Cutlines: 

J Rachelle Brown of Meridian has just finished her first children’s book, “The Day the Snake Chased Mamaw.”

 

By Robbie Ward

 

 

A page from J Rachelle Brown’s first children’s book, “The Day the Snake Chased Mamaw.”

 

Submitted art 

 

 

 

 

 

 MERIDIAN, Miss. —  J Rachelle Brown’s life has taken her down many paths.

She’s sold shoes, waited tables, cashiered at a grocery store, cut hair and worked as a police officer.

She now adds children’s book author and illustrator to that list. 

 

The story of her current next life chapter seems like a winding journey in itself.

Looking for positive energy in life, Brown began learning about Reiki, a healing technique developed by a Japanese Buddhist in the early 1900s. She was practicing the natural healing processes about a year ago when she had the idea to write a children’s book. 

Of all the journeys and paths in life, the Meridian native remains focused on something that happened in her childhood involving her materal grandparents. The memory of the day comes back to her quite vividly these days.   

Brown, 39, was about seven years old when she was spending the day with her family on their property in Lauderdale County. 

The experienced turned into her book, “The Day the Snake Chased Mamaw.”

Brown said the fictional tale, which is based on a true story promises a fast-paced, action adventure about unconditional love and courage. It involves two acts of bravery and a surprise ending for readers.

She said the story involves a snake chasing her grandmother, and her grandfather chasing after them. The author anticipates smiles from young readers.

“To me, the most basic good thing on this earth is a child laughing,” Brown said one day at her Meridian home, where she writes and illustrates and works as a Reiki pratitioner. “I feel like I am supposed to write for children.” 

Brown – a 1997 graduate of Clarkdale Attendance Center – had never written a children’s book before a year ago and had no drawing experience.

She mostly taught herself how to draw and has taken a few lessons. Illustrations of the book are reminiscent of Shel Silverstein, an illustrator she credits as an influence. 

“Through trial and error, I taught myself how to draw,” she said. 

After writing the first version of the book and spending many months working on illustrating it, Brown said she planned to self-publish her work.

She even had her finger on the button to finalize the process but changed her mind. She said something compelled her toward a different route, to find a literary agent and a book publishing company to help publish and promote her book. 

Brown then researched about 90 different literary agents – most of them in New York – and sent them out about eight weeks ago. Now, she’s waiting to connect with the best literary agent who can see the value of her work. 

 

“I wait for an agent who feels confident to represent me and my book,” she said. 

To help time pass, Brown helps build houses for needy families through the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Possessing a desire to help children, this led Brown to her next project. She has contacted staff at Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson to begin the process to be a volunteer reader. 

“It occurred to me that the children in the hospital can’t always easily relate to the same stories in most children’s books,” Brown said. “I can write funny and imaginative stories with relatable situations.” 

Looking ahead, Brown has completed her second manuscript for a children’s book with a character illustration. She plans for it to publish soon after her first book.

She said entering the world of children’s literature and publishing has taught a number of lessons, like her books will. She has helped her with accepting rejection and required her to stay optimistic about the future. She said she tries not to stress out when a literary agent turns down her work. 

“That brings me one step closer to finding the right person who will understand my story and help share it with the world,” she said.