#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #JanSikes

/ Marcia Meara

Good Morning, Everybody. Today, I’d like you to welcome author Jan Sikes to The Write Stuff. Jan is part of the wonderful team of writers over on the Story Empire blog, and she’s going to share a very interesting #TenThings list with us today. I know you’ll enjoy learning all these goodies about her! Jan, the floor is yours!

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Thanks for having me here  today, Marcia! 

Ten Things You May Not Know About Me
by Jan Sikes

  1. My maiden name is Smith. Growing up my sister and I were always referred to as those Smith girls. Smith is ranked as #1 when it comes to common last names. 
  1. I was born in Hobbs, New Mexico, just five miles from the Texas border. I like to consider myself a Texan since I’ve lived most of my adult life here. 
  1. I followed an Indian Guru for many years in the seventies. I embraced the entire way of communal living and was even the house mother for a while. Every night I would make four quarts of yogurt and bake homemade granola. I slept on a two-inch foam mat on the floor and shared a room with five other women. It was an experience I’ll never forget. 
  1. I was a total vegetarian for over ten years. 
  1. My biggest pet peeve in life are people who don’t pick up after their animals. I live in an apartment complex and there is nothing I hate worse than having to avoid stepping in it. My second biggest pet peeve is the way the electric company trims trees along the power lines. They take big chunks out of the middle leaving an unsightly gap in the tree. It makes me feel sorry for the tree. 
  1. I lived in Austin, Texas during the hippie era, and rode on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. 
  1. The farthest I’ve ever traveled is to Rome, Italy. I went there in the seventies to see the Guru. My oldest daughter was two. She got her head stuck between the bars that lined the steps at the Coliseum. They had to rub butter on her head to get her unstuck. 
  1. I was fifty when I started learning to play guitar. You are never too old to learn something new! 
  1. I have lived in five different States – New, Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, and Colorado. 
  1. My paternal grandparents were part of the big exodus to California in the thirties. They lived the Grapes of Wrath story. My sister and I plan to write that story someday.

You Can Buy Jagged Feathers HERE

BLURB:

Vann Noble did his duty. He served his country and returned a shell of a man, wounded inside and out. With a missing limb and battling PTSD, he seeks healing in an isolated cabin outside a small Texas town with a stray dog that sees beyond his master’s scars. If only the white rune’s magic can bring a happily ever after to a man as broken as Vann.  

On the run from hired killers and struggling to make sense of her unexplained deadly mission, Nakina Bird seeks refuge in Vann’s cabin. She has secrets. Secrets that can get them all killed.

A ticking clock and long odds of living or dying, create jarring risks.

Will these two not only survive, but find an unexpected love along the way? Or, will evil forces win and destroy them both?

Jagged Feathers REVIEW QUOTES:

“One of the top books I’ve read in a while. I’d give it more sparklers if I could. The author had me from page one and didn’t let me go until the end. She starts off hard and fast, then things kind of work out and the book goes into a “safe” lull, which is where most romantic suspense stories would end. But no. She doesn’t let you rest as the danger ramps up again before our hero and heroine are really safe and have a satisfying ending that leaves you happy for them.”  V. Burkholder

“This was a perfect blend of PTSD, guilt, bad guys, friendship, acceptance, and embracing the spiritual realm. I absolutely loved this story and can’t wait for the next rune couple”.  D.L. Finn

“What an amazing and phenomenal book. Jagged Feather’s has become my favorite suspense book I’ve read in 2022. Jan Sikes has a talent that mirrors the authors, that’s on top of the Best Sellers List.”  T. Lucas

“Jagged Feathers is a riveting romantic suspense I couldn’t stop reading. From the very first page, my heart went out to Vann. He’s been through so much and deserves someone to love. Nakina is a woman on the run and her plight tugged at my heartstrings. The POV and descriptive narration are deep, emotional, and immersive which make for an incredible reading experience. The more I read, the more invested I became in the characters and storyline. The plot is well-conceived with equal parts action, romance, and suspense. Jan Sikes writes a riveting story with lots of pulse-pounding moments.”  N.N. Light

Author Jan Sikes

Jan Sikes is an award-winning Texas author who has been called a wordsmith by her peers. She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. You simply can’t make this stuff up. It all happened. She chose to create fictitious characters to tell the story through, and they bring the intricately woven tale to life in an entertaining way. She released a series of music CDs to accompany the four biographical fiction books and then published a book of poetry and art to complete the story circle.

And now that the story is told, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published many short stories with a series of novels waiting in the wings. She is a member of The Author’s Marketing Guild, Writer’s League of Texas, RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB (RRBC), RAVE WRITER’S INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHOR (RWISA), and sits on the RWISA Executive Council.

Jan’s SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

WEBSITE
BLOG
TWITTER
FACEBOOK
PINTEREST
GOODREADS
BOOKBUB
LINKEDIN
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

103 thoughts on “#TenThingsYouMayNotKnow – About #JanSikes”

  4. Fascinating! The communal lifestyle must have been a wonderful and spiritual experience at the time whereas your daughter getting her head stuck is pure comedy! Like others here, I’d be interested to hear about your pateral grandparents and their experiences during the Grapes of Wrath era. Thanks for this insight into your life and many thanks, Marcia, for providing the window! ❤

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    • So glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, Trish, and I’m very happy to have had her take part in the #TenThings series. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to comment, too. 😀 ❤

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    • Thanks, Jill. I just hate the way they take out the middle of the trees for their electric lines. I’m just surprised anyone else noticed. 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment!

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      • Around here, they take a HUGE “L” shaped bite out of the, leaving the most pitiful looking excuse for oak trees you ever saw. The only up side is that the birds and squirrels don’t care what the trees look like as long as they can still use them.

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    • So glad you enjoyed Jan’s post today, Jill, and we have a nearby street completely lined with deformed and ugly oak trees. At least the birds and squirrels still use them, though, so I guess it’s better than cutting them down. But it “shore ain’t purty!” Thanks for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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  7. I was born a Smith, too, Jan. Maybe we’re distant cousins!

    It was great learning more about you. I’m still laughing about the butter on your daughter’s head. Thanks for sharing your ten things. And thanks, Marcia, for hosting.

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    • So glad you enjoyed your “distant cousin’s” post, Staci, and the buttered head story needs to be featured in a book somewhere! 😀 It was a treat having Jan here today, and thanks so much for stopping by to comment! 😀 ❤

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    • Yes. I learned to play guitar in my fifties. You are never too old to learn something new, Jeanne. I say go for it and learn to play the violin if it is something you desire. Thanks for your comment.

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    • Jan’s right, Jeanne … it’s never too late to learn something new! If I can decide to write and self-publish a book at 69, it should be proof of that. Good luck! And thanks so much for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

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    • I was truly beginning to panic, Craig. And her neck was turning red. It is hilarious looking back, but at the time, I was afraid they would have to cut through one of the bars to get her out. Thank goodness for butter! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

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    • I was thinking the same thing, Craig. I’d probably have had a heart attack! Blessed be the butter!! 😉Glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, and thanks so much for stopping by to let us know! 😀

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    • The pleasure is all mine, Jan, and you are ALWAYS welcome as a guest on TWS, any time you want to talk books and writing, or share news, promotions, and other things that are just plain fun. I may be cutting back a bit here and there, but I’m NOT giving up on having guest bloggers visit. (Especially when they have great, interesting, or entertaining tales for us like your #TenThings list. Thanks so much for taking part today! 😀 ❤

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  12. Pingback: Younger Self Advice and Top Ten Things – Writing and Music

  13. Jan, you have certainly led a very colorful life. You’ve had tons more experiences than I have. You left out the word poor when you said we were referred to as The Smith Girls. We were the Poor Little Smith Girls. No one thought we’d ever amount to anything. Guess we showed them! Sister, you could’ve told twenty things no one knows about you if you’d wanted. We carry lots of secrets–both of us. I love you dearly.

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    • Lol, sister. I can’t tell all my secrets. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the post. We were poor, but somehow I never knew that. I stayed pretty oblivious to reality growing up. Thank you for stopping by and adding your comment! Love you!!

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    • How nice to “meet” you, Linda. Glad you stopped by to keep an eye on your sister! 😉As everyone has been saying, this was a great #TenThings list, and I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to say hello, and hope you’ll visit The Write Stuff more often now that you’ve found us. 😀

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  15. Oh your poor daughter, Jan! That’s certainly a memory, LOL.
    I loved learning more about you, and I really hope you and your sister write your grandparents Grapes of Wrath story. I’m fascinated by that era, and I know you two would do it justice.

    Thanks for the fun post, and thanks to Marcia for hosting!

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  16. I love this list, Jan, and I loved learning new things about you. I can only imagine the panic you must have gone through when you couldn’t get your daughter’s head unstuck. Did the helpers speak English, or was that another barrier to deal with? Thanks for sharing Jan’s list, Marcia! 🙂

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    • Hi, Sharon. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Austin was quite a different place back in the 70s. Today it’s big and crowded with a huge homeless population, but that wasn’t the case back then. I’m glad I got to enjoy it.

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      • Glad you enjoyed learning more about Jan, Sharon. I thought her post was super, and was tickled to have her here today. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to comment, too! 😀 ❤

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  19. And what an interesting and colorful life you have led Jan. Scary about your daughter getting stuck in the bars. And what a fascinating book that would be about your grandparents’ journey to California! Your life has given you so much to write about. ❤

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  20. My great grandparents made the same trip to California during the depression, although I’m still here 🙂 I remember all their stories. As they moved from Missouri to Alberta to Washington to California. I hope you and your sister write that book. Such a strong generation. Although it’s funny to read about now I can only image the stress of your daughter head being caugh in bars, plus picturing the Italian response. Perfect time and place for that Harley riding too! Wonderful list, Jan!

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    • It was certainly a time when folks had to be strong, much like when the old west was settled. My dad’s people stayed in California, but he didn’t. Then he and my mom had some harrowing experiences themselves as a young married couple during the Great Depression. Yes, the Italian response to my daughter’s head being stuck was pretty animated. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Denise!

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      • I’m really glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, Denise. It was a treat to have her here today, for sure. And thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to comment, too! 😀 ❤

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  24. Beautiful, Jan. Life takes us down strange paths at times, but we learn and grow through it all — and you shine because of it all. Lovely post! Thank you, Marcia, for featuring lovely Jan today! 💗

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  25. As always, Marcia, thank you for bringing us new fun facts about our favorite people! ❤ Jan, I feel like I've known you forever, yet there's so much more to learn. I'm so glad you shared these facts about yourself. I think I'm most interested in your Indian Guru story. That sounds fascinating!

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    • You are most welcome, Mar! It’s a great pleasure to have guests join us here on The Write Stuff, especially when it gives us a chance to learn more about our online friends. So glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, and really appreciate your letting us know. Thanks! 😀 ❤

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  26. Fascinating facts about you, Jan! It’s always nice to find out more about fellow authors. You have lived an interesting life for sure. Thanks for share this with us. Thank you, Marcia, for this lovely post on you wonderful blog! Hugs to you both! Xx

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  28. I had to laugh about your daughter getting her head stuck between the bars, Jan. When we were young, my sister got her tongue stuck on the shelf of a standup freezer at the grocery store (think the flagpole in A Christmas Story). Our mom made me take her to the bathroom to get cleaned up – sure got some strange looks. Enjoyed learning more about you, Jan – thanks for hosting, Marcia!

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  29. Pingback: Smorgasbord Blogger Weekly 16th May 2022 – #Images Tofino Photography, Robbie Cheadle, Cindy Knoke, #Exploration Jennie Fitzkee, #Guest The Story Reading Ape, #Guest Marcia Meara | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine

  32. Congratulations to such a wonderful experienced and funny life, Jan! One can read it between the lines, in your books. Its great to have you here. Thank you Marcia and Jan, for this interesting interview. Now i am totally feeling as i had lived in a shoe box, for the last ten years. Lol Best wishes, Michael

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    • Hey, living in a shoe box for ten years would be a remarkable thing to share on a #TenThings list! Hahahaha. At any rate, very glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, Michael, and thanks for letting us know! 😀 ❤

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    • Here I am, even LATER responding to your comment, Sue. (The last week has been totally upside down around here!) So glad you enjoyed Jan’s post, and thanks so much for letting us know! 😀 ❤

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  35. It was great to learn more about Jan here, Marcia. The head stuck in the bars of the Coliseum cracked me up. And butter? Lol. What a memory! I’ll bet her daughter hasn’t lived that one down. And I’m not surprised at Jan’s hippie past. She’s still a hippie. 🙂 Thanks for the fun post, ladies. 🙂

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    • You are very welcome, Diana. I’m delighted to know you enjoyed Jan’s post as much as I did! (The butter thing is still making me laugh.) Thanks for stopping by to say hello! 😀 ❤

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