Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaleissa Speight.
Hi Jaleissa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I can remember, I have always liked to write. I am an introvert so writing was always my escape. When I was in high school and college, I played around with the idea of becoming an Author. I started many manuscripts but never was really passionate enough about the topic to finish the process. When I found out that I was going to be a mom, I was determined to make some things I had only dreamed about my reality.
When my son was around three months old, I sat down in his room after I put him down for bed and I started writing. Finding out that I was going to be a mom was both exciting and scary. To say that the world we live in is crazy is really an understatement. Knowing that I was going to be held responsible for this little person was a lot of pressure and I was not sure I was ready. But, once he arrived all of the fear was replaced instantly by an overwhelming amount of love and gratefulness. I poured a piece of my heart into that letter because I wanted my son to know that regardless of the craziness of the world, he is loved and he mattered. I planned to frame and hang the letter on his wall to incorporate into our bedtime routine. A couple of days passed by and I decided to pitch the idea to a publishing company. Nine months later, You Are My Sonshine was released.
The last three years have been filled with lessons learned and being able to share the love of You Are My Sonshine with others. Hearing how much the book captures a mother’s love and how much other enjoying reading it with their sons and daughters really warms my heart. I believe that children should be taught at a young age to show up daily as the best version of themselves and the book helps to convey that message of positivity and motivation wrapped up in a bow of love.
Not only is You Are My Sonshine available in multiple bookstores and online, but it has grown into a brand which now includes merchandise. Sharing my story has helped me in more ways than one and now I get to pay it forward by offering coaching services to help others tell their story.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been filled with lessons because in the beginning, I was learning how to navigate unfamiliar waters. I knew nothing about how to write a booklet alone publish one. But I am a determined individual who does not believe that there is nothing that I cannot do. There is only two options when you do not know how to do something: Option 1 is to do your own research and figure it out on your own or Option 2 is to ask for help. I am not too proud to ask for help which is why I opted to use a publishing company for my first book.
Marketing and promoting a business is a full-time job and being an author is no different. Not only did I have to learn how the publishing process worked, but I had to figure out how to properly market myself and my book. Balancing has definitely been key in my success so far, but the biggest challenge was creating an elevator pitch. Once I figured out exactly how to do that and connect with people who have platforms to allow me to share my story, the rest has been easy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a full-time Benefits Implementation Specialist for an online benefit enrollment system. I specialize in project management and planning to ensure that goals are hit and time is used efficiently.
As an author, I specialize in helping others who either have a book idea navigate the publishing world so that they can finish what they started. I come across a lot of writers who start the process but because they have no idea what to do after they have started writing they never finish. As an Author Coach, I offer resources to help you develop your book idea and finish the writing process. I collaborate with editors and publishers so that others do not have to initially worry about finding editors and publishers to help them with their projects. But, I also help walk you through the self-publishing process so that if you decide to write another book in the future, you are equipped with the right tools to duplicate the process. My goal is to help others unlock the key to their untold story so that it can inspire others.
I am most proud that my letter to my son has helped so many families spread more love and become a bedtime favorite. I believe that representation is very important especially in African American households. When I decided to publish this book, it was because there was not enough books available that highlighted the special bond between mother and son or that had characters that looked like my son and I on the cover. I was able to take the risk and do something that most people do not do. Now that I have empowered myself with the knowledge, I am happy to be able to share and help others. You never know until you share how your story can inspire others.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is that when you truly believe in yourself your level of success is limitless. Being a mom of two toddlers, working a regular 9-5 job, being an entrepreneur and author can be overwhelming sometimes but at the end of the day, the most important job I have is being a mom. My children are my why for everything that I do. As a result, I know that I have to lead by example so that when I tell and teach them to believe in themselves, it will be easy because they saw me do the same thing. I have overcome the biggest challenge of all in the past three years which is rediscovering who Jaleissa is now that I am a mom.
Who am I? An ordinary mom with EXTRAordinary dreams.
Pricing:
- You Are My Sonshine book is available for purchase at www.urmysonshine.org for $16.95
Contact Info:
- Email: urmysonshine01@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.urmysonshine.org/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/urmysonshine01
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/urmysonshine01
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Jaleissaspeight
