J. Stanion’s journey as a writer has been shaped by deeply personal and meaningful experiences. Her writing has provided an outlet through difficult times, like navigating the complexities of depression and unreciprocated love, while also allowing her to celebrate moments of joy, such as exchanging poems with her father. Beyond her literary accomplishments, Stanion has achieved recognition as a National Board Certified science teacher and successfully led the application for her family’s McPhail Angus Farm to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Her work reflects a blend of personal triumphs and historical significance, culminating in the recent release of her first novel, My Place Among Them. This story of survival and resilience after the Wounded Knee Massacre earned critical acclaim, receiving multiple prestigious awards, including the 2024 Silver Medal Global Book Award for Cultural Heritage Fiction and the 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Cultural Heritage.

In this interview, J. Stanion discusses the perseverance that has defined her path to writing success, offering insights into the trials, triumphs, and unwavering hope that have guided her creative process. Through her story, Stanion reflects the power of persistence, not only in writing but in life itself.

WHO: Writing and publishing a novel can be a challenging journey. Can you share some of the significant obstacles you encountered during the process of writing your debut novel?

JS: My greatest obstacle was finding professionals to help me along the process. My educational background was not literature or writing, so I didn’t have any former professors or school friends to call on. I was totally at the mercy of Fiverr and Reedsy. Dollars were precious, and wait times were long. I hired one editor, paid her well, and waited 8 weeks only to be utterly disappointed in her “work” on my manuscript.

Basically, she wanted it re-written in a setting that she wrote novels in—different time, place, point of view, everything. I was very angry. I hired two other editors that I was not even sure read the whole manuscript. But I didn’t give up and was eventually blessed with finding the best editor ever.

WHO: How did you maintain your motivation and perseverance in the face of these challenges?

JS: In the beginning, when my manuscript was in the hands of an editor, I usually continued writing and editing the story myself. Sometimes, I’d already made changes that editors suggested when they returned my work. Once I found an awesome editor though, who was dedicated to bringing out my best writing, not just what she wanted from the story, I had to start spending time at the barn with my horses so that I didn’t make changes for the worse.

WHO: Were there specific strategies or techniques you found particularly helpful in overcoming obstacles during your writing journey?

JS: Taking a break from the writing process was key to keeping my sanity. Whether I was reading more about the Indigenous people, finding historical photographs for sale in estate auctions, or simply walking to the barn and listening to my horses munch hay, downtime was the key to handling every stumbling block that came along.

WHO: How did your approach to writing change as you navigated the publishing process for your debut novel?

JS: The more the story improved over time, the easier it became to edit my great-grandfather’s words. I had a strong emotional tie to the manuscript when I started, so I didn’t want to cut anything. Every word was precious to me.

Over time, I began to see how much more polished the story was becoming as we edited, how much easier it was to read without repetitive sections. Eventually, I got better at telling myself, “you’ve already said that,” and cutting a phrase from a sentence or paragraph without the urging of my editor. In the end, I could have cut more, and the story would have been even better.

WHO: Your debut novel has garnered significant acclaim and awards. How did perseverance contribute to the success of this book?

JS: I never gave up in my belief that I could publish the manuscript and write it in such a way that readers would want to know more about the Indigenous people of this country. It was especially reaffirming when I found an editor who was interested in my story, not just my check.

WHO: Can you discuss a particular moment or turning point in your writing journey when you felt your perseverance was tested?

JS: After three years of dedicated work, long days, and sizeable financial commitments, I began submitting my book for publication. There were several I never heard back from, several who made offers that were unacceptable (no pictures, no more than 90,000 words).

My editor was out of town when I received the best-to-date offer with no restrictions I couldn’t live with. After much debate, I accepted the offer. I’ll never know if the publisher would have been willing to extend his offer another 30 days. Maybe I should have waited. I’ll always feel like I should have given it another round of editing, cutting, perfecting the story. But, when do you stop questioning?

WHO: How did the feedback from early readers or critics influence your approach to revising and improving your work?

JS: I had a Beta reader who was superb. His encouragement, accompanied by his honest assessment of the weaknesses he saw as a reader, gave me a jumpstart on the major early revisions that made a huge difference in the end. Then, I had a developmental editor who wrote a book on the weaknesses of the manuscript while at the same time suggesting actions I could take to tie the story together that improved it significantly.

WHO: What role did your support network play in helping you stay focused and determined throughout the writing and publishing process?

JS: My family sacrificed every time I asked for something more in order to move my book along the path to publication. Sometimes, it meant no trips to the lake, no hot meal, time away from grandchildren, a dirty house, laundry not finished—you name it, they dealt with it and never complained. I couldn’t have done it without them.

WHO: Looking back, are there any specific lessons or insights about perseverance in writing that you would share with aspiring authors facing similar challenges?

JS: Never give up. That’s all I can say—never give up.

WHO: As someone who has achieved considerable success, how do you continue to stay motivated and persevere in your ongoing writing projects?

JS: The next story keeps tickling my thoughts. It’s been a busy year since my book was published—doing ads, book signings, social media posts—you name it, it takes time. The awards have been great motivators to continue down this path. For now, I couldn’t be more pleased with the exposure the Chrysalis BREW project has given me, and I’m ready to start on the next novel.

J. Stanion’s Background

J. Stanion is a celebrated author whose book My Place Among Them has topped bestseller lists and won several prestigious awards for its portrayal of Indigenous history. Honors for the novel include the BREW Seal of Excellence, the 2023 NYC Big Book Award for Cultural Heritage, and the 2024 Silver Medal Global Book Award for Literary Heritage. The narrative follows John Iron Horse, a twelve-year-old survivor of the Wounded Knee massacre.

Following a 31-year teaching career, J. Stanion fulfilled her late father’s dream by publishing My Place Among Them. She now lives on a cattle farm, caring for her animals and collecting Pine Ridge Pottery, ledger art, and turquoise jewelry. J. Stanion is currently working on her second novel, which may explore historical themes or modern farm life.

J. Stanion also appeared on Newsweek, MSN News, Big News Network, The World’s Best Magazine, The Chrysalis BREW Project, FOX 40, Vents Magazine, Benzinga, Digital Journal, Google News, Bing News, Yahoo News, and hundreds of other news and media sites.

Discover My Place Among Them on Amazon, and visit www.jstanion.com to learn more about her work and blog.