Jason Headley
Biographical Information
Jason Headley grew up in Paden City, West Virginia, a small town in Wetzel County. He attended college, studying political science and environmental science. He moved to San Francisco and found a job working in the mail room of an advertising agency. Five months later, he got a job writing copy for the agency. During his time there, Headley won an Addy Award, worked in creating Internet ad campaigns, and worked in direct marketing. In addition, he performed in a local rock band.Headley describes himself as a serious reader, and credits years of reading—fiction, nonfiction, whatever—for helping to build his writing skills. His first novel, Small Town Odds, was published by Chronicle Books in 2004. Small Town Odds is the story of Eric Mercer, a small-town-West-Virginia-born-and-raised young man who has spent his entire life dreaming of getting away. In love with one woman, he gets another woman pregnant and puts his dreams on hold to help raise his daughter. Six years later, his five-year-old daughter is the only thing in his life Eric is not bitter about. When his first love returns to Pinely for her father’s funeral, Eric is forced to face his life, his dreams, and his loves and decide what it all means. The novel, which takes place during a single week with flashback chapters to Eric’s past, has been described as very much in the spirit of Richard Russo, with an incredible sense of place and characters that are both real and poignant.
Jason Headley and his wife continue to live in San Francisco. He is currently working on his second novel, a story of a husband and wife moon shining team during the Depression and Prohibition in addition to working as a freelance writer.
Critical Responses
Small Town Odds has received a warm reception from literary critics. Library Journal has described it as “a graceful entrance into the world of fiction” and a reviewer for Publishers Weekly remarked “’Slacker grows up’ is a familiar trope, but Headley’s winning wit and his compassionate, delightful prose mark him as a bright new talent.”
Describing Small Town Odds in a press release, a reviewer for Chronicle said “Small Town Odds is about making family with those you have—and about making yourself into who you want to be. It’s about coming to terms with both your past mistakes and your present predicaments. With an acute sense of place and character, author has written a wonderfully charming, insightful, and graceful novel.”
Works Published
- Small Town Odds
Selected Bibliography
Block, Allison. Small Town Odds (book review). Booklist. 101(2), 207. September 15, 2004.
Gibbs, Beth. Small Town Odds (book review). Library Journal. 129(14), 140. September 1, 2004.
Small Town Odds (book review). Kirkus Reviews. 72(16), 764. August 15, 2004.
Small Town Odds (book review). Publishers Weekly. 251(33), 41. August 16, 2004.
Author Website
www.jasonheadley.com