Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi! My name is Jessica Kimball. I live in north-central Minnesota with my husband and our three young daughters. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I intend to keep it that way! I’ve been passionate about writing for as long as I can remember; I’ve got some old “books” I wrote from when I was a child, they’re quite comical! I also love gardening, spending time with my family, reading, painting, and meditation. My greatest passion in life is motherhood.
I am also currently working on building a business as a full-spectrum doula – something our rural community does not yet have. My passion for motherhood drives my initiative to make it a positive, life-changing, fulfilling experience for all mothers. I hope to bring that to our small community so other mothers can embrace their unique motherhood journeys.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Own Your Motherhood”?
I struggled with word count along the way – at first it seemed daunting to write enough content for an entire book, even a bite-sized one like mine. I was worried my readers wouldn’t enjoy the book if it was on the short side, but I quickly realized that it’s about the quality of what I’ve got to say, not the quantity.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I really enjoy anything with a conversational tone and relatable content. I find that it makes it easier to immerse myself in the author’s words if I feel as though we’re sitting down talking over a cup of coffee.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Unfortunately, my family and I don’t travel as much as we’d like – it’s difficult with young children. I do personally love the ocean and Yellowstone National Park. I have fond childhood memories in both places! I’d love to share these types of experiences with my own children someday. Thankfully we live in an area rich with lakes, state parks and forests, and many outdoor activities so we can embrace and thoroughly enjoy the area we live in.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
I think you should jump in and start writing! You may need to revise again (and again, and again) but that’s the beauty of it. You can make as many revisions as you want before you share your work with the world.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Own Your Motherhood’?
It only took me a couple of months once I finally picked a topic I could talk about for hours.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your book?
You can find my book online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, in both ebook and print!
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Own Your Motherhood’?
The book cover was a little project of mine during the writing process. When I wasn’t investing time in writing the words themselves, I was drawing the cover art – inspired of course by my family. The title didn’t come until partway through the book after I’d actually written the words “own your motherhood” down. It clicked instantly!
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I carry a notebook with me to write down thoughts, blurbs, questions, ideas, etc. on the fly. Writing in the moment allows me to accurately capture my emotions and keep the story relevant. I can look back later on my notes and recall situations and ideas with much more clarity that way. It also allows me to write down passing thoughts that would otherwise float away and potentially not come back – always a risk with small children running around!
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
There aren’t many hidden secrets inside of this book – it’s just stories and experiences from your run-of-the-mill mom. There is a lot of honesty, and I do write about my biggest mistake as a mother; one that almost cost my daughter her life. I hope it resonates with other mothers about the commonality of mistakes in parenthood – it just comes with the territory. I try to maintain a relatable nature so my readers can really see themselves inside of the pages.
Buy Own Your Motherhood by Jessica Kimball
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