We were lucky to catch up with Amy M. Le recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amy M., appreciate you joining us today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

For me, creative work and business-building have always been deeply connected. I’m an author, but I’m also the founder of Quill Hawk Publishing (https://www.quillhawkpublishing.com), so my journey wasn’t simply about selling books; it was about creating an ecosystem around storytelling, publishing, and helping other voices be heard. That absolutely did not happen overnight.

In the beginning, like many creatives, I wore multiple hats. I was writing, learning the publishing industry, building relationships, marketing books, designing opportunities for authors, and figuring out how to turn passion into sustainability. There were seasons where the work was fueled more by belief than by profit. I think many artists experience that tension between creating meaningful work and learning how to monetize it responsibly.

One of the biggest turning points was realizing that creativity alone is not enough. You also need infrastructure, visibility, and community. That realization helped shape Quill Hawk Publishing into more than a hybrid publishing company. We focused on branding, marketing, author education, media opportunities, podcasting, partnerships, and long-term career development for writers. Instead of relying on a single income stream, we built multiple avenues tied to storytelling and publishing.

Another major milestone was understanding the importance of relationships and visibility. Collaborations, media appearances, podcast interviews, partnerships, and community engagement opened doors that talent alone often cannot. The literary world is built on connection as much as craft.

I would also say that embracing authenticity accelerated things for me. Early on, many creatives feel pressure to fit into industry molds, but audiences respond to honesty, vulnerability, and mission-driven work. Quill Hawk Publishing’s mission—“Amplifying diverse voices one story at a time”—became more than a slogan. It became the foundation of how we approached publishing and the kinds of stories we wanted to champion.

Have I been able to earn a full-time living from creative work? Yes, but it evolved gradually and strategically. It came from combining authorship, publishing, speaking, media, partnerships, consulting, and community-building into a sustainable creative career.

If I could speed up the process, knowing what I know now, I would have done three things sooner: invested earlier in marketing and visibility, built scalable systems earlier, and charged appropriately for my expertise. Many creatives spend years perfecting their work but very little time learning about audience building, branding, or publicity. I spent a lot of time doing everything manually. Learning delegation, workflows, and operational structure sooner would have saved enormous energy. Many creatives undervalue themselves at the beginning. Experience, storytelling knowledge, publishing insight, and creative leadership all have real value.

Most importantly, I learned that success in creative industries is rarely linear. There are setbacks, pivots, reinventions, and moments of doubt. But persistence matters. Community matters. And purpose matters. For me, the goal was never simply to publish books; it was to create meaningful impact through stories and to help other voices find their place in the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an author, publisher, podcast host, creative entrepreneur, and the founder of Quill Hawk Publishing, a hybrid publishing company based in Edmond, Oklahoma, and built around the mission of “Amplifying diverse voices one story at a time.” At the heart of everything I do is storytelling, not just creating stories, but helping people reclaim, preserve, and share them in meaningful ways.

My journey into publishing and creative work came from a deep love of stories and a recognition that many important voices are often overlooked by traditional systems. As both a writer and someone who has navigated personal and generational stories connected to identity, resilience, family, and cultural history, I became passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and empowered to tell the truth of their experiences.

Like many creatives, I didn’t begin with a perfect roadmap. I learned the industry from the inside out through writing, self-publishing, marketing, networking, interviewing authors, building relationships, and listening closely to what writers actually needed. Over time, I realized that many authors weren’t just struggling to write books; they were struggling to navigate an intimidating publishing landscape that often feels inaccessible, overwhelming, or transactional. That realization ultimately led me to build Quill Hawk Publishing as a more author-centered, collaborative, and educational publishing experience.

Today, Quill Hawk Publishing works with authors across a wide range of genres and backgrounds. We provide hybrid publishing services, including editing, book design, branding, marketing, publicity, audiobook services, digital media strategy, author coaching, screenwriting support, and so much more. We also help authors understand the business side of publishing, which is often overlooked in creative spaces.

What sets us apart is that we approach publishing as both an art and a partnership. We don’t believe authors should feel like numbers in a system. We spend time understanding the heart behind the story and the goals behind the book. Some authors come to us after difficult experiences elsewhere. Others are first-time writers who simply need guidance and encouragement. Many are carrying stories that are deeply personal, vulnerable, or culturally significant. We try to meet them with empathy, transparency, and genuine collaboration.

I’m also the host of the Quixotic Heights Podcast, where I interview authors, artists, entrepreneurs, advocates, scholars, and change-makers from many different walks of life. Those conversations have become one of the most rewarding parts of my work because they remind me how powerful storytelling can be in connecting people across experiences, cultures, and perspectives.

One of the things I’m most proud of is creating opportunities for voices that might otherwise go unheard. Whether it’s helping a memoir author share a difficult truth, supporting a veteran telling their story, elevating underrepresented perspectives, or preserving pieces of cultural and family history, I believe storytelling has the power to heal, educate, challenge, and unite people.

I’m especially passionate about preserving stories connected to heritage, identity, and lived experience. Some stories are entertainment, but others become part of a larger historical and emotional record for future generations. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.

I also want people to know that creative work does not have to come at the expense of kindness or integrity. Publishing can sometimes feel competitive or gatekept, but I’ve always wanted Quill Hawk Publishing to feel human first. We value relationships, authenticity, and advocacy for authors.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away from my work and my brand, it’s this: stories matter. Your voice matters. And sometimes the story you are afraid to tell is the very story someone else needs to hear.

At its core, my work is about helping people transform lived experiences into something lasting… something that can inspire, comfort, challenge, or empower others long after the final page is turned.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the most defining lessons in resilience for me came from building a creative career and a publishing company in an industry with no guarantees, no clear blueprint, and very little room for self-doubt if you want to survive.

There were moments early on when I questioned whether I could truly build something sustainable around storytelling and publishing. Like many entrepreneurs and creatives, I faced setbacks that people on the outside rarely see, such as financial uncertainty, exhaustion, missed opportunities, projects that didn’t unfold as I’d hoped, and the emotional weight of carrying both creative vision and business responsibility at once.

But one experience that deeply shaped me was realizing how many authors came to me discouraged, overwhelmed, or even hurt by their prior publishing experiences. Some had been dismissed by traditional gatekeepers. Others had invested significant time, money, and trust into processes that left them feeling invisible or unsupported. I remember speaking with authors who were on the verge of giving up entirely, people who believed their stories no longer mattered because the industry had made them feel small.

That became a turning point for me.

I realized resilience was not just about surviving difficult moments personally; it was about continuing to create spaces for others even when the work was hard. Building Quill Hawk Publishing required persistence through uncertainty, long hours, steep learning curves, and the constant challenge of balancing creativity with entrepreneurship. There were times when growth was slow and moments when the safer option would have been to scale back or walk away.

Instead, I leaned deeper into the mission.

I focused on building authentic relationships, continuing to learn the industry, advocating for authors, and creating opportunities that aligned with our values rather than chasing shortcuts. Over time, those small, consistent efforts compounded into something meaningful—partnerships, published books, media opportunities, podcast conversations, and a growing community of writers and creatives who trusted us with their stories.

Another layer of resilience in my journey comes from understanding the importance of preserving stories tied to identity, heritage, family, and lived experience. Some stories carry generational pain, displacement, sacrifice, or survival. Working within that space taught me that storytelling itself is an act of resilience. Choosing to speak, write, remember, and create, especially after hardship, is powerful.

What I’ve learned is that resilience rarely looks dramatic in real time. Often, it looks like continuing anyway. Continuing to build. Continuing to create. Continuing to believe in the value of stories even when the path forward is unclear.

I think many people imagine resilience as fearlessness, but for me, resilience has been the willingness to keep moving forward despite uncertainty and to help others do the same through storytelling, publishing, and creative community.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely. One of the biggest misconceptions I had was believing that talent and hard work alone are enough to build a sustainable creative career. Creativity is essential, but understanding the business, marketing, and operational side of creative work is equally important.

One of the resources I wish I had discovered earlier was access to transparent publishing education. So many authors enter the industry without fully understanding publishing models, contracts, royalties, rights management, branding, audience-building, or long-term career strategy. There’s often a steep learning curve, and unfortunately, some creatives learn through expensive mistakes or disappointing experiences.

I was lucky to have access to strong creative communities and mentorship when I started writing. Creative work can feel isolating, especially when you are building something unconventional or entrepreneurial. Having conversations with experienced authors, publishers, podcasters, marketers, and entrepreneurs accelerated my understanding of the industry and helped me avoid trying to figure everything out on my own. I hope more creatives seek community and membership as resources.

Another resource I underestimated early on was media and platform-building. I used to think the work itself would naturally find its audience. Over time, I learned that visibility matters. Podcasts, public relations, networking, speaking opportunities, social media strategy, email lists, advertising, and collaborations are not distractions from creative work but are essential in sustaining it. That realization shaped a lot of the work we now do through Quill Hawk Publishing to help authors not only publish books but also build meaningful platforms around their stories.

I also wish I had understood earlier the importance of systems and scalability. Many creatives spend years operating in survival mode, doing everything themselves. Learning about workflows, delegation, automation, project management, and sustainable business structure would have saved a tremendous amount of time and burnout.

Financial literacy for creatives is another huge one. Many artists are taught how to create but not how to price services, negotiate contracts, manage budgets, diversify revenue streams, or think long-term about intellectual property and brand growth. Understanding those areas earlier would have made certain parts of my journey less stressful.

I always tell my author that you are the brand and your books are the products. Being authentic is an asset. Early in a creative journey, there can be pressure to meet industry expectations or to constantly compare yourself to others. Over time, I learned that the most meaningful work often comes from leaning fully into your own voice, mission, and perspective.

I’m passionate about creating educational and supportive spaces for authors now. I want writers and creatives to feel empowered, informed, and equipped—not intimidated by the process. There are so many brilliant voices out there, and sometimes the right resources, encouragement, or guidance can make the difference between someone giving up and someone finally sharing the story they were meant to tell.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://quillhawkpublishing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quillhawkpublishing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quillhawkpublishing
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/quill-hawk-publishing/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@QuillHawkPublishing