I’m Kelly Morgan—indie author and indie publisher—and today’s guest is Kanika Bailey, who writes Black romance as Joy Jackson. We talk about the power of a pen name, writing through grief, building a series readers can jump into anywhere, and why indie publishing gave her the freedom to tell the stories she wants to see.

Joy didn’t grow up writing nonstop; she grew up reading. Black romance pulled her in during the Terry McMillan era. Then life turned urgent. In 2019, after her father’s sudden passing, she stopped waiting. The characters living in her head moved onto the page. That first novel took a couple of years. Since then, she’s published six more and has more on deck.

“I write what I love: Black love and happily-ever-afters,” she says. “You know how it ends, but you want the journey.”

Why indie? Control. Joy launched Purple Peacock Press to own the process end to end—no gatekeepers deciding which stories about us are “marketable.” She also helps other writers step through the same door.

Explore Joy’s work: https://purplepeacockpress.com

Her current world follows a woman who runs an online-dating investigation firm—catfishers beware—with three employees who each get their own love story. Books are connected but can be read out of order. Settings range from Atlanta to Barbados, a place Joy visited, loved, and immediately wrote into the series. Book three is underway; book four lands next year.

Joy’s process blends structure and instinct. She’s a plotter who likes clear guideposts and an ending in sight, but when drafting, characters sometimes grab the wheel—and she lets them. Scenes play in her head in “4K,” down to outfits and dialogue. NaNoWriMo has been a useful immersion tool; even without hitting 50k, the daily practice helps her finish soon after. She aims for daily pages and gives herself grace when life gets loud.

Pen names and platform? Choose early, keep them consistent, and claim the handles in one sweep so readers can find you everywhere.

Find Joy:
Website: https://purplepeacockpress.com
Instagram: https://instagram. com/AuthorJoyJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.c om/AuthorJoyJackson 

One piece of advice for aspiring authors: start writing. Don’t wait for perfect. Open a notebook or a Google Doc and begin. Momentum starts when you start.

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