We were lucky to catch up with Jess Moon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jess, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
A few places, actually. The first would be that running a publishing house means I have dozens of people relying on me. Though many at Shadow Spark assist with editing, social media, marketing, etc., at the end of the day, the buck stops here. With me. It’s my job to ensure every aspect of working with Shadow Spark runs as smoothly as possible. That doesn’t allow for much downtime, but I like it. I’d get lazy if left to my own devices, I think. My goals are the second major contributor toward my work ethic. I am a writer, publisher, graphic designer, podcaster, and more. I plan on carving out a little piece of this world to call my own which sticking to my ideals, which isn’t the easiest path I could have traversed, but to live a less focused or compromising life simply isn’t for me. I am inspired to keep running because of my authors, my friends, my family, and myself. All of them comprise the driving force behind my work ethic.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I co-founded Shadow Spark Publishing in May 2019. Since then, the indie market has bloomed, and we have been right at the forefront of the movement. We work with our authors to bring their voices to the world. As a writer myself, I wanted to make sure that Shadow Spark put their writers first, and I like to think that our policies and track record reflect that. We’re publishing the stories that trad pub won’t touch for a variety of reasons, but we live for the weird, the unique, and the compelling.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The first quality is definitely curiosity. I like to look at a thing and think, “Why not? Why shouldn’t I try it my way and see how it goes?” I love learning new skills and applying them to various projects. I’m never content standing still. The second quality is the ability to actively listen. I work with authors on a daily basis, all of whom are very passionate about their books. That’s how it should be. It’s a matter of listening to what they are saying, then taking that feedback and working it into each individual project. Ego can’t get in the way. It’s about building a community where everyone feels heard. The third quality is determination. Very little happens overnight. You have to be willing to put in the time and really grind through. Expect a lot of work with little immediate benefit, at least at first. Build your foundation, no matter what you are working on. If that is stable, all the rest will come with time. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t expect to get everything right the first time around. Try to be kind but firm with yourself.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
With the number of various projects on my plate at any given time, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I run a publishing house, am on two podcasts, have a full time job, a family, and am working on building a YouTube channel. At this moment, I’m editing my own book, Annihilation 1, editing another for Shadow Spark author Valerie Storm, giving interviews, editing a Shadow Spark podcast episode, and cooking a pork loin for dinner tonight. I think the trick of it is to know your limits. Some people thrive under pressure. Others crack. I don’t think there’s any shame in the latter. Know your strengths and never forget to stretch yourself. In times when I feel the shadows gathering, I am not afraid to step away from the laptop for a bit. I’ll put my earbuds in and listen to music, or perhaps watch a few episodes of a favorite show. I’ll pet my cat or make bread from scratch. I’ve learned that listening to myself is so important. Learn to recognize the cues your body is giving you that you might have given yourself a bit too much to do, and see if there is anything that can be put off for a bit. Prioritize your various tasks and work through them, but step away for a bit and do something entirely different if needed. You’ll return to your work a far more effective person. Trust me. I’ve been there and will certainly be again at some point. No one is infallible or perfect. All we can do is our best. Make sure your best is worth the time and effort you’ve put in, and try to be kind to yourself when you can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shadowsparkpub.com/the-alvertaen-axiom
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhlmoon
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShadowSparkPub
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shadowsparkpublishing
