Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Reynolds.
Hi Jonathan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started writing stories when I was very young. My uncle was a Hollywood movie director (Red Dawn, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Count of Monte Cristo, Hatfields & McCoys), so storytelling was always part of family conversations while growing up. When I was 20, I was randomly offered a fashion modeling contract from a top agency in NYC. I had zero interest in fashion or modeling, but I was told I’d be able to travel and also have time to write. So I dropped out of college and moved to NYC for a few years, modeling for clients such as Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani. I never felt comfortable with the identity of being a model, but I was daily able to grow as a writer during those years and meet a kaleidoscope of people along the way. I spent my late teens and 20s traveling the Seven Continents on over 30 overseas expeditions, then started a family here in Texas. I did finish college, and I eventually pursued a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Literature, Film, & Writing. I now write novels for HarperCollins Publishing in NYC, with my latest book series for kids, MonsterStreet, being endorsed by R.L. Stine (creator of Goosebumps). In addition, my wife and I own an education travel company, Elite Expeditions, which sends student groups to locations around the world and is partnered with National Geographic Magazine.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
During my journey as a writer, I learned that the main thing that separates those who succeed from those who don’t is how they respond to failure. A lot of people give up after a few failures or a few years. But if you perceive each failure or rejection as a positive thing, as an opportunity to learn something new and to improve, then you’re going to continually get better and move one step closer to your goal. I think a lot of folks set out to fulfill their dreams have a timeline in mind—”I’ll give this two years or five years or so on . . .” But more than likely, it’s going to take much longer than that, and you’re going to be working really hard and making lots of personal and social sacrifices along the way. For me, with trying to “make it” in the publishing industry, it was worth going all in. I told myself that I’ll keep going and improving with each failure and rejection for as long as it takes, even if it takes the rest of my life (which could be another 50 years). Life is a gift. Time is precious. I don’t like to waste either of those two things on moments or endeavors that lack redeeming purpose or meaning. I try to live my life in constant mindfulness of my “deathbed hour,” making decisions in the here and now based on what I would wish I had done when I’m on my deathbed someday. I wrote eight novels and eight screenplays before I ever received a big paycheck or what I would consider professional validation from the publishing industry at the level I hoped to achieve. It was a lot of isolated hours and days and years working hard at my desk toward that goal. Was it worth it? For me, yes. For other aspiring writers? They have to decide for themselves. It all depends on what you want to have accomplished or given back to the world by the time the sands in your hourglass run out.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I write children’s books for a living, my most recent work being the bestselling MonsterStreet book series published by HarperCollins. My proudest moment, besides hearing from families of reluctant readers that these books ignited an interest in reading for their kids, was receiving an endorsement from one of the great legends in children’s literature—R.L. Stine, creator of Goosebumps. As I mentioned earlier, my wife and I also own an education travel company, Elite Expeditions, which sends student groups to locations around the world and is partnered with National Geographic Magazine.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice to aspiring writers is simple: write everyday, read everyday, get involved in a weekly workshopping group, embrace failure as an opportunity to learn something and to improve, and, most importantly, live a great story. You can’t write anything worth reading unless you live things worth writing.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@jhreynolds.com
- Website: www.jhreynoldsofficial.com
- Instagram: jhreynoldsofficial
- Facebook: facebook.com/jhreynoldsofficial
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/jhreynoldsofficial
- Other: www.eliteexpeditions.com
