Exploring Life & Business with Jessica Horne of Jess Horne Kids Books

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Horne.

Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I started writing short stories very young. As a teenager, I mostly enjoyed writing poetry and participating in spoken word contests. I was in graduate school around 2013 when I started writing Tia’s Tingles (my first book) and I didn’t get up the confidence to publish the book until 2017.

The idea for Tia’s Tingles came to me during my graduate school years at Northwestern University’s counseling psychology program. While interning, I noticed that there weren’t many books catered to social and emotional wellness for children of color. Thus the book character Tia was born.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been rocky but enjoyable. When I first published Tia’s Tingles I was very lost in the publishing/book marketing world. I decided to take a chance on self-publishing which I learned quickly took up a lot more time than I expected.

Since that time, I have learned to network with other children’s book authors, self-publishers, and resources for marketing. Teaming up to learn more information from others in the same genre and field helped tremendously.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Jess Horne Kids Books LLC?
In my professional life, I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Jess Horne Kids Books merges the two things I am very passionate about, emotional health and wellness along with reading and writing. I specialize in writing children’s books that depict families of different cultures learning self-awareness and skills for social and emotional development. Tia’s books are interactive and easily translated in conversation with kids allowing them to discuss feelings and emotions on a level they can comprehend.

I was discouraged from writing a few years following the release of my first book. I was in a slump and although I knew exactly what I wanted to write next I couldn’t bring myself to start writing. My supports and encouragers believed in my work so much that I had to keep going. The second book is a reflection of that tenacity and for that I am proud.

Literacy is important to me as well as ensuring kids in all communities have access to books. With that in mind, last year I partnered with a friend and fellow author to form The Urban Literature Collaboration. This organization’s sole purpose is to help make books accessible to children from all walks of life in order to increase literacy and encourage inclusion in literature.

The Jess Horne Kids Books brand has appreciated all the love and support received from its readers. Tia’s Tingles and Tia’s New Neighbor can be found online at a number of bookstores. I am hoping to increase the reach of both books so that Tia can be in more stores, homes, schools, and anywhere a child needs her to be.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My illustrator M. Flowers has been a fantastic partner in this journey. She was patient, kind, very understanding of the creative process.

Pricing:

• $10.99- Tia’s Tingles
• $12.50- Tia’s New Neighbor

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.jesshornekidsbooks.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jesshornekidsbooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessHorneKidsBooks