MFWG November 2026 Author Spotlight: J. W. Jesser

It is my pleasure to host fellow MFWG member J. W. Jesser. He wrote a book called the Passable Cook and once I read the blurb I kept on thinking about the song that goes from the streets of so-and-so instead I changed it to De Smet.

Blurb:

The Passable Cook, taking place in De Smet, South Dakota in 1947, is a heartwarming

tale of resiliency, where the warmth of home cooked meals and the uniqueness of

human connection paves way to wholeness and a love that defies the contraints of time.

Hanna Morland carries the weight of grief at the loss of loved ones in and because of

World War II. Her ordered world is disrupted by the appearance of a new vicar and of

four small girls that eventually worm their way into her heart.

Amidst the post-war backdrop, an unexpected romance begins to blossom. The Passable

Cook is a touching story of healing, the enduring strength of community, and the

discovery that we are all capable of being the exception, especially in the face of life’s

greatest challenges.

1. Where did you get your idea for your book?

As I go about my day, especially when I am driving somewhere, I get story

ideas that I jot down.

2. What is your favorite character in your book and why?

Hanna reminds me of my grandmother. She has the strength, wit, and

humor of my grandmother.

I like Gordon in the Cranky Angel stories. He is so absolutely cranky that

you cannot help but love him.

3. Is there any scene in your book based on real life? If so, what?

In The Passable Cook, I worked with a character named Mrs. B. She was

exasperating then, and she is in the book, too.

Buy Links:

Amazon: Amazon.com : the passable cook by j w jesser

bookstores

About the Author:

J. W. Jesser is a retired school teacher, father, and grandfather. He lives and gardens in

rural South Dakota.

Thanks, K. A.