Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Coleman.
Hi Jennifer, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Word girl, here! Mom was a college librarian and a regular library patron herself, reading a stack of novels a week. Books and reading were a natural part of life while growing up!
Also, I truly loved my elementary school years, where key experiences helped determine my path, believe it or not. In second grade I won a grade level writing contest. My mom used a typewriter to type an “About the Author” bio under my school photo for a poster that hung by the cafeteria door. Something about the typewritten text written by my whip-smart mom, posted for all to see, made me believe I could be a real author someday.
I ended up loving school so much, I decided to teach it. After a few years in the classroom, mom suggested I specialize as a school librarian. Best decision ever! I could embrace my creative streak and tap into my imagination with books to help kids love literacy? Perfect fit! I’m currently serving my 30th year as a school librarian. I also work part-time in the Youth Services department of a bustling public library.
Yet the author bug never went away. In 2002, I declared my intentions to pursue writing for publication as much as I could. I was a young mother of a two year old then– working full-time, and pregnant with my second child when I got my first book contract. Talk about challenging! But when that first box of author copies came to the front door, it was a feeling of accomplishment like I had never known before, and I knew writing would be in my life no matter what the circumstances.
I currently have four books in traditional publication, three of those are for children. Figuring out how to get those written and accepted, while being a working mother of three has been the most rewarding experience of my life. It came full circle when I was invited back to my beloved elementary school as a visiting author. The circulation desk was the same, the tile floor in the cafeteria serving line was the same…but now I had a dedicated library shelf in my honor and was inducted into their “Hall of fame!” I couldn’t feel more honored–mountaintop experience!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I liken my children’s author writing journey to driving across Texas. Sometimes, you’re on the busiest highway, trying to make good decisions to get where you’re going, and then all of a sudden, there’s a l-o-n-g stretch of road with no signage, no stops, just big Texas sky. You’re wondering, “Am I going the right way? Will this endless stretch turn into something soon?” Then when you are about to give up…a sign. A wonderful sign reassuring you that indeed the path is correct! Maybe an email asking me to come speak to a school will be a sign. I might see someone at the school where I teach looking at one of my books and asking me how I got on the shelf. The little signs are important to look for when I get new projects rejected.
One of my earlier struggles was with my first picture book The Texas Nutcracker, The publisher ran it through a readability checker, and the reading level came back as too advanced. They asked me if I could bring the reading level down from a 6th grade level to a 3rd grade level. Readability is mathematical. They count word per sentence and syllables per word. I struggled because my main character was named Centennia, a four syllable word. I knew it would be easier to read a shorter name, but I was set on the name because she was named after a real little girl. Centennia Williamson was a real child who lived at rustic Fort Davis in the late 1800s with her parents, Sadly she passed away from diphtheria at the age of 5. When researching at the fort for the book, I saw Centennia’s illustrated likeness, and I knew she was the name of the character. I like to feel like it is a hug to her and her parents in the past by honoring her name in my book. To keep her four syllable name, I did away with complex sentences and simplified the structure. It took staying true to my intuition to find my way. I’ve found over the years that the little voice inside is a good guide through the struggles.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Over the years I’ve been in charge of five different school libraries; currently my library is the one I got to open from day one, purchasing 14,000 books and making sure it was a well-balanced collection. Combine school library knowledge with my public library part-time job and I’ve got quite the book brain!
While I write a variety of projects, I’ve succeeded the most by specializing in Texas and historical fiction. The Texas Nutcracker is a historical fiction spin on the traditional Nutcracker story, set at Fort Davis in the late 1800s. Instead of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Bluebonnet Fairy makes her debut!
My second picture book is Come ‘N Git It! Cookie and his Cowboy Chuckwagon, which follows the day in the life of a chuckwagon cook on the Goodnight Loving Trail. I am proud that Come N Git It! was awarded the Silver Spur Award by the Western Writers Association. One of my biggest thrills was going to accept that award at the WWA Conference in Montana! One of my favorite things about writing is all the places I get to go because of it, and all of the wonderful people I get to meet!
My last book is a nonfiction book about Texas’ official state dish: chili! It also won a Spur award from WWA , where I traveled to South Dakota to accept that award.
When I present to students at various schools, I think one thing that sets me apart from other authors is that I am a certified educator who is well-versed in talking to children day in and day out. I am currently shopping around some new historical projects, and the hardest part is waiting! But I’m pretty patient, and again, when listening to my intuition, I know deep-down, “I’m not done , yet!”
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Writing in itself subjects one to scrutiny. Goodreads stars, Amazon reviews, circulation statistics–throwing yourself into the wild world can stop you before you start, or hinder your growth if your already on the path. I like to think I have a robust risk muscle! I try to balance risk and reward. Will someone give me a bad review? OK, it will balance out with someone who gives me a good one. Will someone mock my social media videos because I talk with a Texas accent. OK, let them! The person who wants to hear what I have to say will hear it!
Let me share an experience that demonstrates a spectacular time I encountered risk first-hand:
I was fortunate enough to attend a Highlights Foundation experience in Chautauqua, NY in 2008 where esteemed author Jerry Spinelli was one of the mentors. I was honestly star struck to see him! I had tucked a copy of my favorite book by him, CRASH, into my bag, hoping for a chance to have him autograph it.
As chance would soon have it, I saw him on the steps of a building, finishing up a conversation with other attendees. Those people soon left, and Mr. Spinelli stood alone. “Now or never!” I thought!
Nervously I approached, introduced myself and told him how my favorite part of CRASH was the last sentence. When I said that, he looked at me –really looked at me. He paused and shared that he was always very agreeable when it came to editors; however when it came to CRASH, the editors didn’t want that particular ending. He said, it was the first time he pushed back. He got his wish, and the page remained–the one I just told him I loved. I asked if he would autograph my copy. He took the book, signed it, and I put it in my bag.
Later that night after a long day of workshopping, I remembered the encounter and rushed to the book to see what Mr. Spinelli had written to me. I opened the book. Title page? Copyright page? Nothing. Hmmm, that’s funny, I know I saw him write. I started paging through. Nothing. Then, I saw it. On the last page. He had written “For Jennifer. This last sentence is for you.”
Pricing:
- Solo Author Appearances: Max: 3 presentations per day, 100-200 students per visit Each session: 45-50 minutes’ long 1 presentation: $300 2 presentations: $375 3 presentations: $475
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jcobooks.com
- Instagram: @jcobooks
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jcobooks
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcobooks
