Today we’d like to introduce you to B. E. Padgett

Hi B. E., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I think some of the best starts of a passion come from when we are children. This was true for me. I have always been interested in stories—the more fantastical, the better. I was twelve when I realized I enjoyed writing stories. I filled piles of notebooks with poems and stories. It felt freeing to create worlds and solve mysteries with my pencil and paper.

As I got older, though, I became practical and decided that I wanted to study English and, in particular, writing. I went to a community college and got an associate degree with a focus on written arts. My plan was to become an editor or literary agent and write my own books on the side.

It wasn’t long before I took a class in graphic design and changed focus again to another creative outlet. This creative outlet led me to opportunities at the community college I had attended.

Instead of writing stories and editing, I was doing graphic design, then program management, and leadership development for students. I loved the work I did, and it was very rewarding to work with college students and help them realize their own goals.

But this often reminded me of the passion I had set aside. Even though I found time to write and even spent my vacation time on writing retreats, I did not dedicate the time I wanted to my love of the craft.

It was the pandemic that sent me back on my path. I went back to school and graduated with a B.A. in Creative and Professional Writing. I pulled my projects back out and dove right in to get my work out there.

Where I am today really came from not giving up, not losing hope, and hard work. All the experiences I have had, both personally and professionally, led to the empowerment I feel today. They developed the belief that we can accomplish anything we seek with the right labor and ambition.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The road is never smooth. When I was a kid, I struggled with reading. It wasn’t until I was ten that I really grasped how words were made and how they should sound. This made reading and writing an anxious activity for me. I still struggle with the pronunciation of unfamiliar words and reading out loud. I have built many coping mechanisms to assist me with writing and reading. Writing tools and an amazing editor have greatly contributed to my success.

I think many people also encounter feelings of imposter syndrome. Creatives and artists tend to feel their work is never complete. I have experienced all these feelings too. For me, there will always be a constant battle between standing by my work and wanting to improve it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am the author of a modern middle-grade fantasy series called The Reeds of West Hills, based in Washington State. It’s a story about 10-year-old twin brothers who discover they have fantastical gifts: Frank can read minds, and Jon can see the future. They must go to West Hills School for the Perceptually Gifted to learn how to control their gifts. Throughout the series, the brothers learn how to manage friendships, fight dangers, and solve mysteries. It is primarily a story about sibling love and building a sense of self.

I feel the proudest of my work when I talk to kids who tell me the impact of my stories. When a kid tells me they can identify with the main characters, or it inspires them to have meaningful conversations with their families, it makes my work feel worthwhile. I always love talking to kids and teens about their own journeys with writing, and being an author puts me in spaces where I can encourage them the way I wish I had been encouraged as a young writer.

I don’t know if this sets me apart from others, but it’s my heart to work with kids and teens in spaces where the conversations are around reading and writing. Especially anyone who has struggled with reading. I love to encourage kids who are struggling similarly to how I did, showing them that they can enjoy books and writing. There is nothing wrong with learning differently or using tools that make reading make sense.

Who else deserves credit in your story?

There are a lot of people I can credit for my success. One major player is my husband, who has supported me in my journey both with encouragement and feedback. He has been my biggest cheerleader and pushed me when I felt like giving up.

Of course, my previous boss and dear friend Jennifer Rhodes is another mentor I must mention. I worked for her in higher education for ten years and learned so much from her drive and calm demeanor as a leader. She gave me all the opportunities I needed to see my worth and grow as a professional and as a person. Without my time in higher education with Jenn, I don’t think I would be as successful as I have been.

Other wonderful mentions are the people who have always been by my side and who show up for me: my core group of friends, especially Christine and Sammi, my family, and my parents.

I cannot forget my amazing editor Kirstin Andrews and my illustrator Annie Loomis, who have shared their skills and talents to make my work the best it can be.

Pricing:

• The Guardian of Whispers, The Reeds of West Hills Book 1 – Paperback 12.99 US
• The Secrets of Arkaim, The Reeds of West Hills Book 2 – Paperback 12.99 US
• An Oracle’s Handbook, The Reeds of West Hills Book 3 – Paperback 12.99 US – Releases October 9

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bepadgett.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bepadgett/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bepadgettwriting