Jean Duffy
Jean Duffy is a nonfiction writer with published essays in the Boston Globe, Concord Monitor, Lexington Observer, and WBUR Cognoscenti. Soccer Grannies: The South African Women Who Inspire the World (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023) is her first book. Jean can be found on the soccer field in Lexington, Massachusetts where her team, the Lexpressas, have been playing for some twenty years. When she’s not pounding her fingers on the keyboard or flubbing a shot on goal, she might be consulting with nonprofits, helping people downsize, or doing crossword puzzles with her husband at their home in Somerville, Massachusetts.
Twitter: @Jean_G_Duffy
Facebook: @SoccerGranniesBook
Instagram: @SoccerGranniesBook
Threads: @SoccerGranniesBook
Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?
Absolutely! It would be the award-winning documentary Alive & KIcking: The Soccer Grannies of South Africa by South African filmmaker, Lara-Ann De Wet. It's the next best thing to meeting the Soccer Grannies, Beka Ntsanwisi (founder of the team, community activist, and cancer survivor), and Coach Abraham Sevor Kwabena. During the writing of the book, I mined the film for vibrant scenes, insights, and quotes. Even though I had personal footage to draw upon, the film always tugs at my heartstrings, and reminds me why I spent eight years writing the book.
Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?
The South African Soccer Grannies have a storytelling style of song and dance that is contagious. The music exudes their joy for life—along with chasing the soccer ball. Other than listening to their singing when I am trying to capture their spirit in words, I never play music when I write. My brain latches onto the tune and I can't focus on anything else.
Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?
OMG. I had a sense of Imposter Syndrome, but I turned to Professor Google for a formal definition. I learned that common characteristics are self-doubt, undervaluing contributions, and attributing success to external factors. Check. Check. Check. And that sufferers of the condition often over-work that leads to high performance, and yet the self doubt remains. Check. I conclude I have at least a mild case. I can recall moving into new roles on a few occasions during my life and deciding I would pretend that was my role. After a few years of admittedly strong performance, I would be forced to accept that maybe—just maybe—I didn't need to consider myself a pretender anymore. Interesting. Thanks for that question!
Vacation druthers… City or Rural destination? Why?
Definitely both. I am lucky to live a combo country mouse and city mouse lifestyle. I find the change of scenery invigorating. On vacation I love exploring the streets and alleys of a new city as well as camping on an island with no amenities except an outhouse, picnic table, and fireplace. Yup, definitely both.
Do you have another artistic outlet in addition to your writing? Do you sew? Paint? Draw? Knit? Dance?
I love, love, love making pottery. I enjoy both working on the wheel and free building. I have done it intermittently over the last four decades of my life. I find it soothing to work the clay in your hands. It's never boring because at any moment a tool could slash a hole through your masterpiece, your clay could fly off the wheel and splat on the floor, or explode in the kiln. (My intermittent dabbling obviously hasn't perfected my skills.) Makes it all the more precious when you succeed in creating a favorite coffee mug or bowl to serve a snack to your friends.
