We caught up with the brilliant and insightful John Cady a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
John , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I’d say it was a happy accident that I found my purpose. A happy accident in every sense of the word. I’m a teacher at a juvenile detention center. It’s a job I honestly didn’t recall applying for. In fact, my supervisor still jokes with me about this sixteen years into my career. I thought it was simply an alternative school I had applied to. I had no idea my students were detained for having broken the law. I also had no idea that these students would change my life in more ways than I could have possibly predicted. Not only did they give me a whole new outlook on teaching and life in general, but they unknowingly inspired me to pen my debut novel Angela of Death. Many of these students have sadly been judged by society, not just by the individual holding the gavel. As a result, they don’t trust many grown-ups (including teachers). Fortunately, through getting to know them and giving them a chance to shine, I earned their trust. They were willing to take risks for me. One of those risks was reading and not being afraid to be seen reading by their peers, where on “the out” as they put it, they wouldn’t be caught dead reading. A lot of them enjoy fantasy books, but they can’t often relate to the protagonists. I wanted to give them a fantasy book they could read where they could relate to the protagonists. I wanted the protagonists to come from a similar environment to theirs and similar circumstances to theirs. I wanted them to read my novel and relate to heroes that society has written off. These unlikely heroes are battling evil forces to protect those who have written them off. This is their chance to shine.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My most important roles are husband and father. My wife and children have been very supportive of me throughout my teaching career and writing career. They share in my successes every step of the way. When I brag at the dinner table about how my students have shined in the classroom or I show them the amazing cover art for my debut novel, they are thrilled for me and all involved. I ask them about their day, too. It’s not all about me. Lol. Well, I’ve mentioned my teaching role and how it’s changed me as a person and a teacher. I’ll delve a little further into how it has changed me as a writer. I suppose the best way to do that is to give you the premise for Angela of Death.
Angela has always had trouble fitting in. So, when the opportunity presents itself for her to join a local street gang dubbed the Destinas, she decides to seek membership. However, once she learns the final stage of her initiation requires her to take someone’s life, she can’t bring herself to do it. As a result, she is sent home, but is unfortunately killed by way of a drive-by shooting carried out by a rival gang. As she stares down at her lifeless body, her concentration is broken by Michael the Archangel, who introduces himself to her and informs her she has been chosen to work alongside him as an Angel of Death. Her role will be to assist him in both collecting souls and specifically saving the souls of the Destinas.
This is a story my students have inadvertently gifted me with and the wonderful people at Watertower Hill Publishing have helped me bring to them and other readers.
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 wisest thing I have learned over time is to trust and even marvel at God’s timing. When I used to focus all of my energy into reaching life goals when I thought they should be reached and getting frustrated when I hadn’t reached them yet, I often felt like a failure. We often hear the phrase “You have to trust the process.” I used to hate that phrase. Lol. It’s easy to hate such phrases when you feel the process isn’t panning out for you. The process in this case for me has been God’s timing. You’ll recall I didn’t remember applying for my teaching position. Honestly, the John Cady at the time probably wouldn’t have applied for that particular job at the time – even though he was in desperate need of a job. That was a clear case of God’s timing. I didn’t realize it at the time. Not only did He bless me with a teaching experience I never want to leave until I retire, but He also blessed me with inspiration for a story that I may never have come up with on my own.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I’ve been blessed with a tremendous support system. I’m definitley not short on caring and inspirational family members and friends. However, I think my students (whether they realize it or not) have been most helpful in overcoming challenges. My own children occasioanlly ask me what my students are like. I tell them they’re like any other kid. It’s just that in the race of life, some of them are starting out with a cinder block tied to their leg. They have had to overcome a lot to shine, whether it be their environment which can often times be toxic or some close-minded members of society who can also be toxic. When they shine, believe me when I tell you it is bright. When they ace a test, they shine. When they earn their diploma, they shine. Finally, when they leave us and live the life they deserve to live, one where they succeed in ways they themselves may never have dreamed of, they shine. It’s blinding and beautiful. I’m blessed to get to witness it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: jcauthor37
- Facebook: J.c. Alexander
- Twitter: @cady_author
Image Credits
Watertower Hill Publishing
