Today we’d like to introduce you to Shatara Johnson.
Hi Shatara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Shatara Johnson, also known in the literary world as Lachel Jackson. My pen name means a great deal to me because it honors my late father, Ernest Jackson. May he rest in peace.
Shatara is a mother of three wonderful children and a grandmother to 7 grandkids, all from Austin, Texas. I developed a passion for writing as a young girl, spending much of my time alone at home with nothing but my thoughts, a pen, and a notepad.
One of my favorite things to do as a child was to sit alone by my bedroom window and write about my dreams of living a better life. My childhood was not ideal. By middle school, I had already earned several blue ribbons for my writing, including poems and short stories.
After high school, however, life took me in a very different direction and not necessarily for the better.
I became a queenpin, selling drugs from state to state. My thirst for money put my love for writing on the back burner for years. Eventually, life-changing events forced me to take a fresh look at the life I was living. Although I already had two boys whom I adored, becoming pregnant with her baby girl changed something inside me.
I knew I did not want to continue raising my children in the thug-life environment that we had been living in.
So I made a decision that would change the course of my life and how I lived. I stopped selling drugs.
I began working with individuals with special needs and discovered another passion: helping others. I earned a certification in social work and became an advocate and case manager for individuals with special needs.
But through it all, writing never left my heart.
I always knew that once my youngest child graduated from high school, I would return to my first love, writing. After sending my daughter off to college, I kept that promise to myself.
A year later, Lachel Jackson self-published her first book, Hot Ghetto Mess, which became a national bestseller. Hot Ghetto Mess currently holds 4.5-5 stars.
Lachel’s writing style is descriptive, raw, and designed to challenge every one of your senses. In a single chapter, she can make you laugh, cry, get angry, feel sad, and maybe even get a little jealous.
Her imagination runs wild, and she loves sharing every bit of it with her readers.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been easy. Several obstacles held me back. No editor and a tight budget. I didn’t get support from friends and family. Some did and are still in my corner, but for the most part, I didn’t have much support.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an author and also create digital book covers. I am also a licensed school bus trainer with a Class B CDL. I pride myself on getting you the CDL in 2 weeks. I take pride in my work. As an author. My writing style is designed to leave you wanting more.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
To succeed as a self-published author, you must shift your mindset from being just a writer to acting as an independent business owner. Focus first on protecting your creative voice and pushing through your first draft without overthinking, then invest heavily in high-quality professional editing and a genre-accurate cover that rivals traditional publishers. Because platform algorithms are unpredictable, start building a direct email newsletter early to connect with readers and focus on creating a multi-book series or backlist to build sustainable momentum. Ultimately, the sweet spot lies in finding where your personal writing passion naturally intersects with an eager audience, treating the entire process as a marathon rather than a sprint.
Make sure to copyright everything you create. Make sure to create contracts and receipts for everything you do with your craft.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lacheljackson.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Booksbylacheljackson/
