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Lee, I uh met a guy at our gym who is from Columbia.
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Yeah.
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And I was like As soon as you hear about it, then it's everywhere, right?
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Yeah, yeah.
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I was like, I've only met like three people who have been there.
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Two are from there, and then uh you who now live there.
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Yeah, amazing.
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Yeah.
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But Sierra, this is gonna be great.
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I appreciate you taking the time to come on the Books for Guys podcast as you and I got to connect for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was such an awesome conversation.
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Nick, how you found me, he actually, when we you made a post and I reposted it, he was like, dude, you were talking to so many people.
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Like, how did you all of a sudden talk to Sierra right after me?
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And I was like, hey man, we're just we're just flowing with it.
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I love it.
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Well, and that's the connection of the world.
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Like, not every part of the internet's great, but the fact that we can make these connections and be really intentional about connecting with the right people.
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Like we said before, I was like, I just had this urge to connect and say hi.
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And then we had a great conversation, and now we we're here.
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I think I think lots of beautiful things unfold when we follow those instincts.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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And now I've got, you know, one of the books that you sent me, Mental Health, which is a great book for books for guys.
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I've actually already got it on the Books for Guys website, and work on getting more.
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And Sierra would love to just for you to share a little bit more about your story because you so Red Thread Publishing, you're the CEO and founder of it, you've been a podcast host, you've been a speaker, you have tons of books that you've written or contributed to.
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And uh, you know, and and if people didn't gauge from the opening part of our conversation, you live in Columbia, which you are officially our first guest ever that has well, definitely that's living in Columbia.
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You know, any no one else has been on that's even been from Columbia or anything associated with it.
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So that's uh you'll hold that record for a long time, I'm sure.
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But no, I mean Sierra, just talk a little bit about your background.
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How you how you found your passion for writing, and then all of a sudden, you know, transitioning to helping other individuals find and create their story and creating your publishing company and all of that.
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What what's your story?
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Such a great question, never an easy one to answer succinctly.
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So I'm just gonna hit you with some things and we'll see where it goes.
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So once upon a time, I was a high school teacher.
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I lived in Vermont, I lived in California, I got a job in Shanghai in China, worked in China for a while, and then moved to Columbia.
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So teaching brought me here and it brought like opened a lot of doors and sort of changed where and how I think about the world.
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As with many things that we're passionate about, they can grow old and we can lose the passion or have so much passion that there's no more room for us in where we started, which is what happened for me with teaching.
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I had so much passion about teaching, and it was sort of like just be a good little teacher and keep doing what you do.
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And after 15 years of just being great, I couldn't just keep doing that.
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I evolved into opening a yoga studio.
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It was the first bilingual yoga studio in Medellin, Colombia.
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And that was my first business, as with a lot of things.
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I think maybe some people go into business because they studied business or know anything about business.
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I didn't.
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I went into business, asked backwards a little bit, and learned a lot, mostly because I made all of the mistakes that you can possibly make.
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But each of those mistakes forced me.
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I do like a good problem.
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And so each of the mistakes forced me to have a creative solution to the problem, which then made this really unique community or unique niche.
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And, you know, each of the problems caused a cool innovation where where some people are like, well, I'm just not good at this.
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I'm like, well, how do we fix this?
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How do we pivot?
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What do we do?
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I sold the yoga studio after a couple of years, which is kind of cool to like have sold my first business.
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I didn't sell it for as much as most people are thinking when they sell a business.
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It's like I wasn't rolling in it, but it's like all those mistakes.
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They're at the ending.
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It's true.
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And and it's because of those innovations, because of the mistakes, the creative solutions made the business not just another business, right?
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It was like this cool, weird thing that worked.
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And the backpack story is that I'm dyslexic.
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And so I remember being 13 and not knowing how to read.
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I could kind of put words, I mean, I could put words together, but I really I couldn't read smoothly.
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I struggled with words, I struggled with reading a ton.
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And so I didn't think that I was smart.
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I didn't think that I could write, but eventually I disproved all of that.
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And the first time I sat down to write a book was in a teaching hiatus about one of my first adventures in China.
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That book, spoiler alert, never got finished or published.
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And then that experience taught me that I was right.
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I'm not a writer, I'm not good at this.
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And so it sat for festering for 10 years.
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And then I wanted to disprove the theory again and started to dabble.
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I took some courses, I drafted some things, I experimented, um, and eventually wrote a manuscript that I wasn't ready to publish.
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And then I was like, I'm gonna write a book.
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God damn it, I'm gonna do this before my daughter turns five.
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I'm gonna write, I'm gonna publish a book before my daughter turns five.
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And that was January.
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She turns five at the end of March.
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Three months.
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Yeah.
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And I was like, okay, I'm gonna write something real quick.
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I'm gonna learn how to publish it, and I'm gonna get it out in the world because I said I would.
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And so my very first book, Baby Was Born, it's called How Change Really Happens.
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It's this tiny little book, but I think it's like 96 of the best pages maybe I've ever written, partially because I didn't wasn't trying to take myself too seriously.
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And I wrote about stuff that I cared about and that I loved, but I discovered, A, that I was wrong.
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I am smart and I can write, which is kind of great.
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But I also discovered and put together so many people hold themselves back from stuff they just haven't tried yet, based on some stories about why they can't do it.
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And I watched people watch my process and they all sort of leaned in and they're like, How did you do that?
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Because I then took the earlier manuscript and published my second book, Date Yourself, six months later.
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So I published a couple of books on my own, learned the process.
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And then everyone was like, I've always wanted to write a book to help me figure this out.
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And so my high school teaching experience helps me people, helps me help people write their books.
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And then now we've been in business for six years and we've published 76 books, including some that I've written by myself, but most of them are for authors.
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And I do love, I love books, and which is why you and I are connected.
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I love, I just reread Fahrenheit 451.
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Talk about a society where people aren't reading, where we're not connected, um, where stories no longer are bringing people together or helping them find deep quality within themselves.
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And that I was thinking about that book and your work this morning because two things happen when we write.
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One, obviously, we create something that we can then hand someone else.
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This is a piece of my heart, my soul, my mind, my learning, my struggles.
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And I want to give you, save you 10 years or whatever.
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Here's here's my book.
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So it's something that can create humanity, I think.
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That I think we all understand the power of a book in that regard.
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But I don't know that enough people are talking about what happens for the human who becomes the writer, who becomes the author, and the identity transformation that we have to go through.
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And it is brutal.
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Everyone wants me, you know, say how easy it is to write a book and say how easy it is to go from here to there.
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It is, and it's brutal.
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But I love helping people face those challenges, stare down those demons, walk through fire, prove themselves wrong, and go from being the someday I want to be a writer or I wish I could, which just has already like they've already tapped out of that story, right?
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It's I wish I could to the shit I did.
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I am.
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And what happens in that is I just did an impossible thing.
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And they leave with the what else can I do?
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And it just unlocks anything.
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Maybe it's more books, maybe it's a business, maybe it's a foundation.
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And I just love the high that I see when people see what they're capable of.
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Yep.
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That's my story.
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How's that?
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No, and I love, I love seeing your the progression of the story you just told because I knew where it was going as far as you realizing what you could do and then creating your company now where you help other people see what they can do.
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And I was hoping you were gonna go there because I I didn't act as you were talking, I was like, I know where she's going with this.
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So this is this is really good.
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And I can see your passion for it, and there's just not a better feeling either.
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I I I love when people are helping other people because I think we talked a little about a little bit about this in our first conversation.
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It's fun to see people succeed, it's fun to see the light bulb come on and see people overcome challenges, and when they do it, they're so excited and you're so excited for them.
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And I'm sure every author that you've worked with, there's there's probably these great moments you have where you're like, yes, see, you did it.
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Probably never gets old.
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It doesn't.
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It gets it gets familiar, which is really interesting.
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But the life is funny, right?
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It's kind of mundane.
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Life, life is just life, right?
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But when you publish a book, I sit my authors down and I was like, guess what?
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It's time to update your email signature.
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Author.
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Right?
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Author or best-selling author of hyperlink title.
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Okay, that doesn't feel like doesn't seem like it would be a big thing.
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Graduation is just like walking across a stage and being handed a piece of paper.
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It's usually blank and it maybe it doesn't even have your name on it yet.
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They'll send it to you later, but it's a thing where you, you know, you move the taskful over, you update your email signature, and even if you're not quite ready to see yourself like this yet, other people start seeing you this way, responding to you with this credibility that, and then you grow into that person, right?
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It's wild.
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It's it's so cool.
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The books you showed, uh kind of a two-part question here, because I've learned a lot actually through a couple of other conversations since we last spoke.
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But do you journal on a daily basis?
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Like, do you write because and and I'll tell you why I'm asking this question.
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I I had a former NFL all-pro guy on our podcast, and his the message is incredible because he talks about the importance of journaling, and that's where his next book's coming from.
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Is he journaled for an entire season and he's gonna share the ups, the downs, the feelings.
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You know, there's not many books out there about that.
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There's stories, but none that's just hey, here's the daily breakdown, and the amount of people, especially guys, that messaged me like, dude, I'm gonna start journaling, I'm gonna start journaling.
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And then I had other conversations where it was like, Yeah, that's where these books can be born out of, is you go back and you look and you you see where you've how far you've come or what you were feeling in that day.
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So it kind of helps you put this story together.
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And so I was just curious to know, just do you journal?
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And is that part of a process for you, or maybe some of your authors when they're writing, you know, their stories, just what's where does journaling play into that?
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Amazing.
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And then I love the question.
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I think journaling is a really powerful tool.
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I also think it's very easy for anyone in a position like mine to say, I do this, and then everybody else is like, well, I should try it too, right?
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It works for her.
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And it's amazing and can be a slippery slope.
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I've definitely done massive seasons of journaling.
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But if I am not successful journaling every day, then it can become this trap that I fall into.
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And I, it's another thing I didn't do today, right?
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And I watch aspiring authors look to advice and then we just try on what other people are saying we should do.
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And so often we're like, well, it didn't work for me.
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And instead of thinking, well, I should find another strategy that works for me, we think, well, it didn't work for me, and therefore I'm not a writer.
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And so I want to be really, really clear that I want people to try whatever.
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I want them to try and find what works for them.
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And because what works for me now isn't what worked for me five years ago.
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And it's not even just like, well, if so and so says, then I should try it.
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And if it doesn't work, I'm the failure.
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It's I'm not the same person I was back then.
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And so from the perspective that you're bringing up, journaling is super powerful for decompressing and just processing one's day, for creating a record because we're really good at forgetting how far we've come.
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And it's part of how I'm I can beat myself up all day long.
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Because if I'm not tracking my wins or my ups and downs, then I'm just like, well, here, here I am, and we don't have the context.
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So journaling is really powerful for getting through the day, understanding what we're going through, and giving that broader perspective.
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If I wrote every day, I would probably have an idea for a book every day, which is wonderful, endlessly frustrating because it can take three months to five years to write a book.
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But if you've had 900 great ideas, it's, you know, what do I do with all of this information?
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And so um, having a conversation about it, making a post, writing an article, writing a chapter, writing a piece of a thing can be ways to exercise some of those ideas.
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But for anybody who, because that book that I sent you, men's mental health, anybody who's struggling, anybody who is feeling creative or stuck, I think journaling is great for both of those things because it gets us aware of what's going on underneath the surface.
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We're living in a world where we're doing a lot and we're seeing a lot and we're thinking a lot and digesting a lot.
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If we don't have, if we don't have a way to process, it's like eating.
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I think about my mental space like food because it's tangible.
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If I shoved my mouth full of food all day long, the way we sort of do with technology, but I didn't have like a digestive track, but I just shoved all day long and didn't expel anything or pull meaning and nutrients from anything, I would be blocked up and starving at the same time.
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And I think journaling is a way of making meaning, sifting through and feeling fed in a daily experience.
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So yeah.
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I'm glad you said that about the like uh sometimes it can just feel like a thing to do.
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Um I'm like you.
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I've I've gone through phases where I journal.
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And I and when I go back when I'm on breaks and look through it, it's kind of cool to see some of the things I wrote and it kind of motivates me to write again.
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But there were days where it felt like I was failing if I didn't sit down and journal.
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But thankfully I've got this really cool app called Time Hop, and then pictures pop up and all this stuff.
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I'm like, oh, I remember that, you know, from seven, eight years ago, and it's kind of another tool that while it's not journaling, it does bring up memories and thoughts, and so it just kind of makes me feel a little bit better that I'm still kind of you know seeing things from the past and stuff.
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Sierra, as far like one question for you, specifically for like publishing and authors you work with, how do you determine who you're gonna work with or what authors do you just take?
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If anyone comes to you and says, Hey, I want to write a book, are you like, sure, let's do it, or do you have a criteria?
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Because I know I don't know if it's still the same, but I know you were really focused on female authors.
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But do you still follow that criteria, or what do you look for in someone when you're going to take them on and help them get their story published?
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Always a good question.
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And there is a moving target as an answer.
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When we started six years ago, I opened an all-female publishing house, meaning we employed women and published women.
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Even the month that I did that, and we did it because I wanted more women's voices.
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And as a woman, I knew how easy it was to get hung up in the writing process and in the publishing process.
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And there just seemed like all these obstacles that I knew how to navigate, and I wanted to help more people navigate them so that there'd be more women's voices that we could all learn from.
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But even as I did that, I knew that there were other stories that were important, regardless of genitalia.
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And I've, you know, crudely say it, like I've never checked any of my authors, so I'm not gonna continue, like I'm not going to.
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So quickly we opened a second imprint, regardless of gender, which is how the men's mental health anthology came about.
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And we've worked with a number of men to to work on and tell their stories.
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So we have two, two imprints basically.
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And it's where does your story belong?
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Is is one of the questions once we answer that initial question, which is, are we a good fit?
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Some of the things that I ask in that in that process is, can I help you?
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Do you have a story that I'm excited about?
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And it's not the is it worth publishing, right?
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Because that's different.
00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.880
There's lots of great stories that are worth publishing, but am I excited about it?
00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.240
Can I help you with it?
00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.079
And are we a good fit?
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.160
Because we talk about a book like a baby.
00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.640
And in the writing process, that means we're pregnant.
00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:20.240
Even men, they're pregnant with this idea that they're gestating something, they're growing something, they're building something.
00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:22.400
And then we have to bring it to the world.
00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:25.440
We have to give birth to it and then we raise it in the world.
00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:28.160
We don't just publish a book and then drop it like it's hot.
00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:30.160
You know, we need to be sharing about it.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.960
We need to be excited about it and care for it into the future.
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:35.839
And so it's like entering a long-term relationship.
00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:52.000
And while I can, even if like it's a yes on two of the three, if we're not gonna get along together in a long-term relationship, I would, and this I'm doing more and more of now because so many people want to work with us, but I only I can only work well with a few people each year.
00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:56.319
Over the last seven or ten years, I've built relationships with lots of people in the industry.
00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:12.160
And so it's am I the best fit for you, or can I match make and introduce you to uh a book coach or a ghostwriter or a different publishing company that can help you accomplish your goals as well or better than I can.
00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.640
So every person who comes across my desk and every conversation I have, it's always like, how can I be of the most service?
00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.799
Let's bring your book to fruition.
00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.480
If that's with me, amazing.
00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.039
Let's go.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:29.519
If it's not with me, here are the next steps because it's still about getting the books into the world.
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:34.720
We started with this mission of supporting 10,000 women to become successful published authors.
00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.759
That never meant that I wanted to publish 10,000 books.
00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:41.519
I don't, I don't want to populate a village with 10,000 babies.
00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.799
That's so much work.
00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.559
But we were just on another call.
00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:47.440
There were eight people, we were talking about the editing process.
00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.920
I'm helping those people move their book forward.
00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:59.279
And I don't have to be the midwife or, you know, any part of the actual publishing process to accomplish that goal of helping them get their book into the world.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:18:59.839
Yeah.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.240
No, that's it sounds like the right approach.
00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.400
It's very sounds like very similar as far as like how I approach books for guys.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:10.160
Obviously, it's books for guys, but it's not books for guys from guys.
00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.319
It's not, you know, it's really for everyone.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.680
There's just this emphasis I'm trying to encourage more men to read.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:19.200
Um, and it's getting it used to be asked a lot at the at the start of this.
00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:26.319
They'd be like, in this for guys, in this for guys, but I think like over half my guest are female at this point, which has been incredible.
00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:29.039
And so there's a lot of ladies that are like, dude, this is awesome.
00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.839
Like, this is like there's not this out there.
00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.720
We'd love to be a part of it.
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.720
So it's been really cool, and then the guys love it.
00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:38.240
They'll female authors will be their favorite book they've read this year, you know.
00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.920
So it's just encouraging reading in general, but it's been pretty cool.
00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:46.880
Being able to explain that too has actually been a real joy on my side to uh to include both.
00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:49.279
It's just been it's been such amazing.
00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:54.079
But Sierra, how do you personally balance your time?
00:19:54.240 --> 00:20:01.759
Do you go through periods where because obviously you write too, you're passionate about that, you're passionate for help with helping people share their stories.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:09.359
Do you go through phases to where like how do you balance your personal interests in in your projects as well as others?
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:16.160
It sounds like you try to keep the numbers low to where you're not overwhelmed with only working with other people so that you don't have time to write.
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.240
But do you go through seasons, I guess, where one's heavier than the other?
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:24.079
Well, and and like all passionate people, I am my own worst enemy.
00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:35.200
So, you know, I'm usually excited about more projects and more people than I should be handling in any particular, you know, calendar year or it takes three more months longer than whatever, whatever.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:39.680
Um, but I love the question and I love how you phrased it at the very end.
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.440
Do you go through seasons?
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.400
Because the answer is emphatically yes.
00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:49.440
And the book that I'm working on right now is about what I call the creative cycle.
00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:53.599
And it's based off of winter, spring, summer, fall.
00:20:53.839 --> 00:21:08.559
And we live in a world that I think treats us all like machines and it treats us, it expects us to show up like it's summer every day, regardless of our energy, regardless of what's going on outside, regardless of all the other things that we're going through.
00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:25.920
When we, as humans, I think we've disconnected from a seasonal, what used to be the agricultural cycle, and like you push hard and then you harvest and then you rest and then you anticipate and get ready for the next, you know, and that wisdom is in our DNA.
00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:33.359
It surrounds us, despite how we try to live outside of natural cycles, but it's applied to creativity.
00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:39.839
And so, you know, I put out my last book now three years ago, Typo, The Art of Imperfect Creation.
00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:44.400
And I had the idea for my next book already brewing.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.079
And I told myself, oh, I could just get this out in the next six months.
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.480
It's been like two and a half years.
00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:56.480
I could have forced the cycle and been the machine.
00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.839
Um, but that would be super hypocritical.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960
Critical to like be the machine writing about a creative cycle.
00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:14.880
And so really learning to give myself grace and take the time allows for the creative process to actually, that's where it becomes easy.
00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:21.599
If you're rested, fueled, enthusiastic, inspired, and prepared, then you'll go fine, right?
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.359
I think of it sort of like a road trip.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.720
You do need to know where you're going.
00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.400
There needs to be gas in the tank.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.599
It's nice to have a map.
00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:36.319
If you just get in the car and keep driving, eventually you're either going to get lost and or you're going to run out of gas and your project won't come to fruition.
00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.039
You can't just stick banana peels in there or whatever.
00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.680
It's not going to keep going on an empty tank.
00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.119
And so this natural process of like we can't force it.
00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.279
Sometimes we you can force the rest.
00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.000
If I'm like, I'm trying to be creative and I'm not getting where I'm going.
00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:59.039
Oh, well, then maybe I need a nap, hike, you know, or an interesting conversation with another cool person because that's there's all this fuel.
00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.759
And when we find that, then we're like, oh, look at that, I'm ready.
00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.160
Yeah.
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.880
But the forcing through, I'm really working on undoing that part of culture.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.359
Yeah.
00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:21.440
I don't think I've spoken with anyone who's like excelling at finding, like, there's that fine line between, like you kind of broke it down, like the aggressive patience, organized chaos.
00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:30.880
Like you have to have certain things that push you forward, but you've also got to let the creativity dictate the work because that writing is creative.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:36.640
You can't I've always found that fascinating with just you know big publishing companies and people who end up on contracts.
00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.599
I'm like, how do you know?
00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:41.839
Like, if you only got six months to put a book out there, like, how do you know that's gonna be your best?
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:47.279
You know, what if what if you have to put something down because the timeline, but it's not what you really want to put down?
00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.039
And I'm sure that's a whole nother conversation.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:56.319
But again, it kind of goes back to that fine line of balance, but also pushing forward uh at the same time.
00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:59.519
And I think it sounds like everyone's always trying to figure that out and walk.
00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.119
Because we do, we need a degree of pressure, yeah, right?
00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.240
And that's why winter doesn't last forever.
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.640
If if it did, that would be bad.
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.680
Same thing.
00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:12.240
Summer lasting forever would also be bad.
00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.319
And so we need the opposites.
00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:18.480
We need the pressure to get it done and the space to relax.
00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:22.640
And and this is where where I think it's actually very cool.
00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:26.960
I because I think of this creative process as masculine-feminine, right?
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:35.440
We need the intellect, we need the pressure, we need the container, and then we need the fluidity and the freedom and the the feminine.
00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:39.440
If you commit fully to one or the other, you're never gonna get anywhere.
00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:44.640
You need to sort of dance between the two, which is one of the reasons it's it's fun having this conversation with you.
00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.839
Yeah, I love that.
00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.400
I love that.
00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:49.440
Sierra, I've got really just one more question for you.
00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:53.440
And I ask everyone the same question on this podcast.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:57.359
I'm always curious what people are interested in reading right now.
00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:04.400
But my question for you is what is a book or two that has meant a lot to you personally or professionally?
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.119
And what's a book that you like to recommend to others?
00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:10.000
What's the book you've recommended the most to other people?
00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.200
All right.
00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:17.519
I have bought one book probably 15 times because I buy it for myself and then I give my copy away.
00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:21.279
And it's a book that I found open on the back of my grandmother's couch.
00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:24.799
And I just picked it up on whatever page it was open to and started reading.
00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.319
I specialize in nonfiction.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.480
This was a fiction book, and it was back in college.
00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.440
And I just, you know, I it was the middle of the book, and I was like, this is interesting.
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:36.079
And I read to the end of the book from the middle, which is crazy, absolute crazy.
00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.559
So I knew what happened, and I was like, oh, I want to know how it starts.
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.640
And so I last page, first page.
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:48.160
And I've read this book a number of times, and it's from a Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and it's called The Shadow of the Wind.
00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:55.839
It is beautiful, it's set in Barcelona, and like the these A, like there's a couple of different storylines that play together.
00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:04.799
So it's, you know, historical fiction, it's about books, there's like the secret, you know, library, and there's some mystery and there's some romance.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:10.160
So I love that as a uh transportational experience.
00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:14.960
Um, so that's the book that I've probably shared with the most people in the world.
00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:18.400
So if if that is tempting to anybody, that's what I would recommend.
00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:26.799
But if you haven't read it since high school or pretended to read it in high school, I do really recommend Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:31.920
It is short, it is brutal, and it is especially poignant in the modern era.
00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:35.200
So I would recommend that one for anyone who's trying to make sense of the world.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.759
Yeah.
00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:40.240
When you brought it up earlier, actually, I was like, I think it's time for me to reread that book.
00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.480
Because I remember the first time reading it.
00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:45.359
I remember just makes you think a lot.
00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.519
And now even more so.
00:26:47.680 --> 00:27:01.759
And I was like, I need to reread that book because I think I'm gonna have I don't know, it's just one that you need to read in this day and time, I feel like, just to see what's going on and maybe try and help change the path a little bit, maybe the direction we're going if we can.
00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.359
I think you're already there.
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.480
You're you're doing it.
00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.680
We're both doing it.
00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:09.279
But reading a good dystopian novel will remind us why.
00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.079
Yes.
00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.680
That that that was the point.
00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.480
Yeah.
00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.160
Everyone needs to probably read that.
00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.039
No, they need to read it.
00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.839
I probably read it.
00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:19.039
Everyone needs to read that book right now for sure.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.920
Agreed.
00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:22.160
Yeah, this is this has been awesome.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.839
I yeah, I love every conversation.
00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.480
This is uh I again, like I say, we're gonna have plenty more as we've connected.
00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:31.759
It's been such a joy getting to know you and your story.
00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.640
I was laughing too.
00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.599
I was gonna say this earlier.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.440
I remember when I first looked at your LinkedIn and saw that you went to school in Vermont.
00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:40.799
My first thing was, how in the heck did she end up in Columbia?
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.079
So different.
00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:56.319
But we went through all of that, and it and I've it's been such a joy getting to know you and and your business and the people you're working with, and thank you again for sending these books as we will have some giveaways to some of our listeners.
00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.799
And so it'll be such a it'll be awesome.
00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.880
It's my favorite part of doing this.
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:04.240
But no, Sierra, thank you for taking the time to do this.
00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:13.839
Uh, before we get off, though, where can people find obviously we're gonna get all your books posted and we've got some of them already, but where can people directly find you or your books or all of what you're doing?
00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.880
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:21.920
You know, all the social platforms, but the places that I hang out the most and like to connect with people are LinkedIn.
00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.359
My name is Sierra Malker.
00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:28.319
That's why I have a personal and and red thread books, Red Thread Publishing on LinkedIn.
00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:31.519
But we also have a community for writers and authors.
00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.880
It's on the school platform.
00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.000
It's called Write Your Book.
00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:43.200
So if anybody who's interested in proving themselves wrong and seeing what it's like to actually write a book, the write, it's I guess it's just called Write Your Book on school.
00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:53.279
So that's where we actually hang out a lot and connect in community because the same reason you have this podcast is because we need humans need humans and more now than ever, I think.
00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.359
Well, thank you, Sierra.
00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.000
This has been great.
00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:18.640
Lee, I uh met a guy at our gym who is from Columbia.
00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:19.120
Yeah.
00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:21.839
And I was like As soon as you hear about it, then it's everywhere, right?
00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:22.559
Yeah, yeah.
00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:25.760
I was like, I've only met like three people who have been there.
00:00:25.920 --> 00:00:29.039
Two are from there, and then uh you who now live there.
00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:30.399
Yeah, amazing.
00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:30.879
Yeah.
00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:32.640
But Sierra, this is gonna be great.
00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:42.079
I appreciate you taking the time to come on the Books for Guys podcast as you and I got to connect for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was such an awesome conversation.
00:00:43.520 --> 00:00:51.119
Nick, how you found me, he actually, when we you made a post and I reposted it, he was like, dude, you were talking to so many people.
00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:54.479
Like, how did you all of a sudden talk to Sierra right after me?
00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:57.359
And I was like, hey man, we're just we're just flowing with it.
00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:58.240
I love it.
00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:00.399
Well, and that's the connection of the world.
00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:08.239
Like, not every part of the internet's great, but the fact that we can make these connections and be really intentional about connecting with the right people.
00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:11.760
Like we said before, I was like, I just had this urge to connect and say hi.
00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.319
And then we had a great conversation, and now we we're here.
00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.799
I think I think lots of beautiful things unfold when we follow those instincts.
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:19.920
Yeah, absolutely.
00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:27.519
And now I've got, you know, one of the books that you sent me, Mental Health, which is a great book for books for guys.
00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:32.000
I've actually already got it on the Books for Guys website, and work on getting more.
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:47.599
And Sierra would love to just for you to share a little bit more about your story because you so Red Thread Publishing, you're the CEO and founder of it, you've been a podcast host, you've been a speaker, you have tons of books that you've written or contributed to.
00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:59.760
And uh, you know, and and if people didn't gauge from the opening part of our conversation, you live in Columbia, which you are officially our first guest ever that has well, definitely that's living in Columbia.
00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.120
You know, any no one else has been on that's even been from Columbia or anything associated with it.
00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.639
So that's uh you'll hold that record for a long time, I'm sure.
00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.439
But no, I mean Sierra, just talk a little bit about your background.
00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:22.479
How you how you found your passion for writing, and then all of a sudden, you know, transitioning to helping other individuals find and create their story and creating your publishing company and all of that.
00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.080
What what's your story?
00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:28.240
Such a great question, never an easy one to answer succinctly.
00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:31.840
So I'm just gonna hit you with some things and we'll see where it goes.
00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.319
So once upon a time, I was a high school teacher.
00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:43.360
I lived in Vermont, I lived in California, I got a job in Shanghai in China, worked in China for a while, and then moved to Columbia.
00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:50.960
So teaching brought me here and it brought like opened a lot of doors and sort of changed where and how I think about the world.
00:02:51.439 --> 00:03:03.919
As with many things that we're passionate about, they can grow old and we can lose the passion or have so much passion that there's no more room for us in where we started, which is what happened for me with teaching.
00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:10.319
I had so much passion about teaching, and it was sort of like just be a good little teacher and keep doing what you do.
00:03:10.479 --> 00:03:14.879
And after 15 years of just being great, I couldn't just keep doing that.
00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:18.319
I evolved into opening a yoga studio.
00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:21.840
It was the first bilingual yoga studio in Medellin, Colombia.
00:03:22.000 --> 00:03:25.039
And that was my first business, as with a lot of things.
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:29.759
I think maybe some people go into business because they studied business or know anything about business.
00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:30.400
I didn't.
00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:38.639
I went into business, asked backwards a little bit, and learned a lot, mostly because I made all of the mistakes that you can possibly make.
00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:40.800
But each of those mistakes forced me.
00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.000
I do like a good problem.
00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:49.840
And so each of the mistakes forced me to have a creative solution to the problem, which then made this really unique community or unique niche.
00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:55.599
And, you know, each of the problems caused a cool innovation where where some people are like, well, I'm just not good at this.
00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:57.120
I'm like, well, how do we fix this?
00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:58.000
How do we pivot?
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What do we do?
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I sold the yoga studio after a couple of years, which is kind of cool to like have sold my first business.
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I didn't sell it for as much as most people are thinking when they sell a business.
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It's like I wasn't rolling in it, but it's like all those mistakes.
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They're at the ending.
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It's true.
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And and it's because of those innovations, because of the mistakes, the creative solutions made the business not just another business, right?
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It was like this cool, weird thing that worked.
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And the backpack story is that I'm dyslexic.
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And so I remember being 13 and not knowing how to read.
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I could kind of put words, I mean, I could put words together, but I really I couldn't read smoothly.
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I struggled with words, I struggled with reading a ton.
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And so I didn't think that I was smart.
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I didn't think that I could write, but eventually I disproved all of that.
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And the first time I sat down to write a book was in a teaching hiatus about one of my first adventures in China.
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That book, spoiler alert, never got finished or published.
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And then that experience taught me that I was right.
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I'm not a writer, I'm not good at this.
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.759
And so it sat for festering for 10 years.
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And then I wanted to disprove the theory again and started to dabble.
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I took some courses, I drafted some things, I experimented, um, and eventually wrote a manuscript that I wasn't ready to publish.
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And then I was like, I'm gonna write a book.
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God damn it, I'm gonna do this before my daughter turns five.
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I'm gonna write, I'm gonna publish a book before my daughter turns five.
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And that was January.
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She turns five at the end of March.
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Three months.
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Yeah.
00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:41.759
And I was like, okay, I'm gonna write something real quick.
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:45.680
I'm gonna learn how to publish it, and I'm gonna get it out in the world because I said I would.
00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:49.360
And so my very first book, Baby Was Born, it's called How Change Really Happens.
00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:57.360
It's this tiny little book, but I think it's like 96 of the best pages maybe I've ever written, partially because I didn't wasn't trying to take myself too seriously.
00:05:57.439 --> 00:06:02.319
And I wrote about stuff that I cared about and that I loved, but I discovered, A, that I was wrong.
00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:05.759
I am smart and I can write, which is kind of great.
00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:15.040
But I also discovered and put together so many people hold themselves back from stuff they just haven't tried yet, based on some stories about why they can't do it.
00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:21.360
And I watched people watch my process and they all sort of leaned in and they're like, How did you do that?
00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:26.720
Because I then took the earlier manuscript and published my second book, Date Yourself, six months later.
00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:30.319
So I published a couple of books on my own, learned the process.
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And then everyone was like, I've always wanted to write a book to help me figure this out.
00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:39.920
And so my high school teaching experience helps me people, helps me help people write their books.
00:06:40.079 --> 00:06:49.680
And then now we've been in business for six years and we've published 76 books, including some that I've written by myself, but most of them are for authors.
00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:54.399
And I do love, I love books, and which is why you and I are connected.
00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:57.839
I love, I just reread Fahrenheit 451.
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Talk about a society where people aren't reading, where we're not connected, um, where stories no longer are bringing people together or helping them find deep quality within themselves.
00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:17.920
And that I was thinking about that book and your work this morning because two things happen when we write.
00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.399
One, obviously, we create something that we can then hand someone else.
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This is a piece of my heart, my soul, my mind, my learning, my struggles.
00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:30.240
And I want to give you, save you 10 years or whatever.
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Here's here's my book.
00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:35.120
So it's something that can create humanity, I think.
00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:37.920
That I think we all understand the power of a book in that regard.
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But I don't know that enough people are talking about what happens for the human who becomes the writer, who becomes the author, and the identity transformation that we have to go through.
00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:51.120
And it is brutal.
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Everyone wants me, you know, say how easy it is to write a book and say how easy it is to go from here to there.
00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:58.079
It is, and it's brutal.
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But I love helping people face those challenges, stare down those demons, walk through fire, prove themselves wrong, and go from being the someday I want to be a writer or I wish I could, which just has already like they've already tapped out of that story, right?
00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.360
It's I wish I could to the shit I did.
00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:18.079
I am.
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And what happens in that is I just did an impossible thing.
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And they leave with the what else can I do?
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And it just unlocks anything.
00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.040
Maybe it's more books, maybe it's a business, maybe it's a foundation.
00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:33.600
And I just love the high that I see when people see what they're capable of.
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Yep.
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That's my story.
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How's that?
00:08:36.399 --> 00:08:50.799
No, and I love, I love seeing your the progression of the story you just told because I knew where it was going as far as you realizing what you could do and then creating your company now where you help other people see what they can do.
00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:55.759
And I was hoping you were gonna go there because I I didn't act as you were talking, I was like, I know where she's going with this.
00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:57.360
So this is this is really good.
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And I can see your passion for it, and there's just not a better feeling either.
00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:06.879
I I I love when people are helping other people because I think we talked a little about a little bit about this in our first conversation.
00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:17.120
It's fun to see people succeed, it's fun to see the light bulb come on and see people overcome challenges, and when they do it, they're so excited and you're so excited for them.
00:09:17.200 --> 00:09:24.879
And I'm sure every author that you've worked with, there's there's probably these great moments you have where you're like, yes, see, you did it.
00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:26.080
Probably never gets old.
00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:26.879
It doesn't.
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It gets it gets familiar, which is really interesting.
00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.840
But the life is funny, right?
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It's kind of mundane.
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Life, life is just life, right?
00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:38.799
But when you publish a book, I sit my authors down and I was like, guess what?
00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:41.039
It's time to update your email signature.
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Author.
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Right?
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Author or best-selling author of hyperlink title.
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Okay, that doesn't feel like doesn't seem like it would be a big thing.
00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:56.000
Graduation is just like walking across a stage and being handed a piece of paper.
00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:58.960
It's usually blank and it maybe it doesn't even have your name on it yet.
00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:17.919
They'll send it to you later, but it's a thing where you, you know, you move the taskful over, you update your email signature, and even if you're not quite ready to see yourself like this yet, other people start seeing you this way, responding to you with this credibility that, and then you grow into that person, right?
00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:18.799
It's wild.
00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.159
It's it's so cool.
00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:27.519
The books you showed, uh kind of a two-part question here, because I've learned a lot actually through a couple of other conversations since we last spoke.
00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:30.799
But do you journal on a daily basis?
00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.559
Like, do you write because and and I'll tell you why I'm asking this question.
00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:44.480
I I had a former NFL all-pro guy on our podcast, and his the message is incredible because he talks about the importance of journaling, and that's where his next book's coming from.
00:10:44.559 --> 00:10:49.440
Is he journaled for an entire season and he's gonna share the ups, the downs, the feelings.
00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:51.279
You know, there's not many books out there about that.
00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:59.759
There's stories, but none that's just hey, here's the daily breakdown, and the amount of people, especially guys, that messaged me like, dude, I'm gonna start journaling, I'm gonna start journaling.
00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:10.480
And then I had other conversations where it was like, Yeah, that's where these books can be born out of, is you go back and you look and you you see where you've how far you've come or what you were feeling in that day.
00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:12.879
So it kind of helps you put this story together.
00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:15.919
And so I was just curious to know, just do you journal?
00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:25.039
And is that part of a process for you, or maybe some of your authors when they're writing, you know, their stories, just what's where does journaling play into that?
00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:26.240
Amazing.
00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.600
And then I love the question.
00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.480
I think journaling is a really powerful tool.
00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:41.120
I also think it's very easy for anyone in a position like mine to say, I do this, and then everybody else is like, well, I should try it too, right?
00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.000
It works for her.
00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.799
And it's amazing and can be a slippery slope.
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I've definitely done massive seasons of journaling.
00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:54.720
But if I am not successful journaling every day, then it can become this trap that I fall into.
00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:57.440
And I, it's another thing I didn't do today, right?
00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:05.039
And I watch aspiring authors look to advice and then we just try on what other people are saying we should do.
00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:07.440
And so often we're like, well, it didn't work for me.
00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:15.759
And instead of thinking, well, I should find another strategy that works for me, we think, well, it didn't work for me, and therefore I'm not a writer.
00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:20.080
And so I want to be really, really clear that I want people to try whatever.
00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:22.639
I want them to try and find what works for them.
00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.480
And because what works for me now isn't what worked for me five years ago.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:30.720
And it's not even just like, well, if so and so says, then I should try it.
00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.480
And if it doesn't work, I'm the failure.
00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:35.200
It's I'm not the same person I was back then.
00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:47.840
And so from the perspective that you're bringing up, journaling is super powerful for decompressing and just processing one's day, for creating a record because we're really good at forgetting how far we've come.
00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.879
And it's part of how I'm I can beat myself up all day long.
00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:58.720
Because if I'm not tracking my wins or my ups and downs, then I'm just like, well, here, here I am, and we don't have the context.
00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:05.440
So journaling is really powerful for getting through the day, understanding what we're going through, and giving that broader perspective.
00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:17.600
If I wrote every day, I would probably have an idea for a book every day, which is wonderful, endlessly frustrating because it can take three months to five years to write a book.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:24.159
But if you've had 900 great ideas, it's, you know, what do I do with all of this information?
00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:34.480
And so um, having a conversation about it, making a post, writing an article, writing a chapter, writing a piece of a thing can be ways to exercise some of those ideas.
00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:51.279
But for anybody who, because that book that I sent you, men's mental health, anybody who's struggling, anybody who is feeling creative or stuck, I think journaling is great for both of those things because it gets us aware of what's going on underneath the surface.
00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:56.799
We're living in a world where we're doing a lot and we're seeing a lot and we're thinking a lot and digesting a lot.
00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:00.639
If we don't have, if we don't have a way to process, it's like eating.
00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:04.799
I think about my mental space like food because it's tangible.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:24.799
If I shoved my mouth full of food all day long, the way we sort of do with technology, but I didn't have like a digestive track, but I just shoved all day long and didn't expel anything or pull meaning and nutrients from anything, I would be blocked up and starving at the same time.
00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:32.720
And I think journaling is a way of making meaning, sifting through and feeling fed in a daily experience.
00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:33.919
So yeah.
00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.399
I'm glad you said that about the like uh sometimes it can just feel like a thing to do.
00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:39.840
Um I'm like you.
00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:42.080
I've I've gone through phases where I journal.
00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:49.759
And I and when I go back when I'm on breaks and look through it, it's kind of cool to see some of the things I wrote and it kind of motivates me to write again.
00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:54.720
But there were days where it felt like I was failing if I didn't sit down and journal.
00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:58.879
But thankfully I've got this really cool app called Time Hop, and then pictures pop up and all this stuff.
00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:13.360
I'm like, oh, I remember that, you know, from seven, eight years ago, and it's kind of another tool that while it's not journaling, it does bring up memories and thoughts, and so it just kind of makes me feel a little bit better that I'm still kind of you know seeing things from the past and stuff.
00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:25.120
Sierra, as far like one question for you, specifically for like publishing and authors you work with, how do you determine who you're gonna work with or what authors do you just take?
00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:29.759
If anyone comes to you and says, Hey, I want to write a book, are you like, sure, let's do it, or do you have a criteria?
00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:34.960
Because I know I don't know if it's still the same, but I know you were really focused on female authors.
00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:44.320
But do you still follow that criteria, or what do you look for in someone when you're going to take them on and help them get their story published?
00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:46.000
Always a good question.
00:15:46.159 --> 00:15:48.799
And there is a moving target as an answer.
00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:56.639
When we started six years ago, I opened an all-female publishing house, meaning we employed women and published women.
00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:03.360
Even the month that I did that, and we did it because I wanted more women's voices.
00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:09.840
And as a woman, I knew how easy it was to get hung up in the writing process and in the publishing process.
00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:19.519
And there just seemed like all these obstacles that I knew how to navigate, and I wanted to help more people navigate them so that there'd be more women's voices that we could all learn from.
00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:25.759
But even as I did that, I knew that there were other stories that were important, regardless of genitalia.
00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:31.600
And I've, you know, crudely say it, like I've never checked any of my authors, so I'm not gonna continue, like I'm not going to.
00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:38.320
So quickly we opened a second imprint, regardless of gender, which is how the men's mental health anthology came about.
00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:43.120
And we've worked with a number of men to to work on and tell their stories.
00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:45.519
So we have two, two imprints basically.
00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.600
And it's where does your story belong?
00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:52.320
Is is one of the questions once we answer that initial question, which is, are we a good fit?
00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:56.559
Some of the things that I ask in that in that process is, can I help you?
00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:59.679
Do you have a story that I'm excited about?
00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:02.240
And it's not the is it worth publishing, right?
00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.120
Because that's different.
00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:06.880
There's lots of great stories that are worth publishing, but am I excited about it?
00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:08.240
Can I help you with it?
00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.079
And are we a good fit?
00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.160
Because we talk about a book like a baby.
00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.640
And in the writing process, that means we're pregnant.
00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:20.240
Even men, they're pregnant with this idea that they're gestating something, they're growing something, they're building something.
00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:22.400
And then we have to bring it to the world.
00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:25.440
We have to give birth to it and then we raise it in the world.
00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:28.160
We don't just publish a book and then drop it like it's hot.
00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:30.160
You know, we need to be sharing about it.
00:17:30.319 --> 00:17:32.960
We need to be excited about it and care for it into the future.
00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:35.839
And so it's like entering a long-term relationship.
00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:52.000
And while I can, even if like it's a yes on two of the three, if we're not gonna get along together in a long-term relationship, I would, and this I'm doing more and more of now because so many people want to work with us, but I only I can only work well with a few people each year.
00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:56.319
Over the last seven or ten years, I've built relationships with lots of people in the industry.
00:17:56.480 --> 00:18:12.160
And so it's am I the best fit for you, or can I match make and introduce you to uh a book coach or a ghostwriter or a different publishing company that can help you accomplish your goals as well or better than I can.
00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:18.640
So every person who comes across my desk and every conversation I have, it's always like, how can I be of the most service?
00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:20.799
Let's bring your book to fruition.
00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.480
If that's with me, amazing.
00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.039
Let's go.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:29.519
If it's not with me, here are the next steps because it's still about getting the books into the world.
00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:34.720
We started with this mission of supporting 10,000 women to become successful published authors.
00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:37.759
That never meant that I wanted to publish 10,000 books.
00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:41.519
I don't, I don't want to populate a village with 10,000 babies.
00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.799
That's so much work.
00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.559
But we were just on another call.
00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:47.440
There were eight people, we were talking about the editing process.
00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.920
I'm helping those people move their book forward.
00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:59.279
And I don't have to be the midwife or, you know, any part of the actual publishing process to accomplish that goal of helping them get their book into the world.
00:18:59.519 --> 00:18:59.839
Yeah.
00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:02.240
No, that's it sounds like the right approach.
00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.400
It's very sounds like very similar as far as like how I approach books for guys.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:10.160
Obviously, it's books for guys, but it's not books for guys from guys.
00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.319
It's not, you know, it's really for everyone.
00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:15.680
There's just this emphasis I'm trying to encourage more men to read.
00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:19.200
Um, and it's getting it used to be asked a lot at the at the start of this.
00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:26.319
They'd be like, in this for guys, in this for guys, but I think like over half my guest are female at this point, which has been incredible.
00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:29.039
And so there's a lot of ladies that are like, dude, this is awesome.
00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:31.839
Like, this is like there's not this out there.
00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.720
We'd love to be a part of it.
00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.720
So it's been really cool, and then the guys love it.
00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:38.240
They'll female authors will be their favorite book they've read this year, you know.
00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.920
So it's just encouraging reading in general, but it's been pretty cool.
00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:46.880
Being able to explain that too has actually been a real joy on my side to uh to include both.
00:19:46.960 --> 00:19:49.279
It's just been it's been such amazing.
00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:54.079
But Sierra, how do you personally balance your time?
00:19:54.240 --> 00:20:01.759
Do you go through periods where because obviously you write too, you're passionate about that, you're passionate for help with helping people share their stories.
00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:09.359
Do you go through phases to where like how do you balance your personal interests in in your projects as well as others?
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:16.160
It sounds like you try to keep the numbers low to where you're not overwhelmed with only working with other people so that you don't have time to write.
00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.240
But do you go through seasons, I guess, where one's heavier than the other?
00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:24.079
Well, and and like all passionate people, I am my own worst enemy.
00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:35.200
So, you know, I'm usually excited about more projects and more people than I should be handling in any particular, you know, calendar year or it takes three more months longer than whatever, whatever.
00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:39.680
Um, but I love the question and I love how you phrased it at the very end.
00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.440
Do you go through seasons?
00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:44.400
Because the answer is emphatically yes.
00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:49.440
And the book that I'm working on right now is about what I call the creative cycle.
00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:53.599
And it's based off of winter, spring, summer, fall.
00:20:53.839 --> 00:21:08.559
And we live in a world that I think treats us all like machines and it treats us, it expects us to show up like it's summer every day, regardless of our energy, regardless of what's going on outside, regardless of all the other things that we're going through.
00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:25.920
When we, as humans, I think we've disconnected from a seasonal, what used to be the agricultural cycle, and like you push hard and then you harvest and then you rest and then you anticipate and get ready for the next, you know, and that wisdom is in our DNA.
00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:33.359
It surrounds us, despite how we try to live outside of natural cycles, but it's applied to creativity.
00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:39.839
And so, you know, I put out my last book now three years ago, Typo, The Art of Imperfect Creation.
00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:44.400
And I had the idea for my next book already brewing.
00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:48.079
And I told myself, oh, I could just get this out in the next six months.
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.480
It's been like two and a half years.
00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:56.480
I could have forced the cycle and been the machine.
00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:59.839
Um, but that would be super hypocritical.
00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.960
Critical to like be the machine writing about a creative cycle.
00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:14.880
And so really learning to give myself grace and take the time allows for the creative process to actually, that's where it becomes easy.
00:22:15.039 --> 00:22:21.599
If you're rested, fueled, enthusiastic, inspired, and prepared, then you'll go fine, right?
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.359
I think of it sort of like a road trip.
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:24.720
You do need to know where you're going.
00:22:24.880 --> 00:22:26.400
There needs to be gas in the tank.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.599
It's nice to have a map.
00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:36.319
If you just get in the car and keep driving, eventually you're either going to get lost and or you're going to run out of gas and your project won't come to fruition.
00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.039
You can't just stick banana peels in there or whatever.
00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:41.680
It's not going to keep going on an empty tank.
00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:45.119
And so this natural process of like we can't force it.
00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.279
Sometimes we you can force the rest.
00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:50.000
If I'm like, I'm trying to be creative and I'm not getting where I'm going.
00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:59.039
Oh, well, then maybe I need a nap, hike, you know, or an interesting conversation with another cool person because that's there's all this fuel.
00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:03.759
And when we find that, then we're like, oh, look at that, I'm ready.
00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.160
Yeah.
00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:08.880
But the forcing through, I'm really working on undoing that part of culture.
00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:09.359
Yeah.
00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:21.440
I don't think I've spoken with anyone who's like excelling at finding, like, there's that fine line between, like you kind of broke it down, like the aggressive patience, organized chaos.
00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:30.880
Like you have to have certain things that push you forward, but you've also got to let the creativity dictate the work because that writing is creative.
00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:36.640
You can't I've always found that fascinating with just you know big publishing companies and people who end up on contracts.
00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.599
I'm like, how do you know?
00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:41.839
Like, if you only got six months to put a book out there, like, how do you know that's gonna be your best?
00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:47.279
You know, what if what if you have to put something down because the timeline, but it's not what you really want to put down?
00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:49.039
And I'm sure that's a whole nother conversation.
00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:56.319
But again, it kind of goes back to that fine line of balance, but also pushing forward uh at the same time.
00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:59.519
And I think it sounds like everyone's always trying to figure that out and walk.
00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:03.119
Because we do, we need a degree of pressure, yeah, right?
00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.240
And that's why winter doesn't last forever.
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.640
If if it did, that would be bad.
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.680
Same thing.
00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:12.240
Summer lasting forever would also be bad.
00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.319
And so we need the opposites.
00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:18.480
We need the pressure to get it done and the space to relax.
00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:22.640
And and this is where where I think it's actually very cool.
00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:26.960
I because I think of this creative process as masculine-feminine, right?
00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:35.440
We need the intellect, we need the pressure, we need the container, and then we need the fluidity and the freedom and the the feminine.
00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:39.440
If you commit fully to one or the other, you're never gonna get anywhere.
00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:44.640
You need to sort of dance between the two, which is one of the reasons it's it's fun having this conversation with you.
00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.839
Yeah, I love that.
00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.400
I love that.
00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:49.440
Sierra, I've got really just one more question for you.
00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:53.440
And I ask everyone the same question on this podcast.
00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:57.359
I'm always curious what people are interested in reading right now.
00:24:57.519 --> 00:25:04.400
But my question for you is what is a book or two that has meant a lot to you personally or professionally?
00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.119
And what's a book that you like to recommend to others?
00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:10.000
What's the book you've recommended the most to other people?
00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:11.200
All right.
00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:17.519
I have bought one book probably 15 times because I buy it for myself and then I give my copy away.
00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:21.279
And it's a book that I found open on the back of my grandmother's couch.
00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:24.799
And I just picked it up on whatever page it was open to and started reading.
00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.319
I specialize in nonfiction.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.480
This was a fiction book, and it was back in college.
00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:31.440
And I just, you know, I it was the middle of the book, and I was like, this is interesting.
00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:36.079
And I read to the end of the book from the middle, which is crazy, absolute crazy.
00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:38.559
So I knew what happened, and I was like, oh, I want to know how it starts.
00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:40.640
And so I last page, first page.
00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:48.160
And I've read this book a number of times, and it's from a Spanish writer, Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and it's called The Shadow of the Wind.
00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:55.839
It is beautiful, it's set in Barcelona, and like the these A, like there's a couple of different storylines that play together.
00:25:55.920 --> 00:26:04.799
So it's, you know, historical fiction, it's about books, there's like the secret, you know, library, and there's some mystery and there's some romance.
00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:10.160
So I love that as a uh transportational experience.
00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:14.960
Um, so that's the book that I've probably shared with the most people in the world.
00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:18.400
So if if that is tempting to anybody, that's what I would recommend.
00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:26.799
But if you haven't read it since high school or pretended to read it in high school, I do really recommend Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:31.920
It is short, it is brutal, and it is especially poignant in the modern era.
00:26:32.079 --> 00:26:35.200
So I would recommend that one for anyone who's trying to make sense of the world.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:35.759
Yeah.
00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:40.240
When you brought it up earlier, actually, I was like, I think it's time for me to reread that book.
00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.480
Because I remember the first time reading it.
00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:45.359
I remember just makes you think a lot.
00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.519
And now even more so.
00:26:47.680 --> 00:27:01.759
And I was like, I need to reread that book because I think I'm gonna have I don't know, it's just one that you need to read in this day and time, I feel like, just to see what's going on and maybe try and help change the path a little bit, maybe the direction we're going if we can.
00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:03.359
I think you're already there.
00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.480
You're you're doing it.
00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.680
We're both doing it.
00:27:05.839 --> 00:27:09.279
But reading a good dystopian novel will remind us why.
00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.079
Yes.
00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.680
That that that was the point.
00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.480
Yeah.
00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.160
Everyone needs to probably read that.
00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.039
No, they need to read it.
00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.839
I probably read it.
00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:19.039
Everyone needs to read that book right now for sure.
00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:19.920
Agreed.
00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:22.160
Yeah, this is this has been awesome.
00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:23.839
I yeah, I love every conversation.
00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.480
This is uh I again, like I say, we're gonna have plenty more as we've connected.
00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:31.759
It's been such a joy getting to know you and your story.
00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:32.640
I was laughing too.
00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.599
I was gonna say this earlier.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:37.440
I remember when I first looked at your LinkedIn and saw that you went to school in Vermont.
00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:40.799
My first thing was, how in the heck did she end up in Columbia?
00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.079
So different.
00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:56.319
But we went through all of that, and it and I've it's been such a joy getting to know you and and your business and the people you're working with, and thank you again for sending these books as we will have some giveaways to some of our listeners.
00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.799
And so it'll be such a it'll be awesome.
00:27:58.880 --> 00:28:00.880
It's my favorite part of doing this.
00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:04.240
But no, Sierra, thank you for taking the time to do this.
00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:13.839
Uh, before we get off, though, where can people find obviously we're gonna get all your books posted and we've got some of them already, but where can people directly find you or your books or all of what you're doing?
00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:14.880
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:21.920
You know, all the social platforms, but the places that I hang out the most and like to connect with people are LinkedIn.
00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:23.359
My name is Sierra Malker.
00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:28.319
That's why I have a personal and and red thread books, Red Thread Publishing on LinkedIn.
00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:31.519
But we also have a community for writers and authors.
00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:32.880
It's on the school platform.
00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.000
It's called Write Your Book.
00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:43.200
So if anybody who's interested in proving themselves wrong and seeing what it's like to actually write a book, the write, it's I guess it's just called Write Your Book on school.
00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:53.279
So that's where we actually hang out a lot and connect in community because the same reason you have this podcast is because we need humans need humans and more now than ever, I think.
00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:55.359
Well, thank you, Sierra.
00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.000
This has been great.
