One Brilliant Arc (OBA) Newsletter: Indie Author Spotlight

Writing As a Witness for Survivors

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:45:18 GMT

*Trigger warning: heavy topics relating to incest, sexual abuse, violence, and alcoholism

When a memory of a terrible violation committed against you as a child suddenly starts playing out like a movie in front of your eyes, how can you heal?

is a multi-talented author, poet, teacher, dancer, artist, and creative who survived the unthinkable as a child. She has spent her adult years bravely paying the consequences for others’ abuse against her, walking through the difficult process of remembering her abuse and healing, and now becoming an advocate for others who have faced similar pain. Now, for the first time, she is telling the truth about her healing journey in an autofiction novel that has been in the works since 2016. It has taken her over 10 years to get the story off her chest and onto the page, but she says she writes for other survivors so that they can know they are not alone as they walk their own paths to healing.

Come join our conversation, witness Larada’s story, and learn from her how to be a better witness who can help carry the heavy stories of others so they can reach their own healing.

If you have walked a difficult path similar to Larada’s, you are not alone and you are not without hope. 🖤 Please reach out to these resources who can help you navigate the next step to your healing: https://rainn.org/

Peruse the beautiful works of Larada’s on her website: https://laradasbooks.com/ and stay tuned for when her autofiction novel will be released with her Substack newsletter:

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Subscribe to become a better writer—both on and off the page!

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📚 Need guidance to get your story published so your words can find the people who need them? Jessica Ann shares her successful journey publishing her novel, Woven in Time, over on her Substack, and helps you learn what it takes you live your wildest dreams! She has also opened up some select author coaching slots! 👀

How To Use Pain as Your Gift: Healing C-PTSD Through Story

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:44:31 GMT

Therapy is great, but there are some traumas our souls will hold onto until we give them voice through storytelling.

‘s contemporary fiction novel, The Source of the Wind, was born out of her need to process her pain of C-PTSD and to create something beautiful out of it. She says,

“I had this realization that unless I actively got my story out of me, it would always create chaos within me.”

She went to sleep with the question of “how?” and woke up with the answer: characters in a novel and the core theme of ‘There is always help available.’ Join us in this conversation to be inspired and to learn more about:

The spiritual process of writing
Why stories are healing
How fiction teaches us empathy
How we can tell beautiful stories without sugarcoating the truth about pain
Why finding your voice and sharing your story is important
And why storytellers will be the ones to change the world for the better.

📚🔗 Get your copy of The Source of the Wind here!

Follow along with Ella’s journey as she digs deeper into learning more about how to carry our stories and uncovers more insights about where to find magic in the world on her Instagram page!

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Subscribe to become a better writer—both on and off the page!

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The Stories We Live and the Stories We Tell

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:36:55 GMT

The versions of yourself that you hide away deserves their stories told, too.

is writing her memoir to share the lessons her younger self learned the hard way while traveling and teaching abroad in the middle east and South America. Join us as we hear from her rich experience and learn more about:

The process of writing and the inner work it prompts
How we reconcile with versions of ourself that we are uncomfortable with
The journey of becoming and how our stories get woven together with others’
The significance of the real life stories we live and how we use the language of story structure to communicate our message with others who need it
How storytellers are empathy teachers and help divided people connect genuinely
And the power of focusing on the slow process and the real community around us over the finished product.

Follow along with Michelle’s journey as she works toward publishing her memoir on her Substack publication or on her brand new website!

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Subscribe to become a better writer—both on and off the page!

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Silenced Women from History Finding Their Voices Through Indie Publishing

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:25:58 GMT

Systems that silence voices of the oppressed have flourished since the beginning of time, and the stories of brave young girls have faded into oblivion as that silence persists.

is writing to give these resilient women back their voices.

The stories that make us uncomfortable are the ones that will change the world. Unfortunately, many of the systems that are built to silence us are still present and thriving today, even in the publishing industry. Join us as we chat with Ashli and learn more about

Her shocking family history that became the inspiration for The Emmaline Project
How we can find the courage to break out of systems that aren’t for us and forge our own path
The challenges of both traditional and indie publishing and how she navigated them
And the power of storytelling to dismantling oppressive systems and change our world for the better.

Follow along with Ashli as she writes these important stories and pre-order ‘The Emmaline Project’ on her website before it releases on May 19th, 2026! 🎉

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Subscribe to become a better writer—both on and off the page!

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Writing to Create a True Home

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 23:28:08 GMT

How do you build genuine connection when you are never in one place long enough to dig in roots? You write stories, of course!

is a military spouse of 23 years, a mother of 3, has a career, AND is currently building another career as a fiction author! Being a military spouse brings a unique set of challenges to the already brutal challenge of writing and publishing a novel. Join our conversation as we dig into how we navigate some of those challenges, such as:

finding your identity
creating time and accountability to write with a chaotic lifestyle
building connections and community within the solitary job of writing
marketing authentically
and persevering through the fear and self-doubt that sharing your raw, honest story brings!

If you are feeling alone in your journey of life, join our conversation and learn how stories bring us to a home where we all belong and are seen. 🖤

Follow along with Jessica as she writes her novel and shares her real journey on her Substack and her Instagram:

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Subscribe to become a better writer—both on and off the page!

SEE HOW WE HELP WRITERS

Uncovering Hidden Stories That Demand To Be Told

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:51:15 GMT

✨📚Another Indie Author Spotlight feature is here!

Every week, and partner together to spread the word about a new indie author who is working on a story we think you should know about! We also learn about their lived stories and what they have learned through the journey of being an author.

Meet Jessica James!

is a former journalist turned award-winning author who took a scenic detour into travel writing—before finding her way back to novels.

With the incredible stories she experiences and writes every day, Jessica is a wealth of fascinating and thrilling anecdotes to explore. I mean, target shooting out of helicopters for novel research?! How much more exciting can the job of a writer get?!

But as Jessica shares with us, as exciting as it is to explore the treasure of lesser-known stories, there are really challenging parts of writing these stories that makes perseverance through the journey hard. Every writer struggles with moments of self-doubt and has to face these terrifying questions:

Will anyone care about this story that has my heart?
Will anyone read this story that I’ve poured years of my life and effort into?

I’m not sure if anyone else shares this experience with Jessica, but I certainly have: oftentimes, stories don’t give you a choice to say no even in the face of this self-doubt.

Stories are alive.

Sometimes, a story will grab you by the throat and refuse to let you go until you get it written down. That is what happened with Jessica’s soon-to-be-released novel, The Monarch Alliance.

So without further ado, let’s hear from Jessica about her story and what she has learned through writing it!

Tell us about yourself and what kind of creative work you do!

I started out as a journalist and spent nearly two decades in that world before it finally hit me that not everyone walks around with stories and characters living in their head. My first novels were Civil War–era historical fiction, and over time I branched into suspense and mystery as well.

In the early 2020s, I stepped away from fiction for a bit and dove into travel writing to recover from burnout. Ironically, one of those trips—to a historic hotel—pulled me right back into storytelling, and I ended up writing a novel inspired by the place. That book (The Monarch Alliance) comes out in April.

Coming April 21, 2026! Pre-order your copy now!

Describe yourself in three words.

Curious. Nostalgic. Patriotic.

How has writing stories impacted your real life story?

Writing has shaped my life in ways I never expected. I’m driven to experience what I write about so I can portray it authentically, which has led me to some incredible opportunities—from visiting hundreds of historic sites for my historical fiction novels to doing SWAT-style training and even target shooting from a helicopter for my thrillers.

That curiosity also pushed me to travel more, and those travels eventually led me into travel blogging, which has become one of my greatest passions.

In many ways, storytelling didn’t just shape my work—it expanded how I live, what I do and where I go.

What story are you currently writing?

I just finished The Monarch Alliance, a dual-timeline mystery thriller set at Mohonk Mountain House. I originally visited Mohonk to write a hotel review, but the place stayed with me long after I left.

To give you a picture of the place, Mohonk is a castle-like resort rising out of the Hudson Valley mountains, with winding hallways, antique furnishings, and the sense that history is hiding in every corner. The deeper I explored, the more it felt like the perfect setting for a story full of secrets, conflict, twists, and long-buried intrigue—and eventually, it demanded to become a novel.

What makes this story matter to you?

I’ve always felt something in old spaces—like someone or something wants their story told.

I tell my readers that sometimes I don’t feel like I wrote the story, but that someone told it to me (in little bites over a long period of time).

Why this story? Why now?

I’m not sure I had much choice. I went to the hotel planning to write a simple review, but this place wouldn’t let go of me—and that’s saying something, since I visit historic hotels all the time. Something about it lingered, and the story kept tapping me on the shoulder until I finally listened.

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Who do you hope to reach with this story?

I hope to reach readers—both men and women—who love layered mysteries with high stakes and unexpected twists. It’s for anyone who enjoys being pulled deep into a story where the past and present collide and nothing is quite what it seems.

It’s also for readers who love stories where a place is more than a backdrop—where the setting becomes a character in its own right. And as an added bonus, it’s a real place. Readers can actually visit it, walk the halls, and experience the setting for themselves, which makes the story feel that much more real.

Pre-order your copy of “The Monarch Alliance” so you can join the party of readers on April 21st!

PRE-ORDER HERE!

What do you hope readers feel or remember when they encounter this story?

Two things, really:

I hope readers find themselves wondering what’s fact and what’s fiction—I include the historical foundations in the back of the book because readers may be surprised about how much is fact.
I hope the story changes the way they experience old places. When they step into a historic hotel or pass an old house, I want them to slow down for a moment and think about the people who were there before them—the lives lived within those walls, and the stories that still linger for those who will listen.

What has been the most challenging part of your author’s journey?

I think the most challenging part of an author’s journey is having the confidence (and perseverance) to keep going when you really don’t know if anyone is going to read what you’ve poured hours, and days, and months into writing.

Do you have any other projects on the horizon you want to tease for our readers?

I am so excited about this year and celebrating America’s 250th birthday. I’ve been traveling to Revolutionary War sites for the past two years and have put together a book called A Patriot’s Journey that lists 250 places to visit for America 250. You’d be surprised how many sites are under-the-radar that played pivotal roles in the founding of America.

Where can people find you and support your work right now?

My main website is https://jessicajamesbooks.com/ and I also have a travel blog at www.PastLaneTravels.com that includes a newsletter.

I’m also on the usual social media and book-related sites:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/romantichistoricalfiction

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/586216.Jessica_James

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jessica-james

What stories do you want to see more of in the world?

Since we are celebrating America’s 250th birthday this year, I’d love to see more well-researched historical fiction set during the Revolutionary War. There are so many little-known stories involving historical figures that would make great plotlines and characters for a novel set during our nation’s founding.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights, Jessica! We are so proud of you for saying yes to telling the stories that need to be told, and are very excited to see what other hidden gems you uncover in your adventures!

Got any questions for Jessica? Anything about her story resonate with your own? Drop a comment and let us know! 💬

Are you an indie author working on a meaningful story? We want to spotlight you!

Are you a writer with a story in the works that you are desperately trying to finish? The story team at One Brilliant Arc is here to help you! We offer ✨FREE✨ editing sessions with the OBA story team! Sit down with a panel of professional editors and get feedback on your work in progress!

📝SUBMIT YOUR STORY HERE!

Subscribe to Jessica Ann and see the magic she creates over at :

Our purpose is to have meaningful conversations, amplify authentic voices telling important stories, and support creatives doing good work. We can’t accomplish this mission alone!

If our mission resonates with you, please consider buying our team a coffee so we can continue supporting marginalized creatives who are telling stories that can change the world!

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What the "Big 5" Publishers Cannot Do For Your Book

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:50:24 GMT

What does building an author-first publishing company from the ground up look like?

Author Jeff Mills and publishing company CEO Grace Ellis of sit down with editor and founder of to share our stories. We talk about:

Jeff’s new book, Outcasts of Time
The significance of unlikely characters learning how to work together to save the world
The calling of creativity
What a trusting relationship between an editor and an author should look like
The challenges of publishing in 2026 and how the industry is shifting
The shortcomings of Big 5 publishing companies and why small or independent publishing companies publish better stories
Why author-first publishing companies are so important and needed for writers

Take a peek behind the scenes of what it really looks like to build a publishing company from the ground up with your friends who become family as we chat and laugh with Sarah and Jeff!

What would you do as a socially awkward college student if you got banished to the Edge of Time with a bitter stranger as the end of the world was happening? Could you survive each other and save the world?

Pick up a copy of Outcasts of Time by Jeff Mills for a wonderful sci-fi read to add to your bookshelf!

Paperback

Ebook

Looking for a publishing company that cares about your story and telling it the way YOU want to tell it? Check out Long Story Publishing!

Get in touch with Grace, Jeff, and Sarah by emailing them at: info@longstorypublishing.com

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

SEE HOW WE HELP WRITERS

When Writing As a Coping Mechanism Becomes Freedom, Then a Career

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:07:20 GMT

✨📚Another Indie Author Spotlight feature is here!

Meet Christopher D Pearce!

Better known as “Kip” to his friends, Christopher is a special educator by day and a fiction writer by night. His middle-grade novel, The Howler, is coming out in 2026, and his dark fantasy novellas, The Last Days of Armistice, are being published on his Substack.

As Christopher shares with us, his early passion for writing afforded him the freedom to express himself when growing up in a world that refused to accept him. This escape into stories we create in order to find freedom, safety, and acceptance is relatable to a lot of writers—maybe it’s even part of your experience. Now, Christopher writes his stories for his younger self who needed them and for others—both young and old—who need these stories as their own inspiration and hope. What a great example of a powerful WHY behind his writing!

Perseverance through rejection is one of the hardest parts about being an author. Christopher knows exactly what kind of fortitude this journey takes, AND why it is worth the struggle. We want to congratulate him on his soon-to-be-released novella, and encourage you to show him some love to brighten his day as he continues the good work of writing stories that help readers of all ages! Click that ❤️, share this post with other story lovers, and follow along Christopher’s writing journey on his Substack publication: .

Without further ado, let’s hear from Christopher about his story and what he has learned through writing it!

Tell us about yourself and what kind of creative work you do!

I'm an aspiring author originally from the UK, now living in Melbourne, Australia. By day, I am an educator for children with additional needs, and have been writing stories since I was capable of holding a pencil. Mostly, my work is in prose form, specifically speculative fiction. As a gay man growing up in a rural area, I found that the speculative genres afforded me an escapism, and writing within those boundaries reduced any constraints of expression.

Describe yourself in three words.

Excitable, passionate, and driven.

How has writing stories impacted your real life story?

I feel that my writing has been a significant outlet for me for my entire life. As I say, I have been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was in primary school I would often rip the last few pages out of exercise books and take them home to write stories, later graduating to the family computer. I feel it's my love of literature that affords me multiple things about my personality: my vocabulary, my humour, my wanderlust.

What story are you currently writing?

I imagine this answer will be similar for a lot of creatives, but at the moment I have quite a few on the go. The biggest challenge there is to prioritise which one I want to focus on. That being said, one of my focuses right now is the sequel to my soon-to-be-released middle-grade novel, The Howler. The Howler, which I originally intended to be a stand alone novel, follows a group of children living on Dartmoor in Devon during the Victorian Era. We follow Henry Hughes, the son of a zoologist who has been brought in to investigate legends of a monster terrorising the village. Soon enough, Henry encounters two local children, Thomas and Nell, who are the grandchildren of the reviled Weather Weaver, a local sorcerer, by all accounts. As the three develop a friendship, they fall deeper into a mystery and unravel the secrets of witches, and the land itself. In the sequel, I intend to pick up the story around a year later, where justice for the actions that lead to the events in The Howler must be dispensed, even as something much darker and crueller prowls Victorian London.

Beyond The Howler and its sequel, my other focus is my series of Dark Fantasy novellas, The Last Days of Armistice. This is a series which follows the character of Tris Morinder, a boy who's recently lost his home and family to the rise of religious zealotry. These novellas follow him through his adolescence and introduce readers to the world of The Three Thrones Saga, the title of the wider myth-cycle. The first is finished and available on my Substack, and I'm currently working on the 2nd installment where there is a dramatic shift in tone as Tris is introduced to the dark politics which surround magic on the continent of Palanost.

What makes this story matter to you?

With regards to The Howler and its sequel, I feel that what makes it really matter to me is first of all the setting. I grew up in north Devon, England, and was fascinated from a young age with the ancient folklore and mythology of the countryside. The village I grew up in didn't burn effigies of Guy Fawkes on November 5th, we turned a boulder in the square because the legend was that it kept the Devil in Hell. The stories of Devon are so vast and fascinating that I could prattle on about them for hours (and now that I live in Australia where most people have never heard of Devon, let alone Shebbear, I often do). Besides my deep connection to the rolling hills and fens and forest of Dartmoor, I think it is the struggle of the characters of Nell, Thomas, and Henry that matter to me the most. When I set out to write The Howler, I wanted the dread and tension not to come from running from a scary monster, but the dubious relationships the children have with their parental figures.

As a lonely child with a difficult upbringing, I think a story like that would have made me feel very seen.

The Last Days of Armistice matters to me as the fantasy world of the Three Thrones Saga is one I began creating when I was a teenager. In the last 15 years it has turned into something much richer and deeper than some crudely drawn maps and hastily scribbled ideas on paper I took out of the family printer. I wrote these silly fantasy stories as they kept me entertained, and as the years have gone by I have realised that they mean a great deal to me.

To begin, I suppose they were coping mechanisms, these stories I would write. Now, they are vast, rich worlds of which I am immensely proud.

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Why this story? Why now?

As an educator, I found I was so often having the same conversations with children during our reading interventions. They did not feel that they were being challenged by the books they were reading. They were finding the stories predictable and safe. When I asked what they would watch on television, to see if I could get a bit of an idea of genre books I could request for them, I found a number of the kids replies saying things along the lines of:

"Me and my mum/dad/sibling watch horror films."

Now, naturally, these are kids around 10-11 years old, so that sat poorly with me initially, on a professional level. Then, I started to think about the books I read when I was their age, how I would stay up all night reading by the light of the little battery-powered torch my nan and grandad got me so that I could read in the car. Those were all scary books (I had heaps of nightmares) and truly shaped my love of literature which I feel defines my taste and writing style today. I want children to be engaged with reading, to feel seen, challenged, and not at all spoken down to.

Why The Last Days of Armistice now? Because I owe it to myself. That kid who loved medieval fiction and watched The Lord of the Rings countless times with my sister and stayed up writing stories about knights and goblins and witches deserves to have his stories told. Sure, I've changed them a lot, and the themes are sadly reflective more on real world terrors of the modern day than just the fun short stories he wrote, but they're still his.

Who do you hope to reach with this story?

As I say, my main goal was to engage younger readers and keep that drive and passion for great stories alive for the younger generation. If a kidi reads The Howler, and sees themselves a little bit in the role of Nell, Thomas, or Henry, perhaps they will feel a bit less scared and alone. Perhaps they'll be inspired to start tricking their teachers into giving them exercise books so they can write stories in.

That being said, I am a firm believer that any and all books are for everyone. The Young Adult label isn't a recommended reading age, in my eyes, but an indication of thematic content and accessibility. I could recommend countless picture books which I think various adults would enjoy, if you're keen to just relax into a story and not worry what others might think because you want a simple low-stakes story with some nice illustrations in it. That's a very long way of me saying that I think The Howler, particularly, will be a fun and exciting read for anyone who loves a gothic fantasy with some morally grey characters.

What do you hope readers feel or remember when they encounter this story?

I think any great story needs, first of all, a memorable setting. That is certainly something I feel I achieved with The Howler, having grown up not a stone's throw from Dartmoor. I feel that readers with a vivid imagination will know exactly what the country is like, how beautiful and wild and vast it is, and not to mention haunting. I want readers to feel excited, tense, mournful and hopeful all at once. But most of all, I want people to be entertained. That's why we read stories, ultimately.

What has been the most challenging part of your author’s journey?

Rejections. Regardless of how thick your skin is, regardless of how much of it you think you can handle, there is going to be a point when you've heard enough "no's" or simply heard nothing at all where it just starts to weigh on you. I had a few teary moments where I really started to believe my stories weren't good enough and that they should just stay saved on my computer and never see the light of day. When I wanted to vent about this to a friend, he said:

"May as well give up then."

Naturally, he was joking. But even just that spurred me back into action. Why should I give up? I treated submissions like a full time job, tailoring every pitch for each individual house and sure enough, I came across a small press who loved The Howler and that story has found its home.

Where can people find you and support your work right now?

The best place to read my work (at least until The Howler is in print) is my Substack, . I publish episodic chapters around once a week (sometimes fortnightly) broken up with world building essays, smaller parts of lore, and, of course because every good fantasy story needs them, maps. Fans of dark fantasy, epic journeys, and rich vibrant worlds would love a gander, I hope.

Once The Howler is released in 2026, you'll be able to find it at any good online retailer. All your classics: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Google Store. Then, within a few months, an audiobook will be released, if that's more your speed.

Do you have any other projects on the horizon you want to tease for our readers?

Well, I've already mentioned The Howler's sequel, so keep your eyes peeled for that one, definitely. The Last Days of Armistice will continue to be released through Substack, for the time being, so there's plenty to sate yourself with there. After that series of novellas is complete, it's followed by four novellas currently titled The Isles of Foxes, and then another 11 novels/ novellas. Four of these are already complete, but there's a lot of editing that still needs to happen, as one might expect from a fantasy series.

Barring those projects, I have another speculative in the works. A story set in an isolated coastal Devon village, a widower sees a chance to right his wrongs and lessen the burdens of his regrets when something washes ashore that starts to change the land and, seemingly, turn back the clock, though not for the better. For now, this story is called The Blessing.

What stories do you want to see more of in the world?

Okay, this may be controversial, but I want pulp. I don't feel that every story I read needs to be some huge complex thing that's going to change my life and make intelligent observations on philosophy or social commentary (though naturally I love these as well and find them very important). Sometimes, I just want a good story. I want something sensational, that's going to transport me to the world it's describing. I want vivid characters and classic stories being retold again. I want to have fun when I read a story. I want a detective in a smokey jazz lounge during prohibition, I want a brave knight trying to stop a horde of goblins in service to a tyrant king, I want a space captain and their whimsical sidekick having adventures on alien moons. I want escapism.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights, Christopher! We are so proud you for never giving up in the good work you are doing, excited for your stories yet to come, and grateful for the chance to spread the word about your writing!

Got any questions for Christopher? Anything about his story resonate with your own? Drop a comment and let us know! 💬

Are you an indie author working on a meaningful story? We want to spotlight you!

📝SUBMIT YOUR STORY HERE!

Subscribe to Jessica Ann and see the magic she creates over at :

Our purpose is to have meaningful conversations, amplify authentic voices telling important stories, and support creatives doing good work. We can’t accomplish this mission alone!

If our mission resonates with you, please consider buying our team a coffee so we can continue supporting marginalized creatives who are telling stories that can change the world!

☕️ Buy Us a Coffee

Indie Author Spotlight: On Finding Your Voice with Dietrich Stogner

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:19:31 GMT

Is “finding your voice” a myth?

talks with and from One Brilliant Arc about his journey from journalist to indie author, and the advice he followed when he had a moment of panic realizing that he needed to rediscover his own voice. Learn from his story as he shares about the 10-book series he is currently writing, how he brought his characters to life, and what keeps him going through the arduous writing process.

Follow along Dietrich’s writing and publishing journey, find his first three books, and get bonus chapters on his Substack or his TikTok:

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

SEE HOW WE HELP WRITERS

The Calling of Stories with Indie Author Kate from GenerateMagic

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:10:10 GMT

When self-doubt is planted in your mind from every direction that writing is a viable career, the greatest rebellion is telling your story anyway!

Come join the conversation with writer from the Substack publication Generate Magic to learn about her journey finally writing a novel like she has been dreaming about since she was a kid! Tune in for encouragement along your own writing journey and some pro tips and tricks on how to structure a story, develop your characters, and avoid cliches in your own writing.

Follow along Kate’s journey on her Substack as she completes and publishes her romance novel in (hopefully!) Summer, 2026:

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

Writing Through ADHD with Indie Author L.M. Sanders

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:11:56 GMT

When you give yourself permission to just be YOU, your story becomes supercharged.

Come join the conversation with writer to learn about her journey writing a novel with ADHD and the pro tips she has learned to help her stay focused! She shares her experience as a writer and librarian, and how getting late-diagnosed with ADHD was the permission she needed to stop trying to fit into someone else’s box and start defining her own voice.

Follow along L.M. Sanders’ journey as she writes her novel on her soon-to-be-launched Substack!

✨ Got a story you want to share with the world? Jessica Ann and One Brilliant Arc (OBA) want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

📖✍️ Need help writing or editing your story? The story coaches and editors at One Brilliant Arc are here to help you find your voice and amplify your truth!

📚 Need guidance to get your story published so your words can find the people who need them? Jessica Ann shares her successful journey publishing her novel, Woven in Time, over on her Substack, and will be offering author coaching and consulting services soon! 👀

Choosing Radical Self-Acceptance Over Giving Up on Her Story

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:34:36 GMT

The moment you chose radical self-acceptance, everything changes.

Come join the conversation with writer to learn about the moment she chose NOT to give up, and how telling her story has helped her find her voice. Through a long career as a teacher, then leaving her corporate job, and finally meeting her husband in Cuba, and now writing her memoir, Erin reminds us that when we chose to bet on ourselves and start writing our own ending to the story, our world opens up!

Follow along Erin’s journey as she writes and publishes her memoir at her Substack:

Got a story you want to share with the world? and want to help you connect with the readers who need your words most!

Need guidance to get your story published so your words can find the people who need them? Jessica Ann shares her successful journey publishing her novel, Woven in Time, over on her Substack, and is now offering author coaching and consulting!

Writing Through Trauma: Meet Romantasy Author Nika McKinney!

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:37:43 GMT

Available for iOS and Android

Weaving Connections Across Continents—the Power of Nature and Story

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 20:18:09 GMT

Come chat with the authors of the new book, “Weaving Connections: Nature Walks Across Continents,” about the unique process behind how their book came together, the power of nature to help bring out the natural magic of creatives, and how connection across continents supercharges creativity. See how Gabriella and Gabby are defying the toxic stereotypes of our culture that keep us creatives in a box and reconnecting with their authentic voices to tell a better story! If you are a creative who feels overwhelmed, burnt out, or alone, this conversation is for you. 🖤

Check out and to see the sparkle they are adding to the world!

💬 Comment below: What story are you telling to bring your spark of light into 2026?

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Let’s connect and keep each other’s lights shining bright!

Healing from Trauma and Finding Purpose in a Second Career...As an Author!

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:02:25 GMT

✨📚Our first Indie Author Spotlight feature is here!

Meet Bonnie Gerstenlauer!

A retired RN and fictional author, Bonnie is planning to publish her short sci-fi fantasy book “The Realm Ruler” within 6 to 12 months. She writes fictional stories and articles for Medium and on Substack. She is an abstract artist whose paintings have been featured in juried art fairs. She has two adult children and is the proud mother to Gigi, a little yorkipoo with a big dog attitude. Although she has endured trauma multiple times in her lifetime, writing and creating art has been a healing salve for her soul.

As Bonnie shares with us from her experience, writing good, meaningful stories takes a lot of effort and time! We want to second what Bonnie says:

Writing is an exhausting journey, and yet a powerful way to heal and then to share that healing with others in the world who need it.
Accountability is SO helpful to remind us that the work we are doing is worth it and to continue pushing through!

Sharing your work in public is a scary thing, but it is exactly where the power of your story lies! We want to applaud Bonnie for her bravery, and encourage you to show her some love to brighten her day as she continues the good work of writing stories that bring healing! Click that ❤️, share this post with other story lovers, and follow along Bonnie’s writing journey on her Substack publication:

Without further ado, let’s hear from Bonnie about her story and what she learned through writing it!

Tell us about yourself and what kind of creative work you do!

I am 59, retired, and started out as an abstract artist in 2020 as something to do during the pandemic. I didn’t start writing fiction until about three years ago after inspiration came from a dream. Prior to that time I mostly dabbled in poetry.

Describe yourself in three words.

Tough Creative Kind

How has writing stories impacted your real life story?

Writing has given me a purpose. I used to own a small business with my twin sister but after selling it, I felt lost. Once I started to take writing seriously, I write daily, it kicked my creative juices into gear. I am in the process of editing my first book and am writing two other short novels, as well as writing flash fiction and non-fiction articles most days.

What story are you currently writing?

Currently I am halfway through editing my fantasy novella, “The Realm Ruler” and writing two others, one of which is fictional but based on my personal experiences as a nurse.

What makes this story matter to you?

Writing, or creating anything for that matter, feeds my soul and has helped me heal from past trauma. I hope this article helps someone discover their creativity and helps them on their healing journey and maybe even inspires someone to write their own story or to create art.

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Why this story? Why now?

For me, the idea for my book “The Realm Ruler” was inspired by a dream I had. I always wanted to write fiction, but didn’t have any idea what to write about or how to go about it. After I started writing the book, the plot and characters fell into place. I feel “The Realm Ruler” is a story I was destined to write, even though it has taken me over four years, due to personal set backs. I am determined to finish it and to get it published because I believe I was meant to write it this book; because it came to me in a dream, the plot, characters, etc. fell into place so easily, and also because I couldn’t let it go.

Who do you hope to reach with this story?

Anyone who has a dream, I hope to inspire, because with perseverance, you can achieve anything.

What do you hope readers feel or remember when they encounter this story?

I hope that readers realize that, as women we embody the characteristics of both strength and vulnerability, and that’s OK. We don’t have to be a strong warrior type all of the time, like they show in the movies. It’s OK to ask for help if we need it. And also there will be setbacks in life, but know that we can still achieve our dreams, if we persevere.

What has been the most challenging part of your author’s journey?

It’s been a long journey. I started my book about three or four years ago but stopped writing for over a year because of life’s challenges. I just kept thinking about it, though, so I picked it back up. I wasn’t motivated until I took a free online writing class, where I was held accountable, and that’s when I finished the book.

Where can people find you and support your work right now?

I recently started writing on Substack and I’ve also written a few articles on Medium. If readers would like to read the first 10 chapters of my short novel “The Realm Ruler” it is free to join and free to read on my page glittergirl1966.substack.com

Do you have any other projects on the horizon you want to tease for our readers?

I am writing two other short novels. I’m halfway through the novel with a young woman that’s injured while hiking in the mountains of Vermont and is fighting for her life. Plus I am in the process of writing a comedic novel about a young nurse working at a nursing home. I am always posting flash fiction stories on my substack page as well.

What stories do you want to see more of in the world?

I would like to see more inspirational and uplifting stories in the world. There are too many negative news stories these days.

I grew up watching Andy Griffith, Leave it to Beaver, and I love Lucy. We didn’t have cell phones and Internet, 24/7. We sat around the dinner table and actually talked to one another.

As a society, I think we need to decompress more and sit back, relax and enjoy ourselves. The world is full of stress now. Young people feel the need to be influencers, post YouTube videos, be entrepreneurs. When I was growing up, there was no Internet or cell phones. I think we need to go back to simpler times. I think that means watching less reality TV, where yelling at each other and showing people cheating, is not the norm. More wholesome content with less violence is greatly underrated.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights, Bonnie! We are so proud of the good work you are doing and grateful for the chance to spread the word about the stories you are telling!

Got any questions for Bonnie? Anything about her story resonate with your own? Drop a comment and let us know! 💬

Are you an indie author working on a meaningful story? We want to spotlight you!

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Telling Truth with Fiction: A Sci-Fi Author Interview with Steven Cary

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:06:36 GMT

Join the One Brilliant Arc (OBA) story team as we chat with sci-fi author, musician, and political attorney Steven Cary about the dire warning and epic adventure in his novel, NextGen. Drawing from his wide and impressive experience, Steven shares how art plays a role in the real world, his spiritual experience of writing NextGen, his insights on AI and what the rise of automation means for artists specifically and humanity in general, his hope for the next generation, and why fiction matters for sharing truth with tired, angry, and defensive people. Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful conversation, and learn how fiction writers like YOU can save the world!

Follow Steven’s Substack or visit https://www.stevencarybooks.com/ to explore his music and books!

For more conversations like this with creatives telling world-changing stories, or if you want pro tips on how to write your own world-changing stories, subscribe to One Brilliant Arc! We’re here to amplify voices that have been silenced and help you tell your story, your way, with your voice.

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Finding Our Power Through Story

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 02:54:45 GMT

Urmila Menon/ Human🌻’s debut book rocketed to Amazon’s #1 Bestseller and #1 hot release while still in the preorder stage—no PR, no paid ads, no price reduction.

What is this book that everyone wants to read? Color Coded: Finding Ourselves and Our Stories is about identity, creativity, and representation. This book is for the misfits, dreamers, creators, and women who refuse to shrink.

from and Urmila chat about the secrets to her book’s success, the power of story, and the gift of “me too” that brave creators who stand in their authenticity give to others. Join our conversation and be inspired and encouraged to find your own voice and find yourself in your story. Because someone needs it.

Follow Urmila and her beautiful work here on her Substack or on her Instagram.

And grab your copy of Color Coded before Amazon sells out! 😉

Self-Publishing Vs. Traditional Publishing and the Healing Power of Story with Author Tina Erwin

One Brilliant Arc (OBA) — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 12:02:00 GMT

Writing is therapeutic and storytelling inspires healing, but the journey to published author is a gauntlet! Tina Erwin wrote through the incredible grief of the sudden death of her six-year-old niece in order to help others along their own journeys of grief. She joins us today to share her personal experience with both traditional and self-publishing in order to help other soulful writers navigate the gauntlet of becoming a published author while preserving their souls, their authenticity, and their creative control. Join us as we weigh the pros and cons of publishing companies, Amazon publishing, and AI; share personal and professional insights into authentic storytelling; and discover how writers can become successful authors.

Huge thanks to Tina Erwin for sharing her experience and insights with us for this discussion! You can follow her writing on her website or her personal YouTube podcast.

OBA’s story team offers real help for real stories in real time, and we can do the same for your story! Want us to be your partners along the storytelling journey? Check out our services for both beginner and advanced writers:

Want to be on our next podcast? Send us a message and introduce yourself. Let’s collaborate!

Submit your WIP for a ✨free✨ story audit with OBA’s team of editors here:

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