Today we’d like to introduce you to Mandy Jackson-Beverly.
Hi Mandy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If a psychic told seven-year-old-me that by 2022 she’d host and produce The Bookshop Podcast, write and publish four books, homeschool her sons, teach high school theater and AP art, live in three countries and multiple cities, and survive a pandemic (thank you science), she would have said, “Is that all?” She was, so I’ve heard, slightly precocious. If the psychic told her I’d work with creatives Herb Ritts, Joel and Ethan Coen, Julien Temple, David Fincher, and Steve Barron, and artists such as David Bowie, Madonna, and Tina Turner, and that book-banning was still a thing, she would have answered with an expletive!
For the first five years of my life, I lived in a small Australian rural town, which, until my birth, had a population of 418. This sparse population was the perfect birthplace for me as its remoteness and lack of crowds encouraged me to use my imagination, to cherish the friendship of animals and the magnificence of nature.
When I was five, my family moved to Tasmania, and I experienced hiking in the local mountains and rugged coastline—and much to my horror—the best way to remove a leech from my body. At age sixteen, I moved to Sydney to study the flute. At twenty-two, I relocated to London, where I discovered the tantalizing British fashion scene and fell in love with the concept of the creative collective. Later, in Los Angeles, I found my creative freedom among the thriving, no-holds-barred visionaries of the music video world.
The 80s were crazy in London and Los Angeles. None of my friends had money, but we were all rich with creativity and vision. And in the music video world, there were no rules and no leashes; it was fabulous!
With the birth of my two sons, my interest in education and learning morphed into opening a small school for independent learners, firstly based in Manhattan Beach and later in Culver City. I taught full-time and wrote blogs for the Huffington Post and book reviews for the New York Journal of Books. Later, when my heart yearned for the mountains of my youth, we relocated to Ojai, so the boys had access to hiking and outdoor activities.
Late one night, while grading advanced placement art portfolios, I noticed tears falling down my cheeks and onto the papers. I remembered the times throughout my life when I’d been taken advantage of, felt misunderstood, and the painful insecurities creatives endure—what we now know as imposter syndrome. I wanted to keep my students safe from the world outside the art studio, but knowing that was impossible, I did what I’ve always done, turned my fears into something creative. That night I went home and finished a story that later became The Creatives Series, a tale where art and artists are protected throughout history to the present day by a group of mortals and immortals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that life is never smooth. Obstacles help us grow, learn something new, and face fears. Money is a struggle for me. My brain is constantly brewing new ideas, but my bank account can’t always fund my creative endeavors, and I’m shy to ask for help. I’ve learned to embrace the struggles; they teach me lessons.
On my refrigerator door is a magnet that says, “Stop me before I volunteer again!” that’s me in a nutshell. If I see something that needs doing or someone who needs help, I don’t want to wait for a rule book. Empathy and compassion don’t work like that.
Years ago, I volunteered for The Story Project at the housing projects in San Pedro, where I taught an after-school art and writing program to a group of children aged 5 through 13. I remember the first day a young boy of about 11 joined us, and he enjoyed himself. The following week, he seemed withdrawn, aggressive, and nervous. The next week he was a no-show. The other children told me he was constantly hassled by a gang who expected him to join them. He slipped in the door one day, hugged me, then left. That was the last time I saw him, and this shattered me.
In my perfect world, education is free for every child and adult, and art, music, meditation, and physical education are considered core subjects. I’m grateful to the people who donate to these programs and those who volunteer. However, funding is an ongoing struggle. I know art has the power to change lives, but it takes money to fund after-school programs.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
When the pandemic began, I froze—constantly concerned for my family, both in California, England, and Australia. When would I see them again? Would we all survive?
Reading has always been my escape. In the past, when life became too heavy, you’d find me curled up with a book, most likely historical fiction with a twist of magical realism. But with lockdown, an hour would pass, and I’d realize I’d been staring at the same page.
While walking with a friend in publishing, we conversed about the fact that book releases were on hold, as were book tours. I said, “I have an idea,” and I launched The Bookshop Podcast a few weeks later. As a bibliophile and writer, I’m an avid supporter of independent bookshops. Sure, until the pandemic, I’d also bought books from Amazon, but when I thought about indie bookshops closing and how that would affect communities, I wanted to support them globally. I think it’s safe to say I will never buy a book from Amazon again.
The Bookshop Podcast is eighteen months old, with 126 episodes under our belt. Every Monday, I interview an indie bookshop owner, manager, or bookseller, and Wednesdays are for authors and specialists in the humanities and the environment. Once a month, I interview Stephanie Stillo, Curator, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, at the Library of Congress. We discuss special exhibits, what’s going on behind the scenes, Stephanie’s video series From the Vaults! and introduce the people who work tirelessly to protect and curate the vast collections and how we can benefit from their work.
As with most new ventures, it’s taken a while to find my groove in the podcast world, develop an interviewing style, and learn new skills. What I love most about this project is the research and getting to know my guests, discovering the history of each indie bookshop, and documenting this time in history via an audio platform. I envision this evolving into other mediums; television and a book.
Listeners and interviewees say they appreciate the research I do for each guest and that I actually read the books of the authors I interview. That seems like a no-brainer, but apparently, it happens. Because of this, not all my Wednesday guests are authors; some are regenerative farmers, directors, literary agents, artists, and architects. I like variation and don’t enjoy being tied down to a particular topic. Life’s too short for that! I feel the same about writing.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The beauty of audio is it is transportable. For example, I listen to podcasts and audiobooks when hiking, gardening, or driving. I see more podcasts mirroring the radio shows of years passed where actors read plays and short stories, and music was performed in a studio and recorded.
Stories transport listeners to other worlds and help us understand relationships. Audio is a powerful platform and one I adore. As a child, I looked forward to bedtime when my parents read to me, and I passed that on to my sons. After all, who hasn’t read the Harry Potter series aloud to their kids and enjoyed every minute?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mandyjacksonbeverly.com AND https://thebookshoppodcast.buzzsprout.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandyjacksonbeverlyauthor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandyjacksonbeverlyauthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MJacksonBeverly
