Meet J. J. Broadus

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

I'm an author, lyricist, artist, and storyteller with a deep love for creating stories that leave readers feeling seen, encouraged, and inspired. Whether I'm writing a sweeping young adult series, a therapeutic children's book, or a song from a character's perspective, my hope is always the same—to remind people that even in life's hardest seasons, hope and belonging are still worth pursuing.

Professionally, I've served as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for more than 17 years, walking alongside children, teens, and adults through trauma, grief, anxiety, and life's most difficult transitions. Those experiences have profoundly shaped my storytelling. While my books are works of fiction, they're written with a deep respect for the resilience of the human spirit and the healing that can come through authentic relationships, courage, and hope.

On a more personal note, I know what it means to navigate trauma and profound grief. Those experiences have changed me, but they have also deepened my belief that beauty, purpose, and joy can still be found on the other side of heartbreak. Creativity has become one of the ways I've reclaimed hope, and it's a privilege to share that journey with others.

Here you'll discover several creative worlds that are close to my heart:

  • Rogue's Gambit — a coming-of-age series where music, friendship, family, grief, and the search for belonging intertwine.

  • Cody Tales — therapeutic children's stories created to help young readers navigate big emotions with courage and compassion.

  • Original Music — songs inspired by the stories and characters who continue to live in my imagination long after I close the manuscript.

  • Artwork & Behind the Scenes — a glimpse into the creative process as these worlds continue to grow.

When I'm not writing, you'll usually find me spending time with my husband, Greg, reading a good mystery novel, enjoying the Florida coast, or being happily supervised by our two small dogs, Cody and Sonny, who have inspired more stories than they probably realize.

Thank you for visiting my little corner of the creative world. I hope these stories, songs, and characters encourage you, remind you that you're not alone, and perhaps even help you discover a little more hope and meaning along the way.

I'm grateful you're here!

| FROM THE WRITER'S SIDE |

Let's Talk About My Stance on AI.

I may lose followers over this. I may gain some. Either way, I want to be transparent about where I stand on AI and how I use it in my creative work.

I believe AI is a tool. Like any tool, its impact lies in how we use it--responsibly or irresponsibly. I also firmly believe that NOTHING can replace human creativity, imagination, or the soul behind artistic expression.

AI has its uses and limitations, but it will never replace what makes human creativity so meaningful to me.

So, how does J. J. Broadus use AI?

WRITING: The stories, characters, original prose, and song lyrics are mine. This is where I invest the greatest amount of my time, energy, and creativity. I use AI as a sounding board for research, editing suggestions, and working through logistics to keep my fictional world believable.

MUSIC: I come from a musically gifted family, but performing music isn't my talent. Writing lyrics is! I use Suno to generate vocals and musical arrangements for approximately 80 original songs representing more than seven fictional bands.

ART: I am an artist and spent years participating in art conventions. But creating all the artwork needed for Rogue's Gambit would take time away from writing. I use my own artistic vision, sketches, and concepts alongside AI to bring that world to life visually.

MARKETING: I use AI, Canva, and GIMP to create promotional materials for social media and printed pieces in order to share my work and get it out there.

IDEAS: The stories, characters, concepts, and creative direction begin with me.

AI doesn't replace my imagination. It helps me bring more of what's in my imagination into the world.

I respect that others may feel differently about AI, and that's okay. I simply want to be open about my creative process.

At the heart of everything I create is a human being with stories to tell, songs to write, and a whole lot of imagination.

“Every song begins with a story.” — J. J. Broadus