We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LAVENDER SHEDRICK WILLIAMS a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, LAVENDER SHEDRICK thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Innovation comes in all shapes, sizes and across all industries, so we’d love to hear about something you’ve done that you feel was particularly innovative.
Since high school, I’ve always wanted to read a magazine that spoke to me instead of reading about celebrity news, makeup tips, the latest trends, and fashion. As I grew older, I realized the magazine I wanted to read didn’t exist, so instead of waiting and hoping for it, I brought it to fruition. Five years ago and with many learning curve tears, I taught myself a program to publish a high-quality magazine. Today, The Other Woman continues to empower women across the nation. Published three times a year, The Other Woman is available in print and the digital format is free of charge.
The mission of The Other Woman is to help women discover the silenced and often suppressed woman resting within them and to infuse a desire to live courageously without reservation or regrets. The Other Woman encourages, empowers, educates, and enlightens on all topics relating to womanhood. Published three times a year, I welcome article submissions and invite women to use their voices in a judge-free space created just for them. The Other Woman is the only nationwide magazine featuring the everyday woman striving to be her best self while walking in her worth.
Men also desired to share their voices, so a men’s section is included. Men are invited to share their life challenges and experiences.
LAVENDER SHEDRICK, 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?
Candy Publishing, was birthed out of necessity; I needed more income after choosing to leave my twenty-year marriage. I was forced to stop prostituting my gift of writing and find a way to turn it into a profit. I had written a couple of books, had them published, then decided to self-publish future books. Others noticed what I was doing and began to ask for assistance to write and publish their books. In an already saturated market, I launched Candy Publishing and offered a more personalized writing experience for first-time authors, Candy Publishing was built on word-of-mouth advertising until social media came to life. My workload was a little more than I was prepared for, so I built a team of editors and cover artists who already had their businesses and wanted more exposure. Candy Publishing has been in business for ten years. I now offer book coaching services and help with book development, creating content, and the self-publishing process.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Don’t die with a book in you is my mantra. There are many stories, life lessons, words of wisdom, and even recipes and family secrets buried six feet under. I believe everyone has a story, but for some reason, many don’t think their life experiences are book-worthy or may not want to share the challenges experienced on their life’s journey. Most importantly, we all will leave a legacy and there is no better legacy than one left in print. Future generations and grandchildren we will never meet will at least have the opportunity to meet us through the stories we’ve shared in a book. This is what drives me. Since I’ve become a grandmother, I understand just how crucial it is for family members to know their family tree and be able to learn from those who have gone on. Again, don’t die with a book in you!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is sharing my creativity with others and helping others find their creative self. I believe we are universally connected and share ourselves when we cross paths. Whether it be a shared thought, idea, emotion, or energy, creativity is exchanged. I enjoy helping others blossom by encouraging them to allow their creativity to flow freely. It’s amazing what we can create when we remove self-doubt, boundaries, and ourselves!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theotherwomanmagazine.com
- Instagram: @candypublishing
- Facebook: LaVender Shedrick Williams
- Linkedin: LaVender Williams
- Youtube: The Other Woman Magazine
