Meet Stephen-Mark “Kino” Jackson | Novelist & Artisan Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephen-Mark “Kino” Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephen-Mark “Kino”, why did you pursue a creative career?
I suppose it was in my DNA. My mother was a creative, both artistic and a writer. I followed in her footsteps. On top of that, I’ve always had an extremely vivid imagination. That has carried through into adulthood. With my writing, I wanted to tell a story that I thought I would want to read, and in doing so, reaching an audience that appreciated the same things. With my artisan jewelry, I wanted to create something unique; something that wasn’t available anywhere else. Something one of a kind. That has become my brand. “If you have it, no one else will.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an author, I try and write as descriptive as possible, making sure that the reader gets the full image of the story being told, and is able to paint the picture in their minds easily. With my artisan jewelry, I enjoy creating pieces that represent the people that wear them. Pieces or art that won’t be seen on anyone else. Jewelry that is as unique as the person wearing them.
Having a debut novel just released in December, I love hearing people say that even though they may not be sci-fi fans, they thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. That the story line drew them in and the science fiction part of it became part of the story, but not the narrative. With my jewelry, I’m always excited to see the faces of the people who commission me to create jewelry for them when they see the final product. The smile once they see the piece of art against their skin is priceless.
It took, and continues to take, a lot of effort to be noticed. In a world where there are literally thousands of book options and people who create jewelry, it’s important to stay visual and noticed. I am not a product of this digital age, so my biggest challenge is constantly creating content for social media just to keep myself relevant. It’s not in my wheelhouse, but I’ve had to adapt to this time frame’s way of communicating. Being adaptable is a hard lesson for someone stuck in the pre-digital age, but it’s a necessary one in order to achieve any level of success these days.
My brand as an author, or as a designer has always been being unique and different. My type of writing paints a picture in your mind and allows the reader to become fully immersed in the story being told. My jewelry is a reflection of the individuals that wear them. Whether it’s a piece chosen from my collection, or something commissioned for a specific event, it represents the wearers aesthetic and personality perfectly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Knowing my two best friends, I would start with some of the more popular tourist attractions here in Atlanta. The aquarium, the zoo, midtown Atlanta, and the Beltline. Also, we would find some of the more cultural and historically relevant places to see. Sweet Auburn, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, The High Museum…places like that. Both of them are foodies, and there is no limit of places to dine and drink here in Atlanta. The possibilities are endless in this city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
God first and always. My mother has always had an incredible influence on my decisions and planned path. My younger brother, who has inspired me to be more than I used to settle for in life. And my two best friends Frank and Lorenzo, who have stood by me though many trials, tribulations and joys in my life.

Website: kinojaartisandesigns.com (under construction)

Instagram: @kinojaartisandesigns

Facebook: Stephen Mark / Kino’Ja; Artisan Designs

Image Credits
Mike Knowles (model)
Shamar Magsby (photographer)