We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Fawn Young a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Fawn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
In the spring of 2021, I decided to quit a toxic job and focus on my personal life which was suffering at the time. I’m not saying that my life was hurting, but I was hurting from being stressed out day in and day out. This was taking a toll on me. So, needless to say, I wasn’t much fun for my loved ones to be around me at that time; especially my husband. I would come home every day complaining. He finally asked me to quit. So, I did. I looked for a job for awhile but positions were scarce in the small town where I live. That’s when my husband came up with an idea that would change my course of professionalism. He asked me if I had ever finished writing my donkey children’s book. I told him no, that I had actually forgotten all about it because of all the stress I had been under. He suggested that I finish the book and let him read it, which I did. He read it, and I just remember a knot in my stomach the size of a basket ball as he did! I was so afraid that he wouldn’t like it, but he turned and looked at me once he finished and smiled. He said that I needed to publish it. I told him that we couldn’t afford a publisher. Well, my husband watches a lot of YouTube, and when I say a lot, I mean A LOT!! Anything that needs fixing, or he just needs to learn about, he looks it up on YouTube, then fixes it! So, he sat with me and we watched some videos on how to publish a book for free. I was very excited at this point. I had created this sweet book about 2 donkeys named Petie and Bob, and now they were coming to life! Children from all over would get to enjoy the donkeys’ adventure! You see, the book is called “Donkey Rodeo”. The whole book was my husband’s idea. We have 2 mini donks of our own named Ernie and Burt. They’re such sweet boys! Anyway, I live in Texas, and anyone who lives here knows about the rodeo which happens every year! Anyway, there are trail riders who ride from all over into Houston every year to start off the rodeo. This has been a tradition for many many years. Well, our donkeys are fascinated with the horses. One group called the Salt Grass Trail Riders actually ride down our street. The donkeys watch them.
My husband came up with the idea that I write a story about the donkeys leaving their pasture to follow the horses into Houston to find out what a rode is about. So, I did. However, the story would sit half done for four years while I struggled with my previous job. But once I finished writing it and got it published, it was full steam ahead!
I had written another book 20 years earlier called “The Legend of the Old Man”, which is about Chris Kringle and how he became Santa Claus, but I lost the copy. So, I rewrote that one and published it. From there, I wrote five more children chapter books, a ghost story novel for adults, and a self help activity write-in journal. I’m currently working on a part 2 of my novel! However, it’s taking me a bit longer now since I was blessed with the best job I’ve ever had! It’s almost 2024, and I can honestly tell you, that my life has done a complete turn around since I made that leap of faith. And now I stress it to everyone! Never settle! It’s NOT worth it! Find what you love to do, and do it with your whole heart!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born and raised in a small town in northern Illinois. I married in August of 1993 and was blessed with two sons. My mother, who I was extremely close to, passed away a month before 9/11. She had mentioned to me that she was glad to be exiting earth early because she didn’t want to experience the tragedy that was about to unfold. I hadn’t the foggiest idea what she was talking about, until that Tuesday of September came. I just remember collapsing on the couch as the news replayed a tape about the first plane hitting one of the twin towers. I shook in horror! I had to leave to pick my son up from daycare. It was obvious that no one at the school had any idea what was going on at that moment, and I wasn’t about to mention anything. They needed to focus on the children, they’d find out soon enough anyway. I felt nauseated as I walked my son back home. I turned back on the tv to then hear about the second tower, and the Pentagon! and the the other plane that crashed in the open field of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Those people were so brave to do what they did for their country, by the way! Anyway, I remembered my mom at this point and how she stated that she was grateful to be passing when she did. I shuttered! I believe that she saw a vision of that day! She never said anything else about it, nor ever went into detail so I’m not completely sure, but in my opinion, I’m pretty convinced!
After my mother passed, and 9/11 happened, I began to look at life a lot differently. I was in my mid twenties at this point. I could feel that my life needed a massive change however, I was unsure in what way yet. I just knew that I wasn’t very happy. I loved my boys, but couldn’t enjoy them as much as I wanted to because of the depressional whole I was sinking into. So, I stayed mindful of my emotions from then on. I just knew that when it was time to make a change, that I’d be shown the way.
Which happened a few times after that! I got divorced from a toxic marriage. Five years later, I met the man of my dreams; handsome, sweet, and sincere! I then moved to Texas to live with him. My bond with my sons grew stronger and stronger after that! I was able to enjoy them fully since I began healing myself.
Now married to that wonderful man over eight years and counting! Still have a wonderful bond with my sons! Was blessed with a step daughter, her husband, and now a one year old grandson! My older son gets married next year, blessing us with another daughter!
I became a published author July 18, 2021, and was blessed with my dream job on March 20th of this year! My life is perfect! I cherish every day now! When I look back at how much I struggled before, I’m just that much more thankful of the life I have now. So, yes, I cannot stress enough to NEVER SETTLE in your life because, this life is the only life you’ll ever have. So, don’t waste it!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Although I’m still a pretty new author, I have had over a hundred book signings and counting! That’s the best way to sell books when you’re first starting out, in my opinion. The people need to get to know you. Word of mouth spreads from there.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Thankfully I had saved up some money from my previous job so that I could afford to order copies of my books to sell in person. From there, it was just putting gas in the truck and going from place to place doing book signing events. I also have a Facebook page which helps some. But it’s all about the hustle! In order for you to keep going as an author, is to never let the dream die! Keep pushing!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amazon.com/author/fawnyoung
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorfawnyoung
- Youtube: @AuthorFawnYoung
- Email address: a[email protected]
Image Credits
Husband, Mark Young and our grandson.