Good afternoon, everyone!
Welcome to another post from Bookmarked, the blog for readers and authors alike. Today, I've got a special interview to share with none other than Jocelyn M. Lacey, author of several successful children's books, including Pierre the Peacock, Coral's First Sleepover, What Do Police Officers Do?, and An Angel Named Johnia.
To check out Jocelyn's books for yourself, please see this link to purchase.
Now, please enjoy the following Q&A with Jocelyn!
BOOKMARKED: What is your background with writing, and when did you know you wanted to start writing children's books?
JOCELYN M. LACEY: My favorite subjects in school were English and Spelling because they came much more easily to me than Math and Science! Growing up, I wrote a few stories for fun and for class assignments, but it wasn’t until my adult years that I started my children’s book writing career, which I got into unintentionally!
As a Christian woman, I have felt God leading me to write a memoir about my life after experiencing trials that have tested my faith. As I sat down to write, I realized that I wasn’t ready to go to those dark places and difficult moments, so I decided to write something more fun and innocent, thus writing my very first children’s story that I wanted to publish! I may write my memoir one day, but right now I am enjoying writing books for children.
What would you say are some of the most important messages found in your books, and why was it important to you to share these messages?
Some of the important messages are treating people how you want to be treated and staying true to yourself, what you love, and what matters to you.
In Pierre the Peacock, Pierre is a beautiful peacock with beautifully-colored features in his tail and thinks he’ll get friends based on his pretty looks. When he meets Jerry, a colorblind little boy who can’t see the colors in his tail, Pierre assumes that Jerry won’t want to be friends with him because he can’t appreciate how attractive he is. Jerry teaches Pierre that it’s not what you look like, but how you treat people that will help you make friends, and that the beauty you have inside will help enhance your beauty on the outside.
In Coral’s First Sleepover, Coral is a mermaid who is invited to her very first sleepover, but is nervous about going because she still has her baby blanket that she has had since she was born. Should she take her baby blanket to the sleepover, and if she does, will her friends make fun of her? After talking to her mother, she decides to stay true to herself and what she loves, resulting in her taking her blanket to the sleepover. You’ll have to read the book to find out how her friends react!
It was important for me to share these messages because they are needed now more than ever. Treating people with kindness and being a friend is a lifelong lesson that you’re never too old to learn or be reminded of. Being true to yourself and embracing what you love and what matters most to you is something that you should be proud of and never question. It’s a very different world today than the one I grew up in, and my hope is that my books and their messages will inspire children to live by these ideals and principles.
How has your perspective on writing changed since Pierre the Peacock came out? What have you learned about yourself or writing as a whole?
I have really embraced my writing and am learning how to better enhance my craft of being a writer. My books have been inspired by personal events and experiences, and through those experiences, I have an opportunity to pass them along in a positive way through my books!
Pierre the Peacock was inspired by a peacock that showed up at my back door when I was living in another state, and I knew there was a story there, which I happily created. The little boy in the story, Jerry, is named after my late father.
Coral’s First Sleepover was inspired by my love of mermaids and the fact that I still have my own baby blanket, thanks to my mom. It takes place off the coast of Maine, which is where I was living at the time and is in memory of my mom.
What Do Police Officers Do? was inspired by my participation in the Citizens Police Academy that was offered through the Johnson City Police Department in my hometown of Johnson City, Tennessee. I learned all about the different jobs that police officers do, and it was truly a rewarding and life changing experience! I also worked with law enforcement while I was employed at a domestic violence shelter and children’s advocacy center in Johnson City.
An Angel Named Johnia is in memory of my friend and sorority sister who died young. It is from a Christian perspective and helps navigate the difficult subject of grief while explaining that it was God’s time for Johnia to be in Heaven with Him, where she’ll still be making a difference through her parents’ advocacy, the annual toy drive in December in her memory, and the scholarship named for her at East Tennessee State University.
I’m currently working on getting my next book published. It’s about a caterpillar named Michael who emerges from his cocoon as a butterfly with bent wings and wonders if he’ll be able to fly, as well as how his friends will react to him being different. It takes place in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, where I just moved to this past December.
One thing that I have learned about myself is that through my writing, I have some sort of platform to send positive and inspiring messages out into the world and into the young minds of readers.
Your most recent release from 2022, An Angel Named Johnia, is a tribute to a dear friend whose life was cut short. What has the reception been like of this book since it came out, and what has sharing this story with the world meant to you?
The reception has been wonderful! It’s my love letter to my dear friend and sorority sister, Johnia Berry, as well as to her parents, Joan and Mike Berry, her family, and all who knew and loved her! She was from Bristol, Tenn., and went to East Tennessee State University, where we met. Those who know her story and know that she was murdered were initially a little surprised that I wrote a children’s book about her, but I always explain that the book only says that she goes to Heaven, not how she gets there.
It also explains how the anniversary of her death becomes known as her birthday in Heaven. We all have an Earthly birthday, and it helps to look at the anniversaries of a loved one’s death as their Heavenly birthday. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Johnia Hope Berry Scholarship at ETSU. What is extra special about this book is that my illustrator, Haley McManigal, is a sorority sister of mine and Johnia’s and also knew Johnia.
Sharing this story with the world has been a tremendous blessing for me in helping to continue Johnia’s legacy and the impact she had on those who knew and loved her! It’ll be 20 years in December of her untimely death, and my book helps ensure that her legacy and memory live on for years to come.
What is your advice to aspiring writers out there who may not know how to get started?
Don’t give up! If you have an idea for a story, grab a notebook and start jotting it down! After years of writing my first story that I wanted to publish, I had no idea where to start! Unfortunately, I have no artistic ability, so I also knew I needed an illustrator to bring my story to life. Even though I was no longer living in Johnson City, I decided the best place to start would be to Google book publishers located there in my hometown, and I was so fortunate to find Jan-Carol Publishing!
I contacted them and got an immediate response from Janie Jessee, who was so patient in answering all of my questions and helped me every step of the way. Luckily, she was able to refer an illustrator to me who illustrated my first three books. As the Jan-Carol Publishing team continues to grow, I’ve enjoyed my interactions with each one!
Is there anything you'd like to say to your many fans and supporters over the years?
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has supported me by coming to my book signings, buying my books, writing reviews online, and all the kind and encouraging words I have received!
***
Thank you again, Jocelyn, for a fantastic interview. Again, everyone please check out Jocelyn's books for yourself by going to this link.
And be sure to listen to our PODCAST this Friday, because Jocelyn sat down for an excellent interview with Draco that you won't want to miss!
Have a great rest of your week!
Allison Chudina
Editorial Assistant
Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.
Bookmarked
Comments