Jackie Hunter, a retired teacher, and a school administrator said, “Retirement can be your best life!” The “sixty-something” years young decided to write a novel after working thirty-one years as an educator in Henrico County Public Schools. Ms. Hunter said she went about this task methodically. “When you want to learn how to do something you’ve never done, find the how-to- books, find the people and places you need to learn from.” She quickly joined Agile Writers’ Club, a local writers’ group founded by Greg Smith. Less than a year later she had completed her first manuscript.

“Many people think when you’ve finished a manuscript, you’re ready to publish,” said Ms. Hunter. “Completing my manuscript was just the beginning of a year-long process of editing and proofreading.” She worked with editors from Writers’ Digest, as well as a local high school English teacher and her seventeen-years-old granddaughter, Alexis Stackhouse.

Alexis is an actress and director and is majoring in film making and producing at Syracuse University in New York. Ms. Hunter said, “Alexis was my most valuable editor because she helped by adding a youthful voice to old wisdom”.

Ms. Hunter has interviewed with Cheryl Miller on a CBS affiliated show, Virginia This Morning, with Yemaja Jubilee of a Public Access TV show, Light and Positivity and has co-hosted with Monica L. Ball, aka Ms. Real Talk, a Public Access TV show. She is the host of her own TV show, The Rippy Effect. On the show, Ms. Hunter interviews young minority scientists and doctors and encourage young people to take a good look at STEM careers.

Ms. Hunter’s writing style has been compared with Ray Bradbury by the distinguished Kirkus Reviews. And her book was nominated for the Richmond Public Library YAVA competition. Her book, Lost in the Red Hills of Mar, a science fiction novel for middle grades and young adults is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Her website is the title of her book: lostintheredhillsofmars.com and
TheRippyEffect.com