So honored to be a guest on one of my favorite book industry podcasts... Listen to the full breakdown here ⬇️ 🍎Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/btb174-sierra-melcher-author-ceo-red-thread-publishing/id1352053720?i=1000756686871

You can increase credibility by ADDING experience to your LinkedIn Profile Authors of FEMME LED or any book, esp Red Thread Anthologies see @Diana Frank's example and @Asya Dimitrova's announcement post

I’ll go first. For me, it would be Ernest Hemingway. I’ve read most of his books. I’ve visited his home in Key West. And yes… I’ve even “partied” with fellow fans during Hemingway Days years ago. There’s something about his spare, disciplined prose that fascinates me. So much emotion beneath so few words. The famous iceberg theory, what’s unsaid carrying more weight than what’s written. My question for him would be: "How did you decide what to leave out?" "How did you know when restraint would say more than explanation?" As someone who writes from story, experience, and heart… that balance between what to reveal and what to withhold is endlessly intriguing to me. I tend to overexplain things and sometime it takes me 4 or 5 reads and rewrites to whittle out the 'fluff.' So, if you could sit across the table from any author with no time limits, who would it be… and what would you ask them about how they write? ps. image created with AI ...

This is A FOLLOW_FEST - if you are not on INSTAGRAM... list your FAVORITE social platform - How to play the FOLLOW FEST: Put your social GRAM link below... and follow all ... we can support & elevate one another. I just followed our two newest authors... and it is cool to see what they are up to and to watch their book become a part of their messaging. FOLLOW https://www.instagram.com/redthreadbooks Add your link & we will follow back... and often reshare your book/writing/impact related content!!!

Every writer has origin stories. Not just the moment we decided to write, but the books that quietly (or boldly) gave us permission. And the belief we could be writers. The ones that stretched us. Challenged us. Made us believe, “You have something to say, too.” Here are three that influenced my journey: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron - A creative recovery classic that encourages artists to reclaim their voice through tools like Morning Pages and Artist Dates. This book likely influenced me by normalizing the creative process — reminding me that creativity isn’t a lightning bolt; it’s a practice. It gave me structure around inspiration and permission to take my creative calling seriously. The Self-Publishing Manual by Dan Poynter - A practical, empowering guide that demystifies the publishing process and hands the control back to the author. This book likely shifted my mindset from “Maybe someday” to “Why not now?” It reframed publishing as accessible and actionable and gave me the steps to do it. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey - A timeless framework for intentional living and leadership. While not a writing book per se, it likely influenced me by reinforcing discipline, clarity of vision, and the power of proactive action, qualities every author needs to actually finish and share their work. I loved the way it was laid out and thought it would make a good model for writing a book. For me, writing has never just been about putting words on paper. It’s been about sharing stories, experiences and possibilities. Your turn: What 3 books influenced you to write? Which one changed how you see yourself as an author? What book gave you the courage to begin? Look forward to reading your list!