WILKIE — When the world stopped in 2020, many people challenged themselves to keep the boredom at bay, whether it was starting a daily exercise regime, an extra-large puzzle or sourdough.
For one former Wilkie resident, she tasked herself to start writing 1,000 words a day.
Jennifer Jacoby-Smith is the daughter of the late Jackie Jacoby. Known for years as the hairdresser’s daughter, Jacoby-Smith had a love for literature even at a young age. In an interview with SaskToday, the writer shared some of her memories from her mother’s business.
“I would spend the day with my mom while she looked after her clients. Once they were placed under the dryer, I would often grab a book, climb up onto their knees and ask to be read to.”
Growing up as an only child to a single mom, Jacoby-Smith often found herself in her room, creating characters and scenarios. She later graduated from McLurg High School in 1991, and by the age of 20, had two children under the age of four. Trying to find a way to raise her children and create an income, Jacoby-Smith discovered a group of freelance writers and was soon writing again.
She later found herself in the Star Phoenix newsroom, often covering the Saskatoon arts scene, interviewing musicians, actors and artists of varying mediums. She later moved to radio, creating commercial advertising for clients before working for as a content producer. As the city of Saskatoon was preparing to host the Juno Awards for the first time, Jacoby-Smith was part of the Juno print guides project.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the Junos were cancelled, which was a disappointment for the author.
“I have a love for Canadian music and art, so to be involved with the Junos, to have them cancelled, was disheartening,” said Jacoby-Smith.
Much like her younger years, the author unleashed her creative writing skills on a daily basis, challenging herself to write a minimum of 1,000 words a day. She began exploring characters again, putting them in various scenarios. With the cancellation of the music awards, Jacoby-Smith created her own, finding the inspiration she needed for her first book, A Fondness for the Reckless.
The fictional novel follows Canadian boy band Ten Past Midnight, featuring friends Indie and Jaxson. When a reporter pushes the limits during the interview, Indie becomes frustrated and questions if the right move for himself would be to leave the band, fly to Los Angeles and sign a solo deal.
“The story is geared towards the younger adults, but can be for anyone who is trying to find a place to belong and looking to reinvent themselves. Indie comes across as selfish, but readers learn throughout why he is the way he is,” said Jacoby-Smith. She did admit her husband was not a fan of the main character at the beginning, and she often turned to her daughter for help, especially in the fashion department.
Once restrictions were lifted, the author and her daughter travelled to Toronto, taking in as many concerts as they could, using their experiences to add to the novel, where the story takes place. Although not all of Jacoby-Smith’s pandemic stories were used in A Fondness for the Reckless, she was able to find the inspiration needed for her first literary novel, completing the story in roughly six months.
But she did not stop at just one book.
At the age of 19, the writer learned for the first time the name of her father, James Victor Jr. He was a platform artist for Redken, showcasing the latest hairdressing techniques to other hairdressers all over the world. He and Jacoby-Smith’s mother met at one of these events, resulting in the birth of the writer.
The father and daughter found each other in 2001, communicating back and forth over the phone. In 2010, the pair met for the first time.
“It felt awkward to begin with. Here is this person I have never known and we share DNA. We quickly learned we had a very similar sense of humour and a love for the game of football,” shared the author. She said she discovered he had led a very colourful life, growing up in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. By the time they had connected, he was living in Omaha, Neb., living a quiet life with his wife and teaching hairdressing at a local college.
After his death in 2015, her stepmother had asked if she would be interested in writing about his life, preserving his story.
“I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew and because I never knew my dad growing up, this gave me the chance to learn more about him,” said Jacoby-Smith. After 10 years of research and interviews, the memoir His Name Was James is set to come out in early 2026.
“My mom always said I would write a book about him, and I always said I didn’t think I would. When I got back from his funeral and told her I was asked to write his story, all she said was ‘Told you so,’” laughed Jacoby-Smith.
Although Jacoby-Smith’s mother knew she was working on the memoir, she unfortunately passed away before the literary work was completed. But the author said she is sure they would both be proud of the story she has worked so hard to preserve.
A Fondness for the Reckless is now available online and at McNally Robinson in Saskatoon.
