April Young Skelly ’07

Please describe your position and what you enjoy most about it.

I never expected to find myself where I am, but here the Lord has blessed me.  I always knew I wanted to stay home if we had kids, and I taught online while being at home with my kids for many years.  While I loved online teaching, loved the company I worked for, and had fantastic co-workers, taking care of three kids (one with special needs) and teaching full time all at the same time got to be too much.  So, the May before my oldest kiddo started school, I turned in my notice.  It was an enormous leap of faith, but the Lord worked out all the details (as He always does, practically down to the hour).  I loved (and still do!) teaching my own kids at home, and I found I had the capacity to write again.  Writing has always been a hobby of mine, but it wasn’t something I’d had the energy to do since becoming a mom.  I finished writing my book, First Shift, and with advice from a previously published friend (Karen Sargent–go buy her book, Waiting for Butterflies!), I took the next steps.  First Shift released with The Wild Rose Press in March of 2021, and spent a month on the best seller list.  I was shocked, elated, and excited to keep writing!  I did.  Rogue Shift, the sequel to First Shift, released last October and also spent a month on the best seller list.  In May, Sworn Shift releases, and I just got a contract offer on Pack Shift.  Also, I wouldn’t have used “Shift” for every title if I’d realized I was going to write so many books in this series. 

I wrote First Shift as a hobby, and also because I was generally disgusted with a lot of the books I was picking up.  I love YA fantasy and paranormal romance (I’m pretty sure my brain is arrested somewhere around 17), but I was so frustrated with the books that I was finding in those genres.  There was so much toxicity, evil, and too much on the screen that didn’t need to be there.  As a former high school teacher, I wanted those kids I’d taught to have a better offering of books.  This led to the creation of Quill & Flame Publishing House.  The goal of Quill & Flame is to publishing GOOD books that have all action, adventure, and romance typical of the genre, but none of the nasty.

What aspects of your HLGU experience helped you prepare for your career?

I had WONDERFUL teachers at HLG, both in the education department and the English department that equally helped shape me to become an effective teacher and writer.  Although a few business classes along the way might not have been a bad idea in retrospect. LOL

What have you enjoyed most about your career? 

I loved teaching–I still love teaching my children.  Writing is a passion, and books have always been a huge part of my life.  I’m excited to move forward with the publishing house and produce solid books.

Have you or are you currently continuing your education?

I did go ahead and get a Masters of Creative Writing, and have taken other courses to continue to keep my teaching certification current.  As for writing and publishing, my English undergrad and then additional Masters studies set me up well to be a writer.  Learning the craft of fiction has been a far cry from academic work, but it’s been ridiculous amounts of fun to create worlds inside my head and then put them onto paper.  Most of that has been trial and error.

How did HLGU shape you as a person? 

HLG was a defining influence on me as a person, and as a Christian.  The people I met, the professors I had, the memories I made, all helped shape me into who I am today.

Please share a specific example from your career or life when the skills you gained at HLGU helped you most. 

As an English major in my time at HLG, I had multiple classes with Dr. Kenneth McNutt and Mrs. Katherine Burt.  I learned SO much about English, humor, gentility, and Christ through their classes.  It was through those classes, specifically, that I gained a lot of the skills I now use for writing and editing.

What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? 

I’m really proud of having books picked up by a traditional publisher.  Having that stamp of approval from someone in the publishing industry was incredibly gratifying.  It was one of those validating moments–that it wasn’t just me that liked my stories.

What HLGU professors played a part in your success?

As I mentioned earlier, Dr. McNutt and Mrs. Burt played integral roles in my writing and editing skills.  Even still, they offer their encouragement!

Do you have any tips to share with students interested in this field? 

If you’re wanting to go into writing or publishing, develop a thick skin.  Make sure you’re teachable.  All the magic happens in the edits, first drafts should be ugly, and you only need ONE agent or publisher who likes your stuff.

What are some of your favorite HLGU memories? 

A group of friends and I would go out for pizza every so often, or just go out on the weekends, wander around town and take walks.  Such a beautiful area, and such good, deep, meaningful conversations.

What on-campus activities were you involved in at HLGU? 

I was a member of Alpha Tau Beta and part of the move in team.  I did yearbook for a while.  I was a part of the teacher organizations.  I sang in Chapel once.

HLGU’s motto is “knowledge for service.” What roles have these values played in your life? 

I’ve needed the knowledge I gained at HLGU–without it, I wouldn’t have had the skills necessary to pursue writing, or to open Quill & Flame Publishing House.

What is one thing you know now that you wish you’d known when you started in the field? 

Patience.  I knew everything in the writing field took a long time before I started.  But everything in the writing field takes a really long time. LOL 

 

Learn more about April at:

www.ajskelly.com

www.quillandflame.com

On Insta: @a.j.skelly and @quill.and.flame.publishers

I also run a bookish merch shop on Etsy: Books and Whimsy

https://www.etsy.com/shop/BooksandWhimsy?ref=seller-platform-mcnav