We recently connected with Casilya Smith and have shared our conversation below.
Casilya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
Here’s a fact: we won’t live forever. The real goal is to create something that will last well beyond us. If you’ve ever connected with me for any amount of time, you may have quickly realized that I am not big on tangible things. Of course, those things may be shiny, luxurious, and worth a whole lot of money, but I’ve never been moved by any of it. When you’ve live well in your heart, mind, and spirit…now that’s what I call the #GoodLife.
I remember coining the term HEAL. DEAL. ELEVATE. back in 2016. I was doing an Instagram Live and the phrase just sort of rolled off my tongue. It moved so many viewers, and ultimately became one of the themes for my brand and personal life as well. Any published literature, books, and magazines that I’ve been fortunate to create or be a part of, focuses on those “band-aid” topics that will require us to: heal the relationship with our past, deal with the present cards we’ve been dealt, and elevate to a brighter, bolder and whole version of ourselves.
And so you asked me what I would hope that my legacy will be? Well, my legacy will be an unwavering extension of who I already am and what I already do as an author, photographer, mentor, business owner, mother, and friend which is to spread light and leave the spaces and places I’ve entered better than before. Even when I am long gone, my books will still be in the hands of children, youth, and adults alike. My impact and influence will be evident in all of the lives that I’ve touched. Whatever tangible things I do obtain on this Earth won’t even compare to the testimony of the life that I live.
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 just a little brown girl from Houston that just so happens to be an extraordinary creative. I’ve been blessed to become a multi-published author, educator, photographer, founder of No S.I.S (No Suffering In Silence), creator of Purposed Mag, co-creator and host of Storytime Chill, and now the President of Book SIL LLC. On the outside, it looks like I do a lot, but everything I do aligns with my creative vision and natural-born gifts.
I have always taken pride in my vivid imagination and intrigue with artistic expression. Through dance and poetry, I found a safe haven and my voice while often enduring troubling times during my childhood. During my high school years, I wrote editorials for the school newspaper surrounding topics that I had experienced such as self-esteem, bullying, and verbal abuse. I had received so much positive feedback from my teachers and peers, but would often shy away from all of the attention and the idea of being vulnerable. It didn’t help that I was a child surrounded by a generation of adults that swore by “what happens in this house, stays in this house”, so I learned to suffer in silence very early on in life.
After graduating Cum Laude and considering many in-state options, I took a leap of faith and accepted admission to Florida A&M University, later receiving my B.S. in Political Science from Florida State University. I used to write poetry and blog during my college years. I would share my writings with a few friends and they would always push me to share my gifts publicly. The unhealed little girl inside of me just wouldn’t do it. In 2016, an old friend finally pushed me off the ledge. She told me that she was going to start designing the illustrations for my book and all I needed to do was write and publish it. After that, it was no turning back.
I started my writing brand and presence as SIL The Writer. I went on the publish 4 more books and help 3 other aspiring authors to do the same before making it official with the creation of my business, Book SIL LLC in March 2021. Since then, I’ve published 2 more books of my own and 6 more titles for other authors.
Book SIL is definitely a play on words because I write books and I stay booked. The business is a creative hub for my book publishing services, photography, and content creation. In addition to services, I offer affirmative journals, calendars, and shirts on my website www.silthewriter.com. My services and products are packaged to help diverse people who look like me be able to break barriers without breaking the bank. I want my followers and potential clients to know that I’m rooting for you. Many people could be just like me having to endure and overcome and even crawl to the chapter where purpose is realized, activated, and pursued. Keep going! We have stories to tell, creations to build, and legacy to leave behind…
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
This may be a lesson that many young entrepreneurs and brands have learned, but not yet accepted. Here it is: your friends and family members will not always be your biggest fans or supporters…
I get it! In our minds, the people that are directly connected to us should be front and center, be the loudest in our cheer sections or comments, and be a contributor to our sales and success. I mean that’s how we support others right? So, people should support us in the same way, right?
It doesn’t feel good when you look around and some of your main friends or family members are the quietest in the cheer section, doubtful of your dreams and aspirations, or willing to spend money on the business of a stranger before supporting you. The resentment settles in and for some, they may even give up on their dreams.
Here’s the thing: it’s your dream. As much as we want the people around us to support and pour into our dreams willingly, it doesn’t always happen that way. Even still, you can’t just give up on your dreams. Do you know why? Because there is a whole community of people out there who want what you have and are interested in supporting someone just like you. The problem is, that they may not even know your brand or services exist.
You have to get out there, network, join niche groups on Facebook or LinkedIn and form business connections. Going after your dreams may even mean stepping away from certain friends and family that have been in your past, but are resistant to your future. No matter what, don’t stop until you get what you came here for!
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve had to pivot many times in life! They should call me the Pivot Queen at this point. I had to get my mind to understand that life happens and you have to be able to make sound decisions and adjust. It helps to have a Plan A and Plan B, but at times you have to get creative and come up with an alternative right at that moment.
Before the pandemic, I was used to traveling and participating in author expos and vendor opportunities where I could showcase my books, products, and services. It was a time when I could interact and network with people and of course that came to a pause in 2020. Well, virtual and remote living ended up becoming more of a blessing than I had before. I started connecting with other authors and business owners through social media. I got to participate in virtual book fairs, panel discussions, book expos, interviews and so much more. It was also during that time when I got the vision to create a live stream show to bring black and brown children’s book authors in front of virtual audiences around the world. Storytime Chill has just wrapped up its 3rd season and has afforded me and my cohost way too many divine connections to count.
Pivoting isn’t always a bad thing. It can strengthen your creativity and resourcefulness while also leading you down a path that you never would’ve discovered had you not been forced to shift.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.silthewriter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silthewriter
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilyasmith
- Twitter: @silthewriter
Image Credits
@silthewriter @scrib3 @justaddymedia