Meet Jovahna Marie of Woodhaven

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jovahna Marie.   

Hi Jovahna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I published my first book Setting Fire to the Darkness in 2013. The steamy romance novel was a big hit among young women, and kind of opened the door to the literary word for me. Since then, I have published three additional books. Whiskey for the Wounded, Passion Fruit, and StarDust, which was dubbed by Black Women’s Rising Magazine as one the most prolific reads in women empowerment. My Poetry book Passion Fruit garnered its own acclaim and was even featured in the “New York Times Daily.” More recently, I have expanded my written talents to film. I have now written over seven screenplays. As well as made my acting debut, playing the lead in the movie “The Invite,” playing the supporting role in the movie “The Contract Healer.” And already this year, I have landed another lead role in an upcoming film. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This journey has been far from easy. When I decided to write my first book, I had no idea what I was doing or how I would do it. But I didn’t want the fear of not doing it right to stop me from doing it at all. So, I just jumped in, wrote the book, and figured I’d learn to swim along the way. But, in retrospect, trying to learn to swim once you’re already in the water may not be the brightest ideal. (lol) Case and point, my first book had so many grammatical errors that I actually had to pull it from print. It took me a couple years and a few editors, but the revised copy is now live on Amazon and selling well. Even with my acting career, I have experienced so many ups and downs. There’s been times where I’ve been casted and then re-casted or looked over all together. Or times where on screen mishaps lead to some unfriendly memes and social media backlash. This industry can be brutal, and resilience and mental fortitude is an absolute must. Still, I am grateful for it all, from the losing, the critics to getting it wrong. I think there is such an untold beauty in failing. In failure, your greatest fear has already been realized; now with that fear removed you’re free to simply get better. At the end of the day, our dreams don’t walk straight, there is no straight path, the road isn’t smooth or perfectly paved. There will be bumps, rocky terrains, and unexpected turns, and no is exempt. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My name is Jovahna Marie, better known by my pen name Author J.M. Pozon. I am 4 time published award-winning author, poet, actress, and novelist. I am most proud of my poetry book Women Empowerment Star Dust. The number of women whom have reached out to me saying that my book has helped them is by far better than any recognition or accolades I could receive. And what sets me apart, I feel is my passion and commitment to the stories I tell. 

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a bit of a nerd; I was extremely shy, a little timid. I’ve always loved reading, even as a child. I was the kid that begged their parents for books on Christmas. One of my favorite childhood series was the Babysitter’s club. I‘ve always found it joyous and exciting to escape into the literary world of fantasy and mentally bring words to life in my mind. As an adult, I aim to bring that same feeling and experience to others. All in all, I consider myself a storyteller and a visionary. And I hope to continue telling stories to the world across all mediums. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm13139540/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/j.m.pozon?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14740811.J_M_Pozon?ref=nav_profile_l

Image Credits
@davideanderson
@Q11studios