We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amy Collette. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amy below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

My family was great at keeping secrets. Our suburban home looked the part, and all of us kids played along to make our family seem stable. But behind the green lawn and brick façade were the messy dynamics of addiction. The financial uncertainty, the fighting parents, the liquor bottles hidden in the laundry hamper. We showed up at school and church with clean clothes and combed hair, looking like all the other “normal” kids who were probably hiding their own secrets at home.
Dad’s steady walk and smooth driving didn’t let on that he was drinking a fifth of whiskey all day, every day. At home, the clue to his drinking was his personality. Sober, he was easygoing and fun, the Cool Dad who took us hiking and camping. Nasty Dad showed up under the influence, making abusive remarks that left lasting, unseen scars. By the time I was a teenager, I was used to my parents fighting about money, used to walking on eggshells, and used to the stress and anxiety that was a constant in our home.
I was fourteen on the hot summer day I took the bus alone to visit Dad in the rehab hospital where he was supposedly getting sober. But I sat freezing in the sterile green waiting room, hugging myself for warmth but also for comfort. I’d never been in a rehab hospital before, and I was scared about seeing him for the first time in the couple of weeks since he had been gone. Arrested for not having a current driving license, he was taken straight to rehab when he started going through withdrawal in jail.
Waiting to be taken back to see him, I wondered what I would say. And what could he say to me that would mean anything? I was so used to empty promises, I was braced to hear more.
When I walked into his room, the man I saw looked twenty years older than my dad. His face was gaunt, his skin gray. Only his vibrant blue eyes were familiar. He motioned me over to sit next to his bed. Locking eyes with me, he said, “Ames, I’m never gonna drink again.”
I don’t remember if I rolled my eyes. I probably did because that’s how I felt. And I was fourteen, after all. I had become a die-hard skeptic, knowing anything that came out of his mouth was manufactured to keep his addiction fed. Alcohol had taken our family down. Every time he had to choose between us and alcohol, the booze won. Why would now be any different?
When I left that day, I thought about what he had said. While my inner skeptic was on full alert and didn’t believe he could change, some part of me knew that I had never seen him so determined. The part inside that had heard too many broken promises was battling with the part holding onto a scrap of hope.
Over the next weeks, I saw a different man emerge. Sober Dad was pretty fun, taking us kids on outdoor adventures. It turns out that he was pretty smart too, inventing new products that resulted in a business he would run for forty years.
But I didn’t trust it for a minute. I knew he could return to Nasty Dad any time. Over the next few years, I saw him stay sober, even during hard times like losing his workshop in a fire. We eventually became companions, sharing books and discussing life. He was openly proud of me, always encouraging me to follow in his entrepreneurial footsteps. As I grew into adulthood, my hardened outlook softened, and I finally trusted him.
Dad was forty-seven years old that day in rehab. Until he died at eighty-six, he kept his promise and never drank again.
I realize now that I witnessed a miracle. I understand how rarely this kind of turnaround happens, especially on the first attempt. I admire my dad for his strength, commitment, and perseverance.
Being a witness to his rebirth changed my life. It made me a believer in the power of transformation. I got my Cool Dad back. I got to witness the profound change in him, and I got to experience a huge transformation in myself—from a hardened cynic at fourteen to someone motivated by gratitude and positivity as an adult.
This miracle experience got me hooked on transformation and the power it has to change lives.
What I do now is a direct result of the profound effect of witnessing and experiencing that transformation. My movement is called Positively Powered, created to help raise the positive vibration of the planet. That means that my Unleash Your Inner Author framework is designed to guide visionary leaders to leave their legacy in print.
I know firsthand the power of transformation. I think you do too.
(Excerpt from my book, Unleash Your Impact.)

Amy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Before founding Unleash Your Inner Author, I was a professional writer and editor and then became a published author, which helped me to understand the process (and struggles) from a personal as well as professional standpoint. Now, coaching first-time authors to attain their dreams of holding their published books in their hands is a joy for me.

The people we serve are successful speakers, leaders, and entrepreneurs who have been thinking about writing a book for a long time but are not sure how to get started. They want to create a legacy – it’s important to them. The main motivation my clients have for writing a book is to make a difference. Their books give them the credibility, visibility, and influence to make a positive impact on their ideal readers/clients. For some, becoming an author is a lifelong dream. For others it is a desire to help. The motivation for others is leaving a legacy of their ideas, their stories, or their process (or some combination of those things). Many people lack the confidence when they first come to me or struggle with what I call “fear-dragons.” The goal of my Unleash Your Inner Author program is to give first-time authors the needed confidence and mindset so they can finally write the book they’ve been dreaming of.

One of our important business principles is that the process of becoming an author is a vulnerable awakening. Many other publishers overlook that. Having a deep sense of what support authors need enables us to help them feel empowered.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think a couple of things have helped build my reputation. One is that I walk my talk. I am an author, and I’m vulnerable about my own process. The kind of books that I’m interested in are books of the heart, so that vulnerability is a built-in part of the process and is not always easy. It takes a certain kind of courage to put your personal stories down in print. The “fear dragons” of worry about judgment, perfectionism, procrastination, and imposter syndrome all spring to life when you’re writing a book. Having been through all that, I know that it comes into play and is a beautiful opportunity to work through barriers that have held people back. Writing a book is a powerful path to personal development for authors, just as our books are for our readers.

Another is that I get to show off all the incredible authors and their world-class books. Every week, I feature an author client and their unique story. It’s a fun way for me to brag about them, and a great way for others to learn about them and the work we do to support them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the lesson that I should run my business like everyone else does. As an entrepreneur, it’s tempting to find a system that works for someone else and adopt it. But what I’ve found is that business is like writing a book – every one is unique. My business requires me to organize it the way that works for me and my clients. That sometimes means creating unique systems or methods and listening to understand what support new authors really need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://unleashyourinnerauthor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unleashyourinnerauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amycollettecasey/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycollette/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnXhJicO1m3hdGydngJ-WbA
• Other: Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/46bA6QCUnleash
• Your Impact: unleashyourinnerauthor.com/unleash-your-impact/