Today we’d like to introduce you to Sierra Melcher

Hi Sierra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

Following the thread that life offered me from Pasadena to Shanghai and then the mountains of Medellín, Colombia, unconventional choices have defined my life. In retrospect, each turn feels fated and obvious, but it is a winding road. For now, this is the only place where I belong. Life weaves fascinating patterns we can only see at a distance. Up close, all we can see is the step before us.
The novelty of my life path has led me to have a higher-than-usual tolerance for uncertainty, allowing me to take risks without much thought (don’t get me wrong, I am not much of a thrill-seeker.)

I traveled around Europe and lived in Asia for extended periods before cell phones, Google Maps and translation apps. The obligatory email every week or two confirmed proof of life and my whereabouts, and I shared the highlights of the adventure with family and friends back home. Later, I worked as a high school teacher in three countries and stretched my reality. Another decade passed, and I opened the first Bilingual yoga studio in Medellín with no business background. While pregnant, I studied to become a doula (in Spanish) and gave birth to my daughter at home in a pool. I have raised her independently for the last decade in a foreign country, each step a leap of faith. So when life turned again, becoming an author and eventually opening an independent publishing company didn’t seem off-brand for me at all.

What feels normal to me may seem crazy to others, but little by little, the invitations into the unknown have teased me out onto the edge. I have learned to trust my intuition and my ability to build something from nothing more than an idea. With so many opportunities for reinvention, I have found my most genuine expression. With every move and new career, I have discovered and developed a bit more. Even now, I am in a phase of deepening and self-discovery that unlocks new levels of creativity, passion and impact. What a pleasure it is to live this unexpected life.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It has not been a smooth or straight path. There have been many twists, turns, disappointments and heartbreaks along the way. However, precisely every breakup, loss of job, and “failure” led me forward, taught me the most and challenged me to propel me into the next thing. Most of the learning and growth has come from those challenges. I don’t learn much from success, but the struggle is a rich opportunity to discover treasure and inform the next iteration. (It doesn’t feel like it when you are in the middle, but that lost space is my favorite in retrospect.) I am always in a hurry to arrive at my destination, complete my next goal and achieve the next pinnacle. But as my mentor taught me, “Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast.” I reluctantly accept this and owe much of my progress to slowing down, especially in the uncomfortable parts.

As you know, we’re big fans of Red Thread Publishing. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?

Not only do we help people write and publish impactful nonfiction books to change the world, but we are also known for doing that with integrity and humanity. We got an email last week that captured what makes us stand out in the industry.

“My biggest takeaway is how much I appreciate you and your team! I’ve been in touch with a few writing and publishing outlets, but most were difficult to reach, making it impossible to answer any of my questions or even talk to a live person. It felt as though they were only interested in my money, with no genuine concern for me or my “baby.”
In contrast, you care about me and my book. You see me as a person and an author, not just a dollar sign. Additionally, you demonstrate your commitment by sharing a roadmap for writing books and building a business around it.” – Angala Cramer

With so many companies touting services, knowing what you need and who can help you is hard. We hear from people who have been scammed or just received mediocre support.

We started as Red Thread Books, an all-female publishing company, to support more women in having their voices heard and building a reputation for themselves. We offer three distinct areas of guidance: Writing, Publishing and Impact, all the strategies to reach your message’s ideal audience.
As we built success, we saw a need for other silenced voices to have a platform, so we opened Red Falcon Press, a second imprint dedicated to amplifying underrepresented and marginalized voices through bold and impactful storytelling. Our goal is to create a world where diverse voices are celebrated, every story has the power to inspire change, and readers feel a sense of belonging.

We started as a scrappy indie team. In the past three years, we have grown in size and reputation. Our books have won eight awards to date, fifty-six of our fifty-seven titles have topped the bestseller list, and we have a close-knit international community of authors from 26 countries.

We are guided by what our authors need and what is right. We have forged our own path in the competitive publishing industry, driven by more than just the bottom line. We hold fast to our commitment to human connection, high-quality books and a bespoke experience at a competitive price. Our writing coaching, retreats, publishing support and impact coaching put the author first.

Our authors earn all the royalties of their work because we believe the creators should benefit from their efforts and creative thought. We hold the high standards of traditional publishing with the freedom and ownership of independent or self-publishing.

We always seek groundbreaking non-fiction that challenges the status quo, focusing on themes like social-emotional well-being, justice, equity, and taboo topics often missing from the cultural narrative. I always say, “Your Book can change the world, but only if you write it.”

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?

The publishing industry and thought leadership have undergone a massive transformation in the last decade, but It is nowhere near over. With the large-scale application of AI and more tools and opportunities for content creation, it is easier than ever to share, but simultaneously, it is easy to get last in the shuffle. So, standing out and reaching those who need your message is more important than ever.
The industry will evolve to meet the market’s needs and integrate to adjust to technological advances. However, we are already seeing the risk of losing the best part: our humanity. More companies exist to help people publish because it is in high demand, but quality and reliability are diluted. More than ever, it will be necessary for people to do due diligence and research on who they partner with.

Pricing:

• Free monthly workshop on writing
• $97/mo for community membership, resource vault and live group writer’s coaching
• $5k for personalized manuscript coaching & Developmental edit
• Publishing packages range from $10k-$25k, Request a Quote

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.redthreadbooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redthreadbooks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redthreadpublishing
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-thread-publishing

Image Credits

Ana María Sarmiento, Andrew Twyman & Richie Alfolf