Breaking the Silence - The Empowered Press

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jill Carlyle, Founder of The Empowered Press, located in Melbourne, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am the founder and publisher of The Empowered Press. The Empowered Press exists to help writers become successful published authors. Our publishing imprint specializes in memoir, self-help, women's fiction, literary fiction, LGBTQ romance, and nonfiction.

Our work focuses on publishing services and project management--managing the back-end publishing tasks and the tedious work in publishing. We are a team of highly-qualified and experienced book coaches, editors, cover designers, marketing experts, and publishers. The Empowered Press is a woman-run independent/hybrid-publishing press and pride ourselves in working with a small client base. We are committed to breaking the silence. Our mission at The Empowered Press is to EMBOLDEN writers to find and speak their truth.

Through shared stories, we aim to bridge the gap between cultures resulting in an environment of unity and respect where the underserved and misunderstood are empowered to speak their truth.

Tell us about yourself

The seeds for The Empowered Press were planted in late 2017. After graduating earlier that year from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, my passion for studying literature naturally segued into writing my own stories. I quickly learned that traditional publishing was out of the question for me. I wanted to have control over my words and my stories, and I wanted to help others feel empowered to do the same. I decided to immerse myself in the world of self-publishing and published my memoir Finding Fifty in early February 2022, which reached best-seller status in the first week of its release. The Empowered Press exists to help non-traditionally published writers become successful published authors. Stories are the core of humanity. When we share our stories with each other, we connect. Every shared story is a chance to make someone else feel less alone.

I'm a writer of prose, both fiction and non. I'm a Professor of English Composition and Literature, book coach, editor, and podcast host (coming soon!). What motivates me to show up each and every day are the stories that still need to be told. And I am here to help others tell them.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

To date, my biggest accomplishment as a publisher is seeing my authors hit the best seller list!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Finding the time to complete all the things that need to be completed! Although I don't mind working long hours, it always seems like there's never enough to get everything done when I want to get it done.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Starting, running, and growing a business takes the three Ps:

Patience
Persistence
Perseverance

If you've got a story to tell, don't be afraid to tell it. Have you always wanted to write a book? Yes? Then do it! Resources abound for all types and styles of writing and writers. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable; your vulnerability makes you human. Your story is important and will help others!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.theempoweredpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theempoweredpress
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillcarlylewrites/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-carlyle-95bba868/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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