I shut down for the day, I meet up with Sam and we usually take Tigger for a walk (or he drags us along with him). As tempting as it is to eat out every day in this delicious town, I’m getting better at putting together a meal (re: cooking frozen pizza).

It’s quieter here than any other place I’ve lived in, but somehow, I feel more energized and alive. It’s either the ocean air, the hot boyfriend, the great food, the adorable residents of the town, or the cute puppy who picked me as his owner.

What do you love most about where you live?

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a digital copy (Kindle or Nook) of Crepes of Wrath by Sarah Fox. The giveaway will end October 31, 2018. Good luck everyone!

You can read more about Molly in Deadly News, the first book in the NEW “Britton Bay” mystery series, coming October 30, 2018 from Lyrical Underground.

Former Army brat Molly Owens is ready to put down roots, and the picturesque seaside town of Britton Bay on the Oregon Coast seems like the perfect place for it. Especially when she lands a job as editor of the local paper. But she’s got one colleague who’s very bad news . . .

As an experienced journalist, Molly is eager to bring the struggling Britton Bay Bulletin up to speed. But when she pushes Vernon, one of her less welcoming reporters, to dig a little deeper into the story of a prominent local family, the man ends up dead. The fact that he wasn’t well-liked makes finding the killer extra complicated. The lists of suspects range from his ex-wife to his own son to Molly’s boss, who has a secret of his own. But when Molly’s attempts to sleuth out the truth result in her receiving frightening threats, the trouble is just beginning . . .

The one bright spot is Molly’s newfound flirtation with Sam Alderich. The sexy mechanic is used to taking things apart and piecing them back together, and between the two of them they just might be able to solve this deadly puzzle—if Molly can survive peaceful small-town life long enough . . .

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Meet the author
Jody Holford is both a contemporary romance and cozy mystery author. She lives in British Columbia with her family. She’s a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell, Nora Roberts, Carly Phillips, Lori Foster, Sarah Fox, & Agatha Frost. She’s unintentionally funny and rarely on time for anything. She has an equal amount of love for writing and reading the sigh worthy moments in a book.

All comments are welcomed.