Meet Jody Serey | Writer and Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jody Serey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jody, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The creative partnership that developed between David Serey and me began some 45 years ago when he hired me as an editor at a publishing company. We meshed creatively, and the dance began. Our basic chemistry has not altered much between age 26 and age 72, except that we don’t have to drink as much coffee or have as many production meetings as we did when we were young.

Our work is valued for its professionalism, and its quality. We are valued because we listen, and we do not try to hustle a client. Upselling is not part of our strategy, and we take immense pride in doing the best possible job, regardless of size or budget.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a writer in one capacity or the other for my entire professional career. It used to be called “copywriting” and now most people lump me and my product in with “content creation.” Whatever you want to label it, I work with words. I also fix words written by other people, in my capacity as an editor.

I have co-written several books, and have won awards for my poetry. I try to keep my fine arts skills sharpened, along with my “day job” skills. It is essential that I keep excited about writing, especially as the public ceases to read with the appetite it once had. There does seem to be a resurgence in interest in reading, which gives me great hope.

The biggest challenge I have faced is that my work is seldom recognized. Most eyes go directly to the visuals, and just take the squiggly lines of text for granted as they zip past. It’s lonely sometimes trying to figure out what needs to be said, or what somebody else wants to express. However, over the years I have developed an ability to mind meld with a client suffering from prose performance anxiety and I can almost always find words that work. I know I have succeeded when a client ceases to realize that their words found their origin on my keyboard.
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Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in a big metropolitan area that used to be a much smaller city. My favorite spots tend to be ones that I have favored for a long time. My best friend and I would definitely head out to Carefree and the Horny Toad, which has been one of my preferred destinations since 1977. I would also insist that make a trip to downtown historic Glendale to The Pink Door Tea House, which is owned and operated by my friend, Lupe Encinas. The food is great, the atmosphere is cozy and pretty, and we could talk for hours and get caught up without being rushed.

I like diners, and would undoubtedly insist that we visit Mercer’s on Peoria and 99th Avenues in Sun City. The homemade food features classic, including a daily dose of comfort food. And if we just had to get out of town, I would suggest we head up to Jerome. Paul and Jerry’s is still my saloon of choice. Haunted Hamburger is just plain amazing, including the view.

I am also a fan of Desert Diamond Casino. It is well-managed, glittering and bright, and impeccably clean and well-maintained. I also notice people winning now and then, which hasn’t always been the case at other casinos I have frequented in the past.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My career is nearing the half century mark, so I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people. However, for the past 29 years, I have been a part of a freestanding networking group made up of women in business — the Northwest Women’s Network. When I joined so long ago, I was a brand new entrepreneur with young children still at home. Now I am older and wiser, and try to do what I can to pass along the support I received when we were first starting out on our own with our creative studio.

Website: www.sereyjones.com

Facebook: facebook.com/custompublishing

Other: facebook.com/jody.serey