It's Just Life

  • Home
  • About
  • Comments for a Cause
  • Tea and Teapots
  • Books
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Recipes
  • Products
March 4, 2019

Tawanda’s Tales: Best Friends Forever Hits the Trail

15 Comments/ 4/ 0

Welcome to It’s Just Life- Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary where plays on words are the norm and where authors are held in highest esteem.  Today I am thrilled to share one of my North Iowa Blogger friends, Jennifer K. Schmitt.  Jen has recently become a published author and I am thrilled to share her new children’s book Tawanda’s Tales: Best Friends Forever with my readers today.

When I first met Jen I was impressed by her spirit, her drive and her energy.  She always has a kind word for others and is one of the most genuinely kind people that I have had the chance to meet.  When I found out that she had written a children’s book I was thrilled and had to share it with you.  It is such a great story and the illustrations by C. J. Love are adorable. And who doesn’t love a book about horses and friendships?

Jen reading her book to one of her daughters, Ellie.

I asked Jen to answer a few questions for my readers and our interview follows.

1. What made you decide to be an author? Was it always part of your dream or did it happen later in life?

I have always loved writing and have many stories in my head, so I finally started “speaking” them into my phone. Many of the stories are from my childhood, stories about our farm and my girls, etc. While attending college at NIACC I wrote for the NIACC Newspaper Logo’s and through adulthood have had a couple of articles published in magazines and of course my blog, Tails From The Gravel Road is another place for me to be creative. The idea to really “go for it” and hire an illustrator came in 2018 when I had enough courage to dream big and huge.

2. If you could have dinner with any one author dead or alive who would it be and why?

This is a REALLY tough question! I would say John C. Maxwell. He has written so many great books on personal development and leadership. I love reading personal development books so having the opportunity to sit and visit him would be amazing. I would specifically want to talk to him about his book, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.

3. What is your favorite spot to write? Are you a creature of habit and always write in the same spot or do you need variety?

Like I said, sometimes, I speak into my phone to write, but at home my favorite place to write is in my bedroom. I feel like often the ideas start to flow when I am laying in bed so I always keep a notepad near to get the ideas down.

4.When you write do you have a particular process that you use or do you change it up? Do you do an outline and stick to that ? What is your writing process like?

I tend to write just as I would have a conversation with someone. I tend to just sit down and write with no outline, put it away for awhile (even months) then get it back out and make changes. I also share my really important writings with a very small group of friends that I know will give me honest feedback.

6. If you could give one piece of advice to the younger you —say maybe the teenage you—what would it be?

Oh wow, I think of this often, especially with an 11 year old daughter. If I could give my teenage self advice, it would be to live by the mantra that I have finally decided to live by at age 38. Dream Big and Huge! Don’t be afraid of what others will think or how something may look through “their”eyes, encourage others and don’t be afraid to have huge audacious goals and write them down as if they have happened. You will never come close to your goals if you don’t have them!

7. Obviously your book is a children’s book and draws on your experiences growing up. What can we expect from you in the future? More children’s books? Adult novels? Inquiring minds want to know!

There will be more Tawanda’s Tales adventures to share, she had a lot of adventures growing up on her Iowa farm, as well as some stories that include a “famous” pig from our family farm. In the future I would love to write a personal development book about the challenges that I have overcome in my 38 years and what has assisted me through some very difficult times with loss of family members as a teenager, a crohn’s disease diagnosis, and a near death experience with spinal meningitis in 2009.

I would like to add that I am extremely excited that publishing my first book has launched me to begin speaking engagements with children and adults to encourage them to live by the words “Dream Big and Huge!” I feel like I am being called to do more with the platform that I have been given and can’t wait to help others overcome their struggles to live their best life through my life coaching business!

Jennifer Schmitt

Thanks to Jen for an amazing interview and for such a wonderful book that will win the hearts of many readers young and old alike.   If you are interested in buying a copy of Tawanda’s Tales: Best Friends Forever you can order a signed copy directly from Jen by clicking here.You can also order from Amazon by clicking here.

Please connect with Jen and follow her on her social media links below.

Facebook
Instagram

Twitter

Website
Email: [email protected]

If you would like to listen to a brief interview with Jen from KCMR Radio in Mason City please click below to listen to the clip.

 

Share:
Tags:
author book children's books Illustrator C.J. Love interview with author Iowa Jennifer K. Schmitt Jennifer Schmitt North Iowa Blogger Tawanda's Tales: Best Friends Forever
← Previous So What Happened with the United Methodist Church This Week?
Next → Teapot Tuesday – A Hall China Favorite

Related Articles

  • Behind the Wall – Book Review

  • Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics – Book Review

  • Starting 2021 with Kindness

  • Designed to SHINE! Read Aloud Rhymes for Any Size Heart by Joy Resor

  • Limerick Comics – A Book Review

15 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Darlene
    March 04, 2019 at 07:27 am

    Congratulations, Jennifer!! I am always so happy to hear of another author getting published. I was pleased to hear that you are planning more in the series. A great interview. Best of luck with your book.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:32 am

      Thanks for your s.pport of Jennifer. She is going to go far with this series just like you and your Amanda series. it is so fun when authors come together to support one another/

      Reply
  2. jena c. henry
    March 04, 2019 at 09:14 am

    Enjoyed the interview and congratulations Jennifer. You have so much to share- so please keep writing!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:29 am

      Thanks for stopping by. Fellow writers love to encourage one another and Jennifer has so many great people supporting her journey. I am so excited for her.

      Reply
  3. Julie @ Running in a Skirt
    March 04, 2019 at 09:16 am

    What a great accomplishment! Congrats Jennifer!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:28 am

      Thanks, Julie. She is such a great person and this book shares part of her creativity.

      Reply
  4. Mary Ellen
    March 04, 2019 at 09:39 am

    How great that Jennifer has published her first book! I too listened to her interview. I have always loved children’s books and used them a lot when I taught music. Students could play simple melodies and sound effects that I created over and over when they were engaged in a story.

    And I, too, love personal development books. There is always a new way of looking at the world. Keep writing, Jennifer! Thanks for sharing, Beth Ann. I am hoping I will see a book by you one day, my friend. Mary Ellen

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:27 am

      Mary Ellen–thank you for your words of encouragement for Jennifer. She is such a great person and I love that she is on this journey. I also love how you shared your use of children’s books in your career. Perfect. It was so good to talk to you yesterday. Thanks for taking the time to call me–you are so good at that! And maybe some day…..a book from me. Maybe.

      Reply
  5. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    March 04, 2019 at 10:21 am

    Congratulations, Jennifer! You have a great attitude. I expect your creativity will touch many. Keep writing.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:26 am

      Jennifer is truly a gift to the world, Audrey. She has overcome much and her new series of Tawanda books will certainly become staples in many homes. She is creative and just doggone sweet as well. Thanks for your words of encouragement to her.

      Reply
  6. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    March 04, 2019 at 02:12 pm

    I too want to congratulate, Jennifer. I enjoyed the interview. This young woman seems to have so much good and caring insight. She will go far.

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:25 am

      Thanks, Shirley. She is such a wonderful person and I was thrilled to share her with you!

      Reply
  7. dawnkinster
    March 04, 2019 at 07:36 pm

    Congratulations to Jennifer! Such a great thing to have accomplished!

    Reply
    1. Beth Ann Chiles
      March 06, 2019 at 07:24 am

      It is a great thing and I am so excited for what is next for her. She is truly a sweet and caring young lady and I am thrilled for this next chapter in her life.

      Reply
  8. Jennifer
    March 07, 2019 at 06:42 pm

    Congratulations Jennifer! Such an inspiring person and story.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Subscribe To Rss Feed
  • 2,256 Followers
  • 2,272 Fans
  • Followers
  • 1 Followers
  • Subscribers
  • Subscribers
  • Follow It's Just Life

Comments For A Cause

  • Comments for a Cause for the New Year

  • Comments for A Cause – Sharing Where Needs are Great

  • Comments for a Cause – Supporting First Responders

  • Comments for a Cause Goes Pink

  • Comments for a Cause: #IowaStrong

  • Comments for a Cause – Sharing With the Community

  • Comments for a Cause – Fill the Bus

  • Taking Care of Yourself and Others- Comments for a Cause

  • Comments for a Cause – Transylvania Tomorrow

  • Comments for a Cause – COVID – 19 Solidarity Response

  • Comments for a Cause – Helping North Carolina Babies

  • Comments for a Cause Goes International

  • 2020 Brings a New Cause – Project: Music Heals Us

  • Comments for a Cause – Providing a Haven for the Homeless

  • Comments for a Cause – Shadowbrook Farm

Check Out My Past Posts

January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Dec    

Text

Follow

Pinterest

Visit Beth Ann's profile on Pinterest.

Beth's bookshelf: read

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
5 of 5 stars
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
by Guy Kawasaki
As always Guy Kawasaki has a great book with great information about all things social media. I highlighted tons of places in this book and it is definitely one that I will come back to time and time again to help me in all of the socia...
Old Girls in Low Cotton
3 of 5 stars
Old Girls in Low Cotton
by Helen Childress
This short book was one that looked like it would be a fun read. I honestly did not enjoy it all that much---it was a lot of characters bickering and while some of the writing was witty and funny it was not that kind of book that made m...
The Good Girl
5 of 5 stars
The Good Girl
by Mary Kubica
I loved this book! It had my interest from the very first page and was my "airplane" book on a recent trip. Author Mary Kubica created believable and interesting characters that the reader learned to identify with and care about. Mi...
All the Light We Cannot See
4 of 5 stars
All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr
This is quite a book! I had it recommended to me by several people and while I thought it might be a little dark and depressing it made me have a better understanding of what life in this time period was like. The strength of the huma...
An Abundance of Katherines
5 of 5 stars
An Abundance of Katherines
by John Green
Another great book by John Green. I have become a huge fan of John Green since my reading of A Fault in our Stars and this book was another that did not disappoint me at all. It was a story of a child prodigy, a lot of anagrams, and a b...

goodreads.com

Professional Reader
Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Copyright © 2015 It's Just Life, All Rights Reserved.

  • Media Kit, Advertising and Disclosure