You Are Brave, Amy G: Jessica Hackmann’s Powerful New Book

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County living presents, Conversations with Rich Bennett. Very good to hear. 

Rich Bennett 0:27
Just the moments we call meltdowns are really misunderstood signals from the brain. What a feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even shut down isn't a failure, but your body trying to protect you. Today, we're diving into a story that brings those questions to life in a powerful and relatable way. Jessica Hackman, who's been on before, founder of Brave Connections Coaching and Advocacy, has spent years working with children and families, helping them understand something that most of us were never taught growing up. How are brains 

Jessica Hackmann 1:03
working? 

Rich Bennett 1:03
actually And how our emotions shape everything from our behavior to our decisions, and she's taken all that real world experience and turned it into a heartfelt children's book. You are Brave Amy G. I'm not gonna give anything about the book away because we want to talk about it, of course. And I think this is... 

Call you Amy. Well Jessica contacted me and asked to come back on because she wrote a book, of course, I'm like yeah, she's got open door anyways, it doesn't matter what book or anything, she's always welcome back. 

But I have a funny feeling this children's book is a lot like the other children's authors I've had on here and I've always said a good children's book, not only teaches children, but it children's children, but it also teaches adults. 

Jessica Hackmann 2:00
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 2:00
As well. Well, hey, don't chance 

Jessica Hackmann 2:04
go so much for having me back. This is I've been looking forward to this, you know, since we scheduled a couple, maybe a month ago. 

Rich Bennett 2:10
What was the last time you were on it? A couple of years ago? 

Jessica Hackmann 2:12
It was. I think it was I looked back. I think it was in 2024, which is insane. Yeah. I know it's it's going fast. 

Rich Bennett 2:20
Oh, 

Jessica Hackmann 2:21
so 

Rich Bennett 2:21
it goes by too fast. So with the before we get into the book, tell everybody your background briefly. 

Jessica Hackmann 2:28
Okay, so I think I'm in my 20th year as a school psychologist. 

Rich Bennett 2:32
20th year she looks 25. 

Jessica Hackmann 2:34
Yeah, wish. So I've done that, you know, for quite some time, I've always liked kids through COVID, you know, continued to work with children. At that time, I was in a high school, so I was working with kids virtually and when I returned to school, I found, you know, the kids were really struggling with that executive function piece, you know, a lot of our technology kind of made it so we could be virtual and then those things stuck. And so what I was finding was the kids were just really struggling with how to make sense of their course load the things that they had to do because things were not just paper pencil anymore. There 

Rich Bennett 3:09
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 3:09
was so much that was being uploaded online and so through that, I ended up opening brave connections. I partnered with a therapist for about a year and a half, two years, I think, and was providing executive function coaching and then, you know, kind of one thing led to another and I decided to get my own space. So I have been in two separate spaces, but both in sparks, over by Hunt Valley, since, I guess, 20 maybe it was 24. So I've been in this space since 25. Yeah, so it was in 24. So I did a year with a therapist office, rented a space and now I've opened my own space in again in sparks, you know, in May of 25, 

Rich Bennett 3:49
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 3:49
so. 

Rich Bennett 3:50
And you're out of the school now, 

Jessica Hackmann 3:52
I still part time. Yeah, still part time as a school. Like I just love it. 

Rich Bennett 3:56
yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 3:56
And it just makes sense for my family, you know, I have to drive my daughter to school down there. So I have a sweet little elementary school that I work at two days a week. 

Rich Bennett 4:04
And I've been used all big switch from before covid. 

Jessica Hackmann 4:07
Oh, yes, 

Rich Bennett 4:08
to afterward. 

Jessica Hackmann 4:09
Yeah, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 4:09
But we've talked about this before. I don't know if we talked about it with you, but it seems like mental illness went on, was on a rise, especially the kids that were in school then, and especially that graduating 

Jessica Hackmann 4:23
Mm-hmm, yeah. Well, and I think it hit each generation differently. And now, as a, you know, being in an elementary school, what I'm finding is that there's a lot of our younger students, you know, kindergarten first grade, where it's almost as if they didn't learn the coping strategies that they just innately are given when they're in a daycare or a preschool setting. So because this kindergarten class was our 2020 babies, they are, you know, they were sort of sheltered, you know, and I've had a, you know, yeah, I've had parents say to me, they're, you know, essentially the world was trying to, you know, hurt my 

Rich Bennett 4:58
class. 

Jessica Hackmann 4:58
baby 

Rich Bennett 4:58
Yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 4:58
when I had them. And so I just kind of was this mama bear even more so than a regular mother might be, you know, and I kept them home and protected and we didn't get out and we didn't go to grocery stores and we didn't, you know, visit and fit with families or go to daycare. And so I think that they lost a lot of those coping strategies that they would have just been naturally given, you know, by being in a daycare setting or a group setting. And so there's, you know, I think a lot of our elementary school, like, you know, earlier in the school year, the kids that would have problems, they have sort of acclimated 

Rich Bennett 5:28
yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 5:28
and they've 

Rich Bennett 5:29
mm-hmm 

Jessica Hackmann 5:29
made strides and they've figured it out. But I do think it's shaped maybe from the stress of the pregnancy into the stress 

Rich Bennett 5:36
yeah 

Jessica Hackmann 5:36
of like just that early childhood development that the parents carry, you know, I mean, there were times where it was, it was scary, you know. 

Rich Bennett 5:44
Especially I got, I never even thought about that, but you know, if those kids, the COVID babies, those are the ones now in kindergarten. 

Jessica Hackmann 5:54
Yeah, no, they're kindergarten. 

Rich Bennett 5:55
yep, 

Jessica Hackmann 5:55
So it, 

Rich Bennett 5:56
yep. Yeah. And the stress alone on the mother door, 

Jessica Hackmann 6:00
yes. 

Rich Bennett 6:01
Which can affect the baby in the 

Jessica Hackmann 6:03
100%. 

Rich Bennett 6:03
womb? Wow, 

Jessica Hackmann 6:05
And then we're not even touching, like, did they get COVID, did they have the COVID 

Rich Bennett 6:08
right, 

Jessica Hackmann 6:08
shot? I mean, all those things that we just don't even know. So 

Rich Bennett 6:11
oh, 

Jessica Hackmann 6:11
there's a, and I think, too, again, we're bringing them into a school that, you know, maybe they wouldn't have been necessarily on a computer or they wouldn't have had so many digital options, but our world has really changed in that way. And in some ways, very much for the better, but I think that we have to think about how does that shape development and how does that shape what I find to be a difficulty is that problem solving, you know, how do I manage that conflict resolution, you know, as a child? And so that's sort of where, you know, through my practice, you know, working with kids, you know, through adults, but really with my kids, helping them to understand what is happening in their brain, 

Rich Bennett 6:51
yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 6:51
you know, is really where Amy G was born, because I kept kind of trying to teach them these concepts and helping them to understand there's nothing wrong with your brain. 

Rich Bennett 7:00
mm-hmm, 

Jessica Hackmann 7:00
It's just that your brain is, you know, created in a way to keep you safe. And so the amygdala specifically is that fight or flight component of your brain keeps you safe. And unfortunately, I should say we're not facing real dangers, but any stressor is going to be perceived as a life or death situation. And 

Rich Bennett 7:19
right. 

Jessica Hackmann 7:19
it's going to raise, you know, our blood pressure, it's going to increase our heart rate, it's going to send adrenaline, the cortisol, you know, all of these things are going to happen, whether it's, you know, a bear in my front yard or it's my friend who gave me a dirty look at lunch. I'm going to feel stressed. And my brain is going to interpret it the same way. And it's up to us to kind of dial that response down. 

Rich Bennett 7:40
Wow. Well, you said something there, I got no, you know, I have to ask you this. Have you had a bear in your front yard? 

Jessica Hackmann 7:47
No, but I 

Rich Bennett 7:48
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 7:48
work in Sparks, and so it's a very real concern in the hair-ford zone, you know? 

Rich Bennett 7:52
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 7:52
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 7:53
I know they've come 

Jessica Hackmann 7:55
Yeah. 

Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 7:55
down as far as it would hear. So 

Jessica Hackmann 7:57
Yeah. I don't think it's out of the question, you know, it's certainly, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 8:01
I'm 

Jessica Hackmann 8:01
I'm 

Rich Bennett 8:01
trying 

Jessica Hackmann 8:01
trying 

Rich Bennett 8:01
to 

Jessica Hackmann 8:01
to think. 

Rich Bennett 8:01
think is, 

Jessica Hackmann 8:02
I'm in North Harford. Well, in what, in Sparks? 

Rich Bennett 8:05
yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:05
Oh yes, I think it's the gun, is it the gunpowder? 

Rich Bennett 8:08
Oh, yeah, that's right. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:09
But they're, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 8:10
It tend to follow water. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:11
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, so, I mean, I don't think it's out of the question. It's certainly, you know, an exit or so 

Rich Bennett 8:17
I 

Jessica Hackmann 8:17
away. 

Rich Bennett 8:17
love that. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:17
Uh-huh. 

Rich Bennett 8:18
So, dummy me, I'd probably be the one trying to feed it. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:21
Right. 

Rich Bennett 8:22
Which I, yeah, you don't want to do. All right, so who is? 

Jessica Hackmann 8:25
is Amy G? 

So Amy G is the amygdala. So when I started explaining this to the kids, I said, we're gonna call her Amy G, and Amy G is a drama queen. That she is overreacting to all the things. And so I was doing all this artwork, like, what does your Amy G look like? Maybe her name is an Amy G. What are you gonna call the amygdala in your brain when it's overreacting to stress when you are getting super frustrated 'cause you have homework and 

Rich Bennett 8:51
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 8:51
you don't wanna do it. Or your mom tells you, you have to go clean your room. How does your Amy G show up? And what does it look like? What does it feel like? What kind of things do you say? And so I kept going through all of these projects. I have a table in my office and we sit on the floor and we do art-based things 'cause I think that helps kids learn. And so we were doing all this and then I started talking to them about the prefrontal cortex, which is another component of the book. 

Rich Bennett 9:18
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 9:19
In the book, Amy G's grandfather, we call him professor. His name is Professor Peter Fred Campbell. And so, PFC prefrontal cortex. And so, 

Rich Bennett 9:29
Wow. 

Jessica Hackmann 9:30
she sort of, he coaches her in the beginning. He says that she's brave and helps her work through certain things and then she starts to have this voice in her head where she starts to feel overwhelmed. And she talks about kind of like that mental questioning or spiraling and then she notices, I just need to calm my brain down to see this situation from a clear, more positive perspective. And so, as the book goes through, he becomes that voice in her head and she starts kind of using these strategies to help calm herself down. 

Rich Bennett 10:00
So, 

Jessica Hackmann 10:00
age 

Rich Bennett 10:00
what 

Jessica Hackmann 10:01
is 

Rich Bennett 10:02
this book for? 

Jessica Hackmann 10:03
So, from a reading perspective, I feel like they, maybe a third or fourth grade or could read it. 

Rich Bennett 10:08
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 10:08
I really think it can be used probably from ages four and up, with a parent or an 

Rich Bennett 10:15
support. 

Jessica Hackmann 10:15
educator 

Rich Bennett 10:15
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 10:16
That being said, I have some teacher friends who have used it with middle school. That the kids still can appreciate. 

Rich Bennett 10:23
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 10:23
The idea behind it, it's nothing wrong with my brain. This is just survival. My brain is keeping me safe. It recognizes this stressor and I need to find a way to calm it down so I can see it differently. 

Rich Bennett 10:37
Definitely something I could see that, 'cause daycare goes up to what age five? 

Jessica Hackmann 10:43
Yeah, well, I guess depends on the daycare, so 

Rich Bennett 10:45
Oh yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 10:45
yeah. 

yeah. 

But I mean, even like, some daycares have like, after school care, up until...

Rich Bennett 10:50
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 10:51
Read. 

Rich Bennett 10:52
Which would be important for... 

Jessica Hackmann 10:53
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 10:54
Be there. Actually, I wouldn't even say, 

maybe kids that are even too...

Jessica Hackmann 11:01
Too. 

Rich Bennett 11:02
When it hurt to start reading it to 'em, 

Jessica Hackmann 11:04
I don't think, no, I don't think it would hurt. I think the language is what's so important, you know what I mean, 

Rich Bennett 11:09
yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 11:09
just helping them to understand, You're upset, and these are the strategies, 

Rich Bennett 11:14
mm-hmm. 

Jessica Hackmann 11:14
you know, that you could try to calm down, and then, you know, we can work through it. 

Rich Bennett 11:19
So how long did it actually take you to write? Not the illustration part, just the writing part. 

Jessica Hackmann 11:24
So, I read it, I wrote it very quickly. I would say, like, during August of '25. And then, I got hooked up with a publishing...

Rich Bennett 11:35
Wait a minute, hold on, back up. You wrote it in one month? 

Jessica Hackmann 11:38
Well, it was a lot of edits. I wrote the general idea, and then, through the publishing company, 

Rich Bennett 11:44
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 11:45
I had what was called a developmental editor. And the developmental editor said, "This part doesn't make sense. "You should maybe switch these sequences, you know." And then, that helped. 

Rich Bennett 11:56
This is your first book, right? 

Jessica Hackmann 11:57
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 11:58
And you're not self-published? You had a publisher? 

Jessica Hackmann 12:01
So, this is, again, I'm very green. I don't 

Rich Bennett 12:05
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 12:05
understand everything, but my understanding is that when you go through Amazon. 

Rich Bennett 12:11
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 12:13
I think it's for free. I think 

Rich Bennett 12:14
Yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 12:14
you can kind of publish for free, and then Amazon takes the cut. I chose to go through a publisher, I would use Gatekeeper Press, because I paid up front for these supports, and then they essentially... They don't market it for me, but they can, you know, they put it...

Oh, hold on, 

Rich Bennett 12:30
you 

Jessica Hackmann 12:31
hold on. 

Rich Bennett 12:31
can, 

Jessica Hackmann 12:31
Well, they would if I paid him a lot of money. 

Rich Bennett 12:33
Well, yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 12:34
And so, I don't want to do that. So, I get 100% of royalties moving forward, 

Rich Bennett 12:39
Oh, 

Jessica Hackmann 12:39
but 

Rich Bennett 12:39
well. 

Jessica Hackmann 12:40
I sort of started in debt, you know? 

Rich Bennett 12:42
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 12:43
So, that's the tradeoff. 

Rich Bennett 12:45
That stone, I mean, not a bit... Now, did they help you find the illustrator? 

Jessica Hackmann 12:49
No, 

Rich Bennett 12:49
You 

Jessica Hackmann 12:49
so 

Rich Bennett 12:49
had to 

Jessica Hackmann 12:50
that was, I, I got so lucky. Uhm, you know, I went online 

Rich Bennett 12:54
find, right? 

Jessica Hackmann 12:55
and I found Children's Book, you know, Illustrators or something on Facebook and I said I'm writing this book and this is what it's about and, and anybody interested and I got over 200 messages 

Rich Bennett 13:05
Oh, 

Jessica Hackmann 13:05
and sadly 

Rich Bennett 13:05
wow. 

Jessica Hackmann 13:05
I think probably a lot of bots and a lot of like harassment of like, do you still need somebody, do you still need somebody, I mean I'm still getting messages. So that, I don't know that I would ever do that again, but I found Scott Baker. Uhm, he and I have never met. We've actually never even talked on the phone. Uhm, we've only corresponded through email. 

Rich Bennett 13:24
Oh wow. 

Jessica Hackmann 13:25
And messaging and I just said like this is what my book is about. I sent him, you know, the transcript and said I want her to have brown hair, green eyes and a pink headband and 

Rich Bennett 13:34
Good job. 

Jessica Hackmann 13:34
he did, he did, I love her. Like as soon as he, you know, came up with what she would look like I was like, you're hired. And so we've worked together, you know, through this and then he's even made me some, um, standalone illustrations of her so that I can use, it can make like bookmarks or whatever. 

Rich Bennett 13:50
Now, have you signed up for any book fears or anything yet? 

Jessica Hackmann 13:54
I am. So again, very new to this. 

Rich Bennett 13:58
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 13:58
So I've decided before I got into that, I needed to kind of, I needed to make a new website for her. And so I just finished 

Rich Bennett 14:06
good 

Jessica Hackmann 14:06
that for, 

Rich Bennett 14:06
idea. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:07
Yeah, for the most part yesterday, because I had had her on my website, you know, 

Rich Bennett 14:10
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:10
my Brave Connections website. And so I, she is now at Amygbooks.com. And so I can sell, you know, directly, you can buy, you can buy them directly from me, but I wanted all of that set up before I started. 

Rich Bennett 14:23
You designed the website yourself? 

Jessica Hackmann 14:25
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 14:25
That's a good looking website. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:27
Oh, thank you. Well, you got to look at the new one because the hers is better. 

Rich Bennett 14:31
That's what I was talking about. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:32
Oh, you saw it. 

Rich Bennett 14:33
Okay. Well, I saw both. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:34
Okay. Okay. 

Rich Bennett 14:35
No, it's very 

Jessica Hackmann 14:36
Thank you. Yeah. It's funny. The things, the things that, you know, you open a business and nobody says, Hey, PS like you also have to be 

Rich Bennett 14:43
good. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:43
the bookkeeper and the web designer. 

Rich Bennett 14:46
And it's, I've always say, you know, I've been talking to authors on this podcast for over 10 years. And being in an authorpreneur is hard. 

Jessica Hackmann 14:56
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 14:56
The marketing part is the toughest part. The good thing is, you're doing, you're doing with a lot of podcasters are doing already, but what a lot of other podcasters are not doing, and that's getting on podcast. It's all about, because that's free advertising. And I know there's 

a couple of local successful ones. Have you taught the Tim Markling yet? 

Jessica Hackmann 15:21
No, 

Rich Bennett 15:21
no. Get ahold of him. He's got the Markling advantage, TMA connections, I think is the podcast. And I can't always put you in touch with him. He's video and audio. 

Jessica Hackmann 15:35
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 15:37
And then I'll tell you the other podcast. And if you can't record from home, that's when you holler at John and say, 

Jessica Hackmann 15:46
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 15:46
set me 

Jessica Hackmann 15:47
I'll 

Rich Bennett 15:47
up. 

Jessica Hackmann 15:47
come down, bring you lunch 

Rich Bennett 15:48
off the set. You know, I can record from home. Um, but you have, 

Jessica Hackmann 15:54
if 

Rich Bennett 15:55
you can set up there is good. Get up to the daycares. 

Jessica Hackmann 16:00
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 16:01
And read or the are even the libraries. And you have a workbook to go along with this, 

Jessica Hackmann 16:07
I do. Well, so as I was going through it, I was finding myself wishing there was a way to say, and this would be a good opportunity, moms or dads or, you know, therapists that you could ask this question or you 

Rich Bennett 16:18
right? 

Jessica Hackmann 16:19
could get, you know, really hone in on this feeling or this calming strategy or whatever that's in the book. And so I was like, you know what? I'm just going to make a workbook. So I reached back out to Gaykeeper and I said, I'm currently publishing. Could you cut me a deal? This is what I envision it to be. I want them to be able to write in the book. Um, you know, you kind of live and learn. So I will say this. I may be what have done it differently. Um, the book obviously stands on its own. The workbook needs the book to go along with it. So the each illustration is in the work, but it does, but it was sort of like a catch twenty two because I doing it this way, I kind of feel like people have to buy double. But it had I gone the other way, then the book would have been so big, it would have been maybe priced out of a children's book market. 

Rich Bennett 17:05
Okay, I see. 

Jessica Hackmann 17:06
So I wanted the book to stand on its own. You know, and obviously you can get the workbook if you're interested, but that's sort of the bummer is that you can't just use the workbook for the strategies. 

Rich Bennett 17:17
So with gatekeeper, do you set the pricing or 

Jessica Hackmann 17:21
So 

Rich Bennett 17:21
today? 

Jessica Hackmann 17:21
they helped me. They came to me and they said this is almost like if you sell a house like these do 

Rich Bennett 17:26
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 17:26
your comprables So they gave me like a range of where I felt like it should fall and then the the children's book packages that I signed up for which was really great I don't know that this would have been an option through Amazon, but I have the ebook Which is significantly 

Rich Bennett 17:41
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 17:42
cheaper as well as the paperback and hardcover 

Rich Bennett 17:45
and I guess if the children's book audio book when it makes it well I don't know 

Jessica Hackmann 17:48
I don't know that was that was something I've toyed Of like do I record it? You know myself reading it because I could post that on 

Rich Bennett 17:55
right 

Jessica Hackmann 17:55
my own But I don't know if that is if that makes sense. These are all things that I'm like, I don't know You know, 

Rich Bennett 18:02
well if you could do the recording yourself or if you know if somebody that does voice over work, I mean If it's free. Why not? try it. 

Jessica Hackmann 18:13
Mm-hmm. Yes 

Rich Bennett 18:14
There's 

so many. There's so many different things you could do with this Especially since this is your first book and like you said, you're still learning One of the big things I've been seeing a lot of authors do are video trailers. Okay And with AI today, it makes it so much easier to do it I Guess you would have to talk to your illustrator about that To see if he's okay with it. 

Jessica Hackmann 18:40
So I own all the rights. 

Rich Bennett 18:41
Oh you do. Okay 

Jessica Hackmann 18:43
He's been great. I mean he's been wonderful to work with. He's obviously very talented You know, he took like ideas that I gave him and really created most of Yeah Strations so so I think that so I have all the rights. I don't need I just AI sounds easier, but I swear I can lose a day and trying to figure out it's like I just I need to just do my own thing because it it just 

Rich Bennett 19:07
Yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 19:07
I can't make it make sense 

Rich Bennett 19:09
So with with this You are brave Amy gee. I love the title What is it that let me to part question. What is it that you're hoping kids get out of this? And what is it that you're hoping 

Jessica Hackmann 19:23
Or 

Rich Bennett 19:24
guardians get out of this 

Jessica Hackmann 19:25
so the biggest thing that I see where we're biggest hiccup I should say we all get mad. There's nothing wrong with mad. There's nothing wrong with sad feelings are normal. That's 

Rich Bennett 19:35
Right 

Jessica Hackmann 19:35
what makes us human It's the aftermath of that feeling and so that feeling is really quite short, 

Rich Bennett 19:41
yeah 

Jessica Hackmann 19:41
you know, I I think research is like minute or so, you know that a feeling last It's the story we tell ourselves that kind of keeps that feeling going You know, that's the rumination the talk that we say you know in our head or that maybe the problems that we cause because of what we say out loud And so my goal is if we could just understand what is happening in our brain Then it we can feel more in control and able to calm that down there but when that story starts and we start to kind of spiral into these these negative thoughts or Ruminations or whatever and we get ourself even more amped up That's when it's hard to dial it back But if we could just stop and realize This wasn't that big of a deal. I just feel like it's that big of a deal You know the problem in reality will be gone in a day It might even go on in a half an hour, but my my physical response makes it feel bigger than it is and so by Educating kids and I maybe even their parents 

Rich Bennett 20:38
You 

Jessica Hackmann 20:38
You 

Rich Bennett 20:38
know, 

Jessica Hackmann 20:39
know their caregivers teachers what have you? We can recognize that if I just take a break if I just walk away if I just listen to music I draw like whatever Those things you know can really call myself down 

Rich Bennett 20:52
So I mean with this in the book you're Correct me from wrong, but you cover like ADHD 

Jessica Hackmann 20:58
kind of 

Rich Bennett 20:59
What are some of the things that you cover because this is I I asked this because Parents when here does it which is just gonna say oh wait a minute This is the book that definitely need to read or Child needs to read 

Jessica Hackmann 21:13
So, I don't call ADHD or anxiety or anything like that out explicitly, 

Rich Bennett 21:18
okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 21:18
but it is the, it's really that emotional response. You know that kind of like big blow up response that happens when something unexpected comes about or when I'm worried about something or nervous about something. So, So Amy G's story, it starts that she is, you know, her family is moving from Florida to Maryland for her father's job. And so, you know, her first upset where professor kind of comes on the scene, her grandfather, she basically says, "I won't go. I'm not going. It's not fair." And she runs back into her home. And so, her grandfather comes in and he says, "You are brave. You can do this, take deep breaths. You know, things will, you'll feel your body relax." And he helps her to calm down. And so, she's able to then move in, you know, leave the house, get into the moving truck, and head to Maryland. And so, it's then her story as they move into the house, and it's her first day of school in Maryland. And so, she's in fifth grade. You know, she has like her first upset on the bus. She's missing her friends. And then it sort of, she goes through her day. So, with each scene, as she's making it through her day, she's sort of overcoming the what-ifs, 

Rich Bennett 22:25
Yeah 

Jessica Hackmann 22:25
or the nervousness that comes about. And then, as she gets to the end of the day, she comes home and she finds all of her precious snow globes are broken in the move. And so, she's upset with herself because she feels 

Rich Bennett 22:37
Because 

Jessica Hackmann 22:37
like 

Rich Bennett 22:37
you 

Jessica Hackmann 22:37
she 

Rich Bennett 22:38
got 

Jessica Hackmann 22:38
didn't- 

Rich Bennett 22:38
me getting ready to tear up now! 

Jessica Hackmann 22:39
So, 

you know, she has to kind of deal with the fact that she has this loss, 

Rich Bennett 22:45
she- 

Jessica Hackmann 22:45
you know, that 

Rich Bennett 22:46
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 22:46
She's also blaming herself for not wrapping them well enough. And so, what ends up happening is that, you know, she just kind of feels this need to move. She gets up, she dances to her favorite song, she gets up the courage to tell her grandparents, you know, on a video chat what happened. And the grandfather's like, it's okay, like we can get online, we can order replacements. And she's like, you know, everything is like thank goodness. So, through each of these scenes where she's having these spiraling thoughts, and she's having these emotions, she's noticing her body signals, you know, and so that's 

Rich Bennett 23:16
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 23:17
really what I want kids to understand. It's like we have subtle signals. And if we dial into them, you know, that we can interpret them differently and do something about it. And so, she starts to notice the body's, you know, signals to her and then she's able to work through it. And so, you know, while it doesn't explicitly call out ADHD or anxiety, certainly there's that impulsivity, 

Rich Bennett 23:39
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 23:39
you know, and the struggles that she has, maybe even the intention if she didn't wrap her gloves as well as she should have. But she's sort of kind of coming through each obstacle with more awareness. 

Rich Bennett 23:51
I think every kid has going through that. Not necessarily snow globes, but something breaking and then getting so upset. 

Jessica Hackmann 24:00
Yeah, oh yeah. 

Rich Bennett 24:01
Even as adults we do. 

Jessica Hackmann 24:02
I know drop our phones, we don't like put the new screen 

Rich Bennett 24:04
it. 

Jessica Hackmann 24:04
cover on 

Rich Bennett 24:05
Yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 24:05
you know, like things happen. 

Rich Bennett 24:08
You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

If you love books, you need to experience the book fair of Bel air. This incredible community event brings together authors, readers, and book lovers of all ages for a celebration of stories, creativity, and connection. What makes it special is the chance to meet authors in person, hear their stories, and purchase books directly from them. I've attended myself and I can tell you there's nothing quite like discovering a great book and talking with the person who wrote it. It makes the experience more personal and far more meaningful. Whether you're looking for next favorite read, something for your kids, or even a unique gift, you'll find it at the book fair Bel air. It's family friendly, welcoming, and full of the kind of energy that reminds you why books matter. Learn more and see upcoming event details at bookfair@belair. org. that's bookfair@belair. org. Why do I see more books about Amy G coming out? 

Jessica Hackmann 25:25
So that's that is, you know, things I've it's been said to me, you know, like, 

Rich Bennett 25:29
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 25:29
oh, you could this could be a series. And 

Rich Bennett 25:31
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 25:31
that is what I want. You know, so Amy G kind of goes through this large transition, which, you know, it's like a new school. It's a new home, you know, it's a move. It's these are things that kids really have to kind of learn to deal with and they can bring up a lot of emotions, you know, and not necessarily things that can be fixed, you know, that we sort of just have to figure out how to get through. 

Rich Bennett 25:51
Oh my god, Jessica. Okay. So right now in this book, Amy, Amy's in fifth grade, right? 

Jessica Hackmann 25:58
Mm hmm. 

Rich Bennett 26:00
Middle school is one of the 

Jessica Hackmann 26:01
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 26:02
hardest parts for a kid. Oh my god, you're, Yeah, you got a whole series 

Jessica Hackmann 26:08
yeah. Well, and into your point about ADHD or anxiety, you know, those are things as well 

Rich Bennett 26:13
here. 

Jessica Hackmann 26:13
because 

Rich Bennett 26:13
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 26:13
how many times do do kids kind of, and especially at that middle school age, where we start to clue them in, like actually your brain works different because you have eating. 

And to deal with life now is different. 

Rich Bennett 26:38
Or even somebody in your family that you're very close to does. 

Jessica Hackmann 26:41
Yes, right. 

Rich Bennett 26:43
Wow, do you have these in your office for people to? 

Jessica Hackmann 26:47
my, the books. 

Rich Bennett 26:48
Yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 26:48
Yes, well, though, well, so the reason I mean that really started this was I am a terrible drawer. 

Rich Bennett 26:54
continued 

Jessica Hackmann 26:54
And I to try to illustrate Amy G and user. 

Rich Bennett 26:58
so. 

Jessica Hackmann 26:58
And 

Rich Bennett 26:59
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 26:59
Well, I've used her, I've used the book just from like a, like a coaching person. 

Rich Bennett 27:04
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 27:05
You know what I mean? I'm trying to walk through it with kids. 

Rich Bennett 27:09
Yeah, but do you have them in the book in the book in this, in your office for people to buy? Yes, 

Jessica Hackmann 27:14
well, let me tell you about my ADHD. 

Rich Bennett 27:17
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 27:17
When the books came out, they came out together. We held the workbook was actually done sooner and 

Rich Bennett 27:22
held. 

Jessica Hackmann 27:22
so what we Obviously, it makes no sense without the book. 

Rich Bennett 27:25
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 27:25
So they were published pretty much like same day. And the workbook was like a day or two behind. So I added I get I can purchase author copies from the publisher. I added the regular book to my cart and then when the workbook was able to be purchased, I thought I added the workbook to my cart. And then, you know, to my surprise 200 regular books. My house and I, and of course I was like to my husband, oh my god, I don't understand how this happened. They must have sent this by accident. We counted them. We opened up all the sleeves to make sure there was no workbooks. And he's like, yeah, this is ridiculous. And I go and I look at the invoice and I purchased 200 regular books myself. So I have 

Rich Bennett 28:07
books. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:07
plenty of 

Yep, that's how that works. So it's not a problem. I've sold about half of them. So it's it's a good thing. But, hmm. 

Rich Bennett 28:20
Wait. So you even you actually have to buy your own books. They don't provide you with books. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:25
No. So I buy, but I get them at a discounted rate. 

Rich Bennett 28:28
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:28
I'm not, you know, if I were to buy them from Amazon, they're 1099. 

Rich Bennett 28:31
I guess yeah, 

Jessica Hackmann 28:32
I buy them basically at cost. 

Rich Bennett 28:34
Yeah, cause they got a problem in everything. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:35
Yes, right. 

Rich Bennett 28:36
So I get. Okay. That make. Wow. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:41
Yep. 

Rich Bennett 28:42
Now, any plans on possibly writing, like a novel or anything. Now did you bring because they do say, I've heard this. And right in the children's book is one of the hardest books type books to write. 

Jessica Hackmann 28:57
And I would agree, I've never written a novel. I wouldn't be opposed to that. But I, 

Rich Bennett 29:02
even a novella. 

Jessica Hackmann 29:03
Right. I feel like I need. I enjoyed the writing process. 

Rich Bennett 29:06
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 29:07
But it became a hyper focus for me. And that is where I'm pretty busy right now. I 

Rich Bennett 29:13
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 29:13
need, I need, I have kids in high school. I need some to like fly the nest. So I have on my plate in a daily basis. And so, yeah, I'm not opposed to it. I think that it is from what you said. It is very hard. Even as I read through it, I'm like, I wish I had just got one more illustration and separated that scene. You know, there's just little things that I would have done differently. So you have to kind of always, it's almost like from your reading it and then you go and you sit on the carpet and you're listening to it. Constantly playing both roles because you have to think about like, how is this going to sit with this age group? How is this going to be used in this format or this setting? So it is a lot more because you've got to keep the interest of the kids. And that's where I think Scott did such a great job with the illustrations because they're just beautifully done, you know, so it's been really great to hear that feedback of like, I just love Amy G. Because she's so cute. And this is so great and I love, you know, this scene. So, 

Rich Bennett 30:12
besides you, who was the first one to read 

Jessica Hackmann 30:14
it? Let me think about that. I feel like I read it to my family so many times that they were like, 

Rich Bennett 30:21
yeah. Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 30:21
We'll listen to it one more time. 

I don't know. The final copy might have been my high school English teacher. 

Rich Bennett 30:31
Oh, oh, 

Jessica Hackmann 30:32
yeah. So she, no, that's not true. She read it before because she actually gave me some feedback. So I don't know who was the fight. I don't know. My best friend is in the book. And so she definitely got to read it when 

Rich Bennett 30:47
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 30:47
it 

Rich Bennett 30:48
I was just

and I never thought about this but because you have writers groups 

Jessica Hackmann 30:52
was. 

Rich Bennett 30:53
where, you know, there are the ones where it's all different writers, they critique, which are great. But, and I don't know why I've never mentioned this before, just thought of it. You can have two types of focus groups for your next book. Before you publish it for the transcript, you have parents 

Jessica Hackmann 31:14
who 

Rich Bennett 31:15
read the transcript or manuscript, then even some focus group of kids. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:20
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 31:20
Read it and get their response. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:23
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 31:23
I wonder if there's any

if anybody does it. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:26
Well, and that's where

Rich Bennett 31:28
Almost like an advanced reader copy, but it's not. It's an actual focus group and 

Jessica Hackmann 31:31
right. 

Rich Bennett 31:31
you could 

Jessica Hackmann 31:32
with 

Rich Bennett 31:32
sit 

Jessica Hackmann 31:32
a lot of

of trialling 

Rich Bennett 31:33
Or even read to 'em. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:34
mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 31:34
Well, that's even better. Read to the focus group of kids and read to 'em. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:38
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 31:39
It'll almost be like that TV show kids say the darnest things. But those are your critics! That's who you have to hear from! 

Jessica Hackmann 31:47
Yup. 

Rich Bennett 31:47
Because then you know, if it's getting through to the kids, it's getting through to the parents. 

Jessica Hackmann 31:52
Well, and it's funny you say that because I have done it two different ways. I've shared the book from a perspective of like, hey, Sally, let me tell you about this book I wrote. 

Rich Bennett 32:01
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 32:01
And I show it to them and I read it to them. And then I've done it from the perspective of like, you know, it's funny. You're struggling with this. I have this book actually about this very thing and I read it to them. The first time I read it without telling them I wrote it, I said to the student, "What did you think?" And he's like, "I think that Amy G's mom cheated on her dad." And I said, "What?" 

Rich Bennett 32:24
"What?" 

Jessica Hackmann 32:24
And for the record nothing to do with why I see him. And I said, "I'm like, 'What?" And he's like, she's kind of dark skinned compared to the dad. And I'm like, oh my goodness, like, it was the funniest thing. So I would love, if they didn't know I wrote it, I would love to hear the things that they would say, because I think they wouldn't try to protect, you know, my feelings. 

Rich Bennett 32:42
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 32:42
I remember, but so funny, I cracked up. I'm like, that's a funny observation. No wrong, she did not cheat. Like, very much her dad. But it was just like, so funny. I'm like, all the book. That's what you got. 

Rich Bennett 32:57
That is, God, that is funny though. Yeah. With your, I actually have you gotten reviews besides that one yet? 

Jessica Hackmann 33:04
Yeah. So there, I do have some reviews on Amazon. Some are people that I know, but some are popped up out of nowhere, which is 

Rich Bennett 33:10
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 33:11
exciting. You know, like I said, I have a couple like teacher friends that have shared that with students or counselors that have shared. And they've anecdotally, you know, told me how. 

Rich Bennett 33:20
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 33:21
know, their opinions. I think the one touching review that I didn't even consider, you know, in the book Amy G. Her friend, Angela, who is my best friend. You know, drops her pencil case and Angela comes over and offers to help her pick it up. And so this is sort of her first friend at her new school. And, you know, it's really, I think, endearing 

Rich Bennett 33:42
You 

Jessica Hackmann 33:43
that one of the readers that I had looked at the book for me, she said, you know, the different Angela's in the world, you know, essentially like recognizing that we all know Amy G. And we all can help her out. You know, we all know somebody who might be struggling or might feel left out or might, you know, not feel super comfortable or going through some kind of hard thing. And we all can kind of step up and be that person like Angela was. And I was like, I love that. Like that wasn't even 

Rich Bennett 34:10
thought. 

Jessica Hackmann 34:10
the 

Rich Bennett 34:11
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 34:11
But you know, having this caring friend help her. But even to see like how much it means to Amy G to have a friend to eat with it lunch. 

Rich Bennett 34:21
I was because one of the things I was going to suggest, but you already have it in the book. Like if you do it 

Jessica Hackmann 34:27
vein, 

Rich Bennett 34:27
in for copy. That's how you can get reviews to put it in the book or whatever, but you already got that. So see, you're doing more than other people 

Jessica Hackmann 34:36
trying 

Rich Bennett 34:36
haven't yet. Now, hard question for you. What's the next big thing for Jessica Hackman as an author? 

Jessica Hackmann 34:45
So I really just want to see this through. I 

Rich Bennett 34:48
Right. 

Jessica Hackmann 34:48
like my goal would be, you know, as you said, like getting into preschools, you know, having it be in libraries and doing like an author read, going to book fares, you know, I would love for it to win an award. I really would love to see the success from the perspective of just Amy G making a difference in in the kids that not even the kids that I work with, you know, or the kids that I know, but just the greater community of just figuring out that this is how the understanding of the brain can help impact how I respond to stress because it's, you know, it's a stressful world. And I think that that can be for kids as well as their parents. 

Rich Bennett 35:29
So somebody wants you to come read the book to their class, how do they in touch right here. 

Jessica Hackmann 35:35
so if amygbooks.com, there's a contact page 

Rich Bennett 35:39
a- 

Jessica Hackmann 35:39
with 

Rich Bennett 35:39
and it's just the letter g, na 

Jessica Hackmann 35:41
yes, 

Rich Bennett 35:42
e, 

Jessica Hackmann 35:42
correct. It is amyg, yep, correct. 

so in the book her name is amyg is her middle name, dollah is her last name. 

Rich Bennett 36:07
Oh smart! 

Jessica Hackmann 36:08
Yes, so amyg dollah so she's amyg. 

Rich Bennett 36:12
You like playing with words, don't you? 

The pfc dollah? 

Jessica Hackmann 36:17
Well right, but that's where the hyper focus came in because, you know, 

Rich Bennett 36:20
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 36:21
and when the book first started, you know, my kids play lacrosse with, like, you know, amyg's father was a lacrosse coach, and my- this is where my high school and English teacher was like, I know you love all these things but you got a dollah 

Rich Bennett 36:30
(laughing) 

Jessica Hackmann 36:30
down. 

there's little things in the book, you know, my daughters are Broken Avery, Broken Avery or amyg's best friends from Florida. You know, there's little things in there, 

Rich Bennett 36:42
So 

Jessica Hackmann 36:43
but you know, I had to kind of pull out all those, like, fun things that I wanted to add, you know, that were personally meaningful. 

Rich Bennett 36:48
Well, you had them to the next book 

Jessica Hackmann 36:50
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 36:50
then. 

Jessica Hackmann 36:50
there you go. They just 

Rich Bennett 36:51
Yes. 

Jessica Hackmann 36:51
keep on, right? 

Rich Bennett 36:52
That's a whole reason to have a 

Jessica Hackmann 36:53
Maybe, 

Rich Bennett 36:54
series. 

Jessica Hackmann 36:54
maybe, maybe ABG gets cut from her lacrosse team or something. 

Rich Bennett 36:58
Oh, that is, oh my 

Jessica Hackmann 36:59
Cause 

Rich Bennett 36:59
god. 

Jessica Hackmann 36:59
I mean 

Rich Bennett 37:00
That's 

Jessica Hackmann 37:00
that- Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 37:00
hard. 

Jessica Hackmann 37:01
or she has a really tough coach, you know, I mean sports, the sports psychology is an up and coming thing, cause it is stressful for our athletes. 

Rich Bennett 37:10
So those of you listening, you know what I'm gonna say, when you purchase, you are brave. And the workbook. After you read it, make sure you leave a full review, whether it be on Amazon, better yet, leave a full review on Amazon, good reads, Barnes and wherever you can leave reviews and then purchase copies for other people as well. Better yet. I'm gonna challenge y'all, purchase a bunch of copies and donate them to a daycare. 

Jessica Hackmann 37:42
I love that. 

Rich Bennett 37:44
Makes sense to me. So I, anything you like that before I get to my last question? 

Jessica Hackmann 37:51
No, I mean, I think I think that you've said it. I mean, that's the ultimate goal is sort of this is the gift of like paying it forward. You know, there I do offer like bolt, bulk order, you know, supports and obviously I'll come and read for free, you know, like so you don't, there's not even any purchases required for that. I'm just excited to get her out into the community. 

Rich Bennett 38:14
I have a feeling that by this time next year, you're going to be blown away by how many copies you sell. Especially when I give you some ideas when we're finished here on how to get more books out 

Jessica Hackmann 38:27
there. Okay, 

Rich Bennett 38:28
hopefully those ideas work. 

Jessica Hackmann 38:30
I would love that. 

Rich Bennett 38:30
All right, so pick a number between one and five, 

Jessica Hackmann 38:34
four. 

Rich Bennett 38:34
Four. All right, now pick a number between 61 and 80. 

Jessica Hackmann 38:40
72. 

Rich Bennett 38:42
72. 

Usually this aligns with what we've been talking about this time, it doesn't, 

Jessica Hackmann 38:50
but 

Rich Bennett 38:51
it's okay. If you could witness any historical event firsthand, which one would it be? 

Jessica Hackmann 38:58
Oh gosh. You know, I don't like history, right? 

Man, a historical 

only think of sad ones. I don't 

Rich Bennett 39:12
event. I can 

Jessica Hackmann 39:13
know, and I don't want to see a sad event. 

Rich Bennett 39:15
You can only think of sad historical 

Jessica Hackmann 39:17
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 39:18
events. 

Jessica Hackmann 39:18
like big ones. 

Rich Bennett 39:21
What about, I don't know, were you at your grandparents wedding? 

Jessica Hackmann 39:26
Okay, I guess I guess it could be personal. 

Rich Bennett 39:28
What, yeah, I mean, it's family history. Right? School history? 

Jessica Hackmann 39:35
Yes, okay, I know. So, so we're, so Florida's in my book because we love Disney. And I've watched the, I can't remember what it's called, but it's like basically like the Disney documentary. 

Rich Bennett 39:50
Oh, yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 39:50
You know, like how Walt Disney came about, I would love to be like a fly on the wall through all that planning and be there. Like the first time Walt Disney World opened. I think that would be the coolest thing, like where he, he just had this dream and you know, it's just, it started with, with Mickey Mouse, and then it just grew into everything that it is today. It's just, I find those things to be so fascinating that a person can just take this little thing and turn it into something amazing. 

Rich Bennett 40:17
I would love to be, I would have loved to be inside his mind. 

Jessica Hackmann 40:21
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 40:22
to just 

Jessica Hackmann 40:23
yeah, 

Rich Bennett 40:25
there's a, I mean, a lot of Walt Disney's one John Waters. uh, I would, I would just love to sit down with him and just pick it his, it's amazing the things a lot of these people come up with. Nor are Roberts. I'm not a romance book reader, but it's like she's putting out books left and right all the time. 

Jessica Hackmann 40:47
Yeah, I'm a Colleen Hoover girl, but yes, I know, I know. I grew up on Danielle Steele, and it's just- 

Rich Bennett 40:53
my 

Jessica Hackmann 40:53
Oh 

Rich Bennett 40:53
god, I haven't heard 

Jessica Hackmann 40:54
long- 

Rich Bennett 40:54
that name in a 

Jessica Hackmann 40:54
Yes, oh I have a, I refuse to throw them away. I have a box of, I probably multiple boxes, as my mother-in-law passed, and she had boxes that, that I have. So when my kids are old enough, 

Rich Bennett 41:06
alright, let me ask you something on that. Is that a, A 

Jessica Hackmann 41:10
yeah? 

Rich Bennett 41:10
generation thing? Or what? Because it's, I know like if my daughter and her generation, they won't get rid of their books. My wife has a ton of books, but yet I'm always told that I have too many books that I need to get rid of some. 

Jessica Hackmann 41:27
I don't, I think that I do, like I have oral Stein books, you know, from when I was a kid. I do think that there's something to be said for a book. You know, I listen to books on tape, but it's out of necessity, not because I don't, I wouldn't rather have the book. 

Rich Bennett 41:42
Right, 

Jessica Hackmann 41:43
But yeah, it feels special. It feels like you can't just give it away, and a lot of the books, you know, especially my younger kid books, have like inscriptions in them, you know, 

Rich Bennett 41:52
yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 41:52
that you wouldn't want to, to just give that away either. 

Rich Bennett 41:55
Well, one of the things I've found too is, a lot, if it's a good book, you'll go 

Jessica Hackmann 42:02
and 

Rich Bennett 42:02
back 

Jessica Hackmann 42:02
read it. 

Rich Bennett 42:03
It's just like watching a movie, a movie, more than once. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:05
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 42:06
But the books are always better. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:07
Right. Well, and it's just, I think that from a, from a reader's perspective, you can get lost in it, you know what I mean. And, and, and the way that's, like, I love that they're making all these Colleen Hoover movies because it helps you to kind of formulate in your mind, like, is that who I was in, you know, as it was described in the book 

Rich Bennett 42:27
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:27
as that who I was envisioning, you know, or like the, the one movie that just came out, you know, we saw that the trailer before we read the book. 

Rich Bennett 42:36
Yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:36
And so then we could see actors, you know, in the book. 

Rich Bennett 42:39
Colleen Hoover. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:40
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 42:41
I got more research to do, don't I? 

Jessica Hackmann 42:43
Yeah. It's a, she, I, it's, it's, it's not just romance. I feel like there's, there's like some more suspenseful. 

Rich Bennett 42:49
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:50
Books that she writes. 

Rich Bennett 42:51
What's, what's one of the movies? 

Jessica Hackmann 42:53
Oh, geez. Remembering, or reminders of you. That's what the most recent 

Rich Bennett 42:59
Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 42:59
is. And then she the one, um, that I'm blanking on it with Blake Lively and it started up all that drama last year. 

Rich Bennett 43:09
Uh, okay. Yeah, I got research to do then. Jessica, thanks so much. You was great seeing you again. 

Jessica Hackmann 43:15
Yes. You 

Rich Bennett 43:15
And 

Jessica Hackmann 43:15
too. 

Rich Bennett 43:15
like I said, the door is always. Okay. 

Jessica Hackmann 43:18
Thank you. I really, I really appreciate this. And I love that I've had the opportunity now to share, you know, just my journey in writing this, but also, you know, a little bit about Amy G. 

Rich Bennett 43:27
Well, you definitely have to come back for the next one when we do a mental health life panel around table again. You got to come back for that. 

Jessica Hackmann 43:35
Okay. 

Rich Bennett 43:35
So I'm going to make this stuff happen. 

Jessica Hackmann 43:37
Yes. Well, and maybe from a children's lens. I think that, you know, 

Rich Bennett 43:40
Oh, yeah. 

Jessica Hackmann 43:40
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 43:42
I think one of the biggest takeaways from today's conversation with Jessica is this. Sometimes, what looks like overreacting, shutting down or acting out is really someone trying to process emotions they don't yet understand. And honestly, that's true for kids and adults. What I love about you are brave Amy G is that it doesn't just tell children to calm down or be brave. It helps understand why they feel what they feel. And when you understand what's happening inside your brain and body, it changes everything. Fear becomes less scary. Big emotions become manageable. And kids begin to realize they're not broken. They're human. Jessica has created something that I truly believe can open important conversations between children, parents, teachers, counselors, and even caregivers. Whether your child struggles with anxiety, overwhelm, transitions, emotional regulation, or just navigating the stressful world. This book has the potential to make them feel seen, understood, and supported. And I'm with Jessica on this one. I really hope this becomes a full Amy G series because these are conversations kids need. To learn more about Jessica, the book, the workbook, or to connect with her about school visits and readings. Visit AmyGbooks.com. And I'll have the link in the description. And here's my challenge to all of you listening. Don't just buy a copy for your own family. Consider donating one to a daycare, classroom, school counselor, library, or nonprofit at works with children. One small book could spark a life-changing conversation for a child who desperately needs it. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you share it with a parent, teacher, coach, counselor, or anyone who works with kids. Leave a review, subscribe, and as always, keep the conversations going. Until next time, take care of yourself, take care of each other, and remember, bravery doesn't mean you have all the answers. Sometimes it simply means taking the next step forward anyway.