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Meet April Lynn Pelton

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Today we’d like to introduce you to April Lynn Pelton.

April, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I developed a love for writing at a very young age. I always wanted to write books, but I had a lot of work to do to get to the point of publishing my writing. My mom always said she would let me know when I was ready. During the COVID-19 quarantine, I had the opportunity to work towards accomplishing my dream of becoming a great author. My mom, who has a background in education and taught English and Reading, worked with me to improve my writing. My teachers even worked on a plan to help me focus on writing my first book, The Grove of 100 Wishes, which was a school assignment that jump-started my career as a published author. It wasn’t the chapter book I was working on, but my family knew it was a great story ready to be published with some work. The revising and editing worksheets that my mom created to help me improve my writing skills became a workbook to help other kids like me. My next book, I AM, I CAN, I WILL, was dedicated to my little cousins. My mom worked with me on it to teach kids reading skills. It also has a workbook that helps kids learn how to read. She included everything she used to teach me how to read, and I was reading before I was two.

My most recent book is, An Enchanted Tale with a Twist, a narrative poem! It is a fairytale and poem all in one. I’m currently working on completing a poetry book with my grandfather, who is also a writer and published author. He’s where I get my gift of writing. I plan on publishing a book every year, and I have written numerous poems and literature waiting to be published. It’s a process since we are self-publishing. My ultimate goal is to create enjoyable reading that allows people to grow, learn, and develop a love for reading that will last a lifetime and help them become their best selves.

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?
This journey has had some struggles, but I can’t say that everything has been rough. It’s incredible what I’ve been blessed to achieve and accomplish since 2020. I’ve done numerous interviews and events, been on the news and in newspapers, won several contests, and been a featured business owner for Macy’s! My business keeps me busy, for sure.

If this business has taught me anything, it is to take the risk. What is life if we don’t step out on faith and risk making it better and brighter? This world is full of risk-takers. I have never heard of a success story that has happened without risks. Taking chances on opportunities has taken me far. If I never took the risk of starting a business, even when I was afraid, or even being bold enough to walk up to someone at the mall to talk about my books, I would not have had the same level of success I have now.

Another struggle for me is staying organized and keeping everything in order. I have to work on this daily. I have to keep up with my schoolwork and maintain good grades while juggling writing new material, overviewing the layouts & designs, speaking engagements, and marketing my business. I’m at a collegiate high school taking AP and college courses; I’m in high school and college. Some seasons can be really busy with my business and school schedule. I am nowhere near perfect, but having a business has taught me how to put my priorities straight. I can’t be a boss 24/7. I am still a teenager and deserve to live a little. So, I make sure to have time to be April, the teen, and then Ms. Pelton, the business owner.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a published author of three books: The Grove of 100 Wishes, I AM I CAN I WILL, and An Enchanted Tale With A Twist. My books focus on anti-bullying, kindness, and inspiration but also incorporate education and self-care. This business is also like a mommy-daughter business because my first two books have workbooks that go with them to teach reading and writing skills. I’ve been in business for over two years and could not have gotten to where I am without the support of my family, friends, and community. My family helps a lot with running and teaching me the ins and outs of this business. My first book focused on anti-bullying because of what I went through early on in my first year of middle school. I’m really proud of how I used my story to turn a negative into a positive through self-expression in my writing. I think what sets me apart in this industry is my age and drive. I started this business when I was 12, so I’m part of a small percentage of young published authors with several books and products that address major societal issues, such as mental health, bullying, kindness, and self-care. Now that I’m 14, I can say that I’ve grown and learned so much on this journey.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My business was built from a personal bullying experience. Something that came from a place of hurt became a blessing to help others know that they can overcome painful situations. But even after writing a book on bullying, I still had to work on forgiveness, and choosing to forgive was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make. I had to recognize that experiencing bullying left a stain of bitterness and hurt. However, I had to think about how I want forgiveness for my mistakes, so why should I hold their mistakes against them? This led me to understand how to take steps to forgive those who hurt me. We all need forgiveness for something; the goal is to learn from our mistakes and find ways to improve.

The negative moments in my life were never in vain; they have led me to some of the most positive moments in my life. My challenges helped me to grow and evaluate the type of person I want to be. I want people to remember me as someone who inspired them to be the best version of themselves that they could be. I want to leave this earth better than I found it; a little bit of light and inspiration can change everything. I would love to be the person who adds a little of that positivity in someone’s life that can overshadow the negatives. Positivity is a chain reaction; if you find the right link to spread your love to, that link will lock to another, and so on and so on. I want to be another link on that chain.

Pricing:

  • Average Price for Books: $15
  • Average Price for Workbooks: $20
  • Average Price for Fidget Packs: Small: $6 Large: $10

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