Meet New Author: Jerry Todt

We are pleased to introduce our newest author, Jerry Todt and his Christmas romance, A Maple Valley Christmas.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Include a couple of facts that not a lot of people know about you.
I live in Central Virginia with my wife and three daughters. I hold a B.S. in Hotel & Restaurant Management and I am a certified chef. I am a diehard Washington Redskins fan with not much to celebrate since 1991!
I formed and run a non-for-profit Wheels of Hope Inc. that helps people affected by natural disasters.

Tell us a bit about the book that will be published by Anaiah Press.
A Maple Valley Christmas was inspired by a trip I took with my wife several years ago to an actual Maple Syrup farm and fell in love with the beauty of the landscape as well as the whole process.

When and why did you start writing?
I have been writing stories since I was a freshman in high school. My mother was a librarian so I spent many summers surrounded by books. I loved the ones that had the ability to immerse you a different world.

Is this your first book? How many have you written? How many have you published?
This is the fifth novel I’ve completed but I have another seven in process with many more floating around in the space called my brain. This will be my first published novel.

Tell us a bit about your journey to publication.
I was working for a private University back in 2011 when they went through a round of layoffs. God put on my heart to fulfill his call on my life and write. After a lot of rejection on the first novel I ever wrote I almost gave up. I applied for a spot in a New York City workshop with that same novel and was one of 20 people out of 1,000 applicants to be accepted. We spent three days polishing and perfecting our manuscripts before we showcased them to publishers. It was a great opportunity to pick the brains of publishers and see what they want. That workshop eventually gave way to A Maple Valley Christmas.

What are some of your favorite books / authors?
I love the Left Behind series as well as the Harry Potter books. Dan Brown’s Professor Langdon books are my guilty pleasure. I’m also a Joyce Meyer fan!

What are some of your favorite movies / TV shows?
My favorite movies are anything Christmas. My family knows they will be started in late October and not stop until the end of January! They call me Mr. Christmas.

Where do you find inspiration for your books?
I draw my inspiration for my novels from everyday life and the people I meet. Every person I’ve ever met or will meet has a story to tell. I listen and soak it all in.

Describe your perfect day of relaxation. Sitting on the beach with the warm sun on my face and the sound of the waves filling my ears while reading a great book.

Where can readers learn more about you? You can find me on Facebook or follow me on twitter @todtjerry. A brand new Facebook page is in the works.

Thanks for stopping by, Jerry! We look forward to reading A Maple Valley Christmas!