NEW BOOK ALERT: St. Louis writer Carolyn June-Jackson’s authorship vision comes full circle through her new book
Andre Johnson 
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard; She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. (Proverbs 31:16-17 NIV)
MASSIVE THING OF BEAUTY
One thing Carolyn June-Jackson was destined not to do was allow this unprecedented global pandemic to stop her pushing and promoting a book God pledged He’d allow to enlarge her territory for years to come.
“During this pandemic, I have to be very creative,” June-Jackson, during an interview this week with Making Headline News, said, recalling the memorable developments that surfaced in the aftermath of her new book. “The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has restricted public appearances, book signings, and traveling. So, none of that is in my plans until things get better. However, I have a couple of opportunities to do a podcast to promote my book.”
Not only that, June-Jackson found herself fielding questions from a credible media outlet this week during which the St. Louis-based author spoke at length about what fueled her desire to compose My Poetic Threads Create A Tapestry, an awe-inspiring featured work she grasped the vision to write nearly a decade ago.
“I began to write and compile my poetry around 2011, seriously,” June-Jackson recalls. “I’d been writing since the early 1980’s, but only intermittently. I guess you could say I had a long-term case of writer’s block. In 2012, I created a website entitled, ‘My Inner Most Thoughts,’ to showcase my poems. It was a way for me to share my poetry and receive feedback. After deciding on publishing the book, I recently shut down that website. I do plan to create another website that will promote my book.”
In the meantime, June-Jackson doesn’t shy away from the notion that she’s diligently devising other effective avenues by which to promote a book that figures to be as good as advertised when it officially debuts in February 2021.
In many aspects, it already is.
As June-Jackson recalls, her rise to becoming a gifted author unfolded nearly four decades ago — 1982 to be technical.
“God sent a messenger in the likeness of a co-worker who informed me that I would be publishing a book,” June-Jackson, a native of Arlington, Virginia, explained. “She even told me to whom the book would be dedicated. At the time, she did not give me a date or time. At that time, I was in my infancy stage of writing and never saw myself sharing my poems with anyone outside of my family, much less publishing a book.”
Still, amongst the things about which June-Jackson discovered was that God had other plans surrounding the immeasurable gift to which He strategically introduced her.
“I took (my coworker) seriously because I respected her and I believed that if God could use me in that way, it was alright with me,” June-Jackson said. “Like Mary, when Gabriel told her that she would bring forth a son, I just hid it in my heart and carried it all of these years, birthing it at the appointed time.”
For June-Jackson, a retired devout woman of faith, such an “appointed time” had come transpired earlier this year.
Never mind that a global pandemic is still taking place.
If God said it, that settles it.
“It wasn’t until 2020 that the prophecy came to fruition when I decided to step out on faith and share my poetry in the form of a book,” June-Jackson said.
For the record, June-Jackson, for quite some time, had sensed her fervent passion for writing was solely for what she describes as “enjoyment and gratification.”
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Once again, however, God had other ideas.
“Over the years, several people told me that I needed to share my poetry on a larger scale,” June-Jackson said. “I just assumed they were being kind. After a childhood friend shot down all of my excuses for not doing it, I ran out of excuses. I have no idea how well this book will do, but if God wants to use me on any level, I am ready to be used.”
Interestingly, June-Jackson is especially grateful to Charlotte-based businesswoman Joan Randall of CEO of Victorious You Press, who prophesied specifically that she would publish a second book during their recent conversation.
“Because she is a woman of God, I believe it was God-inspired,” June-Jackson said. “She also told me that she sees my book in public school systems, colleges, and universities.”
Never mind that a global pandemic is still taking place.
If God said it, that settles it.
In another development:
June-Jackson announced that on January 19, 2021, between 1 and 2 p.m. EST, her book can be purchased via the Kindle Store on Amazon for only $2.99.
“Also, (I’m asking) those interested in pre-ordering the paperback version to (buy the book) before the release date in February,” June-Jackson said. “I will be sharing the details of my paperback launch on Facebook and other social media (platforms). And, of course, through my press release.
“I always consider my readers and want to give them something that I believe is God-inspired and worth reading. I hope that this book will be that catalyst.”
A POEM EXCERPT BY CAROLYN JUNE-JACKSON
“Granny’s Quilted Stories”
Granny gathered what I called old faded-out rags
Every piece of scrap kept in plastic recycled bags
“Don’t throw it away,” she’d say. “It’s a part of history”
Every swatch she hoarded had an extraordinary story
She learned how to patchwork when she was barely eight
Her mama told her daughter do not forget its weight
If the quilt is bulky, it will be too hard to clean
Sew it too thin or sparse; it will unravel at the seams
Granny used a cotton thread, made sure that it would hold
She might opt for subtle colors unless her choice was bold
Collected velvet, cotton, linen, old lace from a wedding dress
Handwash every swatch; make sure each piece is pressed
“Those youngins will cheat stitch on fancy sewing machines
I only need thread and a needle to keep my edges clean”
Sucked her teeth at a tape measure – eyeballed a perfect line
Careful to trim the edges, so they all matched up just fine
Granny once stitched a quilt that told a horrendous story
Klansmen shot her papa sent his spirit straight to Glory
Left him out on a dusty road with six children and a spouse
After dark, his sons carried his corpse back to the house
They never knew who shot her papa, much less went to jail
Salty tears fell on her patchwork as she told her sorrowful tale
The ragged hand-made relics now ruined by moths and mildew
Each quilt had its own story granny once lived through.
For more information on St. Louis Author Carolyn June-Jackson, to order her book, to schedule a public appearance, book signing, or speaking engagement, connect with her via social media at: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010606121453. Also, send email to: [email protected].
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
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