Making Four Brothers Do What It's Designed To Do

So much has happened to me in the past 7 months that I hardly know where to begin. I mean, after all how do you explain my mindset and what has allowed me to get to this point?

In November, I was fired from my position at the company that I had been employed by the better part of 8 years. Outwardly when it happened, I acted as if I were fine and that I was going to be okay. Inwardly, I was a mess and there's no shame in admitting that.

My husband and I had to figure out what we were going to do for benefits as he was a dependent on my health plan. He, as a retiree needed to go on Medicare which he could do citing a Qualifying Life Event. We also had to get a supplemental health plan and a dental plan.

At that time, I was going to invest all of my time into Four Brothers Publications, but that dream was dashed when I started receiving my social security disability checks and realized quickly that I could not survive on what they were allocating to me as a benefit. Begrudgingly, I came out of retirement and began a job search while the reality of having to work for the rest of my life settled over me like a wet blanket.

And then my mindset changed as I continued to record videos designed to uplift my fellow man. It was in that moment that I realized that I had a following; a platform that I could use to get the word out about what Four Brothers Publications is doing.

I made the cognizant decision to take the rights back from my original publisher (Page Publishing) which is a vanity press, and bring it under the roof of my own company, rebrand it, change the cover and re-distribute the work.

As I continued my efforts to make this company do what it was originally intended to do, I had to change my mindset, wearing many hats to do so. I've learned to take myself seriously as well as acknowledge what my intentions are.

I decided that once I fully understood the nature of this industry (even the fluid nuances of how it can be) I've come to understand that I can actually assist other authors who are struggling to learn this industry and navigate it with a little more certainty and understanding than when they entered it.

I've learned to be better...not just personally but professionally. I want this company to provide an additional income because it's an industry that I enjoy.

The learning process is ongoing. It never stops because things change all the time. And with that comes the fact that many new authors will simply not know enough to keep up, and may run a high risk of encountering alleged literary providers of service that may not be able to deliver what they promise.

"Groomed" tells my story in as much detail and clarity as I can remember. Some of the incidents are graphic and it will not paint me in the best light...and I'm okay with that because you cannot have a discussion about this topic without going deep into some facets of a life that at times I try hard to forget.

It tells my story from beginning to current. Will there be a follow up to "Groomed?" Possibly. The jury is still out on that.

Special thanks to two people that I value the most. Karen Heenan who is my mentor as well as my editor, and Whitney Crawford - my graphic designer and has created some phenomenal short and full length trailers in the past. These two women made navigating this industry just a little bit easier.

So look for the re-release of "Groomed' under Four Brothers Publications. It'll be here sooner than you think.

~ J.L. Whitehead