Jennifer Jones, arguably Canada’s greatest-ever women’s curling skip, has written an autobiography to be released on Aug. 26.
Jones’ book, Rock Star: My Life on and off the Ice comes out less than 10 days before Eve Muirhead’s new tome.
The Olympic and multiple world champion – who competed in 18 Canadian women’s STOH championships and is now an advisor and TV commentator – had always thought “I have to write a book one day.” After her strong final season of women’s fours play (she continues playing mixed doubles with husband Brent Laing) she was approached by North American publisher HarperCollins to do just that.
“I was very humbled that someone would want to hear (my story),” Jones said in a social media post. “As I was sharing my story and coming up with the book I realized there’s so many more stories to share.
“The evolution of women’s curling has come so far since I started way back (in 1994) and so many things have changed along the way, whether we advocated for them or were just a part of the growth… it’s something that we’re really proud of.”
Jones worked with TSN’s golf and curling senior reporter Bob Weeks on the 288-page book.
Here’s the book description:
No stone is left unturned in this no-holds-barred memoir by one of Canada’s greatest curlers.
From the first slides as a toddler at her hometown Winnipeg curling club to the top step of the Olympic podium, Jennifer Jones has risen to become one of curling’s greatest players. Along the way, she has altered how the game is played and has kicked open doors to allow women to have equality in what was, traditionally, a male-dominated field.
Her record of achievement is unmatched, but it never came easily. In Rock Star, Jones opens up about the tensions between teammates and opponents, how she combined law school and a legal career with curling at the highest level, the inside story on what many consider the greatest shot in curling history, how her Olympic dream almost ended on a ski hill in Switzerland, and the challenges of balancing world-class curling with motherhood.
Jones also reveals the personal battles she endured during her career. While she was front and centre in arenas and television coverage, she had to push herself past her severe introversion to find some level of comfort with being in the spotlight. There were also clashes with the media, which sometimes portrayed her so harshly that it left her in tears.
From first slide to last rock, the journey she shares in this memoir is one that may surprise even her biggest fans. Jones helped to grow the sport, and in exchange, she grew as a curler, a wife, a mother, and a public figure. Equal parts inspiring and shocking, Rock Star will leave readers in awe of her accomplishments and the journey that led her to become the person she is today.