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

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.

Chaos Leads to Cool Stories

This week has been full of the unexpected for me. There was certainly plenty of progress, but at the same time, I got lost in the chaos and I can't believe it is already Saturday!

While I don't want to share much of the personal things that happened over the week, know there have been a lot of tears. 

Sometimes my favorite thing about being an author and owning a business is that good things still happen that allow me to cheer and smile when smiling might seem impossible.

I received an order yesterday for Awkwardly Strong and a t-shirt from my website. And this is not an every day occurrence for me. It's been at least a month, so this was a bit of a thrill to see it come in!

I also made progress on fulfilling the Kickstarter campaign, Madamn is waiting on proofs to be sent to me for final approval, and the bookmarks story just kind of makes me happy.

So I ordered bookmarks from a local supplier that didn't have the 2 bottom graphics and were HUGE. So they apologized, let me take them home while we worked on a corrected version. Turns out their software doesn't play nice with Canva, where I do my designs, so I ordered replacements directly from Canva.

But I hated the thought of just throwing away 120 bookmarks, even if I didn't pay for them. 

I took it to social media where there were so many great ideas from people, some even liking them as they are.

In the end, I took a paint pen and signed all 120 in the blank space and I'm so happy with how they turned out. So now I'm STOCKED with bookmarks for the Kickstarter, as well as book signings! I'm so excited about it!

Look how good they turned out!

Anyways, I'm going to spend a day away from the business and spent time with my husband today.

Rest and recover is so important and I'm so grateful I'm in a place where that is an option!

Happy Birthday Ernestine!

Hey friend! I'm currently enjoying the relaxation of the Reader's Escape, so it will be a short post this week. I'd like to say I'm enjoying the break, but most of my reading has consisted of reading and re-reading Madamn. 

The formatting software has changed and things are not translating correctly, so I'm reading to find fonts and sizes changed, missing accents and making sure italics are where they need to be. 

It is weird because there are times I just get lost in the story and I'm enjoying it, but also, I'm tired of reading the same book and I want to read something new!

Not to mention, it's a bit of a kick in the gut knowing today is Ernestine's birthday and should have been launch day... yet I'm still reading and re-reading and re-reading...

But there are fewer mistakes each run through and I should still be ready to launch in September. Although prayers, good energy, etc. are all welcome and appreciated!

But if nothing else, I need to make sure I acknowledge the 225th birthday of Ernestine Emilie Prondre de Guermantes. Not to mention this is 200 years since she saw Dr. Itard and put things in motion for a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome to be possible.

I have loved getting to know this woman and her story and I really am so excited to share with you!

Happy birthday, Em!

Launch Update for Madamn!

This week has simply flown by! It's funny, when I first left full-time employment, I felt like I had SO MUCH TIME and was crazy productive. I got so much done and still felt like I had extra time on my hands to relax.

But apparently the relaxing part has taken over a bit.

Time is a fickle thing. I heard someone earlier this week compare it to money. They said that both have to have a plan or they can disappear through your fingers. 

But every once in a while, I just need out of the strict and scheduled routine, so I haven't used my planner at all this week.

But then I realize how little I'm able to get done and need to get back in the habit. It's a complicated balance.

It means I had to officially reschedule my launch date for Madamn because it's not done and won't be done in time to launch in just one week. 

I do still plan on attending my Reader's Escape and a tea party to celebrate Em's birthday next week, while plugging away at my novel.

It's so close, I can taste it. 

So mark your calendars for a launch on September 22, 2025.

Even better, if you are in the United States, you can finally pre-order your copy on my website! 

This is for the physical books. If you are more of an e-reader, it is currently available on Amazon for preorder as well.

It was a really difficult decision to change the launch date since I was so set on publishing on Em's birthday, but I do think she would be proud of my efforts and I know we both want to put out the best possible story.

It still is the 225th anniversary of her birth this year, so I'm still happy with how things are progressing and moving forward.

Be sure to get your copy, because it is going to be amazing!