Today I am so pleased to welcome J.P. Barnaby to Joyfully Jay, but definitely sad as to the reason why she is here. I have been a big fan of her writing for years (and her Little Boy Lost series is particularly amazing). Please join me in giving her a big welcome as she shares some news with us.

I suppose this should start with “it’s with a heavy heart that I must share with you…” but, it isn’t. My publication journey started seven years ago with a single goal—to channel my trauma and pain into a healthy outlet. The Little Boy Lost series addressed the horrific bullying I endured in high school. A Heart for Robbie dealt with the loss of my daughter—the fear and guilt I felt both before and after. In the Absence of Monsters was an outlet for figuring out how to live with my abuse as an adult. Then, of course, you have Aaron which was a therapy session all its own. I didn’t start writing because that’s all I’d ever wanted to do. It’s not something I ever thought about until I began reading Fanfiction and figured out what it could do for me. I started writing to cope with the loneliness and depression I’d felt for years.

The move to Atlanta and a wonderful doctor who prescribed an anti-seizure medication off brand for my depression—those things in combination changed my life. It isn’t that I no longer have bad days, dark days—everyone does, but they aren’t as dark. There is a light and a confidence in myself that I haven’t seen in a very long time.

So, what’s the point?

I am retiring from writing as JP Barnaby (and Jamie Mayfield).

For the last seven years, my life has been focused on building her into the author she became. She has nearly thirty published pieces, over half of those are novels. She’s been in the Chicago Tribune, RT Magazine, and USA Today. She’s been to GRL, RT, RWA, and dozens of other conferences and signings around the country. That level of activity takes commitment and a lot of time. There were years when JP took up all of my vacation time from my day job.

I want to watch TV. I want to read for the sheer joy of reading. I want to watch movies and go swimming. I want to sit on the couch talking with my wonderful boyfriend Paul and playing with my sweet dog Chase without constantly worrying about promotion and plugging the next new book on Facebook and book deadlines and editing. I’ve found my happily ever after—I want to slow down, relax, and enjoy it.

So, what happens now?

• As promised, there will be one more novella as part of the Survivor Series (Aaron) boxed set. It’s finished and submitted, but I don’t have details on a release date.
• JP Barnaby will become Trish Barnaby on Facebook and you’re all definitely welcome to stay and hang out with me.

It has been an absolutely magnificent seven years, and I have met so many incredible people.

• To my publishers: especially Elizabeth North of Dreamspinner Press – thank you for supporting me, and supporting my work for all of these years. It’s been an honor working with you.
• To my fellow authors: it has been a pleasure being among you. Thank you for your patience, your wisdom, and your love over the years.
• To my readers: without you, there would have been no reason for me. You have lifted my spirits, encouraged me, and made me feel like there was nothing I couldn’t do. Reading your reviews, meeting you at events, and playing around with you on Facebook have been a light in my life. Thank you so much for taking such good care of Aaron and Spencer, Brian and Jamie, Julian and Simon, and all of the other boys I’ve written about over the years. They came to me needing love, and I brought them to you—you embraced them and gave them that love.

So, with that, I say adieu. Thank you for a wonderful time, and I’ll see you around the web.

 Bio

Award winning romance novelist, J. P. Barnaby has penned over a dozen books including the Working Boys series, the Little Boy Lost series, In the Absence of Monsters, and Aaron. As a bisexual woman, J.P. is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted, and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica, which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.

• Web site: http://www.JPBarnaby.com
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JPBarnaby
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JPBarnaby