T-R writer published in Serling Books Anthology
Serling created ‘Twilight Zone’
May 11, 2015
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Times-Republican
Times-Republican features writer Sara Jordan, 25, said that writing is in her blood.A fitting comment for someone who writes for a living, but do not be misled.
Jordan is dead serious about her craft as evidenced by her work since joining the T-R as a correspondent last December. Her talents led to a promotion as full-time features writer in March.
Article Photos
TR PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY
T-R features writer Sara Jordan had her first work of fiction published in the new anthology “Submitted For Your Approval”. She is one of 11 authors chosen, and her novella “A Day Saved Is A Day Earned” is the longest story in the book. Anne Serling, daughter of “The Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling, and the Rod Serling Books board, selected the stories.
T-R features writer Sara Jordan had her first work of fiction published in the new anthology “Submitted For Your Approval”. She is one of 11 authors chosen, and her novella “A Day Saved Is A Day Earned” is the longest story in the book. Anne Serling, daughter of “The Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling, and the Rod Serling Books board, selected the stories.
The late Rod Serling was the Emmy-award winning, creative writing force behind "The Twilight Zone" a critically acclaimed and thought-provoking television program on CBS-TV from 1959 to 1964.
Serling wrote more than 80 episodes.
"Submitted for your approval ..." was his iconic phrase spoken as part of the introduction to each compelling episode, a mixture of drama, science fiction and other genres.
Anne Serling, Rod Serling's daughter, now carries the baton passed by her father.
It is the first book in a series publishing like-minded authors who write in a similar vein as her late father.
Jordan is one of only 11 authors featured, and one of only four females.
Another writer, Mariel Cooksey is the granddaughter of famed science fiction writer Richard Matheson who penned 16 episodes of "The Twilight Zone."
"My story, "A Day Saved is a Day Earned" is the longest in the book, is classified as a novella," Jordan said.
Her work runs 109 pages, approximately one-third of the book.
"This was my first attempt at a full-length work of fiction, as I am a writer primarily concerned with history, politics, social issues and other non-fiction topics," Jordan said.
A 25-year old woman working as a legal secretary in a law office is caught inexplicably in a time warp is Jordan's character, who, with the help of a guardian angel, searches for answers to a puzzling question.
It is vintage "Twilight Zone" material.
Jordan, who grew up in a small town west of Des Moines is used to seeing her name in print.
Her parents, Larry Jordan and Julie Campbell-Jordan, publish the regional magazine "Midwest Today" and Sara assumed more writing duties for the magazine after graduating from the Iowa in 2012, covering topics ranging from fashion, food, religion, art and Midwest celebrities.
While a student at the University of Iowa, she was published in the "Iowa Historical Review."
She began writing her novella around Halloween 2011 in her dorm room.
"I let it be for months at a time finding a renewed interest in elongating the story the summer of 2012," she said.
"I ran across Rod Serling Books website and read about what type of work they were accepting and noted my story hit most if not all of the 'bullet points.'
Use of irony, characters who receive retributive justice, and
incidents of prejudice, unreasoning hate, or social injustice were some.
"I emailed Rod Serling Books my manuscript in March 2014, didn't hear anything until that summer when I was told my work made initial read by the panel, then heard nothing," Jordan said.
Not wanting to wait, Jordan did a Kindle self-publish in September.
"On Christmas Eve day I received an email from Anne Serling, saying my story would be included in the anthology. In March I learned more about the book, its title and all of the authors' pictures would be on the front cover!"
Jordan is not resting on her laurels.
She is currently writing a biography of classic Hollywood celebrities from the Heartland called "Midwesterners in Movieland."
She and her fiancé, Andy Heintz, and their cat, Madeline, reside in Marshalltown.
"Submitted for your Approval," Inaugural Edition, is edited by Anne Serling with Jim Benson, Mark Dawidziak, Mark Ohlshaker and Scott Skelton. It is available through Amazon and Kindle download and paperback.
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Contact Mike Donahey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com
