Bio
Jodé is a life long resident of Poughkeepsie, New York, which serves as the setting for her legal suspense novels. In her writing, she draws upon her experiences as an attorney to capture the tensions that arise when a small community is rocked by tragedy.
Author of the best-selling SEATS: NEW YORK Theatre guidebook, Jode's debut thriller novel, "The Midnight Call," was re-released by Level Best Books in 2022. "The Midnight Call" won the 2020 Bronze IPPY Award, the 2020 American Fiction Award, the 2021 Independent Press Award for Legal Thriller, was a 2021 Book Excellence Award Finalist, was short-listed for the 2019 Clue Award and received the First Place Blue Ribbon as "Best Police Procedural" by Chantireviews.com.
Her new thriller, "Hooker Avenue," was released by Level Best Books on April 19, 2022, and is the second installment in her "Queen City Crimes" series inspired by true crimes in the Hudson Valley. "Hooker Avenue" was a 2022 Finalist for the American Fiction Award and is a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Clue Award.
Her third "Queen City Crimes" series thriller, "The Empty Kayak" is being released by Level Best Books on May 30, 2023.
In 2020, she created the educational program "THE WRITER'S LAW SCHOOL," which educates writers and artists about protecting their legal rightsin a fun and easy-to-understand way, and has presented the program around the world.
Jodé received her BA and JD from Syracuse University, and while studying at NYU Law School she served as a contributing editor to "The Kaminstein Legislative History Project: A Compendium and Analytical Index of Materials Leading to the Copyright Act of l976." Concentrating on law and literature, Jodé obtained her MA in English Literature from Eastern Michigan University, and has taught at Detroit Mercy Law School and Marist College.
Presently, she co-hosts and co-produces the Backstage with the Bardavon Podcast which invites the listener backstage for intimate conversations with musicians and performers appearing at the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and UPAC in Kingston, NY. The podcast is available on Itunes, Spotify and GooglePlay.
Jodé is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters In Crime and Romance Writers of America. Her book reviews can be found at Booktrib.com and the New York Journal of Books.