Jane G. Meyer is our Woman of the Week, nominated for her role as children's book editor at Ancient Faith Publishing. We asked her to tell you how she worked her way into that position:
"As a young gymnast, training five days a week, four hours a day, I discovered how to work hard despite pain, doubt, and injuries. In junior high I remember doing bar routines with my leg casted, and running in the neighborhood after already-long gym workouts to increase my endurance. For two years I didn’t put a grain of sugar in my body. Discipline was just a part of the package—and it was worth it to be able to swing, and tumble, and almost fly!
"I think being a child athlete set me up for all sorts of future adventure. Even after I quit gymnastics at 16 after four torn ligaments and finally surgery, I was so stuffed with confidence that I felt I could learn anything. Since I had pushed both my mind and body to do almost impossible tricks, and had learned how to train, to suffer, to plan and overcome, I had developed skills that would serve me will in other areas. I shifted my energies to my studies, especially French—my second love behind sports. College meant seven colleges in four and a half years, in four different countries, and the addition of speaking Italian. It was during this time that I figured out a little life secret. That if I presented my parents a well thought out plan, the details outlined, the cost of it delineated--that they would probably say yes. Having shown them while a gymnast that I was both hard working and capable led to many unexpected opportunities.
"As a young woman and just married, I bounced from job to job, eventually heading back to school for a landscape architecture degree at UC Berkley. As jobs and opportunities shifted, every position I held--from working for my family’s bread business, to being employed as a draftsperson--always scooted me to the writer’s seat. It seemed good writers were in short supply, and my love of languages and ability to wield words easily had me penning newsletters, environmental reports, translating work orders, and fixing everyone else’s spelling mistakes.
"My firstborn came along as I turned 30 and he was a language lover just like me. We spent hours every day reading books. He couldn’t seem to get enough of words and pictures and language, and I was indulgent. We had just become Orthodox and somehow I had stumbled onto the small journal, The Handmaiden, published by Conciliar Press. I sent them a story and they published it. They brought me on as a book reviewer. Then added me as an assistant editor. Things just kept happening like that—small steps into the world of words and books, an unplanned career, and I kept following the signs and open doors. Then I presented them with a plan—details outlined, costs and benefits delineated—might I create a new job, and be an Orthodox Christian children’s book editor, please?
"So here I am, more than twenty years later, still seeking to follow the signs and open doors. Along the way, because of my great passion and interest in the world of children’s books, I became the editor for all things kids at Conciliar Press, which later became Ancient Faith Publishing. When I first started working specifically on children’s projects, there were maybe ten books available for families on the market. And look at what time and effort and God’s hand has managed to do! My office is filled with Orthodox Christian picture books, board books, puzzles and games—all sorts of amazing resources that just a few years ago didn’t exist. A young family can now build a library of inspiring stories for their kids. It’s been a beautiful road to walk, and I’m so grateful that God placed me on it, using all those varied, random skills that I’ve gained over the years…"
Axia!
Our Woman of the Week is Jane G. Meyer, nominated for her work as a children's book editor. We asked her to give you an inside look at what her job entails:
"For my job as editor of children's books at Ancient Faith Publishing, at any one time I am juggling 12-15 book projects from toddler board books to young adult novels. Each year we release five to six books—our whole team working remotely—me from my converted-garage office in our backyard. Since I’m also a homeschooling mom, I work part time, but lately the hours have increased because of the complexity of some of my projects. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out 101 Orthodox Saints. It’s a giant encyclopedia of saints—a book that I edited, helped research, and manage. For about two years the authors (Sarah and Alexandra!), the illustrator (Nicholas!), and our small team at Ancient Faith chipped away at this ambitious project.
"Somehow I lucked out. When we were in the midst of the lockdowns and everything felt a little scary, I was mapping out where 101 different saints lived. I read and re-read the stories of Saints Hilarion, Xenia, Luke of Crimea, the Chinese Martyrs, Maria of Paris, etc.., searched the internet and other resources for images to help tell their tales, and practically time traveled back and forth between the ancient world and now. These stories of people who gave all that they were to Christ, who waded through earthly life yet prevailed, who endured exiles and famines and flaming arrows!—these saint stories were the framework during my work day. It was the perfect antidote--to see our global struggle with Covid from the perspective of two thousand years of warfare and plagues. The saints' lives I was reading gave me strength to stay off the internet and try myself to be a saint.
"Once the book was ready to go to press our whole team breathed a giant gulp of relief. The book was out of our hands into the reality of new Covid shutdowns in China, the Chinese Communist Party who didn’t like our maps or the inclusion of some of our content. Switching to have the book printed in Malaysia, there was then a giant holdup in the supply chain as the books traveled across the ocean, into the busy harbors, and onto the trains to Chicago. What is typically a 16-week journey for a book printed overseas took nine months. I figured, even if the book never came to press, it changed me. Those saints worked on my heart and my mind, they took over my world as I reported to my family new things I’d learned or been inspired by each evening. Even if the book never made it to our warehouse, the 101 Saints Team was faithful and blessed because of their sacrifice. And I was continually reminded that I am small, and that God is so gigantically, lovingly big!"
As always, we asked our Woman of the Week, Jane G. Meyer, about her morning routine:
"Does morning begin at midnight? If so, then I have a very long, drawn out morning routine! Menopause has left me praying the Jesus Prayer most of the night, and very groggy at seven, which is typically when I roll out of bed and into the sliver of space next to the window. There, I unfold a cotton quilt and begin my day with ten minutes of stretching and exercises.
"Next I sit on the edge of the bed, my legs crossed, and stare out the open window at the garden. I can hear the fountain where there are always birds bathing or drinking. It’s one of my favorite views. I have a short prayer rule, but one that I’ve been able to stick to for a long while now—Trisagion, Lord’s Prayer, morning prayer, prayer for children, prayer for the departed, intercessory prayers, and a short, closing prayer. Then I just sit and look out the window and listen, or until my knees ache and tell me it’s time to get moving.
"I shower and dress, and the last element of my morning, before making lunches, or serving up toast and eggs, is to make a pot of green tea. That’s when I consider my morning routine finished--after I sit and sip tea and greet the other morning creatures—parakeets, son, dog, wonderful husband.
One note. Every Saturday I pray the akathist to the Mother of God, Nurturer of Children. This akathist, as I beg the Mother of God to intercede on behalf of my children, has brought immense healing, acceptance, and peace into my life—I just wanted you all to know. And in closing, I wish to send love to anyone who is still reading. May God be gracious unto us, and help us push one another to be ever more faithful, loving, and bearers of light!"
Thank you, Jane!
