Interview with Amy Jean
Amy Jean is a dreamer, a poet, mother, and writer sharing compelling stories. As a poet and writer, she has written numerous books. The Kingdom has Arrived: Foundations Volume 1, her debut memoir, is a compilation of poetry and prose that details her mystical and otherworldly encounters, including physical manifestations, visions, locutions, prophetic dreams, and apparitions-be inspired and discover your authentic self by following along on a spiritually enlightening journey using the My Insight Journal that accompanies Volume 1.
Be sure to read two more of her books, Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites and A Step Back, a forthcoming thought-provoking book that is a continuation of the first two Side Step books. Amy’s first two Side Step books received numerous five-star reviews. Experience Scripture coming to fruition to warm the hearts of humanity in The Kingdom has Arrived Volume 2: Passion’s Fire.
Amy is an entrepreneur and spent several years growing a cleaning company in NC. She recently started Jean Publications, LLC, and seeks to share forward-thinking, unique works of art that inspire and propel humanity towards universal liberation. Specifically, creative writing and artistic masterpieces offering bold new thoughts leading society to a brighter future where all lives matter. Learn more about Amy and her books at www.amyjean.live
* Tell us about your beginning, where are you from?
I was born in Toledo, Ohio, to loving parents, and I have one sister. We frequently moved throughout my childhood due to my father’s work. Primarily around the mid-west, as he started up manufacturing factories in the automotive industry. I went to high school in a small town outside of Erie, Pennsylvania; I attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a degree in business and psychology. After college, I relocated to Philadelphia, PA, for my first job with NCR selling computer equipment.
* Can you tell us about your new volume of poetry, Side Steps: Terrorizing Sound Bites Part 2 Some Things are Black and White? What inspired you to write it?
Side Steps Terrorizing Sound Bites resulted from the culmination of otherworldly events that led me to write my memoir. I decided to take a “fictional,” poetic approach to see if I could garner additional interest in my story. I find the rhythm of poetry flows naturally for me. Sometimes behind the music while on a run and often in the middle of the night while sleeping. I wake up and email myself words or combinations of words, and then the next morning, sit in front of my computer and revise, revise, revise until I like the sound, meaning, and cadence of the words.
* What important social issues do you address in your book?
An entire gamut of social problems is discussed—political injustices, inequality, bullying, lack of universal freedoms, jealousy, greed, discrimination, complacency, women’s equality, and general lack of common sense.
* Why poetry vs. another writing style?
Poetry leaves doors open, comforting a reader or a child. Not only can a reader take poetry and create a new, original meaning for themself, but the lyrical nature of poetry can soothe like a lullaby. While critics have said my work is brash, poetry, for me, is a subtle way to disclose uncomfortable truths and thoughts—A strategic, gentle approach.
* What is the best writing advice you’ve ever had and the worst?
The worst advice I ever read was not to tell anybody that you are trying to write. The best advice was to revise, revise, revise. The more I think about what I have written and review it, the clearer and more concise my thoughts translate to coherent words.
* What is your writing process like? Are you a pantser or a plotter?
Often with poetry, the words flood my mind in a symphonic rhythm. Sometimes, a thought comes to mind, and I work backward to blend the ideas into a poem. Writing my memoir was more challenging; I took my journal and tried to piece together many events that felt hard to grasp. Either because the memories were difficult, or they were otherworldy and challenging to describe coherently.
* Do you need a special place to write?
Generally, I write at my dining room table, but words often come to me when I am out in nature, running, and frequently when I am sleeping. I email myself sentences and notes frequently and then write them down and labor over them when I get back to my computer.
* Are you part of a writing community or a writing group?
Not currently. I was part of a memoir group for about a year while working on my life story in a memoir format. I have since decided to share my journey using poetry as I find it more fulfilling and am writing poetry independently. I don’t feel the need for collaboration when it comes to poetry since there are no rules or need for others to comprehend. My poetry is free form. Like it or don’t – it’s up to the reader.
* Who are your favorite authors?
Edna St. Vincent Millay and C.S. Lewis
* What are you currently reading?
The Wonder Worker by Susan Howatch.
I have recently struggled to read because every book I pick up feels like a scramble of the same story that has been told repeatedly.
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Amy lives in Charlotte, NC, with her two dogs, Zoey (a Bernese Mountain dog) and Izzy (a toy Australian Shephard). When she is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her three grown sons and two daughters-in-law, traveling, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, exploring art and architecture, playing tennis, gardening, running, camping, and knitting.
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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