We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Jacobs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

When I was eight or nine years old, I heard Ella Fitzgerald sing a How High the Moon. It was a live recording where she took chorus after chorus of an improvisational scat solo singing. From that moment on I was sold that I would become a jazz vocalist. As God would have it, he blessed me in many other ways also making me an author and a college professor, and I am so grateful to Him.

Maria, 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?

People who know me and follow me on social media know that I am a devout Christian, A cradle Catholic, but my story twists and turns tremendously. I am a national recording artist, but also an educator and author. I want to attract people to my musical platforms on all digital platforms. Of course I want more followers everywhere lol but I want people mostly to know about my Christian testimony, which is creeping out on some major Christian platforms such as the Hallow app.

My book is about overcoming bipolar disorder and coming today to live in full remission. Thanks to the grace of God. I struggled my entire adult life but today I am thriving. My condition no longer defines me.
I go into great detail as to what my struggle has been, and how God brought me through my Darkest Hour

When I learned to love the giver more than the many gifts He’s given me, when I became grateful for everything in my life, good, bad and indifferent, lol, my life begin to change dramatically, for the better. This is the crux of my book. I am posting brief videos of me reading excerpts of my book every week. I do want to draw many people to them as possible,

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was living in Los Angeles, for 12 years, I had struggles that were eventually immeasurable. In 2007, I had an all time low in my career, as well as my condition of bipolar disorder. I fell so hard that I sought for the first time inpatient treatment. I had been awake for 96 hours, four days straight, filled with fear and paranoia as my disease was raging. When I left inpatient treatment, I was out of work and my health wasn’t looking like it would improve anytime soon. And this is where my Christian testimony begins. I was at a turning point in my life I had surrendered completely. God met me in my darkest hour.

As I laid in bed, trying to sleep, literally curled up in a ball and crying I heard the words “Tell them about me“ I was startled, and scared. Wondering if anyone would believe me, I knew I’d had a supernatural experience with Jesus Himself. For years, I thought he wasn’t listening, but this proved that he was. He wanted me to testify as to his glory and miracles in my life, which I would soon know. We serve a living God, and he was most definitely listening

Not long after, I came to the conclusion Los Angeles was no longer the place for me, and I went back home to Cleveland. I was grateful beyond measure. As my life began to change and evolve. My health improved tremendously until I was living in full remission, and having a healthy life mentally emotionally professionally and most especially spiritually.

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

Yes, I believe the story. I just shared with you is an example also of my resilience. I was driven to make up for lost time every time my condition caused me to stumble.and as a result I achieved more than I ever dreamt of.

I’m not wealthy, but I thrived. I’ve written over one hundred songs I’ve released nine albums and thirteen singles I’ve become a college professor and I’ve authored a 60 thousand words book about overcoming an aggressive condition, and all that God has brought me though.

I’ve fallen so many times. But I’ve never given up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mariajacobs.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mariaevajacobs
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/mariaevajacobs.music
• Linkedin: www.LinkedIn.com/in/mariaevajacobs
• Twitter: @mariaevajacobs
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/mariajacobs
• Other: www.linktr.ee/mariaevajacobs