Interview with Author Jocelyn M. Lacey!

Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome back to Bookmarked.

Today, I have a very special interview to share with children's book author Jocelyn M. Lacey.

Jocelyn has written several popular children's stories over the years, including Pierre the Peacock, Coral's First Sleepover, What Do Police Officers Do?, and An Angel Named Johnia.

Now, Jocelyn is back with a brand-new book celebrating uniqueness and acceptance called Michael's Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly.

Every one of us is a beautiful and unique creation in our own way. This story is about when Michael changes from a caterpillar to a butterfly, and he notices his wings are different. Will he be able to fly, and will his friends accept him the way he is? This is a beautifully illustrated children's book with a message about embracing your differences and what makes you who you are.

To check out this book for yourself, click here.

Now, without further ado, please enjoy the following interview with Jocelyn M. Lacey, and be sure to tune in this Friday to our podcast, Bookmarked, because Jocelyn will be doing an interview there as well!

BOOKMARKED: What can you tell readers about your new book, Michael's Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly?

JOCELYN M. LACEY: Growing up in Johnson City, I would often come over the mountain to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina with my family. I wanted a way to honor my older brother, Michael, who I never got to meet. He was born four years before me and only lived for seven weeks. He was born with a heart defect, and I created a caterpillar named after him who becomes a butterfly and notices his wings are bent. He wonders if he’ll be able to fly and if his friends will accept him for the way he is. 

I wrote this story years ago and decided it would be my next book to publish after moving to the area in December of 2023. I started the process of revising the story in January of 2024 with my illustrator, Haley McManigal, working on the illustrations. As a woman of faith, it is definitely God’s timing for the book to be out now, because who would have ever imagined that we’d have a hurricane here in the mountains? I am donating 20% of book sales to Hurricane Helene relief and rebuilding. I also timed my book to be out in January of this year in time for my brother’s birthday, who would have turned 50. I also have a January birthday, which is a connection that I have to him.

What message are you hoping to convey with Michael's story?

The story’s message is that every one of us is a beautiful and unique creation in our own way and to embrace your differences in what makes you who you are, while also accepting the differences in others!

What can you tell us about the book's beautiful illustrations?

I am so fortunate to have had my talented friend from college, Haley McManigal, do the illustrations and bring the book to life in this beautiful way. She drew Michael the way I envisioned him, and the other illustrations she did are based on local places here in Western North Carolina. She drew The Blowing Rock, the Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain, and the Linn Cove Viaduct. She also did a beautiful job drawing the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Everyone has raved about the illustrations!

Do you have any certain writing routines or rituals that help you when you're trying to write a new book?

I always love to light a candle when I am writing. The ambience is so cozy, soothing, and relaxing as I enjoy the scent of the candle and settle into my creativity. 

What is your advice to aspiring authors?

Keep following your dream of becoming an author! If you have an idea for a story, grab a notebook and start jotting it down! It’s easy to think that you’ll remember it later on, but we are pulled in so many directions and have so much going on in our lives that it’s easy to forget an idea or the direction of where you’d like a storyline to go.

Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans and supporters? 

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my process of becoming an author, especially my husband who has served as a sounding board for my story ideas and helped me make my books into what they’ve become! I am also filled with extreme gratitude to everyone who has supported me by coming to my book signings, buying my books, writing reviews, and all of the kind and encouraging words I have received!

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Thanks again to Jocelyn for a great conversation on both our blog and upcoming podcast episode this week!

To everyone reading, please check out Jocelyn's new book, Michael's Journey from Caterpillar to Butterfly, now, as well as her other children's books. You won't regret it!

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Allison Chudina

Editorial Assistant

Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

Bookmarked