Mother's Day 2015

My Mother's Day in a nutshell.

Happy Mother's Day, Moms!

Love,

JNP

Motivated Mom / Author

I began a journey nearly eight years ago when an idea came to me. I had a vision of a girl in a long black gown running through cold dark woods. I wondered why she was running or who she was running from. I jotted down a few ideas and then got busy with my 18 credit hours of classes at USU.

Over the next five years, I jotted down a few more ideas and even wrote a couple of scenes. They didn't seem right, so I left it alone again. In 2011, I was up late one night--something a single mother is prone to do--watching television. I was watching The X-files on Hulu Plus. LOL! I love that show. It's quite inspirational apparently because as I watched Skully disprove yet another of Mulder's theories I wondered...suddenly I knew exactly why the girl in the black gown was running and who she was running from.

I paused my show and ran to my computer and began typing. I typed all night and well into the morning (my Blu-ray had long since shut itself off). I typed all weekend and only stopped to attend my Sunday services. I typed all night again and went into work feeling rather exhausted. Shortly thereafter, I was laid off from my job as a photo editor. I was scared for sure. A single mother with bills to pay and no job...yeah... But if there's one thing I've learned in life it is in Whom I put my trust, and there was nothing worth worrying about because I knew my needs would be met, and they were.

All day I'd search for employment until the late afternoon when my daughter would be home from school. All night I would write. I embarked on what I call my "Secret Readers Club" and received great feedback from friends who seemed to love my characters as much as I do. 

Here I am, three years later having a book cover designed by my super sweet friend and former colleague, Erin Hiatt while trying to secure a formatting specialist. And thanks to the highly motivating support of another dear friend and colleague whose name I'll not reveal here, today I submitted my manuscript to a professional editing service that I hope will help me achieve the error-free work a perfectionist like me much prefers.

I admit I'm new to the world of self-publishing, but we all have to start somewhere in order to realize our dreams. A talented author friend who my cousin Sara introduced me to has been so kind as to take a few moments out of her--what I'm sure are busy days for a working mother--to offer me advice as she has already been down this road. Thank you, Amy Harmon, for your guidance.

Today I feel grateful for wonderful friends and a loving family. My heart overflows...and my eyes are about to.

Thinking of Mother's Day, which is tomorrow, I want to dedicate this blog post to all the single mothers whose hearts are heavy laden and whose dreams are stuck in their heads, buried beneath the realities of their current situation. You ladies are important, and so are your dreams. I truly believe that where there is a will there is also a way. I know it sounds cliche, but I don't care what anyone says: truth is the truth. So, go out there and find that way! And Happy Mother's day, single lady moms!! I know the Lord of us all is watching over you and your little ones.

Sincerely,

Jessica Nichole Prado

Getting Closer

Three years ago I completed my first full-length manuscript. Today I submitted it for a final copy edit. This feels more real than ever. Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing my work of eight years in print. 

Initially, I thought I might put this project on hold and publish Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother first, but I'm finding it difficult to focus on Cena's story until I complete Silver's story--Silver Sanz is the name of my protagonist in my completed manuscript titled, Silver Awakening. 

Anyway, I know this a little backward from what I had said the last time I posted, but that's just me; I change my mind all the time and I tend to let my feelings lead me. I feel like the right thing for me to do is to finish Silver's story, get it printed, and maybe then I can conclude Cena's story.

Stay tuned for more updates to come.




P.S. My married name is Shipp.
P.P.S. Isn't my husband so cute? There is still hope, single mothers. I promise. 



;-)  JNP