Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Mathews.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started writing when I was a little girl. My father would write down the stories I would tell him, and we would read those stories to my younger sisters at bedtime. I have always written my entire life, but I was always told to focus on other things that would make money, so I only entered writing contests or took a few writing electives. I did not start publishing until 2017. I have 25 books published, with 4 slated to be published in 2024.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Everyone was right: you make little money as a writer! However, if I can make enough money from selling the current book to publish the next book, I’m happy with the results. My goal is to engage children and encourage them to read and write. I’m still actively working on those goals. Getting into schools to teach classes can take a lot of work. You have to make connections where you can. When I first started, my main struggle was what to do with my books. I tried querying at traditional publishers, but the responses I got were that my books were too weird and would not sell to the market. Now that I have independently published, my main issue is deciding what to publish next.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While I write books for adults, I primarily write children’s books. I like to write books with interesting characters you won’t find in bookstores or traditional markets. Children love my characters, which fosters their creativity and love of reading.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that St. Louis has a lot of historical landmarks and free things to do, like museums and the zoo. There is always something going on. What I like the least is something I don’t think anyone likes about any city- the traffic. I always plan my time around when the traffic will be the worst if I can help it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jessicamathewsbooks.com
- Instagram: hey_steve_its_bucky
- Facebook: @jessicamathewsbooks
