Creators
Author bio:
Jennifer Al-Abboud is a writer and owner-operator of a 5-star gelato business that she and her husband, Fareed, built from scratch. She is a traveler, questioner, lifelong learner, and forever teacher. Jennifer earned an MA in Teaching from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and a BA in International Affairs with a minor in economics from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. She taught Spanish, history and social studies for 15 years at public, private non-profit, and private for-profit international schools. While teaching, she led students on trips to Washington D.C., New York City, Costa Rica, Spain, and Italy. And she served as assistant debate coach, Model United Nations facilitator, and Week Without Walls tour group leader. She has also worked in the airline and healthcare industries. Her resiliency research and personal background have influenced her business decisions, responses to trauma, and her attitude toward struggle as a catalyst for growth. Jennifer applies the same independent spirit to her writing as she does to her gelato business, choosing to self-publish a professionally-edited book that is produced by a family owned-and-operated printshop in the Pacific Northwest, instead of taking the easier and less expensive route of corporate mass production. She was born in Seattle and resides in the Puget Sound region of Washington State with Fareed.
Illustrator bio:
Fareed Al-Abboud is co-owner of Medzo Gelato Bar which he operates with his wife, Jennifer. He earned an MA in Teaching from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington and a BA in Fine Arts from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. He worked as a graphic artist and print shop manager for a family-owned athletic supply company in Spokane for 19 years, taught elementary school art in Dubai for three years, and has been designing artworks—logos, t-shirts, posters, business cards, and promotional materials—for the gelato business for the past 11 years. He designed the cover and interior graphics for The Scoop on Mom and Pop and contributed to content in the form of reading and recalling details of the couple’s journey. He was born in Kuwait and raised in Egypt, and he now resides in the Puget Sound region of Washington State with Jennifer.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
SEOO Publications (Independent Self-Employed Owner-Operators – pronounced I See you) is a small owner-operated self-publishing business which places principles over profit. We handle fulfillment of printed books in house and partner with local vendors whenever possible, including Gorham Printing in Centralia, Washington and Gravity Payments in Seattle. We strive to offer equal or better product quality than traditionally-published books, so our books have been professionally edited, designed and printed. Because of our commitment to offering local, high-quality products, we do not offer discounts. Instead, we endeavor to offer superior customer service with a human touch.
About memoirs:
Memoirs are non-fiction literary works based on an author’s recollection of personal experiences, including their motivations, thoughts, feelings, interactions, interpretations, and responses to circumstances during a specific event or a specific period of their life. They are based on the writer’s memory and may not necessarily be interpreted or remembered in the same way by others.
The stories depicted in this memoir are true, and though we intend to offer the reader authenticity and transparency, ethics and legalities dictate what we can say about who. Consequently, names, places and descriptions may have been changed to protect the privacy of others. We have included real names and places of small businesses and their owners where we believe it would be beneficial to them.
Intent:
Our stories ultimately aim to make the world a better place by offering joy, entertainment, insight, knowledge, validation, awareness, thought-provoking interpretations, and lessons we have learned that could help others. In some cases, this means exposing harmful patterns or systemic failures that negatively impact people, groups of people, or society at large. Sometimes, brutal honesty may be necessary to elicit positive change. In that vein, negative portrayals or conveyance of negative experiences are intended for the greater good.
Author’s note:
I recognize that not all bad behavior comes from bad people. Sometimes, bad behavior comes from bad circumstances. And sometimes bad behavior comes from good people on a bad day. So, rather than judge the characters of my story, I have chosen to focus on my interpretation of events as it relates to the impact on my life or my business, keeping in mind that who I am and where I am wouldn’t be possible without each and every encounter, positive or negative.