- Behind the Books
Ever dream of ditching your day job to finally write that book? Janice Kennedy Washington did just that—trading in her career in human resources to pursue her lifelong passion for authorship after retiring. In this candid interview, Washington pulls back the curtain on how she made the leap to self-publishing not one but two wildly different books.
First, her poignant memoir The Girl from Highpoint recounts Washington’s childhood in segregated 1960s Mississippi—from the fraught experience of integration to the night a fire destroyed her family home. Then, she took readers on a thrilling escapist journey with her romance trilogy, No Fear in Love, featuring African American heroines across vibrant historical backdrops like 1920s Harlem.
Get ready for a motivating inside look at Washington’s transition from a full-time job to a full-time author, including how she researched and marketed her books, the creative freedom of self-publishing, and her novel writing tips for you.
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What motivated you to become an author after a career as an HR manager for a newspaper?
Before starting my career in human resources, writing a book had always been a dream of mine. I received a bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in journalism from Tougaloo College, where I wrote for the newspaper. Getting the opportunity to work for the Houston Chronicle put me in the journalism arena or “the room where it happens.” Although I didn’t write for the paper, I recruited journalists. I also took the opportunity to author several HR and company-related materials.
When I retired, writing my memoir was number one on my bucket list. For me, it was a full-circle moment.
Your memoir, The Girl from Highpoint, provides a personal look into growing up in segregated Mississippi. What inspired you to share your story with the world?
In an age where there is a calculated effort to erase or alter American history, I felt compelled to document my real-life experiences growing up in the segregated South of the 1960s. My early childhood was spent in a system of apartheid. Separate schools, separate facilities, having to use the back door when visiting a white person’s home. Addressing white people with “sir,” “ma’am,” or “miss” was required. In the sixth grade, I integrated my junior high school, which was fraught with obstacles and challenges.
This didn’t happen hundreds of years ago. This happened in my lifetime. It’s imperative that we don’t forget it. I wrote the book to honor my ancestors, my parents, and my siblings. It was dedicated as a love letter to all of them.
And how did you approach writing about such personal experiences? Were there challenges in revisiting those memories?
There were certainly challenges. Revisiting experiences like integrating my school in 1966 Mississippi and realizing how brave my parents were in making that decision to send me. I was one of only a handful of black students that took this on. Most black parents in my hometown understandably chose not to do this. Another painful memory that I wrote about was the summer our house burned to the ground, where we lost everything. I was surprised at how much detail I still remembered.
The second part of the memoir shares my thoughts on a variety of topics. The chapter on grief was the toughest to write, and instinctively, I knew it would be. I found myself weeping as I wrote about the death of my mother. When she was near death, I was by her side in Mississippi, and I kept a daily journal. I translated the journal into the book.
On a much lighter note, I kept a diary during high school. Re-visiting that was pretty funny. The things that tormented me as a teenager are universal to all teens, and fifty years later, they are laugh-out-loud funny.
Your latest novel, No Fear in Love, is a romance trilogy featuring African American women protagonists. What drew you to this genre and focus?
I’m a hopeless romantic at heart. I love stories with romance as the focus, from Jane Austen to E. L. James and everything in between. I chose African American women as protagonists because, as an African American woman, I can tell their stories with authenticity. Also, there aren’t enough love stories featuring this demographic.
The setting of the first story in the trilogy is modern-day Paris and the love that develops between an American expatriate and a French native. The second is in New York during the Harlem Renaissance (1920s to 1930s) when there was an explosion of art, culture, and advancements for African Americans, many of whom had migrated from the crushing racism of the south. The third story takes place at the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans in the red-light district of Storyville. All three settings are rich with history, passion, and drama. The goal was to paint a picture of how the protagonists navigated through those worlds and the challenges and triumphs they faced.
For my memoir, I started by gathering all my resources, such as personal diaries, travel journals, and family photos.
You’ve now written both a memoir and fiction. How does your writing process differ between these two genres?
For my memoir, I started by gathering all my resources, such as personal diaries, travel journals, and family photos. Fortunately, my husband is a professional photographer, and over the years, we’ve amassed a treasure trove of family and travel photographs.
The writing process for both books was the same. I established a daily writing routine, which included getting up each morning at 8:00 a.m., grabbing a cup of coffee, catching up on the news, going to my office, and just writing. I also kept a notepad in my purse and on the nightstand in my bedroom. Sometimes, in the middle of the night or when I was out and about, I’d get an idea or inspiration and jot it down.
For the romance novel, I just let my creative juices flow. I took inspiration from all the love stories I’d read or watched on the screen. Even though I am the youngest of eleven siblings, I grew up as an only child because my closest sibling is seven years older. As a result, I developed a menagerie of imaginary friends and stories.
How do you approach research for your books, especially when dealing with historical contexts like New Orleans at the turn of the century?
I am a student of history. I enjoy reading historical books. I watch the History Channel and Ken Burns documentaries, among others. I’ve read books about Storyville, which was the red-light district in New Orleans during the turn of the 20th century. My husband and his family are New Orleanians, and I’ve visited there several times, so I have a feel for the city. I also did lots of research online.
When writing about Harlem and Storyville, I wanted to be true to the periods and incorporate what was happening in the world at that time. I also wanted to be true to character names, social customs, how people spoke, how they dressed, how African Americans lived, and how they were treated.
When I turned sixty, I achieved a lifelong dream of waking up in Paris on my birthday. I journaled the entire time I was there. My journal proved to be an excellent resource for the first story of the trilogy.
What impact do you hope your books will have on readers, particularly those who can personally relate to your experiences?
I hope that those who’ve had similar experiences growing up in segregation will view my memoir as an affirmation of their experiences. I want to show that despite all the obstacles thrown your way, you can rise above and overcome. I also hope that it serves as a teachable opportunity to others who don’t know this history and inspires them to fight against book banning to ensure that all voices are heard.
I hope my chapter on grief will be seen as a balm for easing pain. I hope the chapter on aging gracefully will illuminate the challenges and benefits of aging, and the chapter on friendship will lift spirits.
My romance novel is pure escapism. Each story in the trilogy transports you to Paris, New York, and New Orleans (with a twist in San Antonio). My goal is to drop you into the world of those characters and become immersed in their experiences. It’s designed to make you fall in love with them.
What led you to self-publish? And why did you choose Blurb?
Many reasons. I liked having complete creative control over what I wrote and how I wrote it. I liked following my own timeline and not feeling pressured to hurry up. Another plus is owning the rights to my books. My dream is for No Fear in Love to become a television series.
Also, I appreciate the quick turnaround on getting my books printed. I like having the print-on-demand option (which hopefully will become necessary). The pricing calculator was helpful. Other plusses included no distribution or commission fees and the free online marketing tool.
The entire process was new-author friendly. I chose Blurb based on a recommendation from an acquaintance. She’d used Blurb to write her book and was very pleased with the process.
Describe your bookmaking process from writing to editing to layout. Are there unexpected lessons you learned along the way?
I wrote my memoir in Microsoft Word and afterward transported it to BookWright. I used the book cover editing dashboard to create my cover and imported photos from my computer.
When I wrote my romance novel, I wrote it directly in BookWright, which ended up being an easier process, and, going forward, this is what I will do.
One of the lessons I learned is to have all your photos organized, edited, and ready to go. Be patient with yourself and take the time to become familiar with the platform.
I would recommend using an editing software tool for misspellings and grammar. Lastly, always read your book aloud a few times. You’d be surprised what a difference that makes in the final editing process.
What advice would you give aspiring authors wishing to self-publish their own stories?
Be realistic about the process and the outcome. Writing is cathartic. If you have a story to tell, write it. Be patient and enjoy the process along the way. Stay disciplined and put in the work. Writing a book is an achievement that most people only dream of doing.
Can you share any tips for authors on effectively marketing their books in today’s Digital Age?
Consider joining online writing clubs and communities for networking. Facebook has a writer’s group.
Setting up a Facebook page specifically dedicated to your work, utilizing other social media outlets, and creating a website are options. I also recommend taking an online marketing class.
Is there anything exciting you’re working on that we should stay tuned for?
Right now, I’m thinking about creating a book of family photos. I come from a large family and have bins of photos that I’d like to capture in one place. This would be a photographic tribute to my family and my husband’s family.
Another story I’m considering is a period piece that begins during slavery, forges the path to freedom, and ends triumphantly in Canada. Stay tuned!
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