Jess Mowry
Home
Way Past Cool - Novel
Way Past Cool - Film
Way Past Cool - Kids' Views
Babylon Boyz
Ghost Train
Six Out Seven
Rats In The Trees
Children of the Night
Bones Become Flowers
Voodu Dawgz
Crusader Rabbit & Other Stories
When All Goes Bright
Phat Acceptance
Skeleton Key
Tyger Tales
Knight's Crossing
Stories
Work In Progress
Anthologies
Essays
Interviews
Writing
Preparing and submitting your work
Literary Agents
Your First Book
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Welcome

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I'm the author of Way Past Cool, Phat Acceptance, Voodu Dawgz and Skeleton Key as well as other novels for and about black kids and teens, such as Six Out Seven, Babylon Boyz, Rats In The Trees, Ghost Train, Bones Become Flowers, Tyger Tales and Children Of The Night. Check the Index to the left for details. New and upcoming books are listed below.

My stories have appeared in many anthologies, such as In The Tradition, Cornerstones, School Is Not Cool, Follow That Dream, I Believe In Water, Face Relations and Brotherman. Check the Anthologies Page for details.

Why do I write?

After over thirty years of working with kids and raising four of my own, along with a few strays -- none of whom are in prison or collecting Welfare -- not to mention almost twenty years of writing books and stories for and about kids, I've found that it's a lot easier for people to be "pro-child" about some kids than it is for them to care about and champion "other" kids. Perhaps, like the animals in George Orwell's Animal Farm, some kids are more equal than others?

Almost all my stories and books are for and about black kids, who are not always cute and cuddly. My characters often spit, sweat and swear, as well as occasionally smoke or drink. Just like their real-world counterparts, some are "overweight," may look "too black," or are otherwise unacceptable by superficial American values. Like on the real kids, they often live in dirty and violent environments, and are forced into sometimes unpleasant lifestyles.

And virtually no one writes books or stories about them -- at least seldom in ways that don't exploit them, and/or don't glorify gangs, guns, drugs and violence. I've learned from experience that few publishers, including black ones, will publish positive books about these kids... books that don't portray them in stereotypical roles, and thus only reinforce the negative aspects of their lives.

The result is that there very few positive books about these kids. This leaves them with no role models except stereotypes of gangsters, rappers or sports figures. Worse, virtually the only books that "white" (or more fortunate) children have to read about most black kids are also filled with these negative stereotypes. About the only exception are books in which black kids play a supporting role to a white hero.

I have devoted my career, such as it is, to writing positive but realistic books and stories, not only for and about black kids, but also for "white" kids so they will understand that the negative stereotypes aren't true... that most black kids have other interests besides guns, gangs, drugs, violence, becoming rap stars, or playing basketball.

When I first began writing I wanted to write many different kinds of books; adventure novels, magic, ghost stories. These were the kinds of books I grew up reading, though I often wondered why there were no black heroes, such as ship captains or airplane pilots... no black Indiana Joneses, Hardy Boys or Hobbits. But mainstream publishers only want the stereotypes: if not blatantly negative stereotypes, then only stereotypical positive images. Only what "good black kids" are "supposed" to do. What the mainstream white world expects them to dream about and aspire to be.

I often write about violence because the U.S.A. is a violent country in a violent world and pretending it isn't doesn't help anyone. Most of my kids aren't angels, but they are being as good as they can be... which is a lot better than most people seem to think they are.

To me, being pro-child includes all children, even kids whom it may be hard to like... especially kids who are hard to like.

On this site's other pages you will find some basic advice and answers to frequently asked questions that many new writers may have about writing (check "Writing" in the index) as well as submitting novels and stories to publishers, and finding literary agents.

Feel free to email me if you have questions about my work or about writing.

Peace.

Jess Mowry

Timounn@aol.com

Note: I am not on MySpace, nor do I sell books on EBay. If you want a book signed or inscribed to someone, or you want to be sure you are buying a book that I actually signed, email me.

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"Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is... to be kind."

Henry James

What's New?

May 1, 2008: Work In Progress added. Check the navigation bar.

December 11, 2007: Thanks to everyone, teachers, librarians, youth workers, and a lot of readers who've dropped a few dollars in PayPal this year. It really helps to keep this site up and will make Christmas brighter around here!

October 8, 2007: Two new novels, When All Goes Bright and Knight's Crossing, are scheduled for release in 2008. Both may be read now by going to their pages in the site index.

September 4, 2007:Voodu Dawgz, Phat Acceptance, Skeleton Key and Tyger Tales are now available and may be found at, or ordered from, most book stores and online sources. Larger cover images may be seen on the book pages.

These books may also be ordered directly from Windstorm Creative.

If you are interested in reviewing these books, please contact Windstorm Creative. I especially encourage librarians: if more books were reviewed by librarians -- folks with first-hand experience in what young people read or don't read -- instead of commercial book reviewers, more young people would probably read.

June 5, 2007: Way Past Cool is currently in print. There seems to be some confusion on Amazon because several editions are listed, as well as used copies. Check the paperback listing for the cover shown below. Way Past Cool may also be ordered from (or found at) your local bookstore, or may be ordered directly from Windstorm Creative. A school edition is also available.

January 1, 2007: There seem to be three basic kinds of writers no matter what they write about. The first is the type that most people -- at least those who have never been in the writing game -- think of: these are the "best-selling" authors whose books are prominently displayed in major chain and mall book stores and who surely must make millions.

However, the second type is probably the most common: these are reasonably successful authors who -- usually because of the style in which they choose to live -- must suppliment their writing income with day jobs.

Then there are a few writers like myself who ride the writing game roller-coaster of ups and downs year after year and try to survive on just what they make from writing. Why? In my case I hope I'm doing something that might help kids in some way.

I get lots of emails from teachers and other folks who work with young people and use my stories or novel excerpts for teaching purposes, but who can't afford to buy the actual books. I get other emails from people of all ages who like what I've offered on this site. Obviously this site costs money to maintain; and just as obviously a writer doesn't get paid for the sale of used books, material reproduced for teaching purposes, or simply offering his or her stories, novels, or advice on a site.

I've added a PayPal button to the bottom of this section, so if you feel that an author should get a little something for reproduced material, writing advice, offering their work for free on a site, or if you've just read something here that you liked, please drop a dollar in the poor-box.

Thanks!

October 12, 2006: Babylon Boyz update. According to a recent letter from Simon & Schuster, Babylon Boyz is now back in print. Since I assume this happened because there was a demand for this title, thanks to everyone who wanted the book... and thank you to Simon & Schuster for reprinting it!

April 12, 2006: The latest edition of Bones Become Flowers is now available from Windstorm Creative, and I assume from various online bookstores such as Amazon. Your local bookstore can also order and (hopefully) stock it. This edition is far better in quality and readabilty than the previous two... especially the first. It has the cover shown below. A larger image may be seen on the Bones Become Flowers page.

June 29, 2005: One of my children's novels, Ghost Train, banned from Garden Elementary School, Park Hill School District, Kansas City, MO. Read all about it on the Ghost Train page.

January 6, 2005: Apollo's novel, The Fence, posted. Check the Story Index.

December 1, 2004: My story, Phat Acceptance, published in the anthology Face Relations, named Story Of The Year by Richie's Picks

September 12, 2004: Patrick Neate writes on Six Out Seven. Check the Six Out Seven page.

June 14, 2004: Face Relations named Book Of The Week by Embracing The Child

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