TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Maureen Zuppichini, pen name Jane McGarry, is a local author whose passion for storytelling thus far knows no bounds.
On Saturday, May 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. she’ll be meeting fans—notably fellow fantasy enthusiasts—at Barnes & Noble, 634 N. State Route 17 in Paramus, where she’ll sign copies of her latest title, “A Holder of Hope: A Pandora Retelling” (JM Books).
Residing in the township for the past 25 years, Zuppichini is “a book nerd, mental health warrior, and cat mom” who embarked on a remarkable journey from the corporate world to the wilds of literature.
She tells Pascack Press, “Reading has always been a passion for me, but I came to writing later in life. After graduating NYU, I worked 10-plus years in the pharm industry. When I became a mom, writing became my creative outlet. My first book, ‘Not Every Girl,’ [start of The Stewartsland Chronicles] is the result and voilà, I became an author.”
She says, “My books are a blend of fantasy and adventure with a splash of romance. Each one features a strong female main character because, well, girls kick butt, in my opinion.”
Titles in her oeuvre: “A Holder of Hope,” “A Prophecy of Wings,” “A Maiden of Snakes,” “Not Every Girl,”“Unexpected Rewards,” “A Betrayal Exposed,” and “Meet Me at Midnight.”
She tells us about her latest, “Retellings have become popular in fantasy, both adult and young adult. Greek myth retellings are having a moment. Popular authors [in this space] include Jennifer Saint and Natalie Haynes on the adult side and Scarlett St. Clair on the young adult side. Unlike the amazing ‘Ahab’s Wife’ [which we’d mentioned in our interview], which takes a character from one book and develops a new narrative in another, these retellings are the original myths recounted from a female perspective.”
She explains, “The feminist lens gives the reader a chance to experience the story from the female point of view with characters who possess more agency and voice than they were granted in the original myths from the all male perspective.”
She says on her website, janemcgarrybooks.com, “Some may see fantasy as purely escapism, but I’ve found a world of diversity, inclusion, and kindness, both in the artistic works and the people who love them.”
In her blog, Zuppichini—who lives “in a chaotic house full of boys and pets”—delves into the profound impact of fandoms on mental health, exploring themes of belonging, self-acceptance, empathy, connection, and the sheer joy they bring.
She says, “As a lover of fandoms, I was happy to learn of their positive effects on mental health, an area I’ve struggled with over the years. Fandoms have been a lifeline to me in difficult times, making me feel less alone. The mutual appreciation for any given fandom is a powerful and positive tie to others.”
She also reflects on series versus standalone novels, saying in part, “I love to read all the books, all the time, but nothing gets me quite as excited as an engaging series. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy plenty of standalones, however I love the prolonged delve into an imaginary world and its characters over multiple volumes, when you can connect a bit deeper and linger a bit longer.”
She says, “From ‘Nancy Drew’ and the ‘Little House’ books of my youth, I’ve always gravitated toward a series, savoring all the standards—‘Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘The Hunger Games,’ and ‘Twilight.’ Series lovers know the satisfaction of a first installment with the promise of more story to come.”
Zuppichini captures the thrill of the central questions of these series: “Will Frodo destroy the ring? Will Harry defeat Voldemort? Will Katniss take down the Capitol? Will Bella realize forever is a long time to be stuck with anyone, even if he is a hot vampire? The more books in the series, the more invested we become in the story. Anticipation builds until the sequel’s release date, speculation of what will unfold. Then at last, that delicious moment of opening the next book for the first time and continuing the journey.”