#73 JL Blair
Jamie L. Lewis is a multi-pen name author who’s been publishing since 2014. Her introductory series, The Lust List—a high-profile, celebrity romance written under the pseudonym, Mira Bailee—is a USA Today Best-Seller. As much as she enjoys bringing together captivating, drama-ridden couples, it’s the young adult and children’s fiction she publishes as Elie James Wile and JL Blair that holds a unique spot in her heart. After growing up in Florida, Jamie now calls the Louisiana bayou her home where she lives with her husband, Aaron, and two children, Bailey and Everett.
And Love Speaks is her first children’s picture book, and it’s making its debut in space with Writers on the Moon. It first came to life after Jamie’s mother-in-law, the grandmother of her children, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS].
Sandra Blair was remarkable woman, and when faced with the difficult news, one of the first things she asked was, “What resources exist to help explain this to the kids?” When her medical team couldn’t provide a reliable answer, she followed up by saying she “knew an author”.
Soon after, the early storyboards of a children’s book emerged—32 sketched boxes highlighting the frightening reality of how ALS could rear its ugly head in the coming months. Reaching out to the ALS community, Jamie received an outpouring of support, ideas, feedback, and confirmation that this book was truly needed.
Accompanied by the gorgeous, playful artwork of illustrator, Mark Nino Balita, And Love Speaks follows 5-year-old Ben (inspired by Jamie’s nephew) as he learns his grandmother is sick. Fear, confusion, and worry all play a role as Ben comes to terms with his grandma’s ALS diagnosis. He sees her symptoms worsen as the disease impacts her functionality, and ultimately, he finds his own way to process and accept the changes. The book is heartfelt, honest, and even humorous at times as it shows how strong our spirits are during the toughest seasons of life.
In January 2023, the Blair family had to say goodbye to Sandra. She forever lives on in And Love Speaks. A former nurse on NASA’s shuttle recovery team, there was a special spot in Sandra’s heart for space. She was ecstatic about the Writers on the Moon project and loved the fact she (her animated self) was going to blast off to a new home on the moon.
The day the time capsule is opened, whenever that may be, we truly hope there’s a cure and ALS is a thing of the past.
And Love Speaks isn’t riding solo. Alongside the children’s book will be two other works by Jamie.
The Lightworkers is the first in a young adult fantasy series by Elie James Wile that’s inspired by the quirky town next door to where Jamie grew up. Cassadaga, Florida is known as the Spiritualist Capital of the World. During her high school days, Jamie would spend her afternoons meditating in its gardens and perusing the metaphysical bookstores. Cassadaga later became the backdrop to the story of Thea DeLarue, an orphan teen who, to her dismay, finds out hard and fast she’s a witch from an ancient lineage.
Devon Stone: The Complete Series by Jamie’s alter ego, Mira Bailee, is the full collection of The Lust List: Devon Stone, a contemporary romance about anxious Olivia Margot trying to make her way in chaotic Los Angeles. After an uncomfortable run-in with a mysterious, arrogant man, she finds out he’s none other than Devon Stone, billionaire heir featured on ScandalLust Magazine’s “The Lust List”. Her brain tells her this beautiful bachelor is the opposite of what Olivia needs, but her heart knows what it wants.
Finally, And Love Speaks has proven this payload is a family affair. Kathy Fick, writing as K. D. Williams, is Jamie’s mother. A lifelong devourer of books, she’s been putting the final touches on her own debut novel, Thread of Life. It will mark a major milestone in Kathy’s life, and she’s proud to be a stowaway on this mission to the moon.
All this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and hard work of Susan Kaye Quinn. Jamie and her family are truly grateful to take residence alongside so many wonderful authors and artists, preserving the independent community as it exists today.
Find JL Blair’s stories here.