An executive coach focusing on leadership development who delivers seminars by day and is a serial writer by night, Jodie Shelley is excited about the launch of her second novel, A Thousand Paper Cups.
While she awaits the release of her second novel, she’s already finished writing a third book, and is halfway through writing a fourth novel.
The local author’s first novel, The Tui Has Landed, was packed with hilarity, disastrous dates, and terrible pick lines, all cleverly wrapped in a grittier plot.
It was an Insta Live series delivered by author Marian Keyes on ‘How to write a novel’ that helped the aspiring poet-writer discover there were lot of stories in her waiting to be told.
Released in February 2023, The Tui Has Landed, was a finalist in international book competition The Wishing Shelf Awards.
“The competition is open to writers from around the world and is judged by regular readers based in London and Stockholm,” Shelley says.
“I was delighted to learn my debut novel had reached finalist status.”
If the success in the awards is anything to go by, prospects are optimistic for her next novel, described as “hilarious and heartbreaking in turn”.
When a friend described A Thousand Paper Cups as “a humorous Kiwi novel about family violence,” Shelley was struck by the unique combination she had forged in her latest contemporary Kiwi novel.
She says: “It did give me cause to reflect. The book is about a family, and touches on family harm and homophobia.
“While there are some sombre and delicate topics addressed, humour is weaved sensitively into the story.”
A Thousand Paper Cups is the story of the Lewis family.
Three brothers, Will, Liam and Benjamin, are each grappling with unique challenges.
Will finds himself working for an unpleasant CEO which drives him toward a radical career change. Liam is grappling with his desire to be seen and valued by his father.
And Benjamin is struggling with the response from his father to the news he is gay.
Benjamin coming out is the catalyst for discontent.
It resurfaces trauma from their father’s childhood that ultimately causes a rift between his brothers.
Meanwhile, their sister-in-law Emma is a new teacher who, at the insistence of the school principal, finds herself thrown into conducting parent-teacher interviews on a far more frequent basis.
Dealing with the Year Five children is challenging enough, dealing with their parents is an uncomfortable task she is not fond of.
Asked about the origin of the title, Shelley explains A Thousand Paper Cups is named in honour of Benjamin.
“He has an adorable way of getting his sayings mixed up. From ‘death by a thousand paper cups’ to ‘the fruit of my groin’, it is great fodder for gentle brotherly ribbing.
“While the novel explores some serious themes, humour bubbles up in the cheeky banter between characters, the various failed parent teacher interviews and in the mangled idioms uttered by dear Benjamin.”
