Meet J.L. Lawrence | Author and Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with J.L. Lawrence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi J.L., how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Most consider my life to be total chaos, and maybe at times it was or is. I have been a high school teacher for over twenty years, a mom of three teenagers, board member for non=profits, and an author. I’ve even coached soccer off and on throughout the years. I definitely struggled to find balance many times especially when my children were younger. Every minute of my day seemed to be planned. I’d like to say that’s no longer the case, but my time is still scheduled out. I used to work seventy hours a week, coach my kids’ sports, and write whenever possible. I began to feel the drain and exhaustion. My time with my children wasn’t what I considered quality time, but I pressed on. I started to give up on ever publishing and figured I’d get to it eventually.

Then, everything came to halt when I received a diagnosis of having breast cancer about nine years ago. I was lucky and it was caught very early and removed quickly. However, it forced me to slow down and reevaluate my life. I suddenly realized that I couldn’t put off my dreams or spend more time with my kids later. Instead, I restructured my life. I switched jobs but stayed in teaching because I love it, and now I love it even more with less stress. I’m still very involved with all my children’s activities and am more present during the time I spend with them. I had one just start college and another headed that direction. I feel like the change to my life balance gave me a much better relationship with all three.

This life balance change also allowed me to become a published author. I have twelve published books with three more to be published soon. I have participated in several markets and comic cons over the years and thoroughly enjoy meeting fans. So to sum up, I still have a lot of irons in the fire but better balance to enjoy them and find success. I plan to continue my somewhat crazy life but also love every minute of it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an author of fantasy fiction and holiday romance. I know, big difference between the two, but I love both. My coping mechanism as a child was to create incredible make believe worlds with mythical creatures especially dragons and tons of magic. The crazier the better. Eventually, these childhood stories became the basis of my first series, the Mystic.

I can’t believe that I now have twelve books that are published. They include adult level fantasy/adventure, young adult fantasy, and a lighthearted holiday romance trilogy. My upcoming projects include an adult series full of fantasy action and a new young adult series all about a world of mythical creatures and unique magic. The journey has not been an easy one and I’ve had several missteps along the way, but with the support of family and friends I never gave up.

While my stories are based in fantasy, many of the concepts are very real. Most have complex relationships, self realization, strong friendships, and intense conviction. I want readers to finish my stories with a feeling that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to achieve. Personally, these stories provide my escape when the world threatens to overwhelm. These characters are a sort of life line to my sanity. If I can help just one other person feel that same hope, I consider it a success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This question is difficult for me. As I mentioned my world has heavily revolved around my children, so I don’t see as much of my city as I should. The first night I’d probably take my friend to downtown Nashville and check a few of the local bars and experience some country music. It’s a rite of passage in my area. However, I’m not a big city person, so one night is about all I could do. Some of my favorite restaurants are The Melting Pot and Rodizio’s on second avenue (they are rebuilding right now but plan to reopen soon). Closer to home, there are a few restaurants like Chef’s Market and Calabria that are great. One of my favorite Mexican places, is Pueblo Viejo. My family eats there at least once a week. We have several shopping centers like Opry Mills that are fun to explore and you could even throw in an Escape Game and a movie for fun. During the holiday season, seeing the ICE show and lights at Gaylord is an absolute must not to mention several of the shows that take place at the Grand Ole Opry

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandfather, Lawrence, was my biggest inspiration and always encouraged me to reach for the stars. His creative abilities always amazed me. My mother, Pat, also played a huge role in my success and still does. She reads all my books, listens to my ideas, and shows up at several of my events. My husband, Kevin, of over twenty years also shows tremendous support and helps me set up for all these events and loads the car. His support over the years has been invaluable. Lastly, my children, Kenzie, Austin, and Ally, have been instrumental in my continued work as an author. They can do my sales pitch almost as well as I can, and they have inspired many ideas over the years. The fact that they are proud of my accomplishments means the world to me.

In addition, I’d like to recognize my writing partners Jeanne Hardt and E.L. Reed. No one understand the struggles of a creative like those going through the same issues.

Website: www.authorjllawrence.com

Instagram: jllawrenceauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016309036835

Other: TikTok is @jllawrenceauthor Email is [email protected]