Today we’d like to introduce you to J.L. Lawrence.
Hi J.L., so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story really started as a very frustrated teenager. In order to have an outlet and deal with all the stress, I created stories in my head. In these worlds of my creation, I could be anything and do anything. It was a break from reality and a coping mechanism. Over time, it became a fun distraction. After college, I set it aside for a few years until my sister found out she had breast cancer. She’d always loved listening to my stories and crazy ideas. After she passed, I decided to take it more seriously and finish a novel. I wanted to see the creation come to life in a way. It also became a method to handle emotions from the loss, maintaining a career, and raising three kids. That first novel became what is now my Mystic Series, which is still my most popular series today. I had a lot of family support to help make the dream a reality.
The journey hasn’t been easy, and I’ve learned there are a quite a few things with technique, editing, and research that must be incorporated for success. Most of all, I created a great community of fellow writers and friends that have kept me motivated over the past several years. My genres include: magic mystery, epic fantasy, and holiday romance. I now have 16 books with three more almost complete. It’s been a crazy but rewarding ride.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, and mostly because it is a hard craft to learn and everyone has different opinions. My biggest struggle in the beginning had to be finding the right editor for me and my style. I had a couple of bad experiences that left me wanting to walk away. Then, I met a fellow author who also happened to be an editor. She read my work, supported me, and listened to my author voice which made my books unique. She incorporated all of that and helped me create something I’m very proud of. The next issue was publishing. I tried to get agents and do everything the “normal” way, but it didn’t work. I independently published and eventually found a publisher for my fantasy novels. For my holiday, I still self-publish.
The last struggle and probably the hardest is admitting that not everyone will like what I write or how I write. I keep my voice unique and build my worlds with my own rules. I try to make sure my characters speak to anyone willing to listen, and that the readers can see their struggles behind the words that mimic real life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m an author of fantasy fiction and holiday romance. My original series is titled The Mystic Series and is an epic fantasy full of action and adventure with a little romance. I also have a magic and mystery series for any age reader. entitled The Path to Destiny Series. My newest series is called The Shadow Warrior Series and delves deep into the world of dragons, alternate realms, a little time travel, and ancient prophecies. With my holiday romance, they are more like watching a cozy holiday romance movie with lighthearted themes and just a touch of mystery as they find their happily ever after.
My latest project is probably what I’m most excited about. It’s a new series based in a world of mythical creatures and powerful mortals. My heroine receives a quest on her birthday to begin her pursuit of becoming a dragon master. It’s a lot of fun especially if you love young adult series where you can age with the character while having epic adventure. i’m hoping to release the first book in the series later this year. I try to keep all my worlds unique and provide plenty of character depth, so they resonate with the reader to create an amazing experience.
How do you define success?
Success is defined by each individual. My first success was writing the words, The End, after completing my first novel. I couldn’t believe I’d written an entire book. I may never be rich and famous like other authors, but that’s not what defines me. I have written twenty novels if you include the ones I haven’t published yet. If you had told me that I’d have that many novels even just five years ago, I would’ve said there’s no way I can write that many. Yet, here I am. That’s success.
The problem with success is when we try to use everyone else’s definition. The question is what are you trying to achieve and did you achieve it. If the answer is yes, then you had success. It’s accomplishing a task that you thought to be impossible, but you believed in yourself enough to achieve it. That’s how I define success.
Pricing:
- Novels $15-20
- Novellas $10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.authorjllawrence.com
- Instagram: jllawrenceauthor
- Facebook: jllawrenceauthor
