Rising Stars: Meet Mary Elizabeth Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Elizabeth Jackson

Hi Mary Elizabeth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My life today is a reflection of my journey and all of the different parts coming together. Before I had children I had a life in dancing, acting, singing, modeling, and performing. I got my SAG card on the set of a TV show in 1989 when I was 21. I thought that was my path, but it turned out to be a much longer and at times very difficult journey. I got married at 25 and moved away from where I was born and for the next period of my life I struggled with health issues. I was also told I would never have children and seven years into my marriage my first child was born. Having children changed my path because I chose to stay home and raise my babies. But I had no idea the impact my children would have on my life or career.
The short version is that I have three children, and my last one was born right before I turned 45. Two of my three children are on the spectrum. So, in my thirties I had to learn all about parenting a child with needs. I became an advocate at that point. And when my middle daughter experienced a significant trauma in pre-k at the age of 4/5 my path as an advocate changed again. I spent years trying to change the law in my state to make sure classrooms were safe for every child.
After my surprise late in life son was born with his own set of challenges, I got certified through the VAP program at Vanderbilt University so I would know the law and my child’s rights and be able to help other families maneuver through having a child with challenges.
The birth of my children’s book series also began. The first story came while I was nursing him and in a state of complete gratitude for both of us surviving his birth. It was published in 2017 and the series now (including 3 books) under my new publisher Norns Triad Publications is called The Inspired Kids Series. There is music with the first book and my daughters went into the studio and recorded the songs. They would accompany me on book events, and this birthed their music career as www.sistersj.com.
I began an online live-stream show featuring authors from around the globe over six years ago called Writers Corner Live my friend Bridgetti Lim Banda. Then two years ago I partnered with a PR company to create a podcast called Cover to Cover which is now on Brushwood Media network-a syndicated radio show. It features author interviews, their journeys, and inspirational stories. I have over 345,000 listeners around the globe, and I am about to launch a new show that will focus on the disability and special needs world.
Through my advocacy work I have partnered with Autism Tn and have been an ambassador advocate since 2018. I have created events that bring a variety of organizations together to spread awareness and share resources for families. I helped design and create a sensory room in my local public library as well as the Nashville Public Library. I have consulted with libraries across the state of Tenn and continue to do so. I helped secure a $10,000 grant and we are helping 4 library systems create sensory spaces, kits, and have books dedicated to autism available to their patrons. I have also helped create a training program available to schools, daycares, and preschools everywhere on the early signs and symptoms of autism and how to help families and staff called Building Bridges. You can find out more info at www.autismtn.org.
I manager both my career and my daughter’s music career and we have a lot we want to do to help raise awareness about autism and help bridge the gap between diversity and inclusivity.
My journey has been long, rich, and full and I am grateful.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been many obstacles along the way. My parents divorced when I was young, and my father basically abandoned my brothers and me. I had a relationship with him as an adult but it was tough. I was set on a path I believed in and then I had some health issues, so I put my career on the back burner. Then I had my first of three children that changed my path and focus again. Each pregnancy or birth had its own set of challenges, and my third pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. My book journey has been both incredible and heart breaking. I walked away from my first publisher at the end of my contract. Then I had a publisher that quit right after the pandemic started. After that I had a wonderful publisher that was a mentor who died suddenly in 2022. I am now with my 4th publisher Norns Triad Publications, and they are wonderful. So, you can see this has not been an easy journey.
My children have presented their own challenges. No parent is ever prepared to give birth to a child with disabilities, but it enriches your life, and you grow into someone you never imagined you would become. I had to be strong for my second daughter after her trauma and not give up on seeking justice for what happened to her. My husband and our family endured a three-year legal battle. I spent many years trying to help my little girl heal and recover from her trauma.
Life isn’t about all the things that go right or wrong, it’s about what you do about it. How you conquer and keep going, never giving up on your dreams is your truth and story.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work and focus have changed over the years as it does for most artistic and creative people. Now in my life I am most known as a children’s book author, an ambassador advocate for AutismTN, radio show host of Cover to Cover on the Brushwood Media Network, Manager of SistersJ, hit song writer, educator, event planner, and speaker.
I am known for putting on events to bring awareness to different needs and causes mostly for people with challenges, helping educate the public, and raising money. I also focus on educating families on their rights, the rights of their children and how to maneuver through that world. Like how to get a child diagnosed and receive services if needed in school. I train schools, preschools, and daycares on the early signs and symptoms of autism and how to help families and staff as well as help anyone or a business that would like to add a sensory space or room. I created sensory rooms in libraries and consult on sensory spaces, rooms, boxes, and pop up spaces.
On my radio show I interview authors and inspirational individuals from around the globe from debut to New York Times bestsellers. I love sharing peoples stories, journeys, and passions with others in hopes to inspire others because we all have a story and we all matter.
My children’s books focus on empowering kids through story telling, literacy, and gaining a love for it. My Inspired Kid Series is about accepting who you are no matter what even if you have challenges. Each book has an “I am” page to help get kids started early in their lives with positive language. I will release a middle grade reader early next year that is about bullying and redemption and then start on a 10 book series.
I am in six anthologies that all include the inspirational journeys of a collection of authors to help empower anyone who reads them.
I am most proud of following the nudging to publish in the first place because I ignored the messages for over two years. When I finally listened it opened all of the doors that have led to right now. I am proud as the mother of three with two on the spectrum and all the success and challenges my children have over come. Going from things like non-verbal and trauma to being in college studying animation and having #1-#5 hits on the World and Euro charts. My son who is in regular school and successful after being born with issues and on the autism spectrum. I’m grateful to have the freedom to help bring awareness to the challenges some people face and help empower others. My daughters using their beautiful voices to bring positive conscious music to people and helping to bridge the gap between diversity and inclusivity.
I am available for training on autism, help with sensory spaces, and speaking on empowered parenting. I also teach writing to getting published or just for self care and growth as well as ghostwriting.
I am not sure what sets me apart. Everyone I know on a journey to make the world a better place is amazing and does not give up. For me I have passions within me and life experience that have set me on the course that I am hoping to serve others and bring some light to this world how ever I can.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I have learned that my failures and successes don’t define me, it’s what I have learned and do with them that matters the most. All of us face challenges and loss in our lives, it’s how we respond that makes all the difference in our success in life.

Pricing:

• My children’s books are on Amazon $10-12
• Consulting $25-50 an hour
• Ghostwriting projects $5,000-10,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.maryejackson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryejackson5/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackson.mary.elizabeth
• Twitter: https://x.com/Mary_E_Jackson
• Other: https://pod.co/cover-to-cover

Image Credits
Paper Dolls Photography, Mary Elizabeth Jackson