We were lucky to catch up with Jenna Hammond recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jenna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
One of the most meaningful projects was writing an educational grant for overstressed students to receive a mindfulness education, and then leading the programming. Part of the grant writing involved creating a curriculum that fused meditation and movement with standard school learning appropriate for an elementary setting. The school board granted full funding for my proposal and asked me to lead the six-session program across all classes. I watched students walk with their heads higher, their eyes more aware, their heads and hearts more open. At the end of the programming, students shared that they were sleeping better, applied the breathing techniques and exercises we learned in class to their daily life, and felt more grounded and ready for whatever obstacles they faced. I, too, largely gained from the experience. I was proud of the grant and curriculum development. And would leave the three weekly classes more present, mindful, and peaceful than when I started the day. I cherish letters a number of the students wrote me at the close of the series.
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?
Passionate about creative writing from the start, I have always dreamed of writing a book. When my first son was born in 2012, I learned all I could about children’s publishing in hopes of creating a picture book. While I received encouraging feedback from editors and writers, I did not receive my YES until I found a hole in the marketplace for something I had an affinity for: teaching kids yoga. Writing an article about a girl with special needs who learned to walk because of yoga inspired me to get certified and ultimately gave me the idea for my first picture book, Downward Mule. Fast forward several years later, and my debut is still successful on the heels of my latest two children’s books: Dream Pancake and Hazel, which were published in 2022.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I loved penning poetry in adolescence, and reveled in getting published. I delighted in writing editorials for the school newspaper at the University of Michigan. And I thrived at freelance writing magazine and newspaper articles throughout graduate school and beyond. But while working as an editor in New York City, I hit a dead end. I felt like I had reached the pinnacle of my job and no longer felt invested in a career in journalism or magazines. My heart no longer beat faster thinking about the stories I wanted to publish and how. Getting certified in children’s yoga, teaching classes on weekends while working weekdays in editorial, instilled a newfound purpose for several months. But once I got pregnant, I felt determined to carve a career path that involved my own budding family along with the families of people everywhere. Writing Downward Mule, the first book to bridge yoga and a storyline, enabled me to be home enough for my then two sons while sharing the book and a new brand of yoga with the world. I’ve since been hired as a writer, editor, yoga teacher…sometimes an amalgam of all three, such as leading movement-related programming for Take Your Kids to Work Day and developing a mindfulness curriculum that encompasses creative thinking and yoga for 5th graders.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I find the most rewarding aspect of being a children’s book author to be leading author visits. It’s sheer joy to go into schools and businesses to talk about my books and hear how they resonate with kids. Icing on the cake is doing yoga with children at such events and seeing kids radiate with joy and self-confidence when they let their creativity flow!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jennahammondauthor.com
- Instagram: @jennamhammond