Jeanne Baker Guy

Jeanne Baker Guy of Jeanne Guy Gatherings is an author, speaker, and journal-writing coach. Born and raised in Indiana, she received her bachelor’s degree in English literature and drama from Indiana University. After a twenty-five-year career in office management and business development, she found her calling in facilitating personal growth circles. Years of blogs, filled with her irreverent humor, serve as the basis for her classes and her 2015 book Seeing Me: A Guide for Reframing the Way You See Yourself Through Reflective Writing, co-authored with photographer David Rackley. Jeanne lives in Cedar Park, Texas, with her retired architect–husband Robert and their two spoiled feral cats.

Twitter: @JeanneBakerGuy

Facebook: @JeanneBakerGuy

Are there particular films that have influenced your writing?

The American President, Something’s Gotta Give, and You’ve Got Mail. Yes, they’re romantic comedies, but they’re romantic comedies that are witty, smart, and impart, to some degree, a social justice message. They involve strong women. I’ve seen The American President maybe a dozen times, maybe more. Okay, maybe over 60+ times. Turn it on, give me a bowl of popcorn, and sparkling water mixed with Pomegranate juice, and I’ll recite the entire script. I realize it’s no fun watching it with me, but I do share my popcorn. Unlike most of my blog posts, my memoir, You’ll Never Find Us, is not a romantic comedy, but it does address major justice themes of parental child abduction, white supremacy, patriarchy, feminism, and women’s empowerment. The characters are flawed, real human beings, including the protagonist.

Is there a genre of music that influences your writing/thinking? Do you listen to music while you write?

ALL genres: from hard rock to good jazz, classical to meditative music. I need to match the music to my energy, my mood, the time of day. The whole issue of matching tasks to energy seems to be key to my sanity, so music is often that key. I listen much of the time while writing. Right now, I’m at my desk, answering these questions. It’s too quiet. I’m turning on Pandora on my iPhone, checking stations and, rather than using my Bluetooth speaker (which is one of my favorites possessions), I’m putting my earbuds in and listening directly. That way I can’t hear the cats trying to get my attention. Actually, I could hear them so, as a loving cat owner, I took a short break and just fed them. Now everybody is happy.

Have you ever experienced Imposter Syndrome?

Are you serious? I didn’t know there was a choice. I’d have skipped right over the whole Imposter Syndrome sinkhole had I known. All those questions in a writer’s head swirl like a spiral mindf**k. Am I good enough? Why bother? Am I smart enough? Who’s going to bother to read my writing anyway? I’ve read too many good books to think my writing is appealing. … Enough already. I’d rather drop that baggage and move on to being present in my life. I’m told I look younger than I am (whatever that means), but let’s just say there are fewer years ahead of me than behind me. I need to celebrate them. As author Brené Brown says, the universe has my attention and has whispered in my ear, “I’m not screwing around. It’s time. … Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging.” I’m a writer. It’s what I do. And as of today, two cases of my debut memoir (my second book) arrived on my doorstep. I love saying this: I’m an author.

What do you worry about?

a) The answers to these questions.
b) Being interviewed and not being me during said interview. I’m currently listening to the Hidden Brain podcast regarding stage fright, or why people choke even when they know their material. It’s helping.
c) Hurting other people’s feelings, though the older I get, the less I worry about that. Regardless, I usually remain quite tactful.
d) My weight. Well, not my weight exactly but my health. I seem to be growing more vertically challenged and therefore thicker around the middle. I started out as almost 5’8” and am now 5’6ish.” Help.
e) I don’t want to get into politics, but let’s just say I have some grave concerns.

What brings you great joy?

a) Podcasts are my obsession now! I am so hooked. No matter my writerly mood, I find the weekly Write-minded Podcast is the answer to all my woes. I just can’t get enough and, since I’m late to the game (only started listening a few months back), I can enjoy a daily dose of the Brooke and Grant Show. What’s amazing to me is how I find comfort in the variety of voices interviewed, and the variety of ways good writers write. What I love most is the sharing of writers’ stories, bookended with the wisdom and wit of the hosts. Best obsession I have.
b) Watching movies or series with my person/roommate/partner/husband with one of the kitties on my lap
c) Lattes in the morning and red wine with dinner
d) Doing what I can regarding social justice issues
e) Being with good friends (and laughing a lot)
f) Certain board games with Happy People
g) Happy Hour with Happy People
h) Facilitating good, deep, meaningful conversations, helping people re-story their lives through journal writing
i) Writing irreverent blogs