Inside the Mind - Jalissa Carter

I've been writing since I was a kid, so it's hard to pinpoint one specific moment of inspiration. I've always loved being creative and making up stories. I remember writing and illustrating my own comic book as a child, creating my own superhero. While I never published that comic, I did manage to pay homage to it in one of my novels, where I featured it as one of the main character's favorite heroes. It was a cool way to bring a childhood memory to life in my work!

My latest book is a collection of poetry titled 'Wedlope,' inspired by my experiences with a wedding elopement business of the same name. It's really a farewell to that chapter of my life, a way for me to commemorate the journey as I transition into pursuing wine education in my entrepreneurial endeavors.

I truly hope 'Wedlope' will be appreciated by couples planning their weddings or those who simply enjoy having beautifully designed books on display. The book, titled 'Wedlope: Wine Infused Poems for Weddings and Elopements,' blends my past experience in the wedding industry with my current passion for wine. Ultimately, I want readers to take away the beautiful essence of both weddings and wine, experiencing the magic of those two worlds coming together.

Well, for me, I prefer to wait until the evenings to write, although I'm capable of writing at any time of day. But the evenings are my preferred time because I can really set the mood. With the evening skies and a bit of classical music or jazz, it really gets the words flowing like wine.

I'd have to say the most rewarding part has been connecting with people. It's been such a fantastic experience to make friends with other indie authors online and support their work. And it's also amazing to connect with readers who appreciate my work and show so much support. Being an author has also opened up doors for me that I never would have expected.

I've found that dealing with writer's block has been a bit challenging. Sometimes, I've had to postpone the release of a book because it was taking longer than expected for me to finish writing it. I always want to make sure it's absolutely ready for the world of literature, so I don't want to rush things.

Work-life balance is super important to me. I try to balance things by being a nurturer by day and a writer by night. I don't typically have a day job, since I usually do odd jobs. So my day usually consists of being a mother and a wife. By prioritizing time with my loved ones and then retreating to my writer's corner in the evening with a glass of Merlot, I'm able to live the best of both worlds.

I would advise them to stay true to their craft. Don't write just to have a book published and call yourself an author. I find that we are living in a world of constant trends, and I hope that new authors entering this space are authentic, with their hearts in the right place.

I rely on social media networking to reach a broader audience. My book sales have come from interacting with readers online. I unfortunately haven't had much luck with local promotions in my community *yet*, but I'm always looking for new ways to connect with readers!

I'm currently focusing on promoting my latest title, *Wedlope*, and I plan to do this through poetry readings and collaborating with wineries.