We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jacqueline Leigh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Jacqueline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?
There’s no right or wrong approach on becoming successful. For me it took passion. My passion for writing and children’s literacy drove my success. Without passion, this would just be a job and not a successful career.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Below is my bio:
Jacqueline Leigh was raised in North Georgia; where her childhood was filled with
scraped knees, rope swings and sticky Southern nights.
Her dream of becoming a writer began at a young age, when her mother presented
her with a journal and a pen. The daily ritual of writing turned into a realistic
passion as she got older. In 2003, Jacqueline attended Valdosta State University in
South Georgia, where she studied creative writing and Journalism.
Her studies paved the way for great accomplishments. She spent many years
working alongside advertising executives, producing inspirational and ground break
print, web and television ads. Jacqueline later put her focus on journalism, doing
what she loves, writing stories for the general public.
She has been published in multiple print and digital publications. She’s interviewed
big name bands and small town businesses, both contributing to her understanding
and joy of writing. Jacqueline has taken her experiences and focused on becoming a
children’s author, a lifetime dream.
Her current home in Peachtree City, GA is shared with her hard-working husband and two rowdy children. The bliss of being a stay at home mother is met with the pride of writing. Juggling is what she does best, she’s teaching her children
that you can, in fact, have it all.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There are no rules in the creative world. Being able to let your imagination run wild is what drives all artists and creatives. I love being able to pull from my everyday experiences and turning them into entertainment. Seeing the finished product is extremely rewarding. Seeing how children take my books and turn them into their own magical journey is the most rewarding part of this job.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Most people look at children’s books as very simple pieces of art. Often times, children’s books are written simply with beautiful pictures. It always surprises people when I tell them it takes up to 2 years to create one children’s book. The writing process is extensive. My books have had multiple editors review, ensuring it’s well-written yet educational and simple enough for children to understand. The illustration process takes another 8 months – year to perfect. Once everything is completed, the publishing house takes over to put it all together and produce the book. A book that takes about 5 minutes to enjoy took about 2 years to create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authorjacquelineleigh.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjacquelineleigh/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjacquelineleigh/
Image Credits
Candice Hansen Photography