by J. Jones | Jan 1, 2026 | Uncategorized
I had it all planned—two weeks (13 days, actually) off from work. No school, except to make sure semester grades were entered by the January 2nd deadline. Thirteen days to read comments, suggestions, and hopefully a little praise from my editor on the first draft of...
by J. Jones | Dec 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
We’ve reached that familiar point in the year—the “I can’t believe it’s over already” moment. These days arrive every 365 days, yet somehow each cycle feels shorter than the one before. It’s as if every year quietly subtracts a day from the total. If that...
by J. Jones | Nov 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
High expectations. That’s what I demand from my students. And that’s what I demand of myself. It’s an instinct that started on the field and the court. As an athlete, I pushed myself to be the best I could be in every sport I played. As a quarterback, I was the...
by J. Jones | Oct 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
I can’t believe my third-oldest child—my oldest daughter—is getting married this month. When I say I can’t believe it, it isn’t because she isn’t ready. She is more than ready. She is steady and radiant, intelligent and humble, a woman who has turned challenges into...
by J. Jones | Aug 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
The Power of Finishing — and Refreshing A Marathon With Different Finish Lines Writing a book feels like running a marathon—but no one tells you how different the finish line can feel each time. When I finished the final draft of my first book, My Invisible Father, in...
by J. Jones | Aug 1, 2025 | Uncategorized
Every memorable book doesn’t just tell a story—it makes us feel. Beyond character, plot, and setting, the most potent stories evoke emotion. Here are five key responses great books often stir: smiling, laughing, frowning, crying, and thinking. SMILING Smiling comes...
