About

Jill Fordyce

Jill Fordyce was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. She received a degree in English from the University of Southern California and a law degree from Santa Clara University. While practicing law, she continued to study writing through the Stanford Continuing Education creative writing program. Belonging is her debut novel. She and her husband, Craig, have five children, and live in California and Tennessee.

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Growing up in Old Stockdale, a leafy neighborhood of tall trees and wide streets, I enjoyed a typical 1970’s childhood of riding bicycles to friends’ houses, slumber parties, playing basketball in the driveway, and listening to the American Top 40 on Sundays. Even as a child, I loved writing and telling stories.

I attended public schools in Bakersfield and was a member of the State Championship Speech & Debate team at West High School. I was greatly inspired by two of my high school teachers, Don Vettel and Charles Rosengard. Don Vettel was the brilliant debate coach who taught his students not only how to research, write, and argue, but also how to understand and connect with their audience—and to be unafraid competing against teams with much greater resources. Charles Rosengard was the AP English teacher who handed out Beatles lyrics along with the standard curriculum, opening our eyes to thinking about music and lyrics in the same way we thought about literature and poetry.

Upon graduation from USC, I was very honored to receive the Order of the Laurel, awarded to students who display leadership and service that makes a lasting impact on the university community and/or the world at large. Drawn to its commitment to social justice, I attended Santa Clara University Law School. During law school, I spent Fridays at Saint James Park in San Jose, doing intake interviews for Senior Adults Legal Assistance. For the majority of my law career, my practice was devoted to representing indigent criminal defendants on appeal. I have argued cases before the California courts of appeal and the California Supreme Court.

I met my husband, Craig, at USC. We were married in 1988 and our five children are now 19-32. We recently welcomed our first grandchild.
I love books, music, film, and photography. I love to cook, bake, and entertain. I love nothing more than a crowded table filled with family and friends and a great playlist filled with unexpected genres, long-forgotten album cuts, and whatever my children are listening to. I love spending time at our family farm in Tennessee, taking walks in the woods, hosting friends, and going to hear live music. I am co-founder of the Fred Zulfa Memorial Scholarship at West High School in Bakersfield.