JJ Winston Inspires Through Fiction That Advocates for Mental Health, Human Trafficking Awareness, and Sickle Cell Disease
Photo: Author JJ Winston expertly combines storytelling with advocacy to raise awareness of mental health, human trafficking, and sickle cell disease.
Championing Social Advocacy Through Fiction
JJ Winston masterfully uses her professional and personal experiences to craft novels that tackle mental health, human trafficking, and sickle cell disease, educating and empowering readers through thought-provoking and compassionate storytelling.
Author JJ Winston has created a distinctive space for herself in the literary world, blending compelling storytelling with heartfelt advocacy to bring pressing societal challenges into focus. As a Licensed Independent Social Worker, attorney, and Family Court Magistrate, her professional and personal experiences inform every page of her novels, which tackle important issues such as mental health, human trafficking, and sickle cell disease. With her award-winning debut novel, The Anniversary, and her most recent release, The Revelation, Winston aims to spark meaningful conversations while empowering readers with knowledge and compassion.
Describing herself as a “Behavioural Health Fiction Writer,” Winston writes with a clear purpose: to amplify voices that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Her work transforms fiction into a platform for raising awareness and offering hope to those grappling with life’s most complex struggles. In her recent interview with Mosaic Digest, Winston discussed the vital connection between her professional journey and her writing, underscoring the ways her fiction shines a light on critical issues whilst also entertaining readers.
JJ Winston’s powerful, purpose-driven fiction highlights societal challenges with grace, inspiring advocacy and empathy while educating her readers worldwide.
Winston’s career as a Licensed Independent Social Worker and Family Court Magistrate gave her first-hand insight into the realities endured by those facing behavioural health challenges. Her early role as a Client Rights Officer for a local Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board solidified her dedication to advocacy. “Many of my clients were intelligent, brilliant individuals who often felt voiceless,” she explains. “I want to use my writing to help those living with behavioural health issues feel heard and to remind the world that behavioural health is health care too.”
“I want to use my writing to help those living with behavioural health issues feel heard.” – JJ Winston
That spirit of compassion and advocacy runs through all her work, but it is perhaps most evident in her Anniversary series. Accompanied by a workbook designed to guide readers through the complexities of mental health, the series has extended beyond fiction to provide meaningful tools for individuals and families. Winston notes, “Several behavioural health agencies in my community have purchased the workbook for their staff, who’ve told me it has helped make the complicated journey of behavioural health more understandable for laypeople.” The response has affirmed Winston’s long-standing belief in the transformative power of storytelling and education.
Although much of her writing stems from her professional expertise, Winston’s personal experiences deeply inspire her as well. One of the causes closest to her heart is raising awareness of sickle cell disease (SCD), a condition that has profoundly affected her loved ones. “I have a child who lives with SCD. Additionally, I lost my father, two paternal aunts, and one paternal uncle to this genetic disease,” she shares. “I realised that many people are not aware there are several forms of SCD, and I wanted to use my writing to shine a light on this important subject.”
Winston also uses her stories to draw attention to the widespread but often hidden issue of human trafficking. Based in Ohio, a state which ranks fourth in the United States for human trafficking cases, Winston felt an obligation to highlight this crisis. “I was shocked at how prevalent human trafficking is in my community,” she reveals. Through her novels, she hopes to raise awareness and encourage action to address such pressing issues.
In The Revelation, Winston skillfully incorporates the global pandemic as a backdrop for an intense family saga. The novel examines the emotional and psychological toll of isolation and uncertainty, a theme inspired by the real-world challenges experienced by many during COVID-19. “During the pandemic, some of our family members and friends developed behavioural health issues due to the isolation that came with living during this uncertain time,” she explains. Real-world struggles are seamlessly interwoven with fictional drama, creating a narrative that resonates on a profoundly human level.
At the heart of her novels are characters like Juliette and Grandville, who have faced immense difficulties across the Anniversary series. From trauma and legal battles to revelations of human trafficking, these characters embody resilience and transformation. Reflecting on their journeys by the close of The Revelation, Winston says, “No matter who you are, you will experience good times and bad times. There will be moments when you have to offer forgiveness, compassion, and grace for your own mental health. I believe [my characters] have learned many life lessons, and it’s my hope the messages I expound will resonate with my readers.”
As the Anniversary series draws to a close, Winston is already envisioning her next project. Inspired by her current work in Family Court, she is considering a novel that examines how trauma and stress, particularly in the context of divorce, shape mental and emotional well-being. However, for now, her focus remains on amplifying the impact of her existing work and continuing to spark vital conversations through her novels.
JJ Winston’s dedication to advocacy through fiction is truly remarkable. By using her writing to tackle significant yet often overlooked issues, she connects with readers on an emotional level that inspires both understanding and action. “Life is not just black and white but a curious colour of grey,” she reflects—a sentiment that underpins her work and captures the complexity of human experience.
Originally published in Mosaic Digest, this interview showcases how Winston’s literature is much more than fiction—it is a powerful tool for education and empathy. Through her books, she encourages us to see the world from different perspectives and challenges us to better understand one another’s struggles.
