We recently connected with M. C. Jeter and have shared our conversation below.

M. C., thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

When it comes to the legacy that I am building, I hope to build a legacy that encompasses inclusivity, solace, and authenticity. I have always had a passion for helping others. Whether I do so directly or indirectly, it is something that brings me much fulfillment. As I approach every story that I start, every book that I build, I do so with that thought in mind. What can I write that will resonate a deeper meaning for my readers? How can I make my readers feel seen and understood? How will I teach my readers something new, whether it be about themselves or about the way that they view the world? My books will live on much longer than I will. So with every character, plot twist and conflict that I create, I want my stories to rest on the right side of history. I want to be remembered for the uniqueness of my writing style and the authentic fun and love that I put in my stories. And although I only have one book out right now (I have a lot of aspirations that sometimes it’s hard to find the time to fulfill all of them) I am working on many authors I feel my current and future readers will be excited to get their hands on.

M. C., before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began writing my debut novel when I was nine years old. With “The Gems Collection,” this series will be more than just a story line, but will show my growth as a writer, each new book being better than the last. I self-published “The Gems” my third year of college. As a neuroscience major, it was something that I thought of on the whim, but once I had the idea to publish, I committed. I knew absolutely nothing about the industry. Everything that I did was a process of trial and error and learning as I go. It was an adventure with many ups and downs, but I came out a better author because of it. With my platform now, I really dive into my author brand. From posting about my writing process to my favorite tropes and just general life content, my followers really get the chance to know the type of person I am, which is then reflected in my work.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an author is talking to my readers. When I talk with readers who can really relate to the story that I created, it’s a really powerful feeling. They fuel me to write more, to tell more stories. To share the inner workings of my mind. My readers drive me to be the best author that I can be, so it is so rewarding to hear from them about my work.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The hardest thing that I have ever done was publish my book. I was a third year at THE Ohio State University. I didn’t know anything about self-publishing besides the fact that I wanted to do it. It was January 28th of 2023 in which I decided to self-publish, and I set the release date for my main character’s birthday, July 1st of that same year. Those were the most intense six-ish months of my life. I had to balance my grades, my writing, my friendships and my romantic relationship and looking back, I really do not know how I was able to accomplish such a feat. I was taking one difficult class in particular: Neuroanatomy. This class was well known as the hardest class in the major, and it was actually my second time starting the class. I had previously started taking the course alongside biochemistry, but after taking the first exam, I quickly learned I would not be able to balance the rigor of both of those classes, and swiftly withdrew from Neuroanatomy. I do not know why I thought it would be a grand idea to self-publish while taking this course. There were many tears, late night grind sessions, and times in which I felt so overwhelmed I would just stare off into space, frozen with stress. Over the course of those six months, I passed Neuroanatomy, built a platform on Tiktok and Instagram, participated in an author panel, and of course published my debut novel.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mcjeterbooks.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcjeterbooks/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Mcjeterbooks
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mcjeterbooks