It’s the summer and all the fun activities that come with summer such as going on vacation, cookouts with the family, and the beach. When you’re from Pensacola, you also might think of Blue Angels Air Show during Blues Week! Pensacola is home to the Blue Angels and myself. In honor of Blues Week, our next Woman (my cousin!) in Business Spotlight is Angel Stull-James, the author of Tuesday Bluesday and Fat Tuesday, Children’s Books about the Blue Angles flying over their hometown.
Angel is a native to Pensacola, a licensed attorney in Florida and New York, a fellow Florida State Alum, worked in the fashion industry, and now an author! She’s written two books all while being the mother of four children. She loves her hometown, supports it, and the Blue Angels’ day. Like many Pensacola locals both are near and dear to her heart. So naturally, it became a storyline that she developed for her kids. Although she may have her hands full, she still found time to chat with me and discuss her journey on becoming an author. Let’s dive in and find out more.
What inspired you to write Children’s Books?
As I mentioned, Angel has four children, but she first started her books when her twins were born. She has always enjoyed writing and keeps a notebook to jot down ideas. Her passion of writing began when she was a young girl and used to write all the time. As her professional career began in law, she didn’t get to write as much, but her kids had inspired her to write again. She would create stories and read the stories to the twins and she fell in love with writing again. Writing gives her joy and allows her creativity to shine through.
How long did it take to write your first book and gain the courage to publish?
As she was reading the stories to her babies, her mom asked her, “why don’t you publish the stories?” Angel was new to the book world, so she began to research the process of publishing as well as seeking advice from other authors. She found a publishing company that she related to and eventually was able to publish her first book, Tuesday Bluesday. She attributes the courage not only to her babies, but also the push from her mom to help her rekindle this new love again.
The whole process was probably about two years from idea to publication. Ideas come to her all throughout the day and writes them down like a songwriter would when thinking of lyrics. Her second book, Fat Tuesday, came to her in a dream!
What do you find most exciting about writing?
She loves the creativity of writing and the process of where it can take you. A story allows you to escape from reality and transforms you into a creative world only limited by your imagination. Like when she is reading to her kids, they can ‘hear’ the jets flying by and ‘feeling’ the sand in their toes while watching the jets 'roar' by. It’s almost as if they are actually in the book themselves and reliving the experience all over again!
What do you find most challenging?
Even though writing the stories is incredibly fulfilling, there is a business side to being an author as well. With the business comes the challenge of marketing her books and getting the books out into the world so others can also enjoy them. She has to find time to promote her books which includes posting on social media to keep her audience engaged. Although it may be challenging to find time, she finds time when her babies are fast asleep and hustles as any business owner would!
What do you see in the future for your books/business?
To date she has actually written 13 books with many in the Bluesday family. Her goal is to continue publishing with the Bluesday series. The Blues don’t only fly in Pensacola, but fly all over the country and she and her family have been able to experience the shows in San Francisco, San Diego, and Biloxi. Each city has its own unique story and she has captured some of those experiences into their own Bluesday book. Eventually she wants to start her own publishing company that would highlight her own books including the Bluesday series.
Who is someone that inspires you to keep writing?
Just as her kids inspired her to begin writing again, her kids keep her motivated to continue creating stories. She loves watching them grow up and learn from their perspective. She’s not a “helicopter mom” but does very much enjoy being around her children and being happy for them.
If you could meet anyone (alive or dead), who would it be and why?
She would have loved to have had the opportunity to meet Selena, the Mexican/American popstar. From what she knows about Selena, she relates to her because she was family oriented, beautiful inside and out, and had big dreams of singing in Spanish and English. Selena, reminds Angel of herself who shares the same heritage and also values the importance of family. Thinking of Selena, makes Angel think of her grandparents and the happy moments with them.
For new authors and business owners, what advice would you give?
Ask questions! And ask more questions. There are no dumb questions because if you don’t ask then you won’t know. As you are learning, talk to as many people as you can to find who you fit with and works for you such as who to work with for publishing; whether self-publishing or with a company and how to develop your own marketing strategy. Find what works for you and follow your gut.
If you’re looking for some new Children’s books or love of the Pensacola area, then definitely grab your copy of Tuesday Bluesday and Fat Tuesday at http://www.angelstulljames.com/ . Share the love from her family to yours and open up your imaginations to a world of jets flying by!
Share with your friends about Angel and her amazing books. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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