J. J. Anderson

Jeffrey James Anderson’s first employer, a stubborn old German who owned a small boatyard, summed him up best when he said, “You’re certainly not the smartest kid I ever met, but you are one of the most determined.”

At a young age he sensed the importance of time and strived to make every day count. He dropped out of college after discovering 'well-rounded' meant taking courses he had no interest in. The fantasy of becoming head of Q branch ended quicker than the iconic gun barrel sequence of a Bond film. Meeting the love of his life, early in life, he wanted to get on with life. The day after dropping out of college, the question of how to accomplish this became more relevant. Growing up in the suburbs of Long Island in the 1980s, wasn’t getting married, buying a house, and starting a family, everyone’s objective? Using Mom and Dad’s backstory as a template for success, he applied for a job where his father, great uncle, and great grandfather worked.

There were many unexpected journeys during a thirty-year stint on the Long Island Rail Road. In the meantime, two terrific children were born & raised, while a home and hundreds of surfboards were handcrafted. Epic waves were allegedly ridden. Upon retirement he was still married to the love of his life, who was astonishingly more beautiful than when they met. They escaped New York together and began a new life as fulltime residents in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

While recovering from two major hurricanes and a world-wide pandemic, he remained an active member of the St. Croix Writers Circle. His proven theory of repeatedly smashing a square peg into a round hole remained adhered to. Once published, he insisted the post-nominal letters AUTH (Author) be added after his name on all official documents. Current endeavors include working the land, completing the home he plans to die in, admiring spectacular sunsets, and formulating new and exciting Cruzan Rum cocktails. When inspiration strikes, a laptop is opened and random words are arranged.

Editing will be the death of him.