Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Deborah Bostock-Kelley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Deborah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is Life Amplified, because it marks the moment I stopped simply celebrating the women in my community who were creating change and chose to step into that work myself. For three years I interviewed extraordinary women for AOL Patch who were building nonprofits, launching movements, and filling gaps wherever they saw a need. Their courage stayed with me. I wanted to contribute in a bigger way. As the philanthropic arm of my graphic design, web design, PR, and copywriting agency, I wanted to create something that gave back to the community that helped my company thrive.

After interviewing the owners of the Tampa Pitcher Show, I asked if they had ever considered a spoken word showcase. They said they loved the idea but did not have anyone to organize it. I had produced fashion shows and talent shows, but I had never hosted a poetry showcase. I loved spoken word, so I decided to try. I created Life Amplified in 2013 as a community showcase that donated part of the proceeds to a local nonprofit. The first event featured singers, poets, a comedian, and even a mentalist, and it raised awareness about human trafficking.

That night changed everything for me when someone stood up after the one-night-only showcase and asked, “When’s your next one?” In that moment, I realized I had created something people wanted to come back to, something that could grow.

Thirteen years later, Life Amplified is still going strong and preparing for its 18th showcase, Life Amplified NOURISH, on November 7, with ALL proceeds going to the charity. This year’s event will support Food Packs for Kids. It has evolved into a musical and comedy showcase that continues to spotlight local talent while supporting causes that matter. Watching it grow from a one-night idea into a long-running community platform has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

Life Amplified shaped the way I approach my company, The WriteOne Creative Services. My creative work is rooted in the same belief that people doing good deserve to be seen, supported, and amplified. I love helping my clients tell their stories in a way that opens doors for them.

That same passion fuels my marketing work for Powerstories Theatre. I am proud to help elevate a mission that aligns so closely with my own. Powerstories is all about true stories, women’s voices, and community impact. Being able to shape the messaging, branding, and outreach for a theatre that champions unheard voices feels like a natural extension of the work I started with Life Amplified.

Deborah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am the owner of The WriteOne Creative Services, a branding, PR, and creative agency that has grown for 21 years entirely through word of mouth. I built my company on the belief that when you help people tell their stories clearly and authentically, they tell others. That has been the foundation of my business since the beginning.

I started in journalism, interviewing women who were creating change in their communities. That experience taught me how to listen, how to ask the right questions, and how to find the emotional truth in someone’s story. Those skills became the heart of my company. Today, I provide branding, PR, copywriting, graphic design, web design, and event production. Clients come to me because they want everything in one place. They want consistency, clarity, and someone who understands their mission from every angle.

What sets me apart is that when someone hires The WriteOne Creative Services, they work directly with me. There is no handoff to a junior team member. There is no disconnect between the person who hears the story and the person who shapes it. I am involved in every detail, from the first conversation to the final deliverable. My clients know they can trust me to protect their voice, their message, and their vision.

I solve the problem of clarity. Many people know what they want to say but struggle to articulate it in a way that resonates. I help them define who they are, what they do, and why it matters. I take their mission and turn it into branding, messaging, and creative work that feels true to them and connects with the people they want to reach.

What I am most proud of is that my business has thrived for more than two decades without advertising. Every client has come from someone who believed in my work enough to recommend me. That is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. It tells me that the relationships I build and the stories I help shape have real impact.

What I want people to know about my work is simple. I care deeply about the people I represent. I care about their stories, their missions, and their success. Whether I am writing a press release, designing a logo, building a website, or shaping a full campaign, my goal is always the same. I want to help people be seen, understood, and remembered.

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

A lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that a gentleman’s handshake was enough. Early in my career, I took on what felt like a dream opportunity with a brand‑new international company. They needed three business and educational websites, plus press releases and graphic design work. I was so excited to land a client of that size that I ignored every red flag and trusted their promise that once everything was live and filled with students, I’d be paid the several thousand dollars I was owed.

I spent a year delivering everything they asked for, and the only payment I ever received was a single $100 good‑faith check. When the company eventually folded, they walked away without paying anyone. It was a painful but defining moment. I learned that enthusiasm doesn’t replace boundaries, and trust doesn’t replace a contract. Now, no matter who the client is or how promising the opportunity seems, nothing moves forward without a signed agreement. It protects the work, the relationship, and the integrity of everyone involved.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love watching an idea evolve. A lot of my projects begin as a quick sketch on a napkin at Starbucks, and seeing that spark grow into a full branding campaign and watching the client light up when it all comes together is incredibly rewarding. What stays with me just as much is the alchemy that follows. Over the last 21 years, the work has grown into something larger than a single project. Many clients have become friends who sit in the audience at my original plays, meet me for lunch just to reconnect, and continue to champion my company through word of mouth. The art builds the connection, but the connection is what lasts, and that ongoing trust is the greatest compliment.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thewriteonecreativeservices.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redstateblueink/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWriteOneCreativeServices
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thewriteonecs/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thewriteonecs
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-writeone-creative-services-tampa
• Other: https://www.lifeamplifiedshowcase.com

Image Credits

The WriteOne Creative Services