Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Lamb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?

I absolutely wish I had started Quillkeepers Press many moons ago. The quick version of how Quillkeepers came to fruition. I earned my Bachelor’s in Business Accounting and later switched gears to further my education in Creative Writing. I’ve had a lifelong love of literature, which led me to study classic and contemporary writing forms. I’ve had a passion for writing since I was a teenager when I wrote to process my feelings, triumphs, and traumas in a healthy manner. I went through almost a decade-long writer’s block in my mid-20’s when I sought medical intervention for insomnia and chronic anxiety. Now, I write to purge and for my own healing. I share my work publicly, hoping it helps heal others. I can sum up my motto and reason for writing up as “I write to purge these feelings, not become them.”

In 2017, I found an online writer’s community on Instagram and finally felt heard and as if I had finally connected with my soul family. That is when the dream to open Quillkeepers’ began, and I went to work researching, educating, and gathering the tools to design a space for the indie writers tired of getting the runaround from most traditional publishers. A family home for the misfit. A space for the creative that wants to “do it their way.” A place for the weary to rest their bones.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Quillkeepers Press is a small traditional publishing company and indie/self-publishing consulting group. We offer traditional publishing as well as anthology collaboration opportunities for indie artists who are seeking publication. Our traditional publishing services are industry-standard, where we assume the financial liability of publishing an author’s work, and they receive competitive royalties from the sales of their collection. We design a contract to fit each creative’s individual needs, as we know all artists are unique. Traditional publishing with Quillkeepers will include coaching, editing, formatting, cover design, and extended marketing. We will work hard to ensure each author is not only in love with the final product but that it is successful. After all, your success is also our success. We often see publishers that throw their authors to the wayside after the initial heat of the book release cools. That will not be the case with us. Once an author is a member of the Quillkeepers family, we will continually find ways to promote and uplift them. We genuinely believe our work does not end once a book is published.

Suppose traditional publishing is not what an author is after. In that case, we also offer an array of affordable services, including cover design, editing, interior design and formatting, and marketing graphic design for artists interested in self-publishing or preparing a manuscript for the query process. We understand most indie creatives are working on a budget; we will never overcharge or tack on extras that they will not need or use. We feel those tactics are a waste of your and our resources. When it comes to our self-publishing services, we believe in keeping the rights with the writer, artists, and or creative. Therefore, while we ask that our credentials be included in the manuscript, once our work is complete, we hand the finished file or product back to the author and ask for nothing more. *No share of profits or book sales, no copyrights, nothing. (*Please note this only applies to self-publishing services, not hybrid or traditional services)

Additionally, we offer hybrid publishing packages for those who are needing something between traditional and self-publishing. Our hybrid publishing packages are tailored to the author’s personal needs and project goals. Please visit our hybrid publishing page to learn more about our packages.

We offer anthology opportunities 3-6 times a year. We feel anthologies are a vital stepping-stone for emerging artists. It helps get their work into the hands of a broader audience, as well as build their portfolio, and network with other authors. For more information, please visit our website www.quillkeeperspress.com

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Uh, oh! Pull out the tissues. This one will be a tear-jerker for me to write and for you to read.

I thought I might have to close my doors in 2021. My world came crashing down in June when I received a call no parent ever wants to receive. My oldest child and only son, Devyn, had been in a car accident and was rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival, they informed me he was in a coma and was not responding to their initial tests. On June 2nd, they did their last test and determined he was brain dead, and, therefore, clinically dead. There was nothing more they or I could do. He was 20 years old, just months away from turning 21, a hard worker, a brilliant and kind man, yet his chapter of the story was coming to an end.

He was a registered organ donor. A choice he made at the tender age of 17. He felt it was important to register as a donor because his paternal grandfather was a heart recipient. Who, without that life-saving gift, he would have never grown to know. He never got to meet his grandfather on his maternal (my) side, because he, too, needed a liver transplant but did not get it in time. And so, I was faced with a decision. Either stop his treatment then and there, allow the staff to scramble to line up as many recipients for Devyn’s gifts as possible, or keep him on life-support while they took the time to align the proper recipients, utilizing all his viable organs. I chose the latter. As much as it pained me to sit at my son’s bedside day and night, knowing he wasn’t coming home, knowing I would soon have to kiss his warm, soft forehead goodbye for the last time, I did so. I did so because I knew it is what he wanted. I knew it would be his last living honor. Selfishly, it also allowed me 6 whole days with him, which I otherwise wouldn’t have received. His family and friends ushered in and out over the course of those 6 days to say their farewells, and it was the hardest, (still is) trial of my life. He went on to save 5 precious souls with his gifts, gave sight to two people with cornea donation, and with soft tissue donations, he could potentially impact up to 70 more lives.

I’ve had the honor of speaking with two of his 5 major organ recipients. A cathartic experience to say the least. Yet, there isn’t a thing in this world I wouldn’t give to have my son back.

My final thoughts are, in 2021, I could have chosen to shut my business down, slip into the abyss and let my grief negatively affect my life. But, Devyn wouldn’t have wanted that. I took that pain and sorrow and let it motivate me. I drown myself in other’s hopes and dreams, because if we all leave this world a better place than it was when we got here, just as Devyn did, then everyone wins.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I don’t think there is any one thing that is the magic key, but kindness, consistency, professionalism, and producing the best product I can is definitely a good place to start and not lose sight of.

With any business, you will run across “problem clients” or situations where you want to drop your professional demeanor, but I would advise you don’t. I never let my emotions rule professional decisions. If I find myself losing control of a situation or my own emotions, I take a breather. I hit the pause button, reground, and then carry on. I treat everyone I come in contact with as either a potential new author/client or a potential professional partnership/relationship.

It can be challenging to create professional alliances without one or both of the parties feeling like the other is competition. My personal view is there is room at the table for all of us. We should uplift each other, not step on or over one another. I have come across people who became wonderful sources of support, like Ravven with Curious Corvid Publishing, as well as the crew at Sage Cigarettes Magazine. On the flip side, I have also had a few people who shamelessly copied my business model. I even had an experience where someone acted like they wanted a professional alliance but would buy Quillkeeper Press books with the sole purpose of leaving biased, and often erroneous reviews.

Maintaining poise and staying consistent is key to building your reputation. Also, remember that sometimes, no reaction is the best reaction.

Putting yourself out there is another ingredient to building your reputation. Attend trade shows in your industry, attending other industry events, and networking with professionals in your field will help you grow. With anything, hard work and consistency are important.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.quillkeeperspress.com
• Instagram: @quillkeeperspress
• Facebook: Quillkeepers Press
• Twitter: @quillkeepers