Ask the Author: Jeff Hobbs
Answered Questions (59)
Jeff Hobbs
Thank you for this kind and meaningful message and sorry I did not see it on Goodreads until now. It means a lot that you took the time to read and reach out, and your honesty means a lot as well. I miss him. It’s been nice to stay in close touch with his entire extended family and of course his mom. Last summer I went to a family reunion at Jackie’s home and that was the last time we were all together, though she also recently visited us in California. Anyway, Rob was a good person. It’s nice whenever I hear from people who see that. So thank you again. There is a film adaptation on Netflix now that was a special experience to share with his family and they are all for the most part happy with how it came out. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you so much for this kindest of notes, it means a lot, for real. I’m sorry I’m just getting to it now. I’m so glad you were moved by Rob and his story. He was a good person and I miss him. The film adaptation is currently on Netflix and that was a special experience to share with his mom. As to your question, Jackie and Rob’s friends still have not spoken since he died. I don’t believe they ever will. What I will say is that sometimes still Jackie will ask me how they are doing, and she’ll ask me to pass along her best to them. So there is still some caring there. But to be blunt, she is still very angry with them. On their side, they just want the best for her. It means a lot that you asked. Thank you, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Thank you so much for this kindest of messages. I’m sorry I’m only just getting to it now. It means a lot, for real. I miss him. The film adaptation is now on Netflix. I hope you have been well in the meantime and I’d be interested in learning of any other book recommendations you might have that have similarly moved you? Best, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Thank you so much. This means an awful lot, for real, that you would read and take the time. So glad that you were moved by Rob and his story. He was a good person. I miss him a lot. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi Erin,
Thank you so much for finding this and reaching out. I am pretty low-tech but will aim to get this updated and I really appreciate the kind sentiment as well. I hope readers respond to Seeking Shelter and the story of Evelyn and her family. Sincerely, Jeff
Thank you so much for finding this and reaching out. I am pretty low-tech but will aim to get this updated and I really appreciate the kind sentiment as well. I hope readers respond to Seeking Shelter and the story of Evelyn and her family. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi Toni, thank you for asking this. It is hard to answer objectively. But I would put forward that, having had the privilege of visiting many dozens of urban high school and HBCU classrooms to facilitate conversations about Rob Peace—there is something about Rob’s character and his story that compels young men, and particularly young black men, to share their own stories in different ways—to just talk and listen to each other with some degree of respect and vulnerability. That alone can be meaningful and important. So I think the answer is yes, due to having seen that unfold so many times. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi D. I'm sorry that it has been some months since you wrote this. I'm not very often on social media. But thank you very much for your question, which is one I struggled with throughout writing the book, and continue to struggle with in a different way even now, years later. The context maybe matters a bit here. When I first reached out to Jackie Peace, my intention was only to write something like 1,000 words, maybe for his high school newsletter or some other format that few would ever read. I thought I would spend some time with a few family members (6-8 people, I thought) and friends and write a handful of memories that spoke to his life, not just his death. Since you've read the book, you know that Rob had a LOT of friends, and so 6-8 people turned into 60 and then 80 and then more, all of whom lived in different parts of his life but were connected by the commonality of caring. It's a long story, but I call this a eulogy that got out of hand. But that was why I wrote the book -- because I was part of a large community of people who did not want to let Rob go. The second part of your question--what I hoped to gain--is a little harder to answer in retrospect. Rob was not famous, and his story is very sad, so I did not ever believe many people would read it. But I guess, on a selfish level, it was nice to feel like I was doing something positive in his memory, if only as a conduit through which all the people who loved him, and who couldn't help him while he was still here, could share their grief, regrets, and complicated feelings. On a broader level, it felt important to communicate that a life shouldn't be defined by its worst decisions. I think Rob believed that.
And as to your final, really important reflection--I've had this dialogue with many people in the time since, particularly in schools with students who have experiences in common with Rob, many of whom also feel as you do. There is the added, difficult layer of telling the story of someone who couldn't tell or inform on it himself. You're right: while I strived to tell his story through the time spent with all these people who cared about him, a black person could have told his story on a deeper, truer level. I acknowledged this in the pages themselves. Yet, factually, no other person was going to spend the years to learn his unique story, so I take responsibility for having done this and do feel that his story is dignified and worthy--also, ultimately, positive. As his mother said, she's glad that her son can continue to influence people for the better. So in the end, I thank you for bringing this up and respectfully holding me to account. I hope this response is meaningful, and I wish you the best. Sincerely, Jeff
And as to your final, really important reflection--I've had this dialogue with many people in the time since, particularly in schools with students who have experiences in common with Rob, many of whom also feel as you do. There is the added, difficult layer of telling the story of someone who couldn't tell or inform on it himself. You're right: while I strived to tell his story through the time spent with all these people who cared about him, a black person could have told his story on a deeper, truer level. I acknowledged this in the pages themselves. Yet, factually, no other person was going to spend the years to learn his unique story, so I take responsibility for having done this and do feel that his story is dignified and worthy--also, ultimately, positive. As his mother said, she's glad that her son can continue to influence people for the better. So in the end, I thank you for bringing this up and respectfully holding me to account. I hope this response is meaningful, and I wish you the best. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you so much for reading and responding to Rob's story, and reaching out with such kind words. It means a lot, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. As for your question, it's a hard one to answer, certainly with any confidence. There are a lot of moments that, had they unfolded differently, would have maybe led to better outcomes. There is also a lot of randomness. It all speaks to the messiness of being a person, and having a consciousness, and having values--often conflicting values--that we use to make decisions. I'd like to think that, had that money not disappeared, he probably would have gone back to school and been teaching and raising a family now. He would have been great at both. (Yesterday, in fact, would have been his 40th birthday.) But, again, no one really knows--we just know that he was a fundamentally good guy who made some poor choices, but whose life was far more meaningful than his death. Also--Jackie never knew about that money situation; Rob was very skilled at hiding things from her and a lot of others who loved him. That was a big part of how things ended, as well. In the meantime, wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you for reaching out. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. That's a nice question -- Rob really loved water polo, and it was a blast watching him play it. He always looked really joyful and free in the water -- maybe even at peace. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you for reading and reaching out so thoughtfully -- it means an awful lot, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. As for your question, it can't be answered without mentioning both his mother and father--his other who fiercely loved and sacrificed for him, his father who used prison phones to call and go over his homework. And the most meaningful part of writing the book was spending time at St. Benedict's, his high school, where he definitely thrived under the strict demands. I hope that answers your question. I know it's been a long time. But regardless, sending all my best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you so much for reading with your book club and reaching out so thoughtfully--it means an awful lot, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. As to your question, it's a tough one and maybe one I should have researched more and explored further when writing the book. I've definitely learned a lot about addiction and marijuana in the time since (and times and attitudes, have certainly changed rapidly at least here in California). Weed really wasn't a part of my life and so I never really understood its role in Rob's, other than that he seemed to truly, almost romantically love weed and being high -- "I can just be..." he used to say. It's easy to think, especially through the perspective of Oswaldo, that with some help, he could have shed that malaise and maybe confronted some of his psychic load. But Rob really wasn't a person who ever asked for help or appeared to need it, even near the very end. So what's left is a lot of regret. Not sure if this answers your question. But wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hello and thank you so much for reading and responding to Rob's story, and then reaching out with such kind and meaningful words. It means a lot, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. As to your question, it's a little complicated, and yet not. I guess I always went about this work under with the understanding that I would learn things I didn't know about Rob, things that would make me sad and guilty for not being a better friend or making a better effort. A lot of people in his orbit shared that feeling. And yet we all knew he was fundamentally a good person whose life was far more meaningful than just his death. That never really changed. But I guess in the years since, having been touched by so many people--mostly young people, high schools students, teachers, etc--I've felt even more mournful thinking about what a great teacher he would have been, what a great father, had a few moments unfolded differently. Yesterday was his birthday; he would have turned forty. It's a particularly sad time. Thanks again and wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hello -- So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. So the ship has probably sailed on your request but I think there's a way to email me directly via Goodreads? Regardless, thank you so much for reading and responding to Rob's story, and reaching out so thoughtfully. It means a lot, for real. Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you for reaching out--your kind words mean a lot, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. I mention that only to say that the years have been busy working on a book. And I know the ship has probably sailed by this point, but you're welcome to reach out to me regarding the above--I think you can email me directly on Goodreads? I have the next book already researched so it's hard to find space, but I also go about work under the firm belief that every person one encounters in a coffee shop or a train station or a Goodreads forum has a worthy story and I'm always grateful to listen. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
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Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you for reaching out with such tremendously kind words--it means a lot, particularly coming from an educator. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. I mention that only to say that I admire teachers and the work you do so much, and I wish you all the very best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you so much for reading and responding to Rob's story, as well as taking the time to reach out with such kind words. It means an awful lot, even after all these years, for real. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. In the meantime, I wish you all the best and really am grateful to hear from you, and to know that maybe Rob still continues to impact people for the better, as he did for me and so many others I know. Sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hello and thank you so much for reaching out -- it means a lot. So sorry for the years-long delay in responding. I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better about that, as my next book called Show Them You're Good comes out in August, about young men in different neighborhoods finishing high school and aspiring for college. I know it's been a very long time since you asked about this, but the scholarship window can be found here: http://www.lifeofrobertpeace.com/scho...
Wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hi and thank you so much for reading and reaching out. It means a lot. I'm sorry for the years-long delay in responding to this--I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better as my next book, Show Them You're Good, comes out in August, about young men finishing high school in different neighborhoods and aspiring for college. As for writing the book, I guess the hardest part was the pure sadness of losing someone I cared about a lot but, in the end, probably didn't know as well as I wished I had. That, and being kind of a conduit for the grief of so many others who loved him. That was a lot to carry. At the same time, there was so much laughter and kind memories shared during the writing of the book--I'm really grateful for that. I hope this finds you well, and wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
Jeff Hobbs
Hello and thank you very much for reading and responding to Rob's story, and reaching out with such kind sentiments. It means an awful lot, for real. I'm sorry for the years-long delay in responding to this--I really don't spend time on social websites but am trying to be better as my next book, Show Them You're Good, comes out in August, about young men finishing high school in different neighborhoods and aspiring for college. Jackie is still in Newark, in her home. She is doing well, though this is a really sad time for her as Rob's birthday was yesterday -- he would have been turning 40. She retired a few years ago but still works part time and also helps with food service in the school district. I'm afraid I can't share her email. I hope you understand. Wishing you all the best, sincerely, Jeff
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