Thornbury-based radio host Jeff Woods is preparing to release his second book Being Bi, and is looking for a little help to get there.
Woods has launched a Kickstarter to pay for the hiring of an editor and printing costs for his self-published book, which explores bisexuality and queerness from a variety of perspectives and includes anecdotes about his own experience as a bisexual man.
“Bisexuality is one of the less-understood letters in the LGBTQ+ spectrum. I wanted to dispel myths,” Woods told CollingwoodToday. “There are a lot of men and women suffering in silence because they’re not believed or understood.”
“For some people, there’s shame attached to who they are, and I want to shine a light on the fact that we can be who were are and be proud of who we are. We were born this way,” he said.
Woods is a long-time radio host, working in the sector since the early 1980s across Canada. Currently an independent content producer, his show Records and Rock Stars is a feature on Rock 95 and runs on other radio stations as well. He records his own podcast of the same name, and two years ago introduced the Blue Hotel podcast, which covers relationships and sexuality, and the podcasts are available on Apple and Spotify.
Woods said he didn’t understand his own bisexuality until he was in his early 30s.
“I didn’t fully embrace it until my mid-30s. I did a lot of research to delve into a better understanding of all of it,” he said.
He moved to Thornbury in 2008 after living in busy cities for decades, seeking a quieter life. He wrote one book in 2016 called Radio, Records and Rock Stars, which was a memoir about his time in the radio and music business.
“Most of what I do on the radio is storytelling, based on writing,” said Woods. “Eight years passed and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for a second book.”
“I wanted to do something important.”
With his Kickstarter campaign, the budget is $15,000 for printing costs, an editor and a photographer for the back cover photo. Anyone who donates at least $35 to the Kickstarter will get a signed and personally dedicated first-edition copy of the book this fall when it’s released. Higher donations include other benefits such as admission to the book launch party, custom audio narration and a one-on-one Zoom call with Woods.
As of Aug. 2, the campaign was closing in on $5,000 raised so far. The Kickstarter runs until Aug. 9 and as with all Kickstarter campaigns, if the goal isn’t reached by that date, all donations are refunded.
“The momentum has been great the past couple of days,” said Woods. “I have faith and hope that by Aug. 9, we will reach the goal and proceed to publish.”
Assuming Woods’ Kickstarter is successful, he plans to have the book printed by Oct. 1. Once the book is published, Woods plans to host two launch parties: one in Toronto in late October and one in Collingwood in November.
He said people in Collingwood or the Town of the Blue Mountains who help back the project will be able to pick up the book directly from him at his studio.
Woods’ Kickstarter campaign can be found here.
