Joyful Noises LLC

03/27/2026

I'm really excited about this new crossover series! Follow along on JJasonHicks or sign up for Leadership Lessons Learned or Fantasy Fridays for more in-depth explorations of leadership and grief: https://linktr.ee/jjasonhicks

Often, when you are writing a long-form piece of work, you don't always see or know the themes that are being explored. You think about character and plot and what kind of story you want to write. You think about the beats and the structure and the twists. Only after the work is done and you can digest it as a whole as a thing external to you, can you recognize the themes that are within.

When I finished The Earthmight War and The War of Leadership, two themes emerged that were pretty clearly in there, but that were so intuitive on my part that I didn't recognize them as explicit themes: leadership and grief.

This prompted an idea from my marketing consultant to write a series of emails and posts that explore these themes and the ways they show up in both my fiction and non-fiction books in greater detail. I will share some brief thoughts each week here on social media throughout the rest of the spring. If you want to learn more...

Join Fantasy Fridays (also accessible via the Linktree in my bio) and receive chapter one of Ruinwaster’s Bane: The Annals of the Last Emissary Book One: https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/177dac1e75

Join Leadership Lessons Learned (also accessible via the Linktree in my bio) and receive 13 Actual Traits of Most Leaders: https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

I also have two opportunities coming up to connect in person for folks in Phoenix, Arizona, and Southern California. Check out the details in my post from this past Tuesday (3/24/26) and stop by to say hello and share your thoughts on this new series. I will also be selling and signing books and other festival-only merch at special festival-only prices!





Artwork by

03/21/2026

Music therapy community, our profession is at a crossroads. Many of us have recognized, with both fear and hope, that this is coming. I chose to spend so much time and energy co-chairing the American Music Therapy Association, Inc.'s Commission on the Education and Clinical Training of 21st Century Music Therapists because it was my opportunity to do something to potentially start to change the systems that need to change in order for music therapy to grow and flourish in the years and decades ahead.

If you are searching for something that YOU can do, please consider signing this petition. What is happening in Ohio is not just about Ohio law; it is representative of what is happening and could happen around the country. I have been in this profession for almost 30 years, and I know that advocacy is exhausting. AND, it is vital and can truly make a difference. YOU can make a difference. Thank you.

To reconsider Denial of SB1 Waiver: Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy - Ohio University

03/19/2026

What a joy to be a part of this team for last weekend's Tucson Festival of Books!

03/19/2026

Thank you so much to Margaret Carlock, LCAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, of Chroma Soul Arts () for facilitating an incredible workshop on "Art Therapy Inspired Ideas for Music Therapists" for our MT Mentor community! It was very affirming of the ways that we are currently integrating art along with music, and she gave us several new ideas for ways to do so while staying within our scope.

We scheduled this without realizing that it was - I love when timing works out like that! It is so important for us as creative arts therapists to support each other and the work that we do. Getting to know and work with Margaret through the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies Associations () has been such a joy, and I highly recommend her as a presenter for other music therapy businesses and communities!

03/17/2026

Today is the global release day for The War of Leadership. It has truly been an honor and a joy to witness and support the journey that brought JJasonHicks to this moment. JJason, I am so excited for you, and I am so excited that this book and this message are now out in the world. Thank you for the opportunity to join you in the arena and celebrate this special day with you!

https://linktr.ee/jjasonhicks

“At first, I didn’t understand why I was so surprised by the work world - why it was so different than the way I imagined it would be.”

Introduction to The War of Leadership by J. Jason Hicks

GLOBAL RELEASE 3/17!!!
THE WAR OF LEADERSHIP
Hard Lessons and Practical Truths for Surviving in and Beyond Leadership

The day has finally come! The War of Leadership is available wherever you buy your books - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your favorite independent book store via Bookshop or IngramSpark.

You have seen some of the illustrations in this book via these posts. There are dozens more in the book by the incomparable Victor Juhasz ().

This book is meant to help those who have experienced firsthand the challenges that come with leadership in our modern work world. It will help you understand the behaviors you have experienced with leaders in your career - and hopefully support you in refocusing your goals beyond the work world to the wider arena of your life and your dreams.

What is a milestone you reached after years of hard work? How did it feel to accomplish something for yourself versus for the company?

It is never too late to pursue your dreams.

Join Leadership Lessons Learned (also accessible via the Linktree in my bio) and receive 13 Actual Traits of Most Leaders: https://j-jason-hicks.kit.com/acccb03ceb

Illustration by Victor Juhasz

03/16/2026

How are YOU celebrating Creative Arts Therapies Week?

03/14/2026

This...

Tell people they matter.

Sometimes the simplest words carry the most weight. A moment of appreciation can stay with someone far longer than we realize.

03/12/2026

If you will be attending the Tucson Festival of Books this weekend, please stop by Booth 199 by the Chemistry building to say hello!

Meet J. Jason Hicks, author of "Ruinwaster's Bane" and "The Earthmight War," Books One and Two from The Annals of the Last Emissary" at this year's Tucson Festival of Books (). Jason will also be celebrating the special early release of his first nonfiction book, "The War of Leadership: Hard Lessons and Practical Truths for Surviving In and Beyond Leadership." (Available starting Saturday at the festival and globally wherever books are sold on March 17th.)

You can purchase a copy of his books at special festival pricing or bring your own copies for him to sign. Jason and his team will also be selling festival-only merch, including book boxes, stickers, and (new this year!) playmats of The Lands of the Earth.

Jason will be available at booth #199 in front of the Chemistry building on the University of Arizona mall both Saturday and Sunday. We hope to see you there!

03/09/2026

This is one of the funnest collaborations that I've gotten to create with JJasonHicks. Join us this weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books (booth 199 by the Chemistry building) to check out this Lands of the Earth playmat and other festival-only merch! I hope to see you there!