We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Vela a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I’ve thought a lot about this. Quite recently actually as I journey into being an author and advocate. My hope is that the people I encounter will be able to take back their power after hearing my life story and struggles. Life has not been kind to me as I’m sure it hasn’t been kind to a lot of others, but I want to be able to make a difference in that aspect. To show people that it’s worth getting back up and fighting for your own happiness. Even when everything is telling you to stay down. I want to be remembered as a woman who didn’t mold into something or someone others told her to be, but her natural self.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’d love to! I’m 35, happily married, I was born and raised in a small town called Perryton, Texas. It’s one of those towns where everyone knows everyone! Filled with a lot of hard working, proud people. I’m proud to call it my home! I currently live in Amarillo, Texas.

How did I get into the industry? It was practically fate honestly! I have always had a love for reading and writing. Everyone who knows me will say I have a big imagination and can make up crazy stories on a whim. I initially started out writing poetry. I had journals filled with so many poems! I thought about taking it up as a career, but was unsure of how to go about it, or if I even had the ability to be successful like I wanted to be. I found a website filled with all sorts of fan fictions. At that time, I was also training to become a professional wrestler and thought of writing a fan fiction centered around that. I wrote it mostly to test the waters to see if I could take writing up as a career. I got my answer! There were so many readers on my fan fiction! So many hearts, so many comments and the readers wanting more stories about my characters and readers reacting to certain situations within the story! I think it was then that I knew that writing is what I really wanted to do and judging by the responses I got from just a fan fiction… that I could really go far in this career!

What I provide in my stories is realism. I write characters and relationships in a way that people can find bits and pieces and themselves in either the characters or the situation the characters end up in. I provide some personal experiences of my own as well. I think that’s what sets me apart from everyone else. Is how far I’m willing to put my struggles in my stories so everyone can learn from them because I do not want others to experience what I went through.

What I’m most proud of is that I’m listening to myself for once. I’ve had doubters that have said I could never go far or make an actual career out of writing, I’m proud that I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and doing everything it takes to get where I want to be and that I’m not letting anything, or anyone stop me from here on out. I want my fans and followers to do the same for themselves. I’m the type of person that loves to see others succeed and live out their desired dreams! And if I’m able to aid them in any way possible, then I know that I’m doing what I was meant to do.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

I met my manager/publisher/mentor in a very unique way! Her son and my husband work together. She’s currently working on a story about wrestlers and was interviewing some of the wrestlers. My husband was one of the ones being interviewed because he’s a professional wrestler as well. He mentioned to her that I wanted to be an author as well! He introduced us at a company barbeque, and we started talking and boding over writing. She left me her contact information and told me that when I was ready, to give her a call and we could get started on building my career as an author. I decided to take her up on her offer and we’ve been working together ever since! It’s honestly been a joy to work with her! Her and I just work so well together! She’s not only been a wonderful colleague but she’s become a very good friend of mine.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to not only write books and tell stories, but to also help readers through my stories. Life has put me on the battlefield several times over the course of my 35 years of life and I put a lot of my personal battles and personal experiences into my stories and characters. I apply how I overcome those experiences as well! Which I hope that the readers will apply to their own lives and struggles.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://JessicaVela.net
• Instagram: Jessie_Dawn88
• Facebook: Author Jessica Vela
• Twitter: @Author_JessicaV

Image Credits

Jessica Vela and Kristy Mickelsen