We recently connected with Rachael Goddard and have shared our conversation below.

Rachael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

When I decided to put my books out there, I originally wanted to work with a Publisher who was a family friend and had known me since I was young. I submitted what was originally supposed to be a collection and two of the stories; one of which is now a standalone novel, and the other is in a revamped collection of stories, were both torn apart by this publisher saying it was not realistic in the time periods of the two stories for the main female characters to behave the way they did. I made the revisions they asked, and they still wanted me to do more and in essence lose, to me, the entire point of the story.

So…I pulled it from the Publisher and decided to publish it on Amazon myself and keep the stories the way I intended, and I did and while it may not make as much money as it would have if I was backed by an actual publisher but at least they are out there for people to discover in their original form with their point intact. That means more to me than anything to be honest.

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 am an actress, author and an occasional screen writer and singer.

I got into the industry at a young age mainly because of my singing voice because at the age of six it was very strong and was apparently a big deal for that age. I did a lot of talent shows and musical theatre throughout grade school and beyond. I recently sort of stepped out of doing musical/ stage type things in order to focus more on my film and writing facets of my career.
I actually got into film acting by pure luck. I went to what I call a “cattle call” audition, meaning thousands of people auditioning all at once, for an independent romantic drama called “All we Have” and I had just gotten let go from my day job and said to hell with it and went. I auditioned and about a month or so later, I got a call to be a featured character in the film. I’ve been acting ever since because that gave me insight that has stuck with me since, I was memorable enough to cast in a speaking role after seeing hundreds of people over three days. That is actually really impressive when it comes to the film world.

I have been writing since I was probably about eight and I mostly kept my stories to myself until a few years back when a friends son died very young, and it made me want to create a legacy of my own since I do not intend to ever have kids and I want something of substance to be left behind when I go to the great unknown. I have published four books so far and forgive the shameless plug, but they are The Wild Rose of Tombstone, Too Tough to Die, The Gentleman’s Ghost, and Shadows of Lace: Dark Tales of the Fantastic. I am currently working on a fifth book which will be the first in a feminist crime thriller series called The Babydoll Reckoning, which is coming soon.

As an actress, I always look at projects that not only interest me personally but also challenge me both physically and mentally. My first lead role was actually both of those in one. I was asked by a friend of mine named Avai D’Amico, who is a cinematographer and director, he texted me one night and pitched an idea for an episode in an anthology series he was working on and asked if I wanted to be the lead and the only question I asked was “Do I get to kick ass?”

He said yes, and I told him I was in. There was a reason why I asked that question. I had always been cast as a sort of mainstream character and I wanted to play a character that was tough as nails, could hold her own in a fight, and was just an all-around bad ass. I got to play her, but I also worked with Avai on the storyline as well as became the prop master, extras wrangler, and casting, as well as a backup makeup artist when ours ended up dropping out.

On top of this I also trained myself physically in order to build up endurance to not struggle when we were filming because we were filming in mountains by my hometown which is 8,000 feet above sea level. During one of the scenes, I was running and actually damaged my knee by tripping over a log and landing hard on said knee. I am currently in physical therapy for it but if you asked if I would do it again, the answer is Absolutely. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I had the best cast who doubled as crew, and I became close friends with some of them and remain close to them even now.

I think what sets me apart from other actresses and authors is that I am not really afraid to approach topics or play characters that people would consider “woke”, controversial, taboo regarding religion or sexuality or even feminist. If I like the story, I will do it and if people don’t like it, that’s their problem and they can choose to not watch or read my work. I really don’t care. It will find its audience and that is good enough for me. My work is meant to make the comfortable uncomfortable and make those that feel unheard and ignored heard and loved. Like me or hate me, that’s just how I am.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Ok, so this may sound a little mean but the best way to support artists and creatives, stop downing artists and creatives and telling us to get a “real” job and telling us we are going to be starving artists if we pursue our passions. A lot of us have day jobs and we do it not because we enjoy it but so we can make ends meet and work on our projects in our, often very little, spare time and there is a HUGE risk of us getting burned out. We would not have to do that if we were paid well for our work and disparaged by society every step of the way.

As for creating a thriving creative ecosystem, buy creatives work and share it with family, friends, on social media. Review it om social media platforms especially if it’s a book or independent film. That is some of the best ways to support us. Understand that a lot of us don’t do it for the money but for the art itself but word getting out about our projects is the best way for us to want to create more for you to enjoy.

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

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that to have an original voice as a woman author and actress was a death sentence to any possibility of a career. I was told I had to take what they gave me and just deal with it even if it bored me.

I also had to look a certain way in order to even be considered for a lead role in film meaning be skinny and no more than a size 16. After the role I got in the romantic drama “All We Have and actually being at my heaviest, I realized that being myself and using my original voice wasn’t the death knell that everybody told me it was to any career in the arts. In fact, a lot of people love my work BECAUSE it is original and not what people would normally expect in a film or a book. So, moral of the story is never listen to what society and Hollywood says. Stand out from the crowd and let your voice be heard. Don’t hold back.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: rachaelgoddard_actress_singer
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historynerd32

Image Credits

Danielle Colbert- Desert Unicorn Photography

Kim “Pish Posh” Live

Shawn Gorritz

Paul Loh