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

Hi Jonell, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

One of my best friends, Versus, connected me with a director that she had worked with in the past. This director, Drusilla Talley Williams, was looking for a writer to write a screenplay about the life and career of her late niece Samantha Rogers. After a few calls, Drusilla coordinated time for me to interview important people in Sam’s life, including her mother, grandmother, aunts, girlfriend, and artists that she’s worked with over the span of her career. The interviews consisted of questions that I prepared, which resulted in an emotion-filled recounting of moments and enlightenment on my behalf. I was confident that I was equipped to write the script that served as a tribute to Samantha Rogers’ life because I learned the impact her life had on her village and the greater Greenville and Atlanta music scene. It took me two months to write the rough draft of the script. Its solid foundation led to Drusilla casting for the screenplay less than three years later. I worked with her to make final edits before we spent three weeks in August 2023 on pre-production. I ended up being cast in the film, which is called “Loyalty Over Everything,” on a whim. No one who auditioned fit the role of Sam’s girlfriend, Moya—I ended up auditioning on a Sunday and landed the role. Since then, writing and acting have become dual passions. Loyalty Over Everything is currently screening online.

Jonell, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a writer from East Orange, NJ. I have been a ghostwriter for two published books; one is an autobiography, and one is a devotional prayer book. Since fall 2023, I have been ghostwriting a children’s book for one of my best friends from Spelman. This creative work was happening in conjunction with me editing the script for “Loyalty Over Everything.” I pride myself on being a multifaceted writer and esteemed editor. I am currently working on my website and solidifying my writing packages. In the future I will be able to share my services with you all. In the meantime, you can contact me on Instagram for your writing needs: @storiesby_jo.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to create relatable stories and maintain a clear artistic vision. I ultimately want to make my late aunt proud, as she poured so much time and money into making sure that I had the best education and experiences. I will always strive to produce the best.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I learned the hard lesson of being flexible about my goals. When I was 25 years old, I set the goal of writing three books by the age of 30. Well, life happened, and the pandemic put things on hold for everyone. After losing my son last year through a miscarriage and starting over financially, I have a fresh perspective on what my creative journey will entail—I will make strategic moves to bring my writing to life. Although I am only on track to have one book published in the first quarter of 2025, I will still be accomplished. I will be the first published author in my family, and my two other book ideas are solidified. I will use the momentum of publishing my poetry book to prepare for my future works. I am rest assured that a setback does not make me a failure, and I am free in the reality that I am operating on my own timeline.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesby_jo/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1805477907
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonellbrown

Image Credits

Dillon Carmichael, Shyan Murphy