Meet JB Teller | Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with JB Teller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JB, what principle do you value most?
Kindness is the value that matters the most to me. If I could choose to be anything, I choose to be kind. The feeling you give and get is amazing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I believe what sets me apart is my knee-jerk predisposition for kindness, fun, and adventure. I show this in my writing and life, whether it’s adopting a wayward dog, traveling with people I love, or antics that leave me adventuring in a tent in Texas. There will always be fun which means there will always be stories. I strive to live life at full volume, which naturally overflows into stories to tell. I am most proud of my determination to take situations that have had the potential to crush me and demand purpose out of them. One part analytic and one part heart means I live my life without losing the relational pieces, and isn’t that what life is really about?

I am excited to see where the story goes; my story, the book’s story, life. With my second book, Open Bar, coming out in December 2021, I’m also super excited to share another fun romantic comedy with my readers. I hope to bring misadventures, love, and family back into the hearts of the readers who loved my first book, No Alcohol Beyond This Point.

Professionally, I got to where I am by just doing the work. I just did the next thing, then the next. I set a goal and stuck to it. For me, it isn’t about how many followers I have or if I go viral. It’s about telling a story with lively characters people can relate to and love. I started writing as a labor of love for my sister, and it just took off with 40% truth, 60% yarn spinning. Not to mention, I love saying, I make up lies for a living… which I often refer to as “just talking.”

I didn’t start writing until my son went off to school for the very first time. He had a lot of medical issues early on (including a Bone Marrow Transplant and a kidney transplant, not to mention open-heart surgery, and being confined to the hospital for the better part of his childhood). He has made a miraculous recovery and finally went to school in the 5th grade, only five short years ago. My writing challenge pales compared to his challenges and really wasn’t a challenge at all. He met these challenges with grit all of us can learn from. When you have a chronically ill child, you have to do the next thing and keep churning milk until that milk turns to butter, and you step out. As an indie writer, it is a lot harder to get exposure than an agent-backed writer. I continue to try and solve that by doing as many author events/book signings as possible. I also leverage social media and connect with my readers there. I love attending book clubs when invited.

The best lesson I have learned is that life is fleeting. Love the people you love, try to say yes more often than you say no, and treat people with kindness.

I want the world to know that kindness is king; my heart is open, help others when you can, and wear your heart on your sleeve. Lastly, sing baby sing and dance like no one is watching.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

Could I have a set of ruby red slippers? If so, here we go. I would take her to my local coffee shop, Wesley Owens, or we might skip over to the BookBar on Tennyson for coffee and a pastry. Later we would go to the Tattered Cover Bookstore and dig through the massive collection of books. We’d have lunch somewhere fun, like Casa Fiesta’s in Monument followed with ice cream at Lolly’s. We would visit the Denver botanical gardens, Stanley Market and explore the downtown shops in Monument like Covered Treasures. We’d hit a concert at Red Rocks or maybe the Golden Bee for some piano and sing-alongs. Happy hour drinks at the Oxford Hotel. I would have an Amaretto sour. I would for sure take her to Cheyenne Mountain zoo to find the giraffes.

If we had a longer time, we would drive through the gorgeous Rocky Mountains to Glenwood Springs, where we would soak in the hot springs and contemplate life. We would stay at the Colorado Hotel and play cornhole until dark. After nightfall, we would ghost hunt through the halls.

As far as interesting people go… that would be anyone we meet. There are so many things to do in Colorado; just to fit them in, we would have to have the previously mentioned ruby red slippers and at least a week. One of my favorite things to do is go to a breakfast place and sit at the bar to make new friends.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family. My husband and son are my whole world. Without them and their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Website: www.jbteller.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbrteller/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JBTeller1