Interview with J. M. Huxley

Author of Milk and Honey Land: A Story of Grief, Grace, and Goats

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

San Diego is my hometown but I live in the Kansas City area now.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

I was a news, weather, and traffic reporter who was transferred from San Diego to Kansas City. The option to stay wasn’t on the table. I was reluctant to move from my hometown, but I was a single mother in who needed to feed her kids. How could I say, “No?”

I found Kansas City absolutely wonderful, and oh, so green! I also found my husband here and together we moved with our children to the wild frontier on the plains of Kansas.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

The short answer: God. He told me to do it. I’ll never forget where I was at the time. I’d been mucking out stalls in the barn, thinking of all the ways I’d been enlightened. And humbled. I wouldn’t ask my worst enemy to muck my barn.

A city girl’s relocation to a farm in the country opens her mind to all sorts of new adventures and in my case, woeful inexperience. I was a hot mess! Plus I had eight kids. And still thought it would be brilliant to milk goats. Enough said. Except that through my moments of insanity, I was gaining all sorts of understanding about the supernatural.

A.W. Tozer once said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” I would agree with this. I suffered terribly on my Milk and Honey Land, but there, so many questions about God were answered. There the veiled thinned to reveal glimpses of heaven that were worth the journey.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I would say I write to encourage and lift up my fellow humans. We need each other. Whether we are at the top of our mountain or in the darkest valley, or somewhere in between, we all benefit from the sacred power of a positive word.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Those who enjoy a good story with redemptive value and those who need or enjoy a little encouragement now and then.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

The writing is the easy part! There is so much more to seeing a book all the way through to publishing and beyond. I wish I could just write and leave it at that.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

It’s okay to cry. Setbacks are not the end of the world. You can move mountains, even if it is just one pebble at a time, or as in my case, one sand granule at a time!

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Honestly? Everyone!

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Publishing. My obstacles were so numerous, I’ve been told I should write a book on what it was like to write a book. Fortunately for the literary community, there are plenty of other authors that have the same idea and commitment to the betterment of humanity.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Perseverance and faith.

In all areas. I believe in my message. When you believe you have a story that must be heard, you will do whatever it takes to make that happen. Even when you feel you haven’t a tear left inside you for all that has stood in your way.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Emotion. I get frustrated and cry over obstacles way too easily! But I’ve heard it said that the biggest success stories are backed by the greatest disappointments. I also believe that the biggest gains to the Kingdom of God must first suffer the greatest attacks.

When do you think you will write your next book?

Soon! Buoyed by my recent Author Academy Award for Best Memoir of 2019, I am excited to get back at it!

I have a children’s book ready for illustration and several other fiction and non-fiction ideas swimming around in my head. I am itching to get them out but waiting for the right time to make it happen. I still have a daughter at home and being available for her, and the rest of my family, is my top priority!

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I considered all options, but in the end went with what was best for me. I used Author Academy Elite (which I highly recommend) but I am technically self-published with the ability to retain 100% of my book’s earnings.