We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jewetta Haywood. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jewetta below.

Hi Jewetta, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

I can remember my first book sale. I was at my regular job and I got a notification from lulu.com through email that I had revenue to collect. I was so excited when I logged into my publisher account and even more thankful when I saw I not only sold one book but I had in fact sold 10 copies, the pure joy and excitement on my face startled the entire office where I work. About two weeks after I received the revenue into my pay pal account and then I realized my life had changed in ways I wasn’t ready for. I had become an official Author and not just a writer but an actual paid Author. The most rewarding thing was the readers asking me when the next book was coming out, that motivated me so much to continue the work. Although, I didn’t begin writing or publishing for financial gain, making money doing something you love and are passionate about makes the sweet that much sweeter, even though without the monetary I would still love to write poetic stories and share my gift of wordplay with the anyone interested in reading.

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?

My name is Jewetta, also known as Jus Jewel, I began writing at a very early age but did not realize I was publish worthy until my adulthood. I was encouraged by my family and peers to take my writings and publish a book. It took awhile as I thought at first who would actually read my poetry mainly because I cross all literary, punctuation, and phonetic rules in order to grasp my readers but also to allow them to develop their own feelings from my words. I write inspirational, revolutionary, emotional, and erotic poetry. Taking the art of poetry and creating stories that touch the soul. I also Co-Own an up in coming editing, publishing, and marketing company called Black Focus Manifested, where we seek to counsel, market and help small businesses with an emphasis on Black business to develop a face and name for themselves. What sets us apart is we do not aim to take over your company, stifle your voice, or tell you how to run your business, we are here to be support for your dreams and pushed them as far as you see them going. The one thing I am most proud of is the moment the publish button was pushed. If I had any advice for the readers here, I would say don’t dwell on what can happen, trust yourself and take the leap of faith into you.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative for me are the lives I touch, I didn’t get into publishing for the money, I was motivated by the reception I received from those I shared my writings with. Everyone will not see your vision, they will not get what you are attempting to convey, but for that one person who’s life you touch in the deepest of ways is what makes your passion rewarding. My second published book is titled Love Poetically. This book is about the many phases of love from puppy love to full blown head over heels in love. One of my readers reached out to me after he purchased and read the book and expressed to me how it changed his whole perspective on relationships and in particular his own, see he was having a troubled time with his mate and after reading my book he said it gave him more insight into her and allowed him to open up with their communication and ultimately made their relationship better. My third book is a double book titled One Night Only/Sexually Penned and I have had so many readers express this book opened and even saved some of their sexual relationships. So the most rewarding aspect and what makes me feel the most successful as a writer/poet are the lives I touch and the feedback from the readers.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my view society can support creatives by making sure there are safe spaces to create. The most important thing for most creatives is the energy in which they can create. Society can listen, respect and engage a creative. Show support to local artists by sharing their art, purchasing their product, just by being their emotional support when things seem hard because it is definitely hard remaining focused as an artist especially when real life happens daily. We can do more by nurturing artists young and allowing them to develop an original voice instead of stifling them because most authentic creatives do not make big bucks. With all that being said if society would just embrace the creative’s mind, heart and soul the world would begin to be a spectrum of beauty.

Contact Info:

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