James Hebert is an award-winning writer, editor and digital content creator with more than 5,000 published stories, in outlets including the San Diego Union-Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and American Theatre. He served as the Union-Tribune’s longtime chief theater critic, and his writing has been featured in two college textbooks as well as recognized with more than 30 honors, including a national Society for Features Journalism prize.
James is also a former juror for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama and has been a frequent guest speaker, TV/radio commentator and panel moderator. He currently serves as content manager for the San Diego Tourism Authority, where he writes/edits and supervises content for the organization’s market-leading website. James’ first play, “B-17,” was honored by a Vancouver playwriting festival and has received several public readings around San Diego. He lives in Encinitas and is a member and immediate past chairman of the City of Encinitas Commission for the Arts, to which he was appointed by now-State Sen. Catherine Blakespear.
James is a graduate of San Diego State University and received his master’s degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.
About James Hebert
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I’m married to Sophy Chaffee, a fantastic writer, longtime journalist and all-around amazing human. We met through sparring over each other’s work in a writing seminar at Columbia University, and somehow she still puts up with me. We have a daughter, Audrey, who’s an honors graduate of UC Santa Cruz (she was elected Phi Beta Kappa) and now is fiercely dedicated to making it as a standup comedian – she’s a rising star around San Diego and a frequent roast-battle contender at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. Our son, Zander, is a graduate of La Costa Canyon High and COAST Academy, and absolutely loves anything to do with the beach and music; we have learned profound new ways of seeing the world through his journey as an autistic person.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
To this day I’m kind of amazed I’ve made a career as a writer, because while I was an insatiable reader as a kid, I kind of hated to write – not so much the act as the anticipation, because it always felt overwhelming to face a blank page. But at some point I fell in love with the power and rhythms of language in the work of poets such as Theodore Roethke, Walt Whitman, Denise Levertov and T.S. Eliot, and journalism came to seem a more accessible way for me to try and become a writer. It’s been quite a zig-zag path, from my first piece in the Daily Aztec to writing about yachting for the San Diego Log and Offshore Magazine in Boston, to becoming a features reporter, arts writer and eventually chief theater critic at the U-T. And now, writing all about the awesome place that is San Diego, as well as trying my hand at playwriting, which has been a completely new adventure.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
I joked with our daughter a while back that I’d never provided her with any “As my dad always said …” kind of wisdom. So I decided to come up with something (and I actually happen to believe it!): Remember to keep your knees bent. It’s true for surfing (a lifelong pursuit of mine) and lots of other sports. But I think it’s also true for life writ large: You have to keep a relaxed but ready stance and be prepared to absorb all the bumps that are bound to come your way. So now if she’s ever asked in an interview, Audrey can respond: “As my dad said that he always said, keep your knees bent.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I plan to be writing in some form, because the great and terrible thing about writing is that you can always get better at it.
James Hebert & Our Community
Q: What are a few of your favorite restaurants in our community?
One of my favorites in Downtown San Diego is the Water Grill, which is right next to Petco Park so perfect for an elevated pre-Padres game meal or round of cocktails. On my home turf of Encinitas, I love the indoor/outdoor lounge at the Alila Marea hotel (incredible views) as well as VAGA restaurant there, but you’re more likely to find us at Jorge’s Mexicatessen for their ridiculously good chile relleno burritos.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
San Diego County for more than 50 years (with a couple of detours to the East Coast), and in our present digs for about 20.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
In Encinitas, I’d have to say Jerm Wright, a beloved art instructor to scads of students over the years (including my daughter) at San Dieguito Academy, and a real force for activism and good in the community. In San Diego, my brilliant friend Dea Hurston (who passed away in July) was an inspiration and benefactor to countless artists as both an arts patron and playwright. We will miss her forever.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I worked in movie theaters around San Diego to make spending money as a kid, so I miss the grand old, big-screen cinemas here – the Loma, Cinema 21, the Valley Circle and others. (Encinitas is lucky to still have La Paloma, though.)
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
I love that San Diego is such a fertile arts destination – we have one of the most thriving theater scenes in the country – and that it all happens right by the surf. (Or sometimes even IN the surf, as with one site-specific La Jolla Playhouse production I saw.)
Q: If you could choose anyone alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet for this lunch?
Because I’m a longtime runner (and am now attempting to return to marathoning), Meb Keflezighi is a big hero of mine, not to mention a San Diego icon. Would love to chat with him about his epic Olympic/Boston/New York marathon exploits. And as a location, I’d pick Meze Greek Fusion in Downtown San Diego, just because I can’t get enough Mediterranean food.
For Fun
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I think the movie “Interstellar” is brilliant and underrated; it speaks to my fascinations with time travel and sci-fi. And my favorite binge-watch is the weirdly profound “The Good Place.”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I’ve been stung by stingrays three times while surfing, although people likely know this already because I whine about it so much.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The view from the statue at Cabrillo National Monument.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My wife, Sophy, who is a model of patience, caring, empathy and creativity.
Q: What community organizations and/or local nonprofits do you admire/support?
I’m a huge fan of Surfers Healing. The founders, Izzy and Danielle Paskowitz, pioneered the idea of taking autistic children into the water for a day of surfing, and now they do that amazing work all over the world. And I feel good about the enlightened view of San Diego that the Tourism Authority embodies under our awesome president/CEO, Julie Coker.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
My friend Thom advised me to just go ahead and cough up the $50 application fee to Columbia j-school already. It seemed like a lot of money at the time but it changed my life.
Q: What Neighborhood do you live in?
Encinitas Highlands
What I love about my Neighborhood:
Being able to bike or walk to Swami’s with my board in tow.
Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend:
Saturday, hitting Stone Brewing at Liberty Station for brunch before taking my son to a music festival or one of his beloved Miracle League of San Diego baseball games. Sunset dinner on our deck and then heading either to a play at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, or to see my daughter perform at a local comedy club. Sunday: A long run along Coast Highway 101 and around San Elijo Lagoon, with a quick stop at my unofficial “aid station,” Achilles Coffee in Solana Beach. Seaside Reef for surf and sun in the afternoon, or a visit to the brand-new Pacific View Arts Center, a big focus of the Encinitas Arts Commission’s work during my tenure there. And then Jorge’s burritos in the evening, with probably a Cutwater margarita.
Q: Finally, what three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Gratitude. Family. And to quote ELO: Now we are here.
