We recently connected with Lisa Miller and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about your team building process? How did you recruit and train your team and knowing what you know now would you have done anything differently?

We actually had two people start the business – me and Kristy, and one other person. Then it dropped to two people because really, we are not working for salary. We brought in another partner soon after. A couple of years ago we did a big expansion by providing our interns with an option to join as partners or extended paid interns. We also reached out to our Saint Louis publishing/writing community to see if anyone would like to join. This effort was successful. We were able to attract a new editor and three extended interns – all of which have contributed greatly to Amphorae!

Lisa, 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?

We are so very proud of our many award-winning books and cover designs. We are blessed with the opportunity to work with talented writers. As an independent publisher, we are thrilled to work with new voices especially at a time when large publishing houses are consolidating. Amphorae is part of the larger mission to ensure a diversity in publishing. It’s not just our profession it’s our passion. Find out more at https://amphoraepublishing.com/about/

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

This memory always makes me smile. My business partner and I were neighbors, just across the park from one another. We had both started publishing companies at the same time. I found this out when I was doing a little research on the publishers in the Saint Louis area. We met a few times, but neither one of us was ready to consolidate, until well we were for a variety of reasons. For me the most significant reason was that apart we were just too small to grow. A few years later, we brought on another partner who had been working at our distributor. Just recently, we brought on a fourth partner. We met her through my college professor. My professor thought she would be a great fit for our company, and she was right! Connections are everything for sure.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

This is so important. I believe people need to know AND feel that they are part of something bigger than themselves. They need to know their contribution matters. I think there are a few fundamentals to this, but I add and subtract as I learn. Here is what I use now.

1. Remember everyone’s role is equally important.
2. Be specific.
3. Share what you know.
4. Stay out of people’s way.
5 Do your part.
6. Help other people do their parts.
7. Recognize what people do.
8. Stay positive.
9. Be patient.
10. Be kind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amphoraepublishing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amphoraepublishing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amphoraepublishing/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/amphorae
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amphoraepublishinggroup5459
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@amphoraepublishing

Image Credits
Lisa Miller, Kristy Makansi, Laura Robinson, Stacey Walker