Red Thread Publishing

Let’s get real for a minute.  

Take a look around your home. How much of what you see is there because you genuinely value it, and how much is there because it is or was valuable to someone else, someone you care about enough that parting with those things has become a real challenge?  

Judy Granlee-Gates knows this dilemma all too well.   

"This book is the permission and guide so many of us need to unleash our natural creative flow and start working with, rather than against, the powerful forces of inspiration and genius that surround and flow through us, always".   

Where are your important documents located? 

What are your Medical needs and wishes?

 What to do with your prized possessions?

Space for any final goodbyes & unfinished business & much more. 

"While no one wants to think about the end of life, the peace of mind that will come from having this filled out, and the conversations it will inspire are invaluable".      

                                                                                                                                                                   -Rena Mcdonald, Because I Care: An Estate Planning Guide.

"You don't know how the future will unfold, so it is your mission to live every single day of your life to the fullest and die with no regrets, that being tomorrow or at hundred years old".                                                                                                         François de Neuville, The Illusion of Time: 11 Lessons How to Not Suck at Life.

We all like to think we have plenty of time ahead of us. But the truth is, we really have no idea how the future will unfold or how much of our most precious resource, time, we have left. That's why François de Neuville wrote The Illusion of Time: 11 Lessons How to Not Suck at Life: to inspire you to stop postponing your best life for later and start living a life you love NOW.

"Every woman was born a leader. All she has to do is believe that, and act on it".     -Dr. Hynd Bouhia

Dr. Hynd Bouhia knows a thing or two about rising to a position of leadership against the odds. As a little girl growing up in Morocco, she abhorred the poverty that surrounded her, and vowed to help abolish it. She dreamed of going abroad to get her education, a dream her family saw as an impossible flight of fancy.

"Set your sights lower", they told her "the only thing you're going to be leading as a woman is your household".

But little Hynd believed in her dream, and in herself. That doesn't mean it was easy. There were sacrifices, disappointments, and painful losses along the way, including the devastating forced shut-down and liquidation of a business she'd spent years building.

"You have more influence than you know. Every pivot is what you choose to make of it. You can do hard things"                              

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 - Andrea Butcher  

 Have you ever found yourself at a pivot point?  Maybe you were headed in one direction when, bam!, you hit a wall.

Maybe you got to a fork in the road and just weren't sure which way to go. Andrea Butcher knows that feeling all too well.  

“Americans are becoming increasingly bankrupt--mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually--but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

• Laura Bonetzky-Joseph, author of The Secrets to Healing

In Japan, the energy-healing practice of Reiki has been reported to heal everything from major illnesses like Cancer and autoimmune disease to mystery ailments like chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and stress. So why aren’t we seeing these same results in the U.S.?

Confronting the reality of how the world sees us can be challenging, especially when it comes to labels with unflattering connotations like "victim" or even the more palatable "survivor" of trauma and abuse. But Erika Shalene Hull, co-author of the upcoming book "...but that's not me": Changing the Story of Interpersonal Abuse, is doing her part to help women everywhere recognize and change the patterns of abuse, both personal and systemic, that surround us. Join us in the interview to know a bit more about her journey. 

This we celebrate Crystal Grenier an online wellness consultant who empowers women to thrive despite their chronic illness so that they can realize an abundant life through guided offers around emotional health and well-being. 

Her deep background in health and fitness, and her breast cancer experience, have given her the tools to share intentional insight into alternative methods of self-acceptance, continued growth, and authentic healing.

Crystal is a contributing writer for Thrive Global, a local newspaper column, “Healing through Conversations,” and contributing author in “Feisty, Dangerously Amazing Women Using Their Voices & Making an Impact”, and an aspiring solo author of an upcoming compilation of interviews around alchemizing emotions in female chronic illness”.

She holds a Bachelors in Communications/Business and a Masters in Sports Management. She currently lives in North Dakota and is married with two adult daughters.

Crystal flows with all things natural. Her physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual practices keep her grounded, present, and on a continuous path of healing for self and others!

Connect with our guest: 

Facebook:

Red Thread Publishing Podcast with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Adrienne MacIain ( Episode 09) 

About the Author: 

Adrienne MacIain, PhD is a creative living coach. She helps struggling SOULopreneurs & frustrated creators spark genius with ease & enjoyment so they can SHINE their authentic gifts out to the world, by realigning them to Source energy and unleashing the power of their natural creative rhythm, the "DOER" cycle.

Links:

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Danielle Perlin-Good ( Episode 09) 

About the Author: 

Danielle Perlin-Good is The Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter and an award-winning best-selling author. She helps C-suite executives share their powerful legacies by unleashing their memoirs, self-help, and personal growth non-fiction books so they can create massive impact and transform lives. 

Since 2008, Danielle has written and edited hundreds of articles, books, social media content, e-newsletters, and more. She went from working overnight shifts at the Tribune Company to corporate digital marketing gigs, one of which was at Albert Whitman & Co., an esteemed children’s publishing house. Danielle uses mindset techniques, exceptional editing skills, and quantum healing modalities to ensure her clients develop a beautifully crafted and publishable book that they will forever cherish. In her free time, Danielle enjoys swimming, practicing yoga, being outside, and spending time with her husband and their two children.

Book a coffee chat with her today. 

Links: 

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Tobi Mares ( Episode 08) 

About the Author: 

In addition to the school of hard knocks, Tobi graduated from Millikin University with a Bachelors in entrepreneurship and business leadership. She also has a Masters Degree in human services counseling and life coaching. Look for her upcoming book Goodness Gracious: A memoir of a woman who transcends from hardship, suffering, and abuse, by means of food, love, and entrepreneurship. An expert in overcoming massive obstacles, loving others for their flaws, and being open to sharing her own. Tobi's one wish is for the there to be more love than hate. 

She is currently building her picnic delivery business and opening a restaurant. 

Links

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Hallie Avolio ( Episode 07) 

About the Author: 

Hallie Avolio is not a typical anything… that includes woman, mother, friend, entrepreneur, or coach. Hallie is an affirmation queen, a lover of core values, and is obsessed with empowering women to create a life they love that is Sassy As F*ck. 

Through her manifestation and self-love coaching, Hallie utilizes many modalities to help women connect to their greater purpose and their highest Self. She loves to help women get unstuck, find self-love, manifest their purpose, and live this life to the fullest.

She is the Founder & President of Sassy Healthy Fit, an organization created with the mission to teach as many humans as possible to love themselves unconditionally and create a “F*CK YES LIFE!”, and to make this world a brighter place through each of our unique gifts. 

Links:

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Poet Khan ( Episode 06) 

About the Author: 

Poet Khan is a long-standing face for striving through single motherhood in our community.

I am proof for my generation that a single black mother can still strive for her dreams in America.

About her chapter in Feisty: The mothers must take time to heal as to heal their hearts so they can heal the world.

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Stacy Dyson ( Episode 05) 

About the Author: 

I've been writing and singing since I can remember. And all I've ever wanted to do is make sure that my sisters can sing...whether it's on the page or the stage. I've done workshops and performances all over the States. Right no
w, I'm based in San Diego, CA, working on a series of poems dealing with our current political climate, trying to set up a tour (HAVE POEMS! WILL GIG FOR MONEY!), and re-inventing my career for (at least) the eighth time! I can't wait to meet you and hear YOUR story!!

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Brandee Melcher ( Episode 04) 

About the Author: 

She helps women reconnect to "Little You" to identify and course-correct behaviors that are no longer serving them in their personal and parenting journey.  

"I've realized all it takes is a moment to reset the future for the next generation."

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Crystal Grenier ( Episode 03) 

About the Author: 

Crystal Grenier is an online wellness consultant who helps women thrive despite a chronic illness so that they can realize an abundant life through guided offers around emotional health focusing on six phases of support; building community, e-books, workshops, a membership program, virtual and live retreats, and mastermind courses.

FEISTY Authors Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Laura Joseph ( Episode 01) 

About the Author: 

Since 2006, Laura has been providing spiritually based integrative holistic health enrichment with a subspecialty in trauma healing & recovery through workshops, outreach, retreats, and private sessions.

She’s an experienced healer, speaker, writer, seeker, social justice junkie, spiritual mentor, intuitive, Jikiden Reiki Shihan (teacher), medicine woman & holistic health professional.

Laura is also a survivor of child abuse, sexual assault, & domestic violence. Over the years, she's become a thought leader and recently launched a collaborative project “Triggers & Spiritual Medicine” on YouTube.

Currently, Laura is enrolled in an addiction counseling certification program at UMass Boston.

Laura's Vision: To break the unrecognized epidemic of unresolved unhealed trauma & create sustainable systems for recovery, healing & empowerment.

Mission: To help others rediscover the power that lies within and to find that treasure buried in the depths of the shadows. To help them become their own superhero.

So you want to write & publish a successful book…!

Feat: Tami Palmer

“Anatomy presents the art and craft of creating a book by offering glimpses into the lived experience of each contributor.” -Kevin Hesse, author of upcoming, Love and Light in a World of Loss

Learn from 20-leading industry experts about Writing, Publishing & Book Marketing. Let us simplify what can be a complicated and overwhelming process. This book will lay it all in easy-to-understand chapters, so you have the tools for success.

Get your copy now

Dear Writers,

We have a book for you....

written because it can feel overwhelming & confusing to navigate all the advice & systems to write, publish & market your book!

Order The Anatomy of a Book Now! 

Dear Writers,

We have a book for you....

written because it can feel overwhelming & confusing to navigate all the advice & systems to write, publish & market your book!

Order The Anatomy of a Book Now! 

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Katherine Ramsland ( Episode 26)

Dr. Katherine Ramsland teaches forensic psychology at DeSales University, where she is the Assistant Provost. She has appeared on more than 200 crime documentaries and magazine shows, is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist. The author of more than 1,500 articles and 68 books, including How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, and The Mind of a Murderer, she spent five years working with Dennis Rader on his autobiography, Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer. Dr. Ramsland currently pens the “Shadow-boxing” blog at Psychology Today and teaches seminars on extreme offenders to death investigators and homicide detectives. 

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Sara Ness ( Episode 25 )

Sara Ness is a facilitator, teacher, and community-builder who is internationally notorious for having popularized the field of Authentic Relating. Among other things, she co-founded and ran two of the longest-running AR communities in the world, compiled the source text for Authentic Relating, and built an online platform for AR and Circling practice that has run events for more than 1200 consecutive days.

Sara has worked with tens of thousands of students in sectors from Google to Mindvalley to Burning Man, teaching authentic leadership and authentic communication. She is passionate about exposing the joy of human connection and exploring our creative potential through relationship. 

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Ann-Loou Torell ( Episode 24 )

Ann-Loou Torell is a passionate visionary an artist's soul who is passionate about creating.

With burning energy and strong love for her fellow human beings, she wants to help other lost souls find their own light.

Ann-Loou sees herself as Fågel Fenix who has risen from the ashes many times and each time learned from the trials in life that she has been subjected to.

With more than twenty-one years of her own experience of the psychological cat and rat play to which she has been exposed, she has today gained so much knowledge that she describes herself as follows:

"I now have a built-in bullshit detector and enough tools in my luggage so it does not take long for me to discover and see through someone, which makes me a straightforward, honest with an extremely humble and empathetic therapist."

My dharma in life is to help others to get up, become aware, gain knowledge so that no matter how many times they like me are beaten down - we rise from the ashes like Bird Phoenix.

As an energy worker, Ann-Loou has exceptional ability and strength to guide lost souls from stress-related problems, narcissistic dysfunctional relationships, empowering women and helping them find their unwavering self-love & inner strength. Ann-Loou sees herself as a bag “good & mixed with lots of tools to share.

Now it's time for her to take a bigger place and reach out to more people by sharing her own experienced experiences & lessons with mental abuse and parental alienation.

Shares, among other things, through his writing and debuts as an author in the Multi-Author books:

"Pioneers" & "Stormborn" which will be released in the summer of 2021 with the publisher.

Until Covid-19 she was a traveling norm, with work for Ving but now she shares the time with the work for KMK in the Stockholm archipelago with the house at home on the Bjäre Peninsula in Förslöv, where she runs a Health Center with a vision to in the near future offer weekend & weekly treats on site in Förslöv with a focus on individual wholeness but also accommodation & food in collaboration with other specialists & actors in alternative medicine and spiritualism.

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Sarah Quinn ( Episode 23 )

Sarah Quinn is an entrepreneur and writer based in Quebec City. When she isn't furiously unleashing her true message via Facebook Lives, or her podcast, A Poor Coaches Guide to A Rich Life, she is running her online coaching business as an entertainer, speaker and success mentor to coaches around the globe.

With a new series of books, over a decade in online business, and several hundred product and event launches under her belt, Sarah is known as a ‘Content Queen’ who just doesn’t stop. She believes that you CAN have it all, on your terms, so long as you’re willing to get honest with yourself about what you’re really here to do in the world, and her mission in life is to help coaches learn to use their voice and day to day life as a powerful tool to inspire themselves and others to lead with authenticity, creating a life wilder than their wildest dreams.

Sarah is also a mom of 2 and is obsessed with teaching her children that you can have it all, exactly as you want and on your terms.

Sarah is also an expert in “No B.S” coaching and would love to help you create a business you love, completely on your terms!

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring Kelly Lewis ( Episode 22 )

Kelly Lewis is a women's travel industry maven, passionate about helping women tap into their personal power through travel. She's the founder of Go! Girl Guides, the world's first series of travel guidebooks for women; founder of the annual Women's Travel Fest, and creator of Damesly, a boutique women's tour company. Born in Arizona but raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Portland, Oregon.  

Kelly has been honored as a “Visionary” for the Future of Travel Awards by Newsweek, called a "dame disruptor" by Adventure.com, a "badass female founder" by Huffington Post, and "The woman making travel better - and safer - for all women" by The Muse. Lewis and her work have also been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Shape Magazine, Elle, AFAR, Culture Trip, CNN, Travel + Leisure, and more. 

Connect with our guest:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Melissa Christopher ( Episode 21 )

Melissa Christopher is a Visibility & Transformational coach.  After successfully healing her own fears of being visible, Melissa became inspired to help other women find their inner confidence, true voice, and authenticity so that they too can confidently share their gifts with the world. She has spent the majority of her career in the coaching industry, gaining experiences working with subconscious modalities such as EFT & NLP, inner child work, and intuitive practices. 

Melissa is a Reiki Master and Yoga teacher and believes in working to align Mind, Body, and Spirit to help create lasting change. Melissa is committed to helping more women step fully into their gifts by shining their divine & Brilliant light. 

When Melissa isn’t hosting retreats, teaching yoga, or coaching you can find her @ www.Melissachristopher.com  

Connect with our guest:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Beth Ann Oliphant  ( Episode 20 )

A native of Philadelphia, Beth Ann grew up spending her summers at the shore. Her parents would say she was born with sand in her toes. At Egg Harbor Township High School, in New Jersey, a teacher strongly encouraged and supported her writing ambitions. 

Beth Ann continued onto college at Indiana University of Pennsylvania graduating with a degree in Journalism. Following graduation, she moved to Delaware and got married. While pregnant with her first child she enrolled in the Masters in Marketing program at Wilmington University. Her son Briton was born the morning of the graduation ceremony. He is the original inspiration behind the book series. Briton’s curiosity and eagerness to learn is a joy to watch and contagious. Trailing in his sandy footprints are his younger siblings Amelia and Judah.

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring   Zarinah El-Amin  (Episode 19 )

Zarinah El-Amin is an award-winning Detroit-based anthropologist who helps mission-driven luminaries create cultural change through programs, businesses, experiences, and products that feed their pockets, their soul, and the world.

She has written multiple books, presented and served clients all over the world, appeared on NPR, FOX, and in several print media.

She is known for taking an author’s idea and bringing the book to fruition in a beautiful, holistic way. Rather than seeing the book as simply the author’s message alone, Zarinah helps create a book that generates money, grows your business, leaves a legacy for their family and community, AND share their message with humanity.

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring   Karen Pennington  (Episode 18 )

Karen Pennington is a  podcaster committed to seeking the excellence, fun, and wisdom of God in daily living, she has also written and published Christian magazine articles. Her career has centered on education and Christian ministry, including local, regional, and national lay ministries; curriculum development; and conference and seminar planning. 

Karen now enjoys substitute teaching and serving at her church. She and her husband, Ben, live in Jamestown, New York, and consider church and Sunday family dinners—with granddaughter Amelia (the light of their lives), daughter Alethea, and son-in-law Baker—the highlight of each week. Second to being in the presence of those she loves, Karen’s happy places are the beach and in the middle of a good clearance sale. 

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Danielle Perlin-Good  (Episode 17 )

Danielle Perlin-Good is The Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter and an award-winning best-selling author. She works with emerging C-suite leaders to unleash their memoirs, self-help, and personal growth non-fiction books so they can share their powerful legacies and transform lives. Maneuvering cumbersome—and sometimes traumatic—stories into beautiful, error-free non-fiction books full of sensory details, profound dialogue, and heartwarming characters is her absolute favorite part of being a ghostwriter. 

Since 2008, Danielle has written and edited hundreds of articles, books, social media content, e-newsletters, and more. She went from working overnight shifts at the Tribune Company to corporate digital marketing gigs, one of which was at Albert Whitman & Co., an esteemed children's publishing house. Danielle uses mindset techniques, exceptional editing skills, and quantum healing modalities to ensure her clients develop a beautifully crafted and publishable book that they will forever cherish. In her free time, Danielle enjoys swimming, practicing yoga, being outside, and spending time with her husband and their son. 

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Linn Random  (Episode 16 )

Linn Random is a marketing and communications specialist with a comprehensive background in international marketing. She is a popular Speaker on Marketing, Public Relations & Writing at Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, the Florida Writers Association, and the Mystery Writers of America’s Sleuthfest.

She began her career as a copywriter with a regional Advertising agency and ended National Director of an International Advertising Agency.

In 1996, she was an Executive Vice President of Communications with a major Internet Company.

Connect with our guest :

Connect with Linn:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Josephine Kalagira  (Episode 15 )

Josephine Sandra Kalagira is a mother, Author, Speaker, Empowerment Mentor, and known as the Setback to Comeback Queen. She believes that when we go through adversities in life, it can be extremely challenging and difficult, but can be eased when we identify a reason bigger than ourselves to compel us never to give up on ourselves and dreams. She believes that when we accept and embrace who we really are and what we have been through as our authentic self, we become empowered and genuinely learn to take ownership of our lives. 

Josephine believes that despite our physical or emotional health challenges, they cannot define us or our future if we do not allow it. As a result of her lived experience, she felt called to help support others living with physical or emotional adversities to Thrive and Shine through their setbacks by sharing her story, lessons, advice, and tips with ease.

Connect with our guest :

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Shraddha Nyati  (Episode 14 )

She is a Forensic expert by profession. When she is not slitting apart bodies, you can find her tucked in with a mug of hot chocolate peeling layers of her heart and carving it out on paper. Her writing is mostly focused on bringing out the emotions in even the most mundane things, such as rising steam from a cup of tea on winter mornings. She is a dreamer by heart and believes in the magic of dreams. 

She is also the founding member of Genius Inside, an AI powered platform to transform your potential to performance. 

She has been actively writing handwritten letters to anyone around the world who needs someone to be there for them. If you know someone who needs a warm hug through words, you can reach out to her on letterforsouls@gmail.com

Her debut novel, ‘From Ring to Mirror’, hit the racks in 2015. This is her second novel.

She currently lives in Harrison, NJ.

Connect with our guest :

Instagram:   @shraddhanyati 

Twitter:        @ShraddhaNyati

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Shareka Swaby (Episode 13 )

In this episode, Sierra gets to interview Shareka Swaby, her book, “An Introduction to Freedom”, is soon to be released. Sharka, with her manuscript ready, is now in the process of making her next decisions for her book. This real conversation makes us go through the actual raw logistics every author faces in their publishing process.

Join us:

• The decisions we all have to make as authors
• Get comfortable with it, the struggle is part of the process
• Why it can serve you to get external support when you publish
• Pay attention to details so it won’t backfire
• How authors make money
  

Connect with our guest:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring   Leslie Sommers  (Episode 12 )

In this episode, Sierra and the author of the trilogy “Brighde Reborn: The Amulet Series”, Leslie Sommers, give the most grounding insights about bringing a book to life. They share some practical tips that will help authors direct their choices and feel less alone in the process of writing and publishing their books.  

• The power of networking for publishing your book  
• The importance of a content editor  
• Make it messy now to make it better later  
• Give up the idea that writing your book MUST be easy  
• Writing doesn’t have to be isolating 
• Reach out to a community of fellow authors   

"One of my favorite quotes for anybody who’s struggling with her writing is 'the easiest and the hardest thing to do is to sit down at your typewriter and write.' It is so painfully hard, but it is true, you just have to sit down and write." -Leslie

Meet the guest:

Brighde Reborn is Leslie and Janice Sommers' first novel of a planned trilogy book series. Besides writing, Leslie loves traveling and singing. She was bitten by the travel bug after going to Ireland for the first time and since then she has visited Cuba, London, Sicily, and Scotland. Leslie is also a very gifted singer (classically trained for all genres) who has been cast as well as hired to sing throughout New Jersey and New York for concerts, cabarets, and weddings. Like Bridget, Leslie was born and raised in New Jersey and she inherited her love of reading from her mother. 

Janice is a classically trained ballerina and has danced in Lincoln Center. After completing her Education degree, she focused on taking care of her family and encouraging her children to follow their dreams. Her passion for books and music was passed on to the next generation and, like Leslie, Janice has also found a love for traveling after recently going to the UK and Sicily with her family.

Connect with her:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher 

Featuring   Khanyisa Mnyaka  (Episode 11 ) 

      Khanyisa is a South African-born author, traveler, and life coach. She has been traveling for the past ten years and with over twenty countries traveled, Khanyisa shares her journey with us in her memoir; Traveling While Black And Lesbian.   

      She began her traveling journey as an ESL teacher in South Korea and has since lived in Costa Rica where she did her MA at the United Nations-mandated University For Peace, she’s owned a party boat and eco-resort in The Phillies and came full circle as an ESL teacher in Thailand where she taught at a Buddhist university.  

       Khanyisa is passionate about exploring different cultures and learning from different philosophies. She now lives in Seattle, WA, and is a virtual life coach.    

Connect with her: 

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher 

Featuring   Gabrielle Stone  (Episode 10 ) 

        Gabrielle Stone is no stranger to the world of entertainment. Growing up on set with her legendary scream-queen mother, Dee Wallace (Cujo, E.T.), she had days of licking off mommy’s fake blood and watching behind-the-scenes movie magic. Seeing the world with mom and dad gave her the travel bug at an early age—until Gabrielle experienced a real-life horror when she lost her father suddenly at age seven.  

        After many years in the industry herself, Stone transitioned from meaty acting roles to writing and directing. Her award-winning films It Happened Again Last Night and After Emma gained her awards for writing, directing, and acting—but she had a bigger role in life that would soon present itself: freaking badass.    

        After the rug was vigorously pulled out from under her when her husband’s affair came to light, she found herself falling into the arms of another man. After a second failed attempt at love and a massive heartbreak, she decided that instead of landing flat on her ass—she’d make a career out of it.   

        And so came the birth of the book Eat, Pray, #FML, where she shared all the mistakes, all the lessons, and most importantly, how she became a fearless leader from it all.   

Connect with her:

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring   Tamara Palmer (Episode 9 )  

Tamara knew she was going to be a writer before she could even write. As a young girl she created elaborate dramas out with her Barbies for days, even weeks, on end. Later stories made their way via pages onto her typewriter. Tamara is the author of Missing Tyler and Finding Lancelot. The tales are not connected, she just likes missing and finding things. Tamara leads writing retreats and virtual writing programs through her writing community, Tami’s Tribe. She lives just outside Chicago with her husband, daughter, and assortment of pets. 

Connect with her:  

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring  Kayleigh Hanlin ( Episode 8 )

Kayleigh Hanlin is the Co-Founder of Empowered Minds and Co-Author of J.O.Y Journal. The J.O.Y. Journal is a guided activity journal for girls and takes the reader through creative prompts to help them discover and embrace their uniqueness while building self-love, confidence, and resiliency. Kayleigh graduated with Honors from Otterbein University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations. She was born with two different congenital heart defects. After three open heart surgeries all before the age of 5, she is thriving and sharing her story with others to inspire hope and inspiration.     

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

Featuring   Sandra Cooze (Episode 7 ) 

Sandra Cooze is an Intuitive Mentor & Coach, Reiki Master/Teacher, Certified Traumatic Incident Reduction Facilitator, and Published Author.    Her book ‘Journey to Your Self – How to Heal from Trauma: Written by Someone Who Did’ is a teaching memoir that walks readers not only through her own story of abuse and healing, but offers strategies, exercises, and insights to support them on their healing journey.   

 Sandra primarily works with heart centered women who yearn for a deeper meaning and purpose in life, but are held hostage by their past. She helps them to release what is holding them back and guides them toward discovering their full potential so they can rise up and claim their true place in this world.  

 Connect with her:  

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher: Featuring Stacy Dyson (Episode 6)

Her STRENGTH of being a Badass poet through & through.

Stacy Dyson is a poet, acapella vocalist, playwright who specializes in the life and times of the Black woman.   “Someone has to sing for my sisters. Their lives, loves, philosophy...There are centuries of stories begging to be told. I’m lucky enough to be one able to make those voices be heard”.  

Ms Dyson has done program design, residencies, workshops, and live performances in Colorado, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, New Mexico, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, and all over San Diego. 

“But the stage is my natural habitat. It’s fine to tell your stories, but for me, unless I can vibe, interact with a crowd, my job is only half-done.”  

Author of seven collections of poetry (BLACK DIAMONDS, OBSIDIAN ICE, BLUES IN THE FIRST POSTION, WOMAN 724365, NEFERTIRI’S KISS, AND POR INNOCENCIO, and her latest, FOLLOW ME ON THIS), she has also created five CDs of poetry and spoken word.  THE MADONNA OF NEVADA AVENUE, POR INNOCENCIO, A WOMAN BESIDE THE SUN, SO MANY ANGELS, and (Love Me) SAN DIEGO STYLE are poems, stories and music that “celebrate/document/declare what it is for me to be a Black woman in this world, what it is to be an artist, how myself and my sisters navigate our lives. No, that way is not easy. But it is often joyous, and always carries the sanity of truth. 

A former Poet Laureate for Imagination Celebration (Colorado Springs) a nominee for Poet Laureate for the State of Colorado. Founder/Lead Poet DragonsWing (Colorado Springs) and CoFounder/Lead Poet for Page to Stage:Womens Words (San Diego) she is also a Pikes Peak Community Foundation Individual Merit Award recipient, a Colorado Women’s Playwriting Festival winner for her play FANNIE’S GIRLS: A 4-1-1 IN -5PART ATTITUDE, and a TEDx speaker. 

“It’s never, ever about my single voice. So, the shows and women’s workshops are extremely important to me. Especially now, our lives literally depend on knowing how to speak our truth, share our stories, bring thunder and healing with our voices. The workshops are women only because women will say and bring forth deeper parts of their souls when they’re surrounded and supported by other women. I’ve heard stories, confessions,.. Those conversations, those places have to be given due honor. They have to continue.”   

Currently, Stacy is promoting her newest collection of poetry FOLLOW ME ON THIS. In the Spring of 2021 she’ll release a collection of poems written during the pandemic titled LOVELY AND SUFFERING. Coming soon is AUGUST 5000, a play about sisters and their relationship, plus a new women’s writing/performance workshop called FIRESCRIBE.   

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher

 Featuring Sarah Gretzinger (Episode 5) 

The ART of painting a picture in a person's mind as she writes.

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher: Featuring Emily Maher (Episode 4)

The POWER of Women breaking one limitation after another.

Emily Tamayo Maher is a book coach and best-selling author in women's spirituality. She helps aspiring writers turn their own life-changing stories into books that capture the depth and significance of their experiences. Her clients have written memoirs, personal development, self-help, and fiction. As a consummate adventurer and expatriate, she’s made her life in Bogotá, Colombia with her husband Mauricio and son Martín. Her blogs and other writing resources can be found at www.meaningmethod.com.   

Announcing The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher 

Featuring The Journey of an Integral Woman (Episode 3)  

Why this Story Needs to be Told. 

This week, I'm going to pull back the veil and walk down memory lane with you as I share my journey in becoming a published author. How I overcame all those road blocks, finally having my thoughts into books, and my story to be told.  It wasn't an easy path but all the thorns along the way has made my writing all the more indelible to the reader.

The Story Behind the Story: Author Interview Series with Sierra Melcher 

Featuring The Radical Granddaughters (Episode 2): Why this Story Needs to be Told.  

These young women are going to blow your fuckin’ mind with their insight, wisdom & compassion. They have a story that needs to be told… and they are telling it.

A group of 6 young women from around the world have been working for over a year to tell the story of a village in Thailand. The #Radicalgrandmas of the village have been defending their home against international mining companies #environmental justice AND WINNING. Learn more about them @radicalgrandmacollective

This episode hears from two of the self-named #radicalgranddaughter who share both the story of the village & their own journey writing a collaborative children's book about the topic.

“This story has to be told because it challenges the narrative we have around women, older women and what braveness and courage is in general.”-Phanisree

The Story Behind the Story: Author interview series with Sierra Melcher; Featuring Dr. Adrienne MacIain (Episode 1)    

Meet our first guest: Dr. Adrienne is a creation coach, a best-selling author, a podcaster, and a storyteller who delights in using her PhD in Drama to help creators of all stripes spin the mucky straw of life experience into narrative gold. Her personal transformation from suicidal, eating disordered, PTSD-addled abuse victim trapped in what felt like an inescapable pattern of addictive behavior and compulsive people-pleasing, into the authentic, aligned thriver she is today, is sure to inspire any audience. And if all else fails, she can always bust out her favorite party trick. Live aligned, and live aloud!

WHY DO I MAKE SUCH A FUSS ABOUT WOMEN'S CIRCLE?

I just got off my Saturday Women's Circle call ... and it was miraculous.

SO WHT IS THE BIG DEAL???

Meet Sheridan, an alum of Integral Women’s Circle, shared how the combination of a pose of strong women, a mentor challenging her limiting stories, and one small change, completely transformed her life. Inspired? Intrigued? Ready for change? She shares a bit about why she came to circle 3+ years ago. 

DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

To be in a circle is to belong in a community that can be your safe space to tackle your fears and burdens. When dealing with everything, having the support that you need is essential.  So, dive into that sisterhood that is healthy and wholesome, that can boost your confidence, ability, and earn you lifetime tools to map your self-understanding.

Joining one is a pivotal thing and a catalyst that can push you to be the next person that you can be.  Challenge yourself to conquer the roadblocks and enjoy the deep relationships you build along the way. A challenge can feel threatening but can also be supportive,  realize that you actually can. Say yes!

Join us for a free circle Monday's @ 7pm EST

Are you setting yourself up for SUCCESS or DISAPPOINTMENT? It is a new year... and obviously a time to consider who you are becoming in the coming year. 

If you like this and want more