Today we’d like to introduce you to Jannesy DeLeon.
Hi Jannesy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I did not set out to become a children’s author. I became one because of my children.
I am the mother of two adult children with significant disabilities. My daughter is nonverbal, medically complex, and ventilator dependent. My son also has profound disabilities. When my daughter was diagnosed, I thought the life I had imagined was over. I left my job to become her full-time caregiver. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Everything shifted at once.
For years, my world was hospitals, therapy appointments, night nursing shifts, and learning how to advocate in systems that were not built for families like mine. Writing was always in me, but it felt like a distant dream. I was surviving.
Over time, I realized something important. My children deserved to see themselves in books. Other children deserved to learn about disability in a way that felt natural and human, not clinical or tragic. So I wrote the book I wished existed when my children were young.
That became Tag! You’re It, and it launched a series centered around inclusion, responsibility, and compassion through the characters of Gabby and Nicky. Since then I have continued writing, self-publishing, building my own imprint, and creating stories rooted in real lived experience.
Today I am still a full-time caregiver. I am also an author, speaker, and advocate. My work sits at the intersection of disability, inclusion, and resilience. Nothing about my path has been traditional, but it has been honest. Everything I build now is grounded in the life I am living every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road.
Most of my adult life has been shaped by caregiving. Raising two children with significant disabilities means there is no off switch. There are medical emergencies, sleepless nights, therapies, insurance battles, school advocacy, and constant coordination. Add to that going through a thyroid cancer diagnosis and later navigating the end of a long marriage. There were stretches of time when I was exhausted in a way that felt impossible, and if I’m honest, there are still days like that.
Financially, it has also been a challenge. When you leave your career to care for medically complex children, you give up stability. Starting a publishing journey from scratch without a traditional team behind you means learning everything yourself. Printing, distribution, marketing, branding, events. It has been trial and error. There were moments I questioned whether I was stretching myself too thin.
There is also the emotional side. Writing stories rooted in your real life can make you feel exposed. Sharing your family publicly requires courage. Not everyone understands it. Not everyone values inclusion the way you do.
But every obstacle has shaped the work. The challenges forced me to become resourceful. They pushed me to advocate harder. They reminded me why the stories matter.
It has not been smooth but it has been well-earned.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a children’s author and the founder of my own publishing imprint. I write inclusive stories inspired by my real life as a mother of two children with significant disabilities. My work centers on inclusion, responsibility, empathy, and everyday resilience. I specialize in creating books that feel honest and accessible, not preachy or overly polished.
I am known for writing from lived experience. The characters in my books are rooted in my children’s world. Disability is not presented as something inspirational or tragic. It is simply part of the story, just like it is part of life. I focus on showing what inclusion looks like in practical, human ways.
What I am most proud of is building this work from the ground up while continuing to be a full-time caregiver. I self-publish, manage production, coordinate events, speak publicly, and advocate for inclusive education and disability rights. None of it has been handed to me. I have learned every part of the process because the message matters.
What sets me apart is that I am not creating stories from the outside looking in. I am living the reality every day. The work is not theoretical. It is personal. And that authenticity shapes everything I write and build.
What makes you happy?
Happiness for me is found in simple, ordinary moments. It is sitting with my kids on a snowy day when everything feels quiet. It is hearing them laugh. It is knowing they are safe, stable, and okay. After everything our family has navigated medically, their health and comfort mean more to me than anything else.
I am happiest when we are just together without rushing. Watching a movie, sitting outside in the summer, or simply being in the same room while life slows down for a minute. Those small pauses matter.
I also find real joy in the work I do. Seeing a child pick up one of my books and recognize themselves in it is something I never take lightly. When parents reach out and tell me they felt seen, understood, or encouraged because I shared my story, that stays with me. Knowing that my lived experience has helped someone else feel less alone brings a deep kind of fulfillment.
And then there are the everyday comforts. Good coffee in the morning. A long walk when I can clear my head. A real conversation with a close friend. My dog curled up next to me at night after a long day. None of it is extravagant, but it feels real.
Happiness for me is not about big milestones. It is about connection, safety, purpose, and the people and moments that remind me why I keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jannesydeleon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jannesydeleon?igsh=MTEwcms4b2h6c21oNA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18BN4esvaa/
