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

Alright, Dee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

I think that I started my creative career right on time. In this field, it can be very discouraging. You are constantly having to put yourself out there knowing that your idea, pitch, or story may be rejected. You need thick skin to be able to have people constantly critiquing and criticizing your work. Being able to withstand criticism, which sometimes can be harsh, is very important if you want longevity in this field, and when you step out into this kind of work full-time, you need to be tenacious.

I was very unhappy with my job before I started writing full time. It was just a job, I didn’t feel like I was accomplishing anything. I went to work did the same things over and over day after day. I felt like my creativity was being stifled. I knew that I needed a huge change, after I wrote and published my first book, it energized me and I became excited regarding the possibilities. I felt inspired, I was doing what I loved, and I enjoyed seeing the impact it was having on others. However, I know that, I would not have been able to handle the criticism and rejection if I had started any earlier, in my life.

The biggest thing that changed for me is I began to focus on my mental health, working on myself, and working through my traumas. By doing this, it gave me the confidence in myself that has enabled me to withstand some of the obstacles and rejection that I have received. Addressing my mental health has been the main reason why I am able to thrive in this career right now.

Dee, 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?

My name is Dee McQueen and I am an author and the owner of By Deezign Mysteries LLC, I started my business in 2022. My company hosts murder mystery parties, sell murder mystery games, and work with aspiring authors coaching them through the writing process, book production, and self-publishing.

I have always had a love for reading and writing, it has been an escape for me and I endeavor to give my readers and customers the same experience. I decided to start coaching authors, because when I began my journey I did not realize all that writing and publishing a book entailed. I worked with a company that guided me through the process and I want to do the same for others. There are so many people with a story to tell and they just need the encouragement, guidance, and someone to teach them how to use the resources that are available.

I am very passionate when it comes to my business. I believe in being authentic at all times and not changing my core values for sales. My books and murder mysteries parties are free from profanity and they are not sexually explicit. I want my books to be something that anyone can read and enjoy.

I love what I do, my biggest thrill is when someone tells me how much they enjoyed one of my books and when they share with me what character or storyline resonated with them. I love couching others and helping them to tell their stories and many times fulfill a life long dream. There are a lot of people who are in situations where they don’t have a voice or they are afraid to use it. They may have been told that being an author is waste of time. I want them to know that what they have to say is important. We never know what impact our writing can have on another persons life.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of my goals is to give my audience a place to escape from the realities of this world just for a little while, through my writing. For me growing up, reading and writing was always a safe place. I could go anywhere in the world, meet wonderful people, and be fully immersed in stories. I can say that reading and writing saved my life. It has truly been an essential part of my personal journey towards healing. My ultimate goal is start my own publishing company and work with under represented authors, for me this is really important.

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

I think the biggest lesson that I had to unlearn is that failure is a bad thing.

When I started my first business years ago, I had a lot of big ideas and aspirations but I did not execute my ideas in a way that would lead to success. I would plan events and fundraisers that little to know people attended which caused me to lose money and eventually close my business. I felt defeated. I revisited my ideas years later, I found that I failed because I lacked some important qualities and skills that I needed for my business to succeed. Failure has taught me, when you don’t ask the answer is always no. Another thing that I learned is, I needed to change my focus from just trying to sell items. I needed to have a genuine connection with my customers, clients, and audience. It was vital for me to show them that they were valued. Learning from failure helped me to make the necessary changes that were essential to putting me on the right path towards success.

I have learned that failure is what makes us better, it helps to develop the qualities and skills that we need to succeed. Failure helps us to avoid making the same mistakes. It takes courage to accept failure and learn from it. It builds resilience and helps us to become more creative. It also can aid us in steppping out of our comfort zone, which then leads to developing new skills and adapting to different situations.

If we allow it, failure teaches us valuable lessons that can help us grow and lead us to success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bydeezignmysteries.com
• Instagram: instagram@dstacy1230
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deanna.stacy.75
• Other: TikTok@deemcqueen1230

Image Credits

Logan Astrup Photography