Meet the Author – Jayden Smith-Cox

Ms. Queenie – First, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me!  When did you know that writing is what you were called to do?

Jayden – I always had a big imagination. I started drawing first in the first grade and my mom put me in an art class. I took those drawings and made comic books. That’s when my mom saw my passion for it. In the first grade my teacher put the class in an anthology. That was my first professional published piece. 

Ms. Queenie – What is it about being a writer that you love the most?

Jayden – The fact that my work will always be in the world. It will never erase. I made something that my kids and their kids can be proud of.

Ms. Queenie – What about being a writer frustrates you the most?

Jayden – The constant rewrites and editing and the long illustrations process. And the fact that I work so hard on it and some people want to discredit my ability or say my parents did it like I’m not capable or something. 

Ms. Queenie – Can you tell us a little about your book(s) and where our readers can find out more about them and you?

Jayden – My book “The Honorable Bee” is about a little bee that was like the black sheep of his family. They gossiped and singled him out a lot. Instead of retaliating, he left on a quest to prove himself. He saved the hive and eventually became King. And ended the long war between the wasps and bees by showing love and empathy. You can find the book and my bio on Amazon or on my website: https://youngsavedleaders.myshopify.com

Ms. Queenie – Where do you draw your inspiration from for the stories that you manage to weave together and the characters that you create? 

Jayden – When I started my new school in the 2nd grade I went through a lot of bullying and racism that I didn’t tell my parents about for 3 years. I pretended everything was fine. And because I did have some friends at school, I thought it was normal for people to be jealous and say mean things. Because they are not perfect. I just considered them haters but deep inside it hurt my feelings. It wasn’t until I did an essay in class that I wrote this narrative called “The Honorable Bee” and my mom eventually saw it and the note the teacher sent her telling her how it was so good it should be a book. My mom helped me craft it into a story and really forced me to put a lot of thought and work into doing it on my own to teach me how to take ownership so it’s something I can say I did on my own. 

Ms. Queenie – Do you have a schedule for when you write? 

Jayden – Yes after homework and chores. I don’t write Monday through Thursday because homework is usually a lot. And not on Sundays my mom and dad says I should just rest on that day.

Ms. Queenie – What’s the first book you ever read that really moved you emotionally?

Jayden – Snowy Day.

 Ms. Queenie – Who is your favorite author to read?  What book are you currently reading?

 Jayden – I love DogMan series and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Ms. Queenie – What has been your most significant achievement as a writer thus far?

Jayden – My first solo project “The Honorable Bee” became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in 3 days. That was CRAZY.😜 

 Ms. Queenie – Where do you see yourself within your career in the next five years?

Jayden – I will be graduating high school in 5 years and getting ready to study abroad. 

Ms. Queenie – How have you dealt with rejection within your writing career?

Jayden – People think cause my parents are well known and best selling authors that I’m just a face and don’t really want to give me credit for what I do because I’m shy. It doesn’t mean I’m not smart enough or have enough imagination to do the things I am doing. I’m a hard worker and I will continue to prove them wrong. 

Ms. Queenie – What is your advice for other writers to better be able to cope or navigate their way through the publishing process, be it traditional or self-publishing?

Jayden – Just stay focused and know if God is with you, you’re going to be just fine. 

Ms. Queenie – Do you find it hard to juggle the creative side of being a writer against the business side of being a writer, in terms of marketing and promotion and things of that nature?

Jayden – My mom is like a marketing genius so that’s never a problem for me. Her brain 🧠 is like a sponge 🧽 I think that’s where I get it from so we collaborate and come up with ideas on how to market my ideas together.

Ms. Queenie – How hard has it been (or easy) for you to build up your author platform?

Jayden –  It’s been a journey but not a hard one. Through my own YoungSavedLeaders network my parent’s social media platforms and the help of my mom and dad’s friends it’s been amazing. 

Ms. Queenie –  What unique quality is there about you, about your art, that you feel represents your authenticity?

Jayden –  It shows my creative side, my powerful side but I’m also very open and vulnerable. So when you see something I posted or wrote you know it’s me.

Ms. Queenie: How does writing help you to be more empowered in your purpose?

Jayden: it gives me creative space to be who or what I want to be without feeling judged.