Welcome fans and followers. We're so glad you have taken the time
to stop by the JLB Creatives Blog.
You're just in time to join our 5 week mini series of posts. Over 5 weeks we will be introducing you to the JLB Creatives Publishing Team members to give you a feel for those who are willing to dream with you.
Because we see no team member more important than another, and the fact that it takes this entire team to bring to fruition the professional publications they do, the #JLBCP team members will appear in alphabetical order:
Week 1 Feb 17, 2014 ~ Dar Bagby Senior Executive Editor
Week 2 Feb 24, 2014 ~ Janet Beasley Founder/Owner and CEO
Week 3 Mar 3, 2014 ~ Jean E. Lane Senior Financial Director
Week 4 Mar 10, 2014 ~ Connie Thompson Graphics Design Director
Week 5 Mar 17, 2014 ~ Elise VanCise Media Director
Welcome to Week 2 - Janet Beasley
(Warning: My team reminds me regularly that I am the epitome of epic...this article is total proof of that!)
Who knew I would be celebrating my birthday in yet another big way, just as I did only two short years ago. I have to admit it is humbling to say the least.
It's been 3 years I have been working on building my network, researching, and learning the ropes of publishing. The journey has been nothing shy of amazing!
Two years ago on February 26, 2012 I published my first fiction novel. Yeah, I had been published in trade magazines, written non-fiction, and even award winning poetry. But to pull of a high fantasy trilogy for my first attempt at the craft of fictional writing proved to be a challenge. . .but a challenge well worth it for sure!
You may be asking yourself, what made February 26th so exciting for a publishing date? That just so happens to be my birthday.
I remember the day well. Family had come in from out of town to help celebrate the grand events - my birthday, and the release of my first novel. I awoke like any other day, though a tad more. . .OK a whole lot more. . .excited than usual! As I made my way to the kitchen for some breakfast my sister-in-law came back into the house screaming. Startled, to say the least, I jumped and asked if she was OK.
She replied, "Yes! Yes! I'm OK, but you're going to be even better!" I could not imagine how I could be any better on such a day.
She handed me the morning paper and I read the head lines. I busted out laughing as it was ever so fitting to my circumstances. It read: 2 MEGA-EVENTS CREATE EPIC DAY.
Of course it had NOTHING to do with my two epic events, but it brought epic laughter throughout the house indeed!
Late 2012 I was invited to co-create and teach the Young Writers Workshop (YWW) with our Senior Executive Editor, Dar Bagby, for the Pickford Community Library in Pickford Michigan. The YWW event is strictly a volunteer event, and all services and publications from JLB Creatives Publishing are complimentary. We feel there's no better way to support a community library, than by what we are doing with these fine aspiring writers. And thanks to head librarian, Ann Marie Smith, who has a huge heart and a lot of guts, and Judge Church for "building" the teen corner at the library, this particular event has grown by leaps and bounds from last year to this year. Dar attends the sessions in person while I attend via Skype from Florida. Plus, each of our team members make guest appearances throughout the season. It's a total blast!
This year we've not only welcomed our returning teen YWW students, but also new teens AND tweens! We decided to divide the class into beginners and advanced. Our beginners are going to be published in an anthology, and our returning advanced students will each have their very own novella published by JLB Creatives Publishing. We couldn't be more thrilled.
2013 proved to be a very busy year. I had already been working within the literary world with Dar, Connie, and Jean E. Together we took a serious look at the publishing industry. Being that individually we came from either the trade or self publishing worlds, we learned we had a lot to offer each other. We studied and researched the features and benefits of both sides. We then created the perfect blend of trade and self publishing's best features. In our networking with even more authors throughout 2013, we were elated to discover Elise; the missing piece of the puzzle for us to take JLB Creatives Publishing to the next level.
I serve as the CEO, and handle all initial submissions for consideration to JLBCP. If you submit your manuscript through our website, you'll now know that I am the first one to lay eyes on it. What am I looking for? A lot of things really. First and foremost I'm seeing if you have the hook line that grabs my attention. Secondly I'm looking to see if you have basic writing skills. And thirdly I'm looking for stories that have the content that will captivate your audience. We do not publish everything that gets submitted. We do however publish stories, true to life and fictional, that we believe will gain the attention of and entertain the genre of readers you are trying to reach. We do not accept anything obscene or slanderous - so when it comes to romance please keep the heat level no higher than a 3 if you would like to be considered for publication. We've also been asked, and the answer is: No, we do not publish cookbooks (yes, I know I have one published, but what a booger to put together! LOL!) To read more about our Publishing process and submit your manuscript I'd like to personally invite you to visit our Publishing Page.
I have served as a speaker, facilitator, and exhibitor at international conferences. It's truly an honor and a joy to do so. I and my team are available to speak at conventions, conferences, seminars, schools, libraries, book clubs, and other literary events regarding publishing, writing tips, and other things that have to do with the world of books.
Well, all I can say is here I am facing the week of my birthday 2 years from my first creative fiction release, and once again I'm humbled at the amazing happenings.
I cannot thank my JLB Creatives Publishing Team enough for their sincere dedication, passion, and enthusiasm toward the craft of writing as well as publishing. I am honored to be a part of a team with over 100+ years combined experience who is excited every day to come to work. We are ready and willing to communicate, educate, and dream with our authors.
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When I'm not spending my time in the literary world, you'll find me spending time with family (the dog included!), kayaking the crystal clear spring fed rivers of Florida, photographing nature, or maybe even baking cupcakes.
Together with my team, we hope that if you are an aspiring writer and find yourself at the crossroads of Trade and Self-Publishing, and you decide to take the Trade route you take a hard look at JLB Creatives Publishing to handle your needs.
Until next week - stay casual, live life to the fullest, and have a piece of chocolate for me ;-)
~Janet~
