Cassidy Lee's Blog, page 2

Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 05 – Shaylon Scott

Cassidy: Welcome, Shaylon! Please give our readers an introduction of yourself and a brief explanation of your business, Book Mecca.

Shaylon: My name is Shaylon Scott, and I am the Founder of Book Mecca. Book Mecca is an online literary platform and bookstore that highlights Black authors and their stories.

Cassidy: To give our readers more insight into Book Mecca’s offerings, please give a rundown of your products and services.

Shaylon: It’s important to us that our stories, magic, and melanin glow is told by us and shared for generations. The best way to learn about a culture, even your own, is through reading a book. We seek to amplify the voices of Black authors through a personally curated online bookstore, virtual and in-person interviews as well as hosting and facilitating book themed events.

Cassidy: On that note, who or what inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship?

Shaylon: Entrepreneurship was always a retirement idea for me growing up. I always felt as if a steady paycheck was what my family needed and that my ideas were not strong enough to stand on their own. It wasn’t until I fully tested the feasibility of my business and idea through a women’s entrepreneurship course from WINGS of Dallas that I fully saw the possibility. They encouraged me to see my passion project as a purpose and not a hobby.

Cassidy: It sounds like the journey toward entrepreneurship was a gradual process. What would you say are the upsides to being an entrepreneur, and what are the downsides?

Shaylon: The best part about being an entrepreneur is seeing your dreams leave your mind and see others enjoy and embrace it. The worse part is the constant self doubt. You have to continually speak over yourself to encourage yourself when things are going great and when they aren’t.

Cassidy: I completely agree. Speaking affirmations over oneself can have a major impact on us and our success.

Along the way there have surely been milestones. Would you mind listing some of your greatest achievements or accomplishments you are proud of?

Shaylon: Some of my greatest achievements are interviewing six New York Times best selling authors in my first year, of which four of them are now slated for tv show/movie adaptations. Working with these authors early allowed me to establish my voice, theme, and the opportunity to connect with more nationally known authors.

Cassidy: That is an amazing achievement and one to be proud of. I’m sure it’s going to be awesome continuing to observe their evolution as I’m sure they will feel the same way about yours.

Getting to such a point is no small order, of course. For entrepreneurs who are working towards their own crowning achievements, what advice would you give them if they’re struggling to maintain a work/life balance?

Shaylon: I would advise any entrepreneurs to fully use their calendars and not try to remember everything themselves. As you grow, your calendars will fill up with all sorts of opportunities. You will need to prioritize and fully engage in opportunities that align with your mission and your true availability not your desire to do it all. You are still human, so it’s ok to say no or even better, not yet.

Cassidy: I concur. Giving oneself grace is integral to the delicate balance of entrepreneurship. Even the most organized and efficient people have to know their limits and practice self-care.

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your services and products? Which ones have been most successful?

Shaylon: I have focused primarily on social media and book club/author groups to share about our services and resources. Instagram has been especially fruitful in developing strong relationships with authors, famous and new. Facebook has been a great resource to engage and educate the community searching for resources and a place for their work.

Cassidy: I see, a combination of virtual and in-person methods. As you market your services, are you working on any projects concurrently?

Shaylon: The Pass the Voice Initiative is an effort to bring Black literature into the hands of future readers wherever they are. With the establishment of free, little libraries in high-traffic businesses where African Americans frequent and where literature will be valued, it is a way for us to always have access to great literature and not feel overwhelmed by the variety of content available in larger libraries. We are bringing our stories closer to home. Our initiative starts in North Texas because there are so many African-American families who have moved to the area and seek to have their voices heard and stories told as well. This initiative also provides a way for families to share literature and give back on a consistent basis and become more cognizant of the authors and stories they are reading and providing to their children. The funding will be used for the following: (Starting in North Texas (4-5) and as we grow we will move to more locations)

*Creation/Building of the little libraries

*Purchase of YA books/Children Books/Adult Books (book drives will also take place for continued inventory)

*Marketing/maintenance supplies/scouting locations/expansion goals to more counties (Initiative Link: gf.me/u/yvkdpb)

Cassidy: Fantastic strategic planning! With all of these projects and initiatives in progress, where do you see your business in 3 years?

Shaylon: In three years, I see Book Mecca as a well-known independent bookstore and resource for Black authors, famous and independent. It would serve as a go-to place for Black lit for readers and authors.

Cassidy: Your vision is truly needed and truly inspiring. Thank you! Please share your social media and business contact information, so our readers can pass along your resources as well as support you and your initiatives.

Shaylon: No problem and thank you! I’ve listed my most frequently used social media and website information. Please contact me through these channels if you are interested in any resources or services Book Mecca provides or if you have any questions. Thanks again!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookmeccaoftexas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/book.mecca

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MeccaBook

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4S1UQvFn8u1Toz6VVf-WZA

Website: https://bookmecca.org/

The post Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 05 – Shaylon Scott appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

50%-off sale for the entire month of February!

The 50% off sale continues! Enjoy my book, Finding Peace During the Healing Process: 21-Day Devotional, at a discounted price during the entire month of February. Visit my website, https://cassidyalee.com/product/finding-peace-during-the-healing-process-21-day-devotional-paperback/, and use the 50% off coupon code DEVO50 for the paperback version.

#cassidyalee
#blackauthor
#healing
#encouragement
#restoration
#devotional
#21daydevotional
#findingpeaceduringthehealingprocess
#sale
#cassidyaleepress

The post 50%-off sale for the entire month of February! appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 04 – Tenecia Nicole

Cassidy: Welcome, Tenecia! Please give our readers an introduction of yourself and a little about your book and your business.

Tenecia: Hi! I am Tenecia Nicole, and I am the author of Her Imprint: Lessons in Love, Relationships and Womanhood as Taught by my Mother. I am also the Host of Beyond the Bookshelf and the Founder of Black Women Publish, LLC.

Cassidy: There is a story behind your debut book, Her Imprint. What was the driving force? And what inspired you to pursue entrepreneurship?

Tenecia: After my Mother passed away from Triple Negative Breast Cancer, I decided to write through my pain, and I wrote about the lessons I learned from her.

I didn’t start out pursuing entrepreneurship, but I ended up leaning toward it after a conversation I had with my Dad.  

Cassidy: I believe that was a beautiful tribute to her. It takes strength to encourage others during your own grief.

You mentioned writing about the lessons your Mother taught you. Is there a message or lesson in your book you want readers to grasp?

Tenecia: Cherish the moments you have with your Mother and learn as much as you can while she’s here.

Cassidy: Those words of wisdom are so true and should not be taken lightly.

Would you mind sharing a highlight from your book with our readers? 

Tenecia: There is a section at the end of the book where I share my Mom’s journey through cancer in her own words. My Mom liked to post about her journey on Facebook and I decided to include her words after I finished writing my part of the book.

Cassidy: Tell me a bit about your experience as you wrote the book, or rather as much as you feel comfortable sharing.

Tenecia: The book was really difficult for me to write because I had to relive each moment. Normally, writing some of the lighter moments would have been easier for me, but since I wrote about all the moments (the light ones as well as the dark ones), after my Mom passed it was hard.

Cassidy: I can only imagine. I had similar experiences while writing about my Dad after he passed.

For other artists who may be struggling to complete their book for any number of reasons, do you have advice for them?

Tenecia: I didn’t experience writer’s block, but the advice I would give to other writers is to allow God to lead you, and write down everything that comes to mind. You may or may not use everything you wrote in the book, but you may take a part of something (you wrote), and put it with something else (that you’ve already written).

For example, there were parts of my book that came to me quickly, but there were parts of the book that took more time for me to write. I wrote what came to mind and stepped away from it and then I came back to it, when God gave me more words (and more insight into how to weave the words together). 

Cassidy: Agreed. Relying on God’s Words and leadings are always the best. *smiles*

Writing your novel and maintaining your businesses has to take a large amount of planning and organization. I’m sure there are upsides to it as well.

How would you describe your journey in entrepreneurship, the good and bad of it?

Tenecia: The best part about entrepreneurship is being able to work at my own pace. The worst part is the lack of steady income.

Cassidy: What advice would you give to entrepreneurs struggling to balance their life and business?

Tenecia: I believe you have to learn how to prioritize. Something that’s important today may not be as important tomorrow so I believe you have to learn how to prioritize the things (and the people) that are important to you on that particular day.

Cassidy: Prioritization is extremely important in business.

Marketing is something many authors and business owners must decide how to prioritize. What marketing techniques have you used to sell your book and services and which ones have been most successful?

Tenecia: I’ve used storytelling, social media and the Her Imprint website to sell my book. I used them in tangent, and it worked well.

Order Her Imprint.

Cassidy: Now that you’ve built momentum, where do you see your business in 3 years?

Tenecia: I see myself teaching authors how to create their own podcasts and market their books online. I see Beyond the Bookshelf turning into an author syndicate and Her Imprint moving beyond the book and morphing into a Foundation (in honor of my Mom).

Cassidy: Thank you for taking the time to share your insights! Please let readers know your social media and business contact information. We would like to support you and encourage others to do the same.

Tenecia: Thank you! Here is my social media and website information. If any readers have questions, I am happy to answer them if I can. *smiles*

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tenecianicole

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tenecianicole

Her Imprint Website: www.herimprint.co

Black Women Publish Website: www.blackwomenpublish.co

Visit Beyond the Bookshelf’s website.

The post Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 04 – Tenecia Nicole appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

2021 is here!

2021 is here!

The post 2021 is here! appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

2021: Supernatural Strength for What is to Come

Pressure brings forth condensed, refined objects. It’s an understatement to refer to 2020 as a pressurized force. Reflecting on it, I measured the rest of my life’s experiences: personal illness, layoffs, the death of my father, the end of an engagement, the loss of friendships, and the literal destruction of most of what I own in a natural disaster.

All I can say is… I lived through it.

I grew. I adapted. I pushed forward. God knew my heart, my desire to pursue purpose. In my eyes, He has honored my request by giving me the endurance and will to fight.

I stubbornly remain focused; I refuse to give up.

For anyone who is struggling to move past a hardship because it’s weighing you down, seek God. He loves us in all our states of being. When the people around us can’t accept or empathize with us, He fully embraces us. It won’t happen instantly, and things won’t immediately change. Healing is a process. But you can live through it.

I pray God gives you the will, the supernatural strength to live through it.

Blessings and breakthrough to you and your loved ones in the new year,

Cassidy

The post 2021: Supernatural Strength for What is to Come appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 03 – Bianca Chandler

Cassidy: Welcome, Bianca! Please give our readers an introduction of yourself and a little about your book, 70 Days, 70 Ways He Speaks To Me and your business, bc.

Bianca:  Well, I am just a girl obsessed with the magic of conversations. Whether it is reading one, watching one, or holding one, I love conversations and the intimacy they create. I am aware this is weird, haha! I have been a talker my entire life. I write about that in my book; it didn’t matter which seat I was seated in the classroom, I would get even the quietest student talking. While it led to countless PTA meetings, it was also passion shining through. I am amazed at how a bit of vulnerability can create space for a big bit of impact and change. 

I am a motivational speaker, life coach, and an author. My business, bc. houses several subsidiaries. The biggest of which is, Ahead! The Ahead Retreat and Workshops strive to enhance the well-being of women by equipping them with tools that can be used in everyday life to thrive spiritually, physically, and mentally to focus on all that is Ahead.

Cassidy: It seems like you’ve really connected with the women in your ministry. What inspired you to write your book, and why did you decide to pursue entrepreneurship?

Bianca: I wanted to create a space that was relatable, with concepts that were easy to grasp, and consequently make a relationship with God easier to navigate. At some point, the idea changed to capturing it in the form of a book. As I began to compile, I committed to thirty new entries. When combined there were exactly 70 entries! So I researched the number 70 and learned it was a number emphasizing spiritual awakening and enlightenment, inner-wisdom and understanding, discernment and thoughtfulness, endurance and persistence of purpose. I decided to title the book 70 Days, 70 Ways He Speaks to Me because each of the entries grew from an encounter with God, whether big or small. It is my hope readers will find Him in these pages in new ways while being inspired to keep shining their light brightly in order to illuminate the way for others to follow.

Cassidy: I love how purposeful you were with compiling your book. As you combined the entries, did you notice a message began to form in your book?

Bianca: Yes!! Developing a relationship with God does not have to be hard. He is not concerned with perfection. He just wants you.

Cassidy: So true. It’s always refreshing and encouraging to read a book like yours where a relationship with God is not characterized as a complex dynamic.

On that note, would you mind sharing a highlight from the book? *smiles*

Bianca: Of course! “One last analogy for the road. Just as a fisherman goes for a day at the lake, you must go to the Lord. As you stand next to a sea of faith filled with blessings waiting to be claimed, you must stand flat foot and firm. You must have solid and rooted faith. You must know burdens can be bait if used correctly. The same thing you are holding on to, once you cast it into the sea of faith, God will grab hold of it and you, turning your situation into one that is a blessed one. Remember, you must throw it out to God to get even better blessings in return. Let go and let God.”

Cassidy: Amen. Holding on to our burdens keeps us from finding peace and exercising faith in God. It’s a powerful lesson to learn.

While you were compiling your book, I know you said you wrote the first set of entries separately; however, did you ever experience writer’s block while writing the second half? And if so, do you have any advice for other writers?

Bianca: Yes! This is so real! When it occurs though, the best advice is to step away and step into life. Everyday living gives inspiration to write. Create a system in capturing notes in a moment when you feel inspired to. 

Cassidy: That’s insightful advice, especially for writers who may push themselves to meet writing goals. They may need to pace themselves and rediscover the joy in it instead.

On top of being an author, you’re an entrepreneur. What would you say are some of the best and worst aspects of being an entrepreneur?

Bianca: Freedom to just be! I know it may sound so cliche, but there is so much truth in that statement. I love the ability to dream up something and then make it happen. Or the freedom to create events, or workshops that fit the needs of [people] I have been speaking with. Sometimes as women, we adapt to what life has given us and never heal from what we have experienced. I love creating spaces where instead of just being a listening ear, I can also provide a way to let people know that not only are they heard, but they are not alone. 

Bianca: On the contrasting side of this, the worst part is also that same freedom. No one is going to make you do anything, so there is a certain level of discipline, accountability, and responsibility needed to keep your business afloat. You will never be able to pass the blame to anyone else. 

Cassidy: You’re certainly right about the last part. The buck stops with you. From the outside looking in, some people may see the flexibility in entrepreneurship without realizing the amount of discipline it takes to maintain a business.

For entrepreneurs who may need guidance, what advice would you give them if they are struggling to balance their life and business?

Bianca: My best advice is awareness and responsiveness! Admit the struggle! Once you admit it is a struggle, you aim to find solutions. What software do I need, how much time do I need to learn more of this or that, what types of people should I be around to learn from, what type of person is my cliente type, where are they? All important questions to ask and access where you are. Then begin to ask, how does it fit in with blank, how can I be more efficient, what things are no longer serving me? 

Cassidy: Excellent points!

I’m sure they would also like to know what advice you may have for promoting their businesses. For instance, what marketing techniques have you used to sell your book and services, and which ones have been most successful?

Bianca: My most consistent form of outreach has been my website with planned or scheduled emails and social media. I am not ashamed to send emails weekly, nor am I ashamed to boost a post to random strangers on social media. Just go for it! 

Cassidy: Yes, consistent communication is a must.

You’ve accomplished a great deal. Where do you see your business in the next three years?

Bianca: In three years, I see my business reaching even more women than I can think to imagine. I hope to have established a retreat tour that will move from state to state bringing countless ladies hope and a refreshing outlook on life. I hope to be doing this full time with no regrets or hesitations.

Cassidy: I pray you are able to do it full time as well!

Thank you so much for sharing your passion for ministry and entrepreneurial knowledge. *grins* Please share your social media and business contact information with our readers. We would like to support you and share your resources.

Bianca: Thank you very much! I appreciate the support!

I’ve provided my website address, link to my book, 70 Days, 70 Ways He Speaks To Me, on Amazon, and my social media contact information. I look forward to hearing from you all!

Website – https://www.biancachandler.com

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/70-Days-Ways-He-Speaks/dp/0999890158

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/biancachandler 

Instagram –

The post Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 03 – Bianca Chandler appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

Cross View: Scenario 2 – Story Drabble

Never frowning or raising her voice, Metoyer aimed for perfection.

To Ariel, her behavior was unnerving, like a Stepford wife’s.

Ariel shook her head, exhausted just from watching her older sister flit about entertaining guests. Maybe being a pastor’s wife was akin to being a Stepford wife. She’d mull over the thought another time.

The person she detested most had entered. Kyle earned her ire long before he married her older sister. When Kyle and Metoyer were dating, she knew it would be a match made in misery. Metoyer had been too naive to realize it.

Ariel closed her eyes and gathered the little civility she could, in case he decided to speak to her. Kyle’s very presence annoyed her. It was superficial and polished on whenever he found himself in a crowd. Her extended family was oblivious to how rude and dispassionate he could be. They hadn’t heard how he spoke to Metoyer when he thought no one could hear him.

The post Cross View: Scenario 2 – Story Drabble appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

7-Day Book Sale

Happy Holidays!

Enjoy the 7-day sale on Finding Peace During the Healing Process: 21-Day Devotional. Visit this webpage,  https://cassidyalee.com/product/finding-peace-during-the-healing-process-21-day-devotional-paperback/, and use the 50% off coupon code DEVO50 for the paperback version.

Visit Amazon for a special discounted price on the ebook version.

#cassidyalee
#blackauthor
#healing
#encouragement
#restoration
#devotional
#21daydevotional
#findingpeaceduringthehealingprocess
#sale
#cassidyaleepress
#happyholidays

The post 7-Day Book Sale appeared first on Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC.

Cross View: Scenario 1 – Story Drabble

Author’s Note:

So, I’m trying something new… I will release story drabbles of the books I am working on. (Full chapters will be available on my Patreon account ahead of each book’s release, but more on that later). These story drabbles are bite-sized chunks of my stories; the goal is to capture something interesting between characters, develop imagery, explore dialogue, etc.

Image by: @jayel96 (Jamal Lawson)

Check out his other work at: https://www.instagram.com/jayel96

#storydrabble
#crossview
#scenario1

#CassidyALee
#CassidyALeePress

[image error]

Ariel dreaded family reunions. They were full of empty promises and fake smiles.

But at least the food was good…

Still, she couldn’t stand the loud music or the people. Her older sister, Metoyer, was a pastor’s wife and had an affinity for being a hostess; so Ariel let her handle the bulk of the entertaining. There was only so long she could stomach her high-minded relatives. They’d swoop in at the last minute with little to no warning. Then they’d monopolize what ever space they were offered well past their welcome.

Slamming doors and leaving trash strewn about instead of inside their intended target, the majority of her family members were human tornadoes. They brought chaos and left destruction in their wake. Ariel only played nice out of respect for her mother.

The family reunion had forced her patience to its limit faster than usual. In the next half hour, she’d make her exit before her filter loosened, and her thoughts became verbalized. No need to call anyone a self-centered peon when simply leaving the premises would do.

Cassidy A. Lee Press, LLC: Blog Guest Feature Interview 02 – Jami Christine

[image error]Jami Christine

Cassidy: Welcome, Jami Christine! Please give our readers an introduction of yourself and a little about your book, The Transcendent.

Jami: Hi, Cassidy! Thank you so much for this opportunity! I’m from a small town in Southern Illinois, and it’s been a dream of mine since early grade school to write a novel. I’ve always loved creative writing as well as other arts, such as painting and music. I am 34, have been a massage therapist for 11 years, and currently own a wellness center. I am also in school for life coaching and hypnotherapy.

The Transcendent is about a young girl who can leave her body to assist souls to the Other Side if they’re dying alone. The ability runs in her family, but there’s a bit of a family mystery and drama around it. It gets more exciting when she finds out she’s able to bring a soul back to their body and “cheat death.”

[image error]

Cassidy: I’ve just started reading, The Transcendent, and I must say I’m enjoying the supernatural and mystery aspects of the story. *smiles*

What inspired you to write your book?

Jami: My Granny passed away in 2013, and I had the honor of being present, along with other family members, when she crossed. Nana is the one character who is really modeled after someone, and that’s my Granny (everyone else is either completely fictional or a blend of different elements of myself or important people in my life). After she passed, I thought about how beautiful it was that her loved ones got to be with her for her passing, which led me to wonder what happens when people die alone. That’s how I came up with Lessie, whose gift is to solve that problem, so nobody ever really has to die alone.

Of course there’s more to the story than that – I’ve been at “rock bottom,” or “the dark night of the soul” as some call it, and I’ve done quite a bit of work on myself to rise up from those ashes. I incorporated elements of my own healing journey into the mental and emotional healing process my character goes through after coming back from the dead (and the aftermath of a disfiguring accident), and Lessie’s mental and emotional growth as she comes to accept the many challenging layers of her gift.

Cassidy: I can certainly relate, and I’m sure our readers can as well. Genuine, soul-searching stories are a work of heart. I’m sure your book will resonate with people who have the opportunity to read it.

On that note, is there a message in your novel you want readers to grasp?

Jami: There are quite a few messages in this story, and actually I had a hard time labeling it “Young Adult” because I feel that even though the main characters are all in their late teens, there are messages of growth and healing that can speak to all ages. Self acceptance is a big message, for Lessie (whose gift is also a curse as she randomly spaces out during high school and gets unmercifully picked on for it) as well as the character who cheats death, and many other minor characters who have their own journeys of growth.

Another main message is that of the Phoenix, burning to ash and then rising from those ashes. Many of my characters portray their own phoenix story of major setbacks, life changes and challenges, and what seems like their own personal destruction. In actuality, those events all lead to journeys of healing and growth, resulting in them becoming better, stronger, wiser versions of themselves. The message I hope readers receive is to take a look at their own challenges in life and find a way to see the blessing in them – how those challenges led them to grow to become better people.

Cassidy: I love the theme of the Phoenix, and it’s personification of rebirth. It is often a theme in my own works, so it is quite dear to me. *smiles* Personal growth and transformation make for strong character development; I’m glad to hear you focus heavily on it.

If you had to briefly describe your book, what five words would you use?

Jami: I have so many words, how do I narrow them down to five? I actually had one of my beta readers help give suggestions for how to describe it! How about intriguing, thought-provoking, emotional, spiritual (not in the religious way but in the soul-searching, soul purpose sort of way), and metaphysical.

Cassidy: Hmmm, in a sense, they are interconnected. My first thought when you said metaphysical took me back to the words, intriguing and emotional.

I’m sure our readers are also intrigued at this point. Would you mind sharing a highlight from the book with us, please? 

Jami: I think one of my favorite non-spoilers is when Lessie learns about astral travel; she’s a natural at it. She’s suddenly able to project her spirit/energy/consciousness (whatever you want to call it) anywhere in the world, and it adds to the adventure and excitement of her gift (and it’s one of a few exciting abilities unlocked during the story!)

Cassidy: Lessie discovering her powers is endearing, and I’m excited to hear I’ll find out about other twists and turns in her adventure as I read.

What part of the book or character was the most fun to write? Which part was the hardest?

Jami: Hands down, the character Lessie brings back from the dead was the most fun. This character became my catharsis for a lot of unturned stones in my own healing journey, and I got to process a lot of emotions without having to relive my physical experiences. This person’s soul evolution was so much fun for me to create and write about, and I hope they inspire the reader on their own soul journey.

The hardest part was probably some of the more minor details of character and setting development, filling in the back story and building the elements that give the reader an emotional connection to the characters.

Cassidy: The energy expended to maintain detailed story telling and character development requires tones of focus. How do you combat writer’s block in such cases? Do you have any advice for other writers?

Jami: I usually beat writer’s block by sitting back and taking a look at what’s got me blocked. Am I bored? Am I disengaged? Am I unsure of what’s supposed to happen next? I make note of this, usually typing out questions to myself for me to answer later (either in the comments in the margins or highlighted in the text), and I skip over to a part that’s more exciting to write. I’ll usually see dialogues or events play out like a movie in my head, and then I get excited to capture that in writing. I record those more exciting elements and save them for when I’m ready to tie them into the overall story, and usually that helps fill in the blanks between major events, making those parts easier to write. My advice for other writers is to ask themselves the same questions when writer’s block hits, and maybe have a little Q&A journaling session with themselves. I feel like writing is not just a creative outlet, but an opportunity for personal growth. Make the most of that!

Cassidy: Those tips are going to helpful to others, especially in terms of personal growth.

Now that we’ve discussed the storytelling side of writing, let’s get down to the dreaded marketing side. *laughs* I jest, of course, but marketing is something most writers either love or loathe.

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your book and which ones have been most successful?

Jami: Honestly, I’m new here! I’m learning as I go. I originally wrote this book for the reasons I shared earlier – creative outlet and emotional catharsis – but it was also an escape from the world. I finished writing it in 2017, and suddenly my life exploded with all kinds of adventures – I opened my wellness center, got a divorce, and went back to school. The Covid shut-down was a blessing in disguise for me, slowing me down enough to realize this was my chance to finally get all my hard work in print. I took advantage of the new freetime to do some final editing and researching, hired a designer through the publishing company I went through (IngramSpark), and she created the cover and interior and gave me step-by-step instructions on how to get it in print. I’m doing things a bit backwards, which is releasing the book BEFORE having a good marketing strategy. But word of mouth has worked well in my local area, and making connections on social media has been beneficial as well (which is how I’m here in this interview!).

Cassidy: And I’m glad we made the connection. *smiles* Covid has caused many creatives to change how they interact and engage with their audiences. I am intrigued by the ingenuity I’ve seen.

After self-publishing your first book from start to finish, do you have any other projects in the works?

Jami: Of course I want to see where a few of my characters wind up after this story, so I’m writing another novel that is both a stand-alone story as well as a sequel, following the life of a few secondary characters from The Transcendent. I’m also still in school for life coaching and hypnotherapy, running my business as a massage therapist, and now homeschooling my two sons. I’ve got a lot going on!

Cassidy: And that’s a fact! I pray all the best in your literary and business endeavors. I hope we can collaborate again soon. I also want to thank you for your time.

Please share your social media and book contact information, so we can support your work and share it with others.

Jami: Sure! You can purchase The Transcendent on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Transcendent-Jami-Christine/dp/1735724807/.

Learn more about me at https://www.jamichristine.com/. You can also find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jamichristine11 and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jamichristine11.

[image error]