Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Smith.
Hi Jacqueline, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been writing for fun my entire life but I didn’t realize it was something I wanted to try professionally until my junior year of college. This is probably TMI, but I had a really bad sinus infection so I had spent my entire spring break lying on the couch, sneezing, and reading romance novels. Now, it may have been the effects of the antibiotics, but I found myself thinking, “Hey, I could do this.” And I never looked back. Four years later, I independently published my first book, Cemetery Tours. Now I have twenty books out in the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not always been a smooth road but it has always been worth it. Marketing and getting your. name out there as an indie author has always been a challenge, but it’s even more difficult today due to the rise in AI-generated books. Platforms like Amazon are now FLOODED with AI books and they’re being published ALL the time, drowning out legitimate authors who have been working on their craft for years. Our books are also being downloaded illegally and plagiarized by these AI companies. Speaking as someone who has been in the independent publishing industry for almost thirteen years, there is no greater threat to storytelling or art in general than generative artificial intelligence.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write ghost stories, young adult romance, contemporary romance, suspense, and fairy tale retellings! I enjoy reading multiple genres so I enjoy writing multiple genres as well. My fairy tale retellings, however, are my favorite stories I’ve written.
I first came up with the idea for short fantasy stories inspired by the seasons when I was in grad school. I still have the notes that I scribbled in the back of my Children’s Lit class while I was supposed to actually be paying attention. It took me thirteen years, but I finally got the first story, a Beauty and the Beast retelling, right. The rest of the retellings, The Little Mermaid, Red Riding Hood, and Sleeping Beauty, followed within the year. They are my heart stories and I am so proud of myself for not giving up on them.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
In life, of course my family, my cat, and my friends. I am also extremely passionate about our natural world and world wildlife.
As an author, I would probably have to say integrity and a genuine love of writing. If you don’t love your work, if you don’t love what you’re doing, then why bother?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.WindTrailBooksAndMusic.wordpress.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacquelineesmith
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacquelineSmithAuthor/
- Twitter: @JackieSmith114
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@windtrailproductions
- Other: https://linktr.ee/jacquelie
