Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon Jenkins.
Hi Sharon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One of the most wonderful things that America offers is the freedom to start a business. I was laid off from a nonprofit director’s position and wondering what my next step would be. The possibilities were endless, but the probabilities were limited. I decided to do a personal assessment of my skills and talents. Coming from a nonprofit environment, I knew I had the heart to help others, the challenge was making a profit doing what I loved to do. I decided that the literary industry was a good fit for me. I have been in the business for 15 years and with the evolution of the e-book and self-publishing, as it’s a major catalyst for change, I was in a better position to help authors master the publishing divide.
I was also enamored with the fact that the authors were also small business start-ups. I became an advocate in the early days of the term “authorpreneur.” It was part of my earlier mission to explain the term and the necessity for authors to embrace it in order to be competitive in the industry. It has been my pleasure to introduce aspiring authors to this concept and empower them to take their first step into publishing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would love to say it has been a smooth road, but that’s not realistic. I have found that I have often needed to be a bridge in this very segregated industry, especially for minority authors so that they can have access to the tools that they need to successfully market their books.
Being a first-time author has its challenges, but also the author may have unrealistic expectations. I can’t tell you the number of times authors have told me that they have written a bestselling novel or book with little or no preparation for the task at hand. These expectations have often made it difficult to provide a quality deliverable, especially when an author isn’t willing to be a partner in the process of writing, publishing, printing, and marketing their books.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
On a personal note, as a creative, I get to create tools for authors that empower them. As a podcaster, I get to help them tell their stories or share their expertise with the world. As an editor, I get to help them show up in writing excellence. As a publisher, I get to help them create the right cover and interior design for their book that makes them competitive in the marketplace.
As a visionary, I get to implement new marketing strategies that cross generational boundaries such as The Super Author Granny and the Super Author SuperStore. As a speaker, I get to motivate and empower aspiring writers to pursue their dreams. As a novelist, I get to take my readers on a journey that they can only find in the pages of a well-written book.
As a child, I recognized the power of words. I have always been mesmerized by the verbal or written pictures that they paint on the hearts of others. My love and passion for authors as superheroes sets the stage for what I do and how I do it. I am proud of the authors who have allowed me to be their “literary midwife.” Some of them are recognized all over the world. That’s a legacy that only God could have created for me, and I am very grateful that he did.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I was blessed because I was already working out of my home. COVID-19 allowed me to lend support wherever it was needed during the transition from a brick and motar office to Zoom. I learned to be flexible and to always look for the silver lining in every cloud.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.superauthorgranny.com, www.superauthorsuperstore.com, www.mcwritingservices.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sharoncjenkins
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sharoncjenkins
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/sharon_jenkins
- Youtube: @SharonJenkins
Image Credits
Sharon’s Photo – Ferrell Phelps
