So now that I have published a book, I feel like I am trying to merge two identities, and things might get a little confusing. So I want to have this post explain a little bit about what is going on for any new travelers to the squeaky world of Jess and Paula.

My name is Jessica Smith. I publish under a pen name of Paula Jean Ferri. The two names are interchangeable in my mind though. While I was born as Jessica, around the age of 17, I developed a new lifelong friend, who I affectionately call Paula. Her name is a little more searchable than mine is. Besides, I probably wouldn't have had anything to write about without her, so she became the author.

Feel free to wander the blog and discover a little more about Paula's antics. I am also on Medium writing as often as I can between my three outlets (books, blog and Medium). I would LOVE to hear more about you and any questions you may have. Please send an email to Paulajeanferri@gmail.com.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least... I can't thank you enough for visiting!! I LOVE that you are here and hope to see more of you! Be sure to keep up to date on my website:

paulajeanferri.com

Highlight of My Week!!

I'm a little off schedule today, there were some changes made to my schedule at work and I was off yesterday, which means I forgot to post. Good thing I still have Saturday to write in the week!

It's raining here and I'm at work, though I would much rather be curled up with a blanket and a book and some hot cocoa. 

If you need a book for a rainy Saturday, let me know, I have one I could recommend.

I'm not actually sure where this week, so I'm not sure I have anything new to report. I only sold 2 books this week, bringing my total to 48, but I am seeing some awesome reviews coming in and it makes me so happy. I think my favorite was this one I got through my Instagram:

This was from a girl in the United Kingdom who also has Tourette syndrome, so this was especially meaningful to me. It's good to know that I have not misrepresented others. It was a concern since Tourette syndrome can vary so much from person to person.

Anyway, Next week will be even better since next weekend is the Bookmarked Festival in Lander, WY and I will be there selling my books in person. With any luck we will have additional reviews pouring in as well!

Hopefully I can get a bit more accomplished this week in regards to expanding my reach and promotion. My goal is to reach out to several bookstagrammers and podcasts to schedule and plan for promotion.

I want to have as many come out sooner rather than later, but I'm also planning a re-launch  or reboot during Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month from May 15-June15. So results might not come right away on that.

However, if I am going to sell one thousand copies of my book by the end of the year, I am going to have to come up with another pathway and plan for that. If you are unable to purchase a copy of your own, please mention it to your local library. If you do have a copy of your own, please read it and leave a review. I can't tell you how incredibly helpful that is for visibility!

So until next week my friends!

Madamn is Launched! So What is Next?

It's officially out and launch week is coming to a close! Madamn has done really well, and depending on how you gauge success, might be my best launch to date. I am so grateful to see how well it is doing! 

Not only that, but I managed to both go on a local radio show and record a podcast this week. I have still been busy, but at the same time, found myself with some spare time and am grateful for the chance to relax. At least for a little bit before I double down on marketing and promotion tactics.

So fun fact, Madamn launched with 100 days left in the calendar year for 2025. So I thought it would be fun to sell 1 book per day for the rest of the year. 

Then I realized with the book launch, that goal was a bit too easy. So I 10x'd the goal. I want to sell ONE THOUSAND COPIES of Madamn before the year ends. It's a stretch and I might not make it, but I really hope to.

For the record, that is more than I have sold with all four previous books combined. Like since I first published almost ten years ago. August of 2016 is when I first published and I still haven't hit that mark. But I am going to do it in 100 days with just Madamn. 

Any additional book sales will be nice, but don't count towards this goal. 

I, of course, will also be working on my next project. I have two ideas I plan on pursuing, one with the help of my husband, the other might be related to Madamn, but I'm not sure this is the idea to pursue. It might be a new project entirely. We shall see!

It's Finally Here!!!

Mostly here, anyway. Madamn has been in pre-order all week and is doing SO well! Better than all 4 of my past books combined. Which isn't saying much, they didn't do well. 

But even on it's own, it's been getting highly ranked and highly visible on Amazon. The following screenshots are from this morning, which means I have these numbers as I head into the weekend! It is ranked #14 for physical copies, #25 in digital copies, both overall.

The #1 rankings are for "Hot New Releases" in multiple categories on Amazon.

Isn't this amazing? I feel so lucky to have been able to write this novel. What a privilege to share her story, to feel her excitement. This week has almost entirely been promotion and it's cool to see it paying off.

I'm still attempting to schedule book signings and go on podcasts, possibly even do a few press releases and then hunker down for winter. Luckily, there will be craft fairs and things I can do around town and thank heavens we live in a digital world, where I can still do things to keep the momentum going forward!

Also noteworthy, I went to a board meeting for our local Bookmarked Festival in Lander, WY. It was most likely our last meeting before it starts on October 10-11. 

It was super productive and I'm very excited to attend this year. I get to be on our local radio station to promote it. This festival was created to connect readers and writers, and we have over 30 authors coming to read excerpts from their books.

If you are nearby, I strongly recommend it!

Madamn Updates

This has been a crazy week. It has been very heavy for a lot of reasons. I don't want to go into it too much, but you can find my thoughts HERE. 

Personally, it has mostly been good, Madamn is officially in preorder and gaining some great traction and visibility, which I'm super excited for! It has gotten up to number 18 in it's category and number one in New Releases on Amazon!

It has slowly been put onto websites like B&N and Bookshop as well.

You can also go into any bookstore and request it if you have a local shop you like to support. The traction and growth I am seeing so far is amazing and I am so humbled and grateful to be the one to tell the story of this amazing woman.

I also launched a giveaway for a paperback copy of Madamn as well as 4 gifts to open as you read to give you an immersive experience. Due to shipping costs, it is only available for citizens of the United States. 

If you would like to enter, you can check it out here:  

Reader's Experience Book Box

https://kingsumo.com/g/36qj4o1/readers-experience-book-box

Once you enter, the more you share, the greater your chance to win! I can't wait to see who the lucky winner is!

So despite all of the chaos, I remain optimistic and hopeful about life in general, but the launch of this book is absolutely the high point. 

Thank you in advance for sharing about this amazing novel and good luck in the giveaway!

Where Has Humanity Gone?

How is it already Friday again? This week went by so quickly, but also feels like so much has happened. It has been very heavy.

I'm kind of in shock about how much absolute chaos is happening right now. Between stabbings, shootings in schools, assassinations, remembering 9/11, and the overall cruelty of people cheering for the death of others, I'm saddened by the mess we have gotten ourselves into. 

Where has the humanity of people gone?

You are allowed to disagree with people without resorting to violence, much less murder. I don't even know how to address the cruelty towards children. There is no way to even comprehend taking the life of an innocent child.

But the cheering. That shocked me the most. 

I'm quite proud of the fact that I have friends that politically cover the entire spectrum, and I love each of these people. But I'm simply appalled by how many of my friends would be happy over murder.

Especially as someone who lost a brother to murder.

Losing a brother was hard. I can't even imagine how losing a husband, a father, or a son would feel.

But this isn't just about Charlie Kirk. This is also about Iryna Zarutska, Melissa and Mark Hortman, and far, FAR too many more. None of these were good in any way, shape, or form.

And standing idly by deprives us of our humanity.

We have more in common than we differ. 

And differences should be celebrated, not removed. 

September Morn

How has another week passed already? This week has been productive, I've finally been able to approve the proofs for the paperback and hardcover books, meaning they are both available for presale!

You can find them on my website, on Amazon, or by asking for it at your favorite bookshop! 

The book will officially launch on September 22, 2025. I know, it's a bit late, but I'm just so excited to be DONE!

If I was "smart" I would still give myself several months of presale time, where I can focus just on the promotion, but also, I'm ready to share this story. It's been five years in the making. 

I will still be able to do a bunch of promotion and I plan to do a whole campaign around Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month (May 15-June 15). In the meantime, I still have Kickstarter orders to fulfill and I'm ready to just run with it!

Also, fun fact about me, September is one of my favorite months. 

It just seems to be a time where things start to magically fall together. So it makes all the more sense to move forward when I feel such magic in the air. 

I mean, look what the magic has done for the cover of Madamn:

Isn't it GORGEOUS???

I love this update. Seriously, I'm so excited to share Em's story. I don't even care if it is "smarter" to wait. I know she is ready to share her story as well.

She has been forgotten for far too long.

So (even if it is a little late) on the 225th anniversary of her birth and 200 years since she saw Dr. Itard, from whose records Tourette syndrome was able to come forward, her book is absolutely coming out this year.