Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy M. Le.
Hi Amy, 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?
I came from humble beginnings, born in Vietnam nine months before the fall of Saigon. I was also born with a congenital heart defect and was raised by a single mom. After we escaped Vietnam via boat and were sponsored to the US, I received the life-saving open-heart surgery needed to thrive. Life went on. I graduated with a degree in Sociology, worked in corporate America, got married, and started a family. It wasn’t until February 2017 when my mom passed away from cancer that the waves I was riding came crashing down on me. I quit my job, took a sabbatical, and began writing my mother’s story. My first novel, Snow in Vietnam, published in May 2019, followed by two more books in the Snow trilogy: Snow in Seattle and Snow’s Kitchen. I enjoyed the creative process of writing and indie publishing that I decided to rebrand myself as an author, speaker, and publisher. Today I help other authors indie publish their work through my Quill Hawk Publishing company. When people ask me, “Tell me about yourself,” I tell them I am a Vietnam War survivor and Congenital Heart Defect warrior. My passion and energy are focused on helping refugees build a better life for themselves and advocating for the heart community by providing resources to let them know they are not alone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In some ways, it has been quite smooth. I have a family who supports me and I’ve built a community around me who encourage me as well as promote my work. I do miss the regular paychecks from my corporate jobs, but I now live life on my terms and my schedule. The toughest part about being an indie author and publisher is credibility. It’s easy to have imposter syndrome and wonder if you are good enough, talented enough and if you are doing the right thing to make it to the next milestone in your career. Writing is hard. Self-publishing is harder. Promoting your work and your brand is the toughest. The number of followers you have on social media doesn’t translate to sales. Indie authors aren’t recognized on NYT’s bestsellers list. The hustle is something we all do every day and for an introvert, it takes a lot of energy to put yourself out there. I do it though because I want to be read. My stories of the Vietnamese diaspora need to be told and acknowledged in mainstream media. Representation matters. The voices of the marginalized community matters. It’s time the experiences of the Vietnam War and the refugees who came from these climates be told from a personal lens of the BIPOC storyteller.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I formed Quill Hawk Publishing, the intent was to publish my work only, but it evolved and now I help other writers achieve their dreams of being published through a consultative approach. The focus of QHP is to amplify diverse voices and stories. The authors retain their rights and royalties. I chose Quill Hawk Publishing as a name for my LLC because it combines two things I love… Quill for the love of writing and Hawk for my love of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team.
My writing focuses on historical and women’s fiction. I love stories that are told in “own voices” and based on true events. My next novel, The Copper Phoenix, will be published later this year. It is based on a true story of surviving childhood physical and sexual abuse. I tackle the hard subjects to show how resilient we are and to spark hope for freedom, whether that be from persecution or from our personal trauma.
I still consider myself an emerging author as I continue to learn so much every day from industry experts and seasoned authors. I am a part of several writing communities:
Pacific Northwest Writers Association
Telltale Authors
Quixotics Critique Team
Mighty Six Critique Team
Alliance of Independent Authors
Oklahoma City Writers, Inc
Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc.
Asian Authors Alliance
The Heart Community Collection
The important thing about any passion is to surround yourself with people in the same industry with the same commitments. As you learn from leaders, you become a leader yourself to help pave the way for those behind you who are beginning their journey. This authenticity to self shows in my brand. It is what makes people trust me as well as root me on. I love giving back and supporting people with their dreams and appreciate the hustle.
Having survived the war, the escape, the refugee camps, the rebuilding of my life many times over, I know it is important to believe in yourself, to forgive your mistakes, to take help from those around you, and trust in your faith. Being genuine and human is relatable and that is what sets me apart. I am not here to sell. I am here to uplift.
What do you think about luck?
I have great faith in God and trust He is in the details. I don’t believe in luck but in opportunities. It is up to us to see those opportunities when they present themselves and to explore them. Day by day is how I live my life. Live with intention and purpose. When you are intentional, the energy around you plays to your advantage. Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or I learn.” These are words I live by. So again, there is no such thing as good luck or bad luck in my opinion. The world is what your make of it. Your happiness and your well-being is what you put into it. It’s not easy. We laugh, we cry, we scream, and we have all these emotions that either conflict or complement each other, but it is what makes us human.
Pricing:
- $250 for Quill Hawk Publishing consultation
Contact Info:
- Email: amy-m-le@outlook.com
- Website: https://www.amy-m-le.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_m_le/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramymle/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_m_le
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7us6JMa2kyBQWWIKyM7ag/featured
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/amy-m-le
- Other: https://www.theheartcommunitycollection.com/
