The Power of Positive Thinking at Peace in the Storm Publishing
The Power of Positive Thinking at Peace in the Storm Publishing
Peace in the Storm Publishing looks for talented writers and storytellers in a wide variety of genres. The subject matter ranges from fiction and mystery to erotica and Christian fiction.
Inspiration is the cornerstone of any new endeavor, and the creation of Peace in the Storm Publishing is no different. The company motto is “Giving your Soul a Rise, One Page at a Time.” Soul is definitely at the heart of Peace in the Storm publishing, and God is often sighted as a source of strength and inspiration on the company’s website. God and spirituality obviously played a huge role in bringing Peace in the Storm Publishing into existence.
Recently, we were able to sit down with founder Elissa Gabrielle. We explored the inspiration behind Peace in the Storm Publishing, as well as what personally motivates Elissa.
Elissa Gabrielle
Just as her father’s song motivated her, Elissa, in turn, wants Peace in the Storm Publishing to motivate others. Elissa states, “With each book, there will be something that will entertain, encourage, and enlighten. I’m extremely proud of that.”
All businesses face challenges, yet Elissa addressed the obstacles she has faced in a unique and determined way. She says that while the “devil has a way of trying to stop your progress, especially when you’re trying to chase your dreams,” she has found that she can still overcome many obstacles. One key strategy she has employed in tackling her obstacles is the power of positive thinking. She says that she has a “glass is half full” philosophy. She uses this positive philosophy in conjunction with constantly asking God for guidance and wisdom.
Elissa feels that Peace in the Storm Published has, to date, faced two distinct challenges. The first challenge was that of selecting authors for her initial launch. It was vitally important to her that they were a diverse group, who would appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. The second major obstacle was the complexities of developing a brand; once this challenge was met, she stated that everything was easier. Elissa said that once the branding for the publishing company was set in stone it has been “smooth sailing.”
Jacqueline D. Moore, author of Serving Justice stated what makes Peace In the Storm Publishing so unique is “The make-up of the group. The styles of writing are as varied as the women themselves.”
Lorraine Elzia, author of Mistress Memoirs, added, “Peace in the Storm prides itself on the quality of the authors, the quality of the stories and the quality of the representation of the company.”
Jessica A. Robinson, author of Holy Seduction states “We are unique because we are truly family and we believe in being trendsetters for excellence. We always try to raise the bar with our professionalism.”
These three quotes do wonders to illuminate the perspective of all those involved in Peace in the Storm Publishing. Clearly, all involved are focused on promoting hard-working authors, and focused on creating quality books that are inspirational and motivating.
Elissa’s advice for new writers attempting to get into the publishing business should be very helpful those just starting out. She feels that research is paramount because knowledge is power. Being informed about the business, being determined to meet your goals, and asking for God’s assistance and guidance are all part of the formula. Again, it was impressive to see Elissa’s consistent optimism shine through.
2009 looks as though it will be a great year for Peace in the Storm Publishing, as there are 10 authors slated for publication, with even more titles planned for 2010. Be sure you take a look at and keep an eye on their website www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com for updates and new titles. With someone as determined and positive as Elissa at the helm, there is little doubt that 2009 and 2010 will be impressive years for Peace in the Storm Publishing.
INTERVIEW UPDATE (10/09)
After the African American Awards, I caught up with Elissa Gabrielle to discuss the success of 2009.
UM: Positive thinking, creating a meaningful brand and great books garnered Peace in the Storm publishing several awards at the African America Literary Award show in 2009.
Did you expect to win and how did it feel?
Elissa: Mr. Wells, honestly, I didn’t expect to win any of the five categories Peace In The Storm Publishing had garnered nominations in. I was very honored and humbled to even be considered. How did it feel? Awesome. And not for the reasons you may think. See, in 2009, I lost my sister suddenly. Her name was Jodi and she was only 44 years old. I had never experienced pain on such a monumental level before in my life and the pain made me lose my way for some time. I still performed the roles of publisher, because I had a job to do, but it was truly a performance.
Shortly thereafter, my dad, well-known jazz musician Joe Thomas fell ill, and we weren’t sure if he would make it. For some time, he wasn’t even able to walk. I couldn’t have predicted the very highs and the very lows that I experienced in 2009. I was extremely grateful and humbled by the fact that my parents were able to witness the awards, to be there with me, and I prayed that somehow it lessened the trauma of my sister’s death. It was a happy day for all of us. And, my dad is now able to walk. So, while the awards are great, the real icing on the cake was that I was able to share such a special moment in my life with those I love the most – family, because as you know this is life is not a dress rehearsal. We are blessed with life, and we must treasure our time here on this earth with family and loved ones. And, I can’t lie, it feels great being a winner. Who doesn’t love that feeling? I am responsible for the literary careers of 11 authors, so bringing home the “gold” gave me a little more confidence and encouragement to do the best job I can for the Peace In The Storm authors.
UM: What has been the toughest challenge in the publishing industry? Was the challenge expected or inspected?
EG: That’s a hard question to answer because I’m not sure if I look at the actual challenges as challenges. I sort of stay in my own little bubble, and do my own thing for me and the authors of Peace In The Storm. In identifying one challenge, I suppose it was receiving information that I needed to move forward. Valuable resources and information are sometimes not readily available to the people seeking it. So, getting information to help Peace In The Storm grow was probably the most difficult thing to do. I guess I expected it. However, life is filled with speed bumps, roadblocks and stop signs. Our normal tendency is to listen to the world as it tells us to slow down or even stop, behind a belief that some things in life are out of our reach and beyond our attainment and control. The world wants to cushion our expectations and to ultimately limit our goals. But thankfully, there is a God. And with faith in Him and His mercies, He gives us pedals upon which to accelerate and a path of green lights upon which to proceed when others tell us we can’t possibly move forward. My Peace In The Storm journey has been an ongoing saga of having faith and believing that even though others can give me molehills of why Peace In The Storm can’t, My God gives me mountains of why Peace In The Storm can. There will undoubtedly be more challenges that lay ahead, but I have to remain focused for me and the authors of Peace In The Storm. I’ll continue to allow God to order my steps and will lean on Him for guidance when the continued challenges arise.
UM: Other than the awards and accolades, what has been your reward?
EG: My reward has been helping others. Nothing beats the feeling I get when an author calls me when they have their book in their hand. I try to really be involved with the overall publishing process, so the author and I develop a real bond as the process continues. When that part of the process is complete, I feel joy right along with the author when they’ve achieved their dream. I’m happy for my authors because they are worthy, and they deserve all the goodness that is sure to come. They work hard, and it’s been both and honor and a pleasure to witness them chase, and finally reach their literary goals. So, for me, the biggest reward is to help them make their dreams come true. Ain’t nothing like it.
UM: Now that you have found success and have been recognized as one of the leading publishers, what’s next in 2010?
EG: I think it’s going to take years for me to become a leading publisher, if that ever happens. Only God knows for sure, and only time will tell. I’m still learning and there are many more miles I need to travel. Honestly, I’m happy to be on this journey and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Peace In The Storm and its authors. For 2010, we have two new authors, so far, that have joined the Peace In The Storm roster; Brian Ganges, and Pamela D. Rice. Returning are the award-winning Jacqueline D. Moore, Lorraine Elzia, Cheryl Lacey Donovan, and the literary-award nominated S.D. Denny, and Ebonee Monique, in addition to Tamara Angela Grant, Jessica A. Robinson, and LaToya S. Watkins. I will also release another novel in 2010. The lineup is really fantastic and I’m very excited about the 2010 releases. These authors have really stepped up their game and they will not let their readers down. Please visit www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com in December to preview the 2010 lineup from these incredibly gifted authors.
UM: Positive thinking can go a long way, but can’t get the job done alone. As a publisher, what was one of your most successful strategies that you implemented this year?
EG: In recognizing that I was a small press and a new publishing company, I needed to ensure that Peace In The Storm came out with a bang, and in order to do that, I was very selective in the process I used to choose the books in which I would publish. I wanted diverse genres and broad appeal. In doing so, the quality of books under the Peace In The Storm umbrella was very high, because I looked for stories that were above the norm. Now don’t mistake me, I don’t mean better, I just mean different. I was not interested in publishing just for the sake of publishing, but I had a real concern about the quality of books that bore the Peace In The Storm name. After choosing high quality manuscripts, I focused and encouraged my authors to direct all of their attention on marketing. The importance of marketing can sometimes be lost on publishing companies and I made sure it was not lost on me, or on the authors under the Peace In The Storm publishing house. There are so many great publishers out there, how would anyone recognize Peace In The Storm and its authors? Realizing that if Peace In The Storm was going to make a name for ourselves, it had to be done through a progressive and aggressive marketing campaign. We all were new to the literary scene, nobody knew our names, and when starting out with brand new authors, it was my goal as the publisher, to make their names as individuals, as well as the company brand, a household name as quickly and professionally as possible. I think that initiative on the part of me, as the publisher, and on the part of my authors, was one of the most successful strategies that helped Peace In The Storm overcome some of the obstacles that other small presses have difficulty overcoming, and that is being noticed. It’s very hard to be noticed. I’m so very grateful that we were acknowledged. But I’m even more happy that our readers are pleased with the work that we’ve put out there.
UM: As an author what was one of your most successful strategies that you implemented?
EG: I’ll tell you a little about my latest novel, A Whisper to a Scream. A Whisper to a Scream is the story of Queen Thomas, a successful defense attorney who is very passionate about defending the African American male. She has seen that the justice system has not been so fair and kind to them, so it is her mission to save as many of these men as she possibly can. A speed bump comes along in the form of Dr. Quincy Hughes which makes her question everything she’s believed in and has fought for, for so long. The interracial element of the book was the most difficult part to write effectively. I had to do a lot of research, because I had no direct knowledge or experience with interracial relationships, so in order to make it authentic, I had to really work hard. I challenged myself on so many levels with A Whisper to a Scream. Queen Thomas is a defense attorney, so I had to research to make sure that the courtroom drama was real. In addition to that, I needed to highlight the domestic violence parts of the book. Poetry is something that is laced throughout the book as well as the recurring theme of “whispers” and “screams” so this was the most technical book I’ve ever written. I enjoyed the challenge of having a book that was so well thought out and well written. That was my goal and I enjoyed reaching that goal. So, in terms of strategy as an author that was implemented, was giving the reader a book that exceeded my expectations as a writer. I wanted to give the people more and I’m hoping that strategy will prove to be successful.
Some Great Advice and Insights From The Man Behind RELENTLESS CONTENT
Some Great Advice and Insights From The Man Behind RELENTLESS CONTENT
In my initial correspondence with Aaron from Relentless Content, I was struck with one of the quotes that he placed at the bottom of his email. The quote was from Oliver Wendell Holmes and it read, “A man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” I thought it was a fantastic quote, and it definitely made me want to learn more about Aaron, his insights, what prompted him to create Relentless Content.
Aaron began his writing career while still in prison, and says that he maintained the mindset of an author throughout his ordeal in prison. Once out of prison, he registered his company with the state of New York and began his company by having fifty copies of his own book PUSH printed. He sold PUSH for $15 dollars on the streets. However, now as a result of Aaron’s vision and perseverance we can now find his book on the shelves of Starbucks! I was motivated to learn more about how Aaron was able to get his work on the shelves of such an iconic international chain such as Starbucks.
Aaron’s story with Starbucks is an interesting one. His journey began in Harlem. It was in the Harlem Starbucks location that Aaron was first able to get his books on the shelves. During the four years that his books were on the shelves in the Harlem Starbucks, people from all over world were buying his books, regardless of race.
This success in the Harlem Starbucks afforded Aaron the opportunity to expand into several Starbucks outlets in Atlanta when he relocated. It was in Atlanta that one of Starbucks’ branch managers recognized the quality of Aaron’s writing, and encouraged him to set up a table inside the store for the day. Soon Aaron found himself in dealing directly with the Regional Manager of Starbucks, which opened the door for Aaron to make appearances at even more Starbuck branches. This exposure has allowed Aaron to meet a wide array of individuals including numerous professors of literature and history. He also met professionals in law, real estate and government who admired his work.
So what advice does Aaron have for young or new writers trying to market themselves and their work? He begins with some fantastic advice, stating, “My way is MY WAY. You cannot do it my way. You need to find unique ways, unique markets and emerging markets. I hold exclusive partnerships with some of the biggest, wealthiest business owners thanks to this strategy.”
This rather sage wisdom would likely help any new writer looking for guidance. Aaron’s point is a great one- it is important to carve one’s own niche in order to find his or her audience and reach true success.
Aaron also had some great observations on the difference between writing for a major publishing company and writing for a independent one. He feels that a major publishing company can quickly get a writers work out to the world, but that it is still up to the writers to get out there and promote the work themselves. On the other side of the coin, if you are going the independent publisher route, then you are going to have to tackle it head on, one book at a time. Aaron feels that hunger, discipline and talent must all be present for success to occur.
So what’s next for Aaron? 2009 looks to be a very interesting year as Aaron has scripts, films and reality television shows all in the works. You can follow Aaron on Twitter at www.twitter.com/relentlessaaron His website is www.relentlessaaron.com
Xpress Yourself Publishing- Standing Out From the Crowd
Xpress Yourself Publishing, LLC, founded by Jessica Tilles, is truly an up-and-coming independent publishing house. Just last year, the company received The Independent Publishing House of the Year award from the African American Literary Awards Show. Xpress Yourself Publishing has quickly cultivated a nice selection of books on an impressive array of topics, ranging from “thought-provoking literature and commercial fiction, business books, mystery, romance, erotica, spiritual, contemporary and neo-soul lit.”
Here is a bit of background on the company and some of its highlights to date:
In 2001, Jessica launched Xpress Yourself Publishing as a self-published author, publishing her national best-selling titles. In 2006, she published fellow authors Bill Holmes, Kenda Bell and Michael J. Burt. Bill Holmes’ debut novel, One Love, peeked at #4 on the Essence Best Seller’s List in July 2007, followed by Kenda Bell’s, For Every Love There Is A Reason at #8 in August 2007. As publisher of Xpress Yourself Publishing (now affectionately known as XYP), she is helping to mold the literary careers of 35 talented authors, which includes two ESSENCE Best Sellers, award-winning authors, several award nominees, and a finalist for the 2008 NAACP Image Award nomination in the Best Debut Novel category. Annually, XYP publishes 10 to 20 titles.
We were lucky enough to sit down with the company’s founder, Jessica Tilles, for an interview. It is always interesting to learn what inspires creative people to tackle the world of publishing. In Jessica’s case, she began attending publishing workshops where she met three authors, Brenda L. Thomas, Collen Dixon and Jamillah Ellis. She credits this trio of gifted authors with helping motivate her to create Xpress Yourself Publishing.
Jessica also credits advice given to her by her parents with her success. Her parents were quick to lend the very sage advice, which was “learn from the mistakes of other.” Incorporating this advice, Jessica says that she keeps her “ear to the ground and her eyes wide open.” Jessica says that she is constantly studying what others in the publishing business are doing and saying. She keeps that input close to heart.
Any entrepreneur is going to face obstacles and the publishing business is, of course, no different. Like many entrepreneurs, Jessica’s main obstacle was financial. She wondered where she would get the money to print her own book. In a stroke a genius, Jessica opted for a fundraising campaign and one of her first targets was Joe Corbis Pizza. Joe Corbis Pizza is deeply involved in fundraising in the Maryland area. Before she knew it, Jessica had enlisted the help of her friends and family to sell pizzas to their friends and coworkers. By the end of her fundraising, she had raised over $5,000, $2,500 of which went to printing of the first 500 copies of her own book Anything Goes. The other $2,500 she had raised from the fundraising went to marketing and promotion.
No doubt Jessica has created a unique publishing company with Xpress Yourself Publishing. She prides herself in the fact that she is available to her authors 24/7 and responds to their emails and calls as soon as possible. While she never forgets that the publishing business is, at its core, a business, she feels that the family-like environment at Xpress Yourself Publishing really helps her publishing company stand out from the crowd.
So what does the future hold for XYP? Jessica says that 2009 is looking bright indeed and that there are many “irons in the fire.” She is excited about the number of great writers and fantastic works at XYP and expects great things for XYP and all of its writers soon.
The success story of Xpress Yourself Publishing is nothing short of inspiring. Jessica’s success shows the strength of determination and belief in a goal. Additionally, never underestimate the power of mentors. In Jessica’s case, she was able to receive guidance and advice from authors whose opinions she admired and respected.
Blackface by Q.B. Wells
Blackface by Q.B. Wells
This book tells the story of Black.
