Welcome to California Readers Online: California Author/Artist Interviews -Ferris, Jeri

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MEET JERI CHASE FERRIS
By Ann Stalcup

Did you always want to be a writer ?

Jeri Chase Ferris

No. But I was always a reader, and that comes first. I grew up on the prairie of eastern Nebraska, outside Lincoln, within horseback distance of a small, square, two-story Carnegie Library. When I was little, I read all the books in the library but it never occurred to me that people wrote the books. They were just there, on the shelves, for me. My first career choice was to be a librarian, so I could live in the library with the books. That didn't work out. My second career choice was to be a jockey. That didn't work out either. My third career choice was to be an archaeologist. Actually that is part of my job now, as I dig up musty facts. Too soon, I left the prairie for college, got married, had children, and put hubby through two graduate degrees with my shorthand and typing skills - skills which come in handy now. And finally, with my own graduate degree, I became a teacher.

What inspired you to become a writer ?

My students. I wanted books on African American role models for our classroom library, for our social studies lessons, for real life. In the 70s and 80s, unlike today, such books were hard to find. Belatedly it occurred to me that I could do something about this. I took a UCLA writing class in nonfiction from Caroline Arnold, and for the class wrote a biography of Harriet Tubman, GO FREE OR DIE.

Was your ms. accepted immediately ?

No, although compared to today's response times it was a prompt acceptance! The third publisher I submitted to bought GO FREE OR DIE and then suggested doing a series. This was amazing and wonderful and I kept writing, but I didn't quit my day job.

Do you enjoy researching ?

I love it! This is the archaeology part of my job. As a nonfiction writer, I have to (I get to) travel all over the US, all over the world, to get the facts. I start in the library, of course, and read everything that's already been written about my subject; find old newspapers and documents; use the internet - but actually going to the site of my subject's life and struggles is crucial. Along the research path I find, for example, remaining family members (a), diaries (b), new information (c).

(a) I've met the gr gr gr grandson of Noah Webster, the niece of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the nephew of Marian Anderson, and many more. The gr gr gr grandaughter of Biddy Mason wrote an introduction for WITH OPEN HANDS.
(b) In the National Archives I found the diary which Matthew Henson kept in the Arctic; and found his sledge in the Smithsonian.
(c) I found the correct birthdate for Marian Anderson, which meant that all encyclopedic references had to be changed. It is absolutely extraordinary and an incredible experience to be a researcher into the lives of these brave and determined people. Then, of course, I have to sit at my PowerBook and write.

Which of the books did I most enjoy writing? goes with the most frequently-asked question at school visits: which is your favorite book ?

This is a complicated, difficult question! I write about people who made a difference in our world. People who passionately believed in what they were doing. People who were discriminated against, reviled, ignored, pushed aside because of the color of their skin. People who did not give up. How can I have a favorite in such a collection of heroes? These women and men have such strong personalities, such determination, such passion, and experienced such disappointment and grief and rejection in the pursuit of their goals that my heart breaks over and over as I write about them. I love each one fully, yet differently, as we do our children.

My goal is to bring these people back to life, to acknowledge their achievements, to give them justice.

What do you most want students to get out of your school visits ?

I want boys and girls to know about the people who made our history; I want them to truly be aware of the discrimination faced by supremely intelligent and talented women and men simply because of the color of their skin and to vow this will not happen again; I want them to appreciate what these people did. And I want boys and girls to know that they, too, can make a difference.

What are you working on now ?

I'm re-re-re-writing a historical novel set in Leningrad, USSR, in 1941. It won the SCBWI wip grant several years ago, but was set aside because of biography deadlines. It's an important story, and it will soon be at a publishing house. Look for SURROUNDED!

Anything else ?

My late husband Tom and I have two excellent sons, six perfect grandchildren, and a Scottie. My day job now, when not writing, is organizing and cataloging our enormous collection of Soviet and Russian memorabilia in preparation for exhibitions. I garden, of course (this is Southern California); and am returning to my absolute favorite activity, dressage riding.

MEET JERI CHASE FERRIS By Ann Stalcup

MEET JERI CHASE FERRIS
By Ann Stalcup