In the Spotlight: Linda Jämsén on Self-Publishing her Debut Memoir Over 50
Linda Jämsén is an American expat writer living in Helsinki, Finland. She is a classically trained pianist and choral singer with a B.A. in Music from Bard College. After a mid-life, music-filled journey, Linda self-published her debut memoir Odyssey of Love, A Memoir of Seeking and Finding. The book is part romance, part European travelogue, part ode to classical music, and all about embracing change and adventure. Linda and I spoke on Zoom, ten hours and 4,907 miles apart.
Tell us about your memoir, Odyssey of Love.
On my 41st birthday, I hoped my boyfriend of seven years would propose, but he didn’t. A friend gifted me an appointment with a psychic and although I was skeptical, I went. She told me the relationship wasn’t working because he wasn’t my soul mate and my true love wasn’t in America, but waiting for me overseas. She predicted that I would soon embark on a journey reigniting my passion for music and working abroad. That’s where I would meet the “tall man with glasses” I was destined to be with and a Russian icon would bring us together. I thought she was way off the mark, but because of my father’s Russian roots I was intrigued. That night I played piano for the first time in months. I decided to begin my odyssey in Budapest, Hungary, land of my musical idol composer/pianist Franz Liszt.
Did you always think you wanted to self-publish your memoir?
No. I attended writers conferences in the U.S. and Europe and did the pitch sessions with agents. One agent had written “EPL?” at the top of my query. I found out that stood for Eat, Pray, Love and was told that it had already been done and publishers were flooded with travel memoir submissions. At another conference, several agents liked the premise, but wanted me to fictionalize the manuscript. They told me memoir was too hard to sell if you’re not a celebrity. But because my expat experiences were so deeply felt, that didn’t seem sincere. I shelved the book for a while. Then I came across a note my mother had written to me years earlier, before her diagnosis of dementia, encouraging me to finish my memoir. That helped me make the decision to bypass the traditional route and self-publish.
What is the best part about self-publishing?
I had more control over the end product. I didn’t want a publisher to cut people or events that were important to me and I wanted the book to be in my voice. I had input on the cover design, I picked my author photo, I wrote the backmatter, and controlled the dialogue around the book.
What is the hardest part of self-publishing?
With more oversight of the process comes a greater need to multitask. Even though I hired a company that specializes in self-publishing and marketing to help me, I still had a long to-do list because it's important that the writing, such as social media posts and author bio, matches the tone of your book.
What advice would you give to writers considering self-publishing?
You have to start with a good product and be willing to go the distance. Set up an author website early on—don't shy away from calling yourself an author!—and work on building your email list. Be prepared to spend money on a really good editor. Your book cover should reflect the genre and be attractive and professional looking.
What do you hope readers get out of your book?
Hope and encouragement. You can start a new adventure—a new life, job, romance, become a writer—at any age. It’s never too late. Keep having adventures.
Would you self-publish again and do you have plans for another book?
Yes, I would, now that I know what to expect. My next book is Triptych, which continues my story of living in Finland after Odyssey of Love. This book is about healing during a year of health challenges and family crises. My husband and I went on pilgrimages to Częstochowa, Poland and the mystical mountains of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our spirituality helped us find solace and hope.
Spirituality plays a role in Odyssey too. How did this influence your journey to love and to completing your first memoir?
Because of a vision I had that's described early in the book, I had faith that if I stuck to my goal to “settle down, not settle for”—my mantra in the memoir—I would ultimately find my true love. Meanwhile, the “tall man with glasses” was on his own search, and that’s where the Russian icon comes into the picture and is also the climax of the story. I struggled at first with whether to include some of the spiritual aspects of my journey, as they are quite precious and personal. But my husband insisted that the book wouldn't ring true if I omitted them. Also, as I reread the manuscript early in the pandemic, I thought others might find encouragement in my mid-life journey.
More about Odyssey of Love
Linda’s memoir is encouraging because she remained true to herself and showed boundless compassion for others. While living in Budapest, Linda learned about the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Towers. Shortly thereafter, she attended a concert at the Liszt Academy of Music and the highlight was pianist Péter Tóth’s performance in Totentanz (Dance of the Dead). Linda’s visceral connection to the music and the tragedy in her hometown meld, as she imagines the scene in New York through the movements of Liszt’s piece. The section is some of Linda’s finest writing—elegiac and devastating. Here is an excerpt from the last portion of the piece:
“While the Orchestra catches its breath, Péter attacks the cadenza. His right hand leaps up and down the upper registers, desperately looking for an escape, but is overcome by his left hand hammering the keys in the lower one. The conductor guides the musicians as they seep back in with the triumphant brass section blaring out the shifting theme. The Devil is back, staggering between the two teetering towers. Péter whips the keys, begging for mercy, but this last attempt is pushed back by the full weight of the Orchestra. Together, they all spiral down into the abyss, the last gasp of chords striking nails into the coffin of Humanity.”
Linda Jämsén is the author of Odyssey of Love, A Memoir of Seeking and Finding, one chapter of which won Honorable Mention in a Writer’s Digest Competition. Another excerpt appeared in the Helsinki Times. Linda worked as a development director for organizations supporting homeless artists, people living with HIV/AIDS, and at-risk elders. She organized concerts in Helsinki to support refugee musicians from the Middle East. As a pianist, her most memorable performances were in Istanbul’s Crimea Memorial Church, Vantaa Prison in Finland, and the Massachusetts State House. She sings with the Finnish Chamber Choirs Viva Vox and Idun.
You can find out more about Linda Jämsén, her Odyssey, and purchase the bookhere.
About the Interviewer
Diane Englert is a writer, accessibility consultant, and provider of audio description and open captioning services. Her writing appears in Ruminate Magazine, From the Depths, What Rough Beast, Hash Journal, We’ll Never Have Paris, and Nanoism, among others. She recently finished her first middle grade novel. Diane worked in theater as a director, producer, dramaturg, actor, and wrote libretto for several mini musicals that have all been produced. Diane loves coffee and her family, who say she makes The Best Banana Bread. Her bite is worse than her bark. Find her on Instagram @signeddiane.
