We were lucky to catch up with Jessica Hamm recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jessica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

In 2017 I quit my banking job, pulled my children from public school, and decided to write full-time for Love Inspired Historical. That summer, with a year’s salary saved, we traveled to Utah to temporarily work with my mom at a KOA while I percolated on several historical romance projects. Sadly, LIH decided to close their line that summer. I could still write, but I’d need to find a new line or publisher. As I was pondering and praying about what to do, my sister relapsed. Her children came to Utah and, in September, she and her childrens’ father succumbed to their addictions. Faced with a new challenge, I took on the guardianship of four children and their youngest sister, and I put writing on hold. I took the risk because children are beautiful blessings, and they deserved a good life. God worked it out that I’d be free to care for them. After they came to live with me and my three children, I went on to get my AA degree and to write two more novels for special releases from LIH. In 2019 I met my now husband. We have a son, who is currently three and absolutely adorable. My sister’s oldest son is in college, her daughter owns a home and is pregnant, my oldest son is engaged, and my others are in high school or graduated but finding their paths while still living at home. We are happily living life, enjoying a beautiful home, friends, playing games together, and leaning toward buying land and homesteading. But I will write again. I feel it in my heart. In the meantime, I started an editorial business called Blue Pencil Editorial. Between cleaning, chauffeuring, taxes, and daydreams, I edit and wait for the day when a new story blooms in my heart. I’m blessed and I wouldn’t go back and do anything differently.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started writing in eight grade. On a notebook. Which I then tried to transcribe on a typewriter. Needless to say, I used a lot of white-out. Then I landed a freelance gig at my local newspaper around the age of nineteen. My editor encouraged me to write a book. So, I did. And I joined critique groups, entered contests, and finally Love Inspired Historical’s editor Emily Rodmell chose to contract me for my first book, Love on the Range. Life moved forward. I got divorced, raised many children. I’ve traveled. I’ve written a lot and read a lot. I have empathy for writers. I think what sets my business, Blue Pencil Editorial, apart from others is that I’m both an author and an editor. I believe in being firm but flexible. I admire Voice. I think language is beautiful and it’s not perfection that makes a great story. It’s heart. But heart does need to translate well to readers. I care about people and characters and seek to work with authors to create stories that touch hearts in lasting ways.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As stated earlier, I had planned to write full-time, but the closure of my imprint added with the loss of my sister caused me to pivot hard. At the beginning of the summer of 2017, I had dreams that my writing could support me and my three children. By the end of summer, I had no writing prospects and a total of eight children, thirteen and under, to care for. But God is faithful and good. My life is full and, God willing, I have many years left to write again.

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

Even after my five nieces and nephews joined my family, I continued to write. Thanks to the Boys and Girls’ Club, I was able to carve out time to study to complete my AA with the College of Central Florida. And thanks to a bedtime schedule, I was able to write two more books for Harlequin. I have to shout out my editor at the time, Emily Rodmell. She believed in my writing. Also, to my then boyfriend and now husband Curtis Hamm, and to my Beastie Pie, AG Howard, for helping me brainstorm An Unlikely Duchess and encouraging me as I wrote books while raising eight children alone. I am resilient, yes, but I had a tribe supporting me, including family and friends. Resilience is great, but without good people in your life, and especially Jesus, I don’t know that I would’ve had the strength to get through those years.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bluepencileditorial.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJessicaNelson
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-hamm-729762217/