Jamee Natella Author Bio:
Jamee Natella – Author & Global Storyteller
Jamee Natella is a film, commercial, and live event producer whose career has taken her around the world. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she has lived in Los Angeles, London, and Tokyo, immersing herself in diverse cultures along the way. Her global adventures inspired her passion for storytelling, particularly after traveling with her curious young son, Sam.
Sam’s endless questions about different cultures—why some countries have kings and queens instead of presidents, why people drive on the left side of the street, or why chopsticks are used instead of forks—sparked Jamee’s realization that there was a gap in the marketplace for books that help children understand cultural diversity and global traditions.
Determined to fill that gap, Jamee created Worldride Adventures, a brand dedicated to inspiring curiosity about the world through engaging stories, cultural education, and immersive experiences. Its flagship project is her debut children’s book Sam in London: Cheeky Kids, Medieval Blokes, and Giant Trousers, the first in a three-book series. The book playfully explores cultural differences through the eyes of an adventurous American boy navigating life in London.
Beyond the books, Worldride Adventures features an immersive website, a backpack line, and a global newsletter aimed at helping children ages 6-12 explore cultural diversity in a fun and relatable way. Through its charitable arm, Worldride Impact, Jamee’s mission extends even further—providing grants that allow underserved children to experience cultural travel, whether virtually or in real life.
When she’s not producing films, commercials, or live events—or developing new stories—Jamee enjoys hiking, reading in the sunshine, traveling, and embracing her favorite role: being a mom to her now 16-year-old son, Sam. Sam also serves as Chair of the Youth Consumer Board for Worldride Adventures, keeping Jamee connected to pop culture and ensuring her brand stays relevant and relatable to today’s youth. His perspective helps shape her creative work and keeps her continuously inspired to explore new stories and cultural experiences.
What inspires you to write?
What inspires me to write is my love for travel and experiencing different cultures. Traveling has allowed me to see how people from diverse backgrounds can share similar values, hopes, and dreams, even if they live life in completely different ways. This perspective has deeply shaped my storytelling.
My greatest inspiration comes from my son. I want him to grow up understanding that the world is vast, filled with unique traditions, beliefs, and ways of life—but at our core, we all share common desires for love, acceptance, and belonging. If I can create stories that help him, and other children, appreciate these differences with curiosity and compassion, I believe we can raise a generation that fosters greater understanding and less conflict.
Through my writing, I hope to inspire children to explore the world with open minds and empathetic hearts—building bridges across cultures while celebrating what makes each of us unique.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process is more complex than it might seem because it involves both storytelling and collaboration. I begin by crafting the story, focusing on the cultural elements I want to teach children in a fun and engaging way. Once I have a clear narrative, I work closely with my illustrator, explaining specific cultural details I want visually represented to enhance the learning experience. The illustrations are a key part of making the cultural differences come to life.
After the story and illustrations are integrated, I share the draft with my Youth Consumer Board—a diverse group of kids aged 6 to 12 from around the world, including Tokyo, London, Los Angeles, Japan, and Australia. The board is chaired by my 16-year-old son, Sam, who helps guide the feedback process. Each child and their parents sign confidentiality agreements to ensure a safe and secure environment for sharing ideas.
The board reads the story, offers feedback on what’s funny, engaging, or unclear, and helps me make sure the story resonates with kids globally. For example, in Sam in London, I introduce British words versus American English, as well as fun Cockney rhyming slang, which many kids may have never encountered before. Seeing their reactions helps me refine the story to be both educational and entertaining.
Once the story and illustrations are finalized, I work closely with my designer to create professional PDFs and layouts that meet publishing standards. This entire process ensures that the final product is visually compelling, culturally enriching, and ready for publication—while staying true to my mission of inspiring curiosity and cultural understanding in young readers.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Many of the characters I create are inspired by traits I’ve observed in friends my son has brought into our lives. I try to build characters that kids from all backgrounds can relate to by reflecting a wide range of personalities, interests, and experiences.
For example, some of my characters are passionate about sports, while others are into anime, science, math, pets, or technology. I also include characters who are artistic, adventurous, or even a bit nerdy. Some come from different countries or have migrated to new places, bringing unique cultural perspectives. Others face personal challenges, like having parents who aren’t actively involved in their daily lives.
I do “talk” to my characters in a creative sense—imagining how they might feel or react in different situations. I try to ensure they are relatable, realistic, and multidimensional, even within the shorter storytelling format of my books. While character development is more subtle in the children’s book series, I’m excited for these characters to be fully explored and brought to life when the TV series adaptation comes out. I believe their personalities will really shine through on screen.
Who are your favorite authors?
When it comes to children’s books, there are so many wonderful authors out there, though the market is definitely saturated. Since my book is a chapter book with illustrations rather than a traditional picture book, I find myself drawn to authors who balance storytelling with meaningful lessons.
Right now, I’m really inspired by Matthew McConaughey’s Just Because, illustrated by Renée Kurilla. It teaches kids important life lessons through poetic contrasts—for example, “Just because the hand is clenched doesn’t mean it’s a fist.” I also have a personal connection to Matthew, as he starred in the first short film I ever produced.
I also admire El Deafo by Cece Bell, which explores themes of acceptance and identity in a fun and accessible way. Another favorite is History Smashers by Kate Messner and José Barreiro, which creatively tackles historical myths and facts, making history engaging for kids.
Outside of children’s books, I’m currently reading Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI, which feels especially relevant as we navigate a tech-driven world.
These authors inspire me because they create stories that both entertain and educate—something I aim to do with my own work.
What genres do you write?
Middle- Grade fiction genre, specifically-Culture adventure, Educational fiction, humorous Fiction, realistic fiction with cultural Fantasy Elements
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
As a first-time author, I currently write children’s chapter books focused on cultural exploration and understanding. My debut series, Sam in London: Cheeky Kids, Medieval Blokes, and Giant Trousers, introduces young readers to a different culture through adventure, humor, and valuable life lessons. While my current work is fiction, it includes many real-life cultural elements inspired by my travels and experiences. Who knows? In the future, I might take one of my characters and explore their life in a biographical format. Since I love reading biographies myself, the idea of blending fact and fiction to create something meaningful and educational definitely excites me. Anything is possible in the world of storytelling! Jamee Natella
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
1. My Computer: It’s where all the magic happens—from drafting stories to editing and collaborating with my illustrator and design team.
2. My Character Board: This outlines my characters’ personalities, interests, conflicts, and struggles. It helps me dive deeper into their development and create more meaningful, relatable stories by shaping the narrative around their personal journeys.
3. A Big Crystal: I believe in surrounding myself with positive energy. Having a crystal on my desk helps me stay grounded, focused, and inspired while writing.
These three essentials keep me motivated, organized, and creatively inspired every time I sit down to write.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
When I need a break from writing, I like to recharge by going on a hike or reading a good book by the pool. I also enjoy doing yoga and Pilates to clear my mind and reset my energy.
But my absolute favorite getaway is visiting Disneyland in California—The Happiest Place on Earth. There’s something magical about being there that instantly lifts my spirits and sparks my creativity. It’s the perfect escape to recharge and find new inspiration!
What formats are your books in?
Print
Website(s)
Home Page Link
Link to Author Page on worldrideimpact.org
Author’s Social Media Links
Instagram
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
