We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful James Pack. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with James below.
James, so appreciative of you coming on today to talk with us about a topic that is important but rarely talked about – overcoming bankruptcy. Can you talk to us about your story and how you overcame bankruptcy and managed to build a happy, fulfilling and thriving life and career after bankruptcy?
I had acquired a lot of debt and had to file for bankruptcy in Fall 2019. I focused on managing my budget better and not applying for any credit. After the pandemic, things got easier for me as the additional money from unemployment increased my income from what it had been previously. I also applied and was approved for a secured credit card. I sent them $300 and they gave me a credit card with a $300 limit. I was already paying my phone bill each month, so I used the credit card to pay that and paid it off in full every month. After about 8 months, the credit card company returned my $300 deposit and increased my limit making it an unsecured credit card. This helped my credit score as well. I am still recovering financially, but I fell more confident with my financial future.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have written several books and have many others in development. I have also been stretching my artistic abilities with more digital artwork. My main goal is to eventually make a living from my creative endeavors. I am very pleased with the reception of my newest book, The Hook, and am currently working on several short stories. I will release an anniversary edition of my collection of short stories, The Morbid Museum, next year (2024) and hope to have another short story collection ready by 2025.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first quality the helped the most was never giving up. Nothing happens overnight. Sometimes things won’t go your way, but you have to keep pursuing your dreams and never surrender to despair. The second quality that helped me was my pursuit of knowledge. When it came to writing and publishing, I tried to learn as much as I could to improve myself and my work. I also looked at other people that were succeeding in doing what I wanted to do and learned from their experiences. The last quality that helped me was willingness to take risks. Sometimes it’s a financial gamble to pursue your dreams or passions. I’ve managed to make things work for me over the last five years, but I’m still no where near earning enough to sustain my creative passions without working a day job. Maybe I’ll get there in ten years or twenty. As long as I never give up, I will get there one day.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge for an up-and-coming writer (or any other creative professional) is building one’s brand and awareness. How do you get your stuff in front of the people who want to buy it? I have struggled with this for the last five years. I’ve tried paying for advertising, which hasn’t led to much success. I’ve gotten tables at conventions, which has had the highest success rate. Recently, I’ve been submitting my work for awards and paying for promotion avenues I’ve never tried before. I won’t know exactly how helpful or successful these areas will be for a little while, but I’m hopeful to have better successes without having to throw a lot of money at advertising.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.thejamespack.com/
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jamespackwriter/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jamespackwriter
- Other: www.amazon.com/author/jamespack
Image Credits
All photos by me (James Pack).
