Author Talks: JSH Writes Episode One
Interviews- Writers Writing About Writing
Hey readers and writers! To those who don’t know me, I’m a Geelong-based author who plunged into the world of independent publishing in 2025. I’m going to share aspects of my journey with the Geelong Cereal in a semi-structured, interview-esque format, as prompted by our host, Mel! Without further ado, here is episode 1:
What led you to decide to quit your job and become a full time writer?
This was a decision a long time in the running. When I first started writing my debut novel, DARK SANDS, I had it in my head that I wanted to write “8 novels over 15 years”, with a goal of being self-sufficient as a writer by around the age of 40.
Once I got a taste of the industry, I decided I wanted to bring that timeline up as far as I could – which was going to require writing, writing, and more writing. As well as reading, reading, and more reading. Oh, and marketing, marketing, and more marketing.
Simultaneously, I was reaching a point of extreme burnout with my career in Social Work, where I’d given it my all over the past seven years. Some serious interpersonal trauma came into the mix too, and I reached a position where it was really, really difficult just to get out of bed in the morning. We don’t always have the luxury of being able to stop working, but the positive side effect of all that grinding was I had some savings to fall back on.
So from there, I thought, why not combine the two? Take a couple of years to recover from burnout, whilst using all this new time to try to get this dream up and running.
Were you scared?
I’m not sure, to be honest – there was such an inevitability that I needed time off, that at times bringing writing into the mix just felt like a bonus, and a reasonably constructive one at that (it has been therapeutic in a wide number of ways!). That said, of course I’m terrified of all this falling flat on its face – it’s going to be most of my life savings, and multiple years of my life that I dedicate to this dream when it’s all said and done, and at the end of the day, that’s some cost, if it doesn’t work out!
How do you feel about that decision now?
Pretty good. There have been many unprecedented challenges, but the vision has never been clearer, and I’ve been lucky enough to have lots of opportunities to continue to develop, and get my work out there. None of this is done for me, mind – but I’ve really enjoyed rolling up my sleeves, because at the end of the day, that’s just what it takes. There’s been a lot of early morning starts for markets, social media content and engagement, and general community involvement, and a good deal of it has been positive in a way that really helps keep the fire going. I’m far ahead of where I once thought I’d be at this stage, but there is still a very long way to go.
But the only way to get there is to keep walking, and keep working.
Until the next!
With love, JSH <3
Author bio:
I'm J.S. Harman (also go by JSH online!) a social worker turned author who writes spooky sci-fi adventures, with intentions of adding fantasy to the catalogue.
On the surface, my work tackles many classic science fiction themes, such as existentialism, evolution, and our place in the universe, but on a deeper level, it explores the experience of anxiety, trauma and self-alienation that many of us go through. I write about imperfect characters in dangerous settings, love a well-constructed cliffhanger and an ending that makes you think!
Since launching my debut in 2025, I’ve received the honour of a finalist place in the widely-respected Aurealis Awards (Best Science Fiction Novel 2025) and First Place in the BookFest awards. Closer to home, I received second place in the 2025 Geelong Writers Competition and was a finalist in the 2025 Verandah E40 Journal and 2025 @IGWriter Awards.
This year, I took the leap into independently publishing full time, and share much of the highs and lows of this journey via social media – particularly Instagram! I write five days a week, and typically attend events and markets on the other two – so you could say I live and breathe this job, and I’ve never been happier. Prior to this career change, I worked for years in acute mental health, homelessness and disability spaces, and have maintained a passion for contributing to my community. I have been a passionate reader and writer since my earliest years, completing my first story at age 10, and spend my spare time playing video games, completing puzzles, assembling LEGO, and wishing I lived somewhere up in the mountains by a lake.
If you’d like to check out my books, you can find them on my website, here:
https://jsharman.com.au
Or on Amazon, here:
My best social media platform is Instagram - @j.s.harman.author, but I also keep the lights on over on Facebook and Tiktok, under the same handle.
