Over the years as we connected with incredible from folks from almost every imaginable industry we realized that every nook and cranny of our economy is full of small business owners, artists and creatives who live and breathe what they do – and their stories are nothing short of heroic. It’s the immigrant parents who overcame the odds and kept their small business alive for decades allowing their next generation to thrive and the artisans who pour their passion into every piece and refuse to let even the most common items remain mundane that make our communities come alive. The stories below will inspire you and we hope you’ll take the time to read and connect with these incredible folks.
Ashavari’s Story
I’ve been singing and performing my whole life – literally. I remember doing school talent shows for singing, public speaking and acting when I was 3 years old in Mumbai, India….but I don’t think I really took it that seriously until I enrolled in the arts program at my high school as a vocal music major. That’s where the training really began. At the time, I was not only a choir girl, doing classical voice & piano lessons – I was also experimenting with different rock & metal bands. I was probably in about 3-4 different bands throughout my teenage and adolescent years and even went on a mini-tour in Canada with the more serious one. Read more>>
Janis Danevics
I am where I am now thanks to God and the people I have met in my life, I was at the right time and place I started learning music from the age of 10, I was interested in soul funk and blues music I listen to such music as James Brown, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Aretha Franklin, Nat King Cole, etc. I gained more knowledge about this music by attending music festivals and master classes. Read more>>
Saira Mary Netto
My interest in textiles started at home in Kerala, India. I was very lucky to be surrounded by family and friends that loved to dress up and there was a lot of joy surrounding the process. Growing up in Kerala, I had access to see and experience wonderful artisans that have mastered their crafts in weaving and dyeing fabrics. There were also many stores filled with amazing fabrics to choose from and this truly set the tone for my love of textiles. Read more>>
Mishae Khan
Bold&Kind is a love letter to the woman that’s trying to be everything to everyone at the same time. Often at the expense of herself. That stops here. I call myself the accidental designer. Bold&Kind started because I needed a way to bridge what I was learning in therapy with the moments I needed those tools the most. My rings became that bridge. Here’s what happened: Once upon a long time ago, I started getting panic attacks for the first time in my life. If you’ve never had them, they’re f***ing scary. Read more>>
Suga of SugarSnaps LLC
Hello! I’m Miss Suga, the heart and soul behind SugarSnaps. My journey into the world of baking began in sixth grade when I brought cupcakes to a class potluck, igniting a lifelong passion for creating sweet treats. By eighth grade, my dream started taking shape in Mr. Roach’s business class, where I first conceptualized SugarSnaps, blending my love for sweets (Sugar) with my passion for poetry (Snaps). Read more>>
Jordan Swanson
After a life-changing heart surgery, I decided to move from Chicago to Los Angeles to pursue my career in music. I had always been a poet, and adored performing, but I needed to figure out how to put my words and melodies to music. I started taking guitar lessons, singing lessons, and teaching myself how to produce music on my own. Eventually, I began trying out different producers and meeting with other musicians, trying to form a band, but it wasn’t until I moved to Orange County that I found the right producer and bandmates. I tested out many different genres and musical styles, but it wasn’t until my move to Orange County that I also found my sound. Read more>>
Riana Sather’s Story
When I was thirteen years old, I picked up a pencil for the first time to draw. It took me approximately seventeen years and fifteen days to realize I was crazy enough to move up to Alaska from Texas all on my own. Being homeschooled my whole life gave me the opportunity to do this while I was still in high school! Fast forward a few years, I found myself distracted by the hustle and bustle of the food industry. I worked as a server, bartender, and cook all on the Alaska Railroad, but never really as an artist. However, when the covid pandemic first began, I lost three jobs in one week. While at the time things did not seem to be going very well, it actually gave me an opportunity to explore my goals as an artist. Read more>>
Varol Ozkaner
My journey into digital art began in the late 1990s. I was always fascinated by various forms of visual arts, specifically photography and videography, and by technology as separate entities. But the idea of merging technology and art was incredibly exciting. Back then, the digital art scene was just starting to gain traction, and I felt a strong urge to be a part of it. I started with basic image manipulation tools and techniques offered by different sources and software like Adobe Photoshop. It was a steep learning curve, but my passion for both art and technology kept me motivated. Around the mid-2010s, I gradually started to gain recognition in the digital art community. I participated in art exhibitions, both online and offline, and my work began to be featured in digital art magazines and blogs. Today, I am fortunate to work on a variety of projects, which have allowed me to collaborate with major brands and independent creators alike over the years. Read more>>
Rodrigo Pedrosa
“After a ten-year therapy process, I realized that I was born to be an artist and that art is fundamental for my mental and physical balance as a result. I spent over 40 years completely detached from the world of art until I fully immersed myself in this profession. Today, I am professionally fulfilled. There were many years of mental blockage that could only be resolved through therapy. That’s why I am very grateful to my therapist Carlos Eduardo Leal and to my wife Ana, who always supported me in this transition. Read more>>
Chris Arnold
As an artist, there isn’t a single definable starting point to my journey. Instead, there have been many pivotal moments that have allowed new chapters of my story to be written. One of the earliest and most influential moments was when my dad introduced me to comics as a small boy. This was my first real introduction to art, and I fell in love with the way stories filled the pages. The intricate line work, bold colors, and dynamic movement sparked my interest in recreating what I saw. Read more>>
Brian Bl
I started as simple as looking for how to make money online. It was a bit silly at first, but I honestly could see the endless amount of content there was on the topic. That was back in 2014. But when I really started my business professionally was in 2018, when I decided to really start my Marketing Famoso agency and today I can say that despite the difficulties we have achieved it. Read more>>
Janis Danevics
I am where I am now thanks to God and the people I have met in my life, I was at the right time and place I started learning music from the age of 10, I was interested in soul funk and blues music I listen to such music as James Brown, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Aretha Franklin, Nat King Cole, etc. I gained more knowledge about this music by attending music festivals and master classes. Read more>>
Allie Crawford of Kymera Media
In 1998, I started my degree in Visual Communication at Edinburgh College of Art with the intention of studying graphic design. However, I quickly fell in love with the magic of animation and I never looked back. I completed my degree (specialising in 2D animation) in 2002 and then moved to London to pursue a postgraduate degree in 2D animation at Central Saint Martins. That course was incredible and set the foundation for my career in commercial animation. Read more>>
Randi-lee Bowslaugh
My story can be a little on the long side, but the short version is that I struggled with depression starting at the age of 14. My brother was in and out of jail, my stepdad was an alcoholic, and I did not know how to fit in. Since then, I have been to therapy and realized I had depression, PTSD and autism. Many of the things I struggled with were linked back to the trauma that I had experienced or my executive functioning struggles. Read more>>
Jody Lavoie of The Grief Company & Widows in the Workplace
Wow. My story has many chapters. Long gone are the days when you start working at one company, get promoted along the way, and then retire. My career began in corporate small business sales, where I moved up the ladder, increasing the size of customers I served and expanding to international services. I was then recruited by one of my customers into nonprofit management for trade associations. In that role, I faced significant challenges with a particular client, leading to a difficult decision to quit my job without having another lined up. This decision was not handled well on my part, and it’s one of the few conversations I regret in my marriage since I did not engage in this conversation with my husband, I just told him that I was quitting. Read more>>
Bj Hill
Absolutely, I’d love to share my story! It all began with my passion for writing and a desire to innovate within the literary community. Writing as B.J. Hill, I explore deep emotional connections through my stories, crafting narratives that resonate with readers on a personal level. This same passion for storytelling sparked the idea for JibblyBitz, where we turn beloved literary elements into tangible, collectible items. Read more>>
Derick Nana Mbrah
From the centre of the world on the Green Which Meridian in the harbour and industrial city of Ghana, on Wednesday 30 September 1981 a child was born a son was given. my name is Derick nana Mbrah am self-thought artist i was born bread in the centre of the world Tema to be precise in the greater Accra region of Ghana ,growing up in the industrial city of Ghana where everything is environmentally busy i found and nurtured my God given talent. At a very tender age i discovered my ability in creativity learning from skilled people around me, i focused my Self practically doing every handy work from basket weaving, carpentry, masonry painting to name a few. Read more>>
Anez Ka
Anez Ka Arts (www.anezkaarts.com) was born in Malta, nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, and began as a hobby. Never did I foresee starting an art business, but the idea gradually took root in 2022 and blossomed into a full-fledged venture in 2024. My artistic journey has evolved towards luxurious simplicity, where the pinnacle of impact is achieved through minimalist forms. From the outset, it was evident that abstract art would be my medium of choice, offering me unparalleled creative freedom. Also for collectors, it represents a realm of complete interpretive liberty. Read more>>
Austen Nobles
I’ve been producing since 2010 but started becoming an artist in 2014. I dropped a couple of mixtapes under the name “Nobility” and, in 2016, went through a bit of a crisis with it. I fought between what’s best for “Nobility” as a brand and for myself as Austen. In 2017, I took a year to develop my production style, and in 2018, I came back as “Austen Nobles.” In 2018-2019, I released seventeen singles and a self-produced album, “Sir Noble.” I had a good run of events and shows until COVID-19 hit. Read more>>
Jaelyn Clay’s Story
My name is Jaelyn Clay. I was born and raised in Southeast, Washington, DC. I am a visual artist and entrepreneur. Art has always been my passion. I have studied art in high school and in college where I attended the arts school at Virginia Commonwealth University. Once I graduated with a bachelors of fine arts I decided to make a business out of my artwork. I love to create. I create works of art through paintings, wearable customs, and even custom press-on nail sets. My works are accessible through my website, www.jaelasoull.com along with my Etsy shop, JaeLaSoull. I also have a growing following of 40k+ on TikTok where I showcase my art as well under the same name. I love to add my artistic touch to things. Read more>>
Alex Cronin
I have always felt an urge to create. Throughout most of my 20s, I was actually a songwriter. I work with everyone from local music artists to film companies to established artists like MGK and Vybz Kartel.One day, I decided to channel my creativity into a different medium: fashion. I began designing hats with this idea that freedom is a state of mind. What started as a personal project for myself and my friends quickly turned into the Permanent Vacation brand. This unexpected progression from music to fashion allowed me to explore new avenues of artistic expression. I have always felt that everyone is an artist deep down, sometimes it’s just about finding your medium of expression. Read more>>
Taidyn Kiggins
Im a 19 year old , neurodivergent singer/songwriter and novelist. I’ve been writing songs since I was 14 and am completely self taught in that regard. When I was 11 my family had to abruptly move to southern California because my career as a talk show host and actress took off. At that time I was doing commercials for Mattel and brands of the like, and hosting a red carpet talk show called “Talk with Taydyn.” During The pandemic everything came to a halt, and I lost the career that me and my family had spent countless hours and dollars building. In the midst, I experienced a lot of trauma, including losing my best friend of 13 years, almost losing my mom, and I slowly lost my entire identity too. Read more>>
Katiuscia Baggio
I discovered my passion for the human sciences in high school, where I trained as a kindergarten teacher. That’s where I had the opportunity to study pedagogy, psychology, and the methodologies necessary to support the psychological development of children. It was then that I truly grasped the importance of having faith in human beings and their capacity for growth. Read more>>
Josh Moulton
Started painting when I was 3 yrs old in my Dad’s studio in our house. He was a prefessional artist. Illustrator in NYC during the 1940’s- 60’s for all of the ad agencies. By the time I was born he was doing portraits, landscapes, abstracts in our home and I learned from him. I pursued it because I had the ability and enjoyed it. It was and is my calling. Hard work and dedication led me to where I am now. I was a Studio Art major at a small liberal arts college with a 4 yr art scholarship. I started selling my paintings in high school. Around 2005 I was picked up by several galleries around the country (Santa Fe, NYC, Chicago, Winnetka). In 2011 I decided to open my own gallery in Chicago. Read more>>
Allan Teger
I was a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 when I first began my series of Bodyscape Photographs. This work (www.bodyscapes.com) changed my life. I had been teaching research social psychology – conflict resolution, attitude change, decision making etc – but gradually had changed my focus. At this time I was also a volunteer at the HELP free clinic in Philadelphia (this was in 1976 – during the hippy days!) and I found that my friends at the clinic were into psychology of consciousness, mysticism, and eastern philosophy. This changed my focus and I began to teach these new subjects to my students. Read more>>
Gian Paolo Avanzo
I have always had a strong love for music and have always wanted to publish my songs, but I never had the time to give it any thought. This dream was in a draw and I opened it from time to time to keep some musical ideas and wishes. Years went by, and as I was enjoying my life without attempting to fulfil this desire, a sense of urgency began to grow within of me. I believed that until you do something, you can never truly tell how it will work out. I mean, in the end, I had nothing to lose? Read more>>
Van Verhoeven of B-normous
It all started in 1999 with a video camera…In high school there was a tech class that showed us how to edit different types of videos. This led to me and my friends filming music videos (thanks MTV). At this time, I had no idea how to play an instrument. For my birthday, my mom gave me a guitar that I learned how to play with the aid of tabs on the internet. When you have a guitar and music videos, you obviously want to start a band. Post high school, we took being a band more seriously. We moved up from bars to national concert venues. In 2010, our band was named Best Band In Denver. Like any great group, we broke up. Not wanting to be in the spotlight, I started B-normous productions in 2012 to help other bands make a bigger name for themselves. My love for producing grew and has led to the success of B-nourmous today. Read more>>
Akleema Ali of The Reiki Lighthouse
I crossed paths with Reiki when I was doing personal research about how to balance my chakras. I have always had an interest in the metaphysical and in how a person’s energy field may be affected by their thoughts and emotions. My initial research to balance my own energy field led me to the chakra system. The chakra system is a fundamental concept in various Eastern spiritual traditions, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism, describing the seven main energy centers in the human body. Each chakra is believed to be a spinning wheel of energy that corresponds to specific physical, emotional, and spiritual functions. These chakras start from the base of the spine and ascend to the top of the head, each associated with a different color, element, and set of attributes. Read more>>
Christopher Wealth
What’s the word, it’s Christopher Wealth aka Mr.Handsome checking in, how I got started in fashion started off with an inspiration and a dream. In High School my fashion teacher told me that I have a lot of drive to pursue anything when it came to fashion. Around this time I went from watching music artist such as A$AP Rocky, Pharrell, Kanye, DMX and Lil Uzi, to watching runway shows with Jeremy Scott, Pyer Moss, Margiela, and Dior. I had this drive to take fashion far so once I got into college (The Art Institute) I went from pursuing my dreams of a fashion stylist, to becoming a model. Since I started flowing in harmony with this dream, it landed me into New Work Fashion Week, getting recognize by big brands such as Ralph Lauren, Chicago Over Everything, Zara, Mnml, Levi and many more. Also traveling doing runway shows, meeting photographers and having a new found love/ beauty for life and its creation. Read more>>
Theophile Victoria
I started in entrepreneurship 2 and a half years ago working under my sister who launched her own business. It was perfect because my skillset complimented hers in addition to being what the business was missing. Additionally, because my college degrees (An associates in Business Administration and Bachelor’s in Dance w/ theater minor) didn’t line-up directly with my work experience I had a rough time in the traditional job market. Read more>>
Troy Freyee
About 15 years ago, I impulsively bought an inexpensive camera off eBay and decided that very day to become a photographer. With no prior knowledge, I improvised for a few years, working at a talent agency taking headshots. Realizing I wasn’t achieving the results I wanted, I pursued a diploma in Photo Imaging to grasp the technical aspects better. This experience helped me discover my style, and my career started to flourish. Along the way, I met incredible people in the industry, which expanded my network. Read more>>
Svetlana Toropoviene
I was born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, in the international family of Lithuanian-German-Russian origin. That is why I can speak fluently and compose songs in few languages. From the early age music and singing was always a part of me. My musical journey on stage started when I was only 5 years old. After few successful performances on stage, few music teachers noticed my exclusive talent, my absolute ear and started to prepare me for various local “Kids’ Voice Contests”. In 1984 I was awarded with a title of winner of “Kids’ Voice: Song of the Songs” contest. Read more>>
Julia Loglisci
Hey I’m Julia, A full time photographer and business owner based out of Victoria, Canada. I am am born and raised in this beautiful city, and I like to think I have that “home town advantage”, but in all honesty, I have worked hard to get to where I am. I grew up with a very passionate, Italian family. I love to cook, play soccer, and practice yoga. I have an amazing community of friends and I love to travel and take my camera all over to world. Read more>>
Polly Guo
Adventure Time, She-Ra, StoryCorps, each was a dream project for an artist and writer. But the dream projects faded away, and I took work I wasn’t as excited about. And I became worse at what I did, because I no longer cared about it. Worse, I hated making art. I was always thinking about if this worked for the brand, if it would get any likes or if anyone would care. I felt trapped. I felt isolated and hopeless. I realized I needed something else out of work: people. Now I facilitate comics workshops for social and emotional health. I help students and professionals recover from burnout. Read more>>
Winnie V
It all started with a passion for writing, creating, and connecting with people from around the world. When you allow yourself to create, step out of your comfort zone, and try new things, it’s amazing what you’ll discover and accomplish along the way. Read more>>
Gabe Rosenn
I’ve always been interested in the creative arts; movies, writing, comedy, music, cartooning. From the time I could hold a pencil, I’d draw funny pictures, and later in grade school, with a love for Looney Tunes became interested in animation. At summer camp, I discovered claymation, and in middle school, did an exhaustive paper about special effects in the movies- ranging from the work of Ray Harryhausen in King Kong to Industrial, Light, and Magic with the Star Wars films. Later, in early high school, I pursued animation at the Museum School, part of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and developed an affinity for the irreverent humor of Ren and Stimpy, and films from the Spike and Mike Animation Festival. Read more>>
Alexander Durow’s Story
I just have a passion- or maybe more of an obsession- with creating. It’s always felt like what I’m meant to do with my life. My family has a video of me banging on pots and pans with wooden spoons- like a makeshift drum set- at like 2 years old… I started piano at 7, producing at 13, I released my first album at 19, played my first stadium set at 21, started learning guitar at 22, and now I record other artists and work on songs/albums/projects that pull me in creatively. I just released an album I spent 4 years working on, It’s called ’98Warhol’ and it’s the end of a tragically chaotically beautiful era- and beginning of a new exciting time- in my life. I guess I’m just focused on working growing as a human, and getting the ideas always playing in my head onto a physical medium. I’m finally starting to get good at guitar haha, and that’s fun ‘cuz I have so many songs I’ve written for the guitar, now I can start to make those songs for real. Read more>>
Chris Denmead
I have always was creative and wanted to be a writer more and more. In my 20s I never found the way to express my self as someone creative. When I was 27 I started the Radio of Horror show on WCUW in Worcester MA. Eventually I came up with the idea of Gender Swapping Dracula in a graphics novel . It now has two comic books a short story collection an audio book and a possible play coming. My next big project is the tv show about Dead comic book writers and artists. and a personal story about Mental Health. Read more>>
John Riddle
I am the author of 34 books with a variety of traditional publishers, and so far have self-published 3 books for writers. My byline has appeared in major publications all across the U.S., and I have written articles for over 200 websites. In 2002 I launched “I Love To Write Day” as a grassroots campaign to have people of all ages spend time writing every November 15th. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of ILTWD, I published the “I Love To Write Day Creative Writing Journal” on Amazon. It contains 30 Creative Challenges, plus tips from 87 experts from all around the globe on how to be more creative. Read more>>
Amy Gilvary Noël Cody Mumford’s Story
Theater invites you to step outside of yourself and take big personal risks. As theater kids, we grew up knowing that these experiences were unlike any other and deeply felt the positive impact that they had. It was important to both of us that we pay it forward. Creative Co-Op is all about cultivating imagination, making LOUD mistakes, being brave, and asking “What if?” We’re always throwing out new and wild ideas. Read more>>
Christy Holt of www.coachchristyholt.com
As with most people, my own personal journey of turning my mess into my message has brought me to where I am today. Let’s pick up the story somewhere mid-mess.In my not-too-distant past, I found myself in an unhappy marriage, and as an individual, I had completely lost sight of who I was. I was a stay-at-home mom of three young boys, having left my career as a professional accountant to raise my family. It hadn’t taken me long to realize I didn’t want to return to that line of work, and my family became my top priority. Read more>>
Erin Dragoo of Lunch Money
For most of my life, I never knew what I wanted to do. I found that I was good at a lot of things, but I hadn’t found what I was great at. I did hair for a while, but it didn’t fulfill me. I went back to school and graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. I will say that I absolutely loved college — I wished going to school was a career! After graduation, I started freelancing social media strategies and doing web design for small businesses. Read more>>
Milan-devi Labrey’s Story
My journey with children began in my early 20s, driven by a desire to give back during the holidays. Without my own family to share those special moments, I would gather friends and colleagues to donate gifts and spend time at youth homes and orphanages during Christmas. It was during this time that I also became a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The profound impact of working with these children, especially those in foster care or facing traumatic experiences, inspired me to write children’s books. At the time, there was a noticeable lack of representation for these children in the literary world, a gap that I was passionate about filling. Read more>>
Dg Adams
I wrote poetry and song lyrics for years without ever considering it as a professional activity. I was an actor for many years before I turned to songwriting and recording professionally. All that began with encouragement from my buddy and fellow actor Torquil Campbell, now with the well known Montreal band Stars. I made my first record in 2011 and have produced 4 more since then. Read more>>
Bas And Priska Waijers’s Story
Our love started under challenging circumstances. We met in a Facebook group of like-minded, free-thinking spiritual people. We were both drawn to each other’s energies, so we began to hang out online. At that time, Bas lived in the Netherlands, and Priska resided in Switzerland. Bas could suddenly see, feel, and smell Priska during a global meditation. This experience blew him off his socks, for he had never experienced anything like it. Priska had the same experience and was freaked out about the amount of love she felt during Bas’ energetic presence. After the second meditation a week later, where the same magical phenomenon occurred, Bas dared to open up about what had happened. At that point, Priska felt encouraged to share her experiences with him. Read more>>
Yimei(emair) Zhu
Choosing to become an artist has been a long and evolving journey for me. There were many days when I questioned whether I should continue on this path, but I always came back to the same conclusion: Yes, I want to be an artist. I feel fortunate because, unlike many who spend their lives searching for their true calling, I have found mine, even if the process has been slow. In some ways, my growth has been different from those with high intelligence or grand ambitions who seem to have their paths set from the beginning. I consider myself more of a slow learner, taking things one step at a time. Rather than saying I’ve become an artist, I prefer to say that I’ve found a way to live with an artist’s mindset. This approach allows me to see the world from unique perspectives and embrace the journey with patience and perseverance. Read more>>
Dominque Robbins
As far as music, I started at age two basically lol. My grandmother would have me in my baby seat at her feet in the choir stand at church in Hawaii. She said I was trying to sing right along with them. I started showing more interest at three and then it blossomed into me playing instruments in school and church such as violin, viola cello piano and percussion/drums. I even got to play for the chamber orchestra in Colorado Springs and behind many gospel and Christian artists around the country. Read more>>
Leia Owen of Leia Owen – Marketing & Business Consultant, LLC
Officially, I started my journey in marketing as a passion project and side hustle in 2015 – gradually evolving it into a full-time career by December 2019. The initial stages involved balancing multiple roles in the part-time jobs I was juggling, but the turning point came when I fully committed my energy and efforts to digital marketing and event management. However – my journey really started in childhood. My uncle ran a gym in Downtown Hudson that I used to play in as a kid and now has several businesses in Florida, my dad runs a business that services and sells luxury automobiles, and my grandmother runs her own boutique travel agency… so I’ve been inspired by entrepreneurs my whole life and was encouraged to pursue running my own business from a young age. Read more>>
Cospayton
Back in the day as a baby cosplayer making Winter Soldier arms out of leggings and fun foam, I was shocked at the lack of cosplay-specific resources at the time. A lot of cosplayers at the time were flying solo and winging it, myself included. Tutorials were few and far between with the ones we had often being limited, as were our materials. Read more>>
Velle Kimble
Since the beginning of my journey in 2021 I have came a long way. When it first came to my mind that I wanted to pursue a career in acting I was a bit unsure at first. But as I continued to grow over the years throughout the process I received more clarity and assurance in realizing that acting is a gift that I was blessed with. There is no better feeling in the world than to be able to wake up each and everyday to do what I love to do. Though in my beginning stages it wasn’t easy I had to put in a lot of hours to get to where I’m at in my career today. Many days where I wanted to give up I stayed consistent and kept pursuing. Through divine faith and wisdom I knew one day I would reach a point a point in my career where all of the “ No’s” would turn into a positive outcome because of my level of hard work and dedication. Read more>>
Bryan Cole
I’ve loved the fantasy genre for as long as I can remember. I vividly remember the first fantasy novel I ever read – Dragons of Autumn Twilight – and the first time I watched movies that inspired me, like Star Wars and Willow. The first day I started reading the Eye of the World, I recall getting close to the end and feeling tired, then realizing it was 5 am and I had school starting soon. Falling into a world, and loving (or hating) the characters within it has always appealed to me. Read more>>
Ania Ray of Quill & Cup
How does a “regular” Catholic high school teacher become a CEO and cofounder of an international writing community for women? By being an “I don’t know” babe, never missing a therapy session, and going “all in” with your support system. For six years, I was living what I had worked so hard for: I was a high school English teacher planning curriculum and the most engaging ways to teach it; chaperoning field trips and dances; and doing my best to show up for my students on a daily basis. Add in the dreams of finally writing a novel and the part-time gigs that were supplementing my meager Catholic school teacher’s income, and it wasn’t a surprise that my perfectionism, workaholism, and high-functioning anxiety were coming to a head. The piles of papers to grade kept growing at the same rate as my burnout, and it wasn’t long before I was writing a resignation letter, packing up our things into storage, and planning a year-long move to Costa Rica with my husband, Cody, and our cat Bahama. Did I mention I was tired of getting my period after years of trying to conceive and our marriage was in crisis? Read more>>
Ignacio Arreola-vidal
I was born in Mexico City in 1977, the eldest son in a family of five and the only male. My parents were hardworking, typical middle-class Mexicans who lacked formal education. Despite never lacking love or attention, something was missing in my life: friends. As a very timid and introverted kid, I found solace in my imagination due to the lack of interaction with other children. Movies became my refuge, and every Sunday, my dad and I would visit a bustling street market in Mexico City to pick up the latest VHS tapes. Those magnetic tapes fueled my creativity. Read more>>
Bonnie Zahn Griffith
My art journey began at an early age of 5 when I declared to my parents that I was going to be an artist Having the advantage to being the child of parents who appreciated art made it seem an easy proclamation . My mother was a visual artist and father a musician who encouraged the artistic endeavors of a child. Even though I pursued a career in the medical world, art was always there with occasional exhibits both solo and group shows. In 2009 I took the opportunity to launch my art career full time and haven’t looked back. I approached this with a business plan and created a model that included fine art creations, teaching workshops in art and marketing the art. I was fortunate in being invited to join several galleries that have represented my work for years. Read more>>
Aaron Drew of Lucid Vibes Entertainment Ltd.
I started in music as a young musician, playing piano at the age of 5, transitioning into drums/percussion at 10. My journey of music production and songwriting started from 12 to 14 years-old. Fast forward to 2013 and I put myself through audio school and received my Audio Engineering and Music Production diploma from SAE. It’s been a long journey of gaining knowledge and experience while acquiring professional gear to add to my recording studio under my company Lucid Vibes Entertainment Ltd. which I opened in 2017. Read more>>