Month: July 2022

Hey there!

At Journal Joy, LLC, we have the privilege to work with some amazing authors.  We are honored to be included in sharing their stories to the world.

Let us introduce you to James Anderson Jr.

July Author Spotlight:

 For James, “publishing this book is crossing off a bucket-list item that I didn’t know I had before beginning.  As a BLACK Man it is my deposit into THE CONTAINER. THE CONTAINER is where the evidence is kept that pushes directly against the preconceived notions of who we are as BLACK men. THE CONTAINER is not just there to oppose prejudice beliefs, it’s most important existence is so that other Brothers can look in and be inspired”.

“As a student, English classes were always my favorites.  Reading and Writing just came naturally to me.  Reading was a means of relaxation, education, and a tool that sharpened my imagination.  Writing allowed me the opportunity to relax, share my “education”, and put my imagination to paper.  I didn’t realize how much reading/writing has been a consistent place of peace for me. Just as I didn’t know until a year ago that my grandparents couldn’t read.”

From childhood to adolescence, college and adulting, James Anderson’s road has been curvy with a chance of uneven terrain. And when a cancer diagnosis intersected his life, finding a way to live holistically became paramount and possible. Nevertheless, he discovered that writing, “doodling,” would assist in treating his mind and body. Doodles of a Survivor: My Journey to James tells his story with a blend of experience and advice, through a series of poems, prose and social media inspired thoughts. Loaded with the familiar ideas of survival, love, hurt, resilience, and growth, Doodles of a Survivor: My Journey to James shares this author’s unique history, through his voice and observations. Anderson desires to inspire and awaken your sense of self-awareness. His powerful personal narrative, with its poetic fuse will leave readers impacted and motivated to persevere through humanity’s woes and good.

Life inspired me to start writing.  It wasn’t a book initially.  I was just sharing with myself.  Then at some point I was inspired to post one of “the doodles” on my social media page.  It was well received and this inspired me to share another one a few weeks later.  I think it was around Doodle number 5 that someone asked if I was documenting this journaling I was doing.  I would say that’s the moment I decided to push past my negative self talk and consider putting the doodles into book form.  In my head I was thinking I’ll save them all and take them to a printer so I would have a copy of them all.  Turning out to be so much more than that.

You can purchase Doodles of A Survivor: My Journey to James here.

Share this article to any friends whom may be inspired to write and share their story.