Meet Amy M. Le | CEO, Quill Hawk Publishing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy M. Le and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The literary world of writing and publishing is ever-changing. Writers now have many options for publishing but one misconception many have is that if they go the traditional publishing route, they do not have to do a lot of promoting or marketing for their book. Writers assume their publisher will do most of the heavy lifting on that front and unfortunately, whether one indie publishes or traditionally publishes, most of the PR work falls on the author.

There are advantages and disadvantages to consider with both paths and the decision ultimately falls on the writer to seek the best option for him/her/them at that time.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I never thought I’d become a writer this late in my life. I spent twenty years in the corporate space working for big companies like Microsoft and T-Mobile. I thought my path was to climb the corporate ladder, invest and save, then retire in my sixties surrounded by animals. However, that was not the plan God had for me.

I was born nine months before the end of the Vietnam War. My heart defect meant my life expectancy was less than five years. Against all odds, I survived the war, the journey across the South China Sea in a rickety old shrimp trawler with forty-two other refugees, the refugee camps, and open-heart surgery. Because I was small, sick, and unaccustomed to American culture, growing up had some challenges. I was born fighting. Giving up was synonymous with death. The grit and fierceness of a refugee heart warrior are what sets me apart from others. In that fierceness, I eventually learned to step into my power, trust in the Lord, and embrace the notion that failure comes to those who don’t try.

Confucius said, “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” These are words that reverberate in my mind and make my heartstrings vibrate. When I live each day with intention and be my authentic self, it humbles me to inspire people through servant leadership. This is my brand. It is the core of who I am and I take great joy in seeing others succeed through perseverance. It has been said that success doesn’t make a person… it reveals who they are. I’ve learned that success isn’t about money, fame, or anything material. It is about waking up each day and breathing in the moments that bring you joy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For any out-of-towners, I’d grab a city pass and explore the zoo, museums, and parks. Of course, no tourist can resist good food. The dining experience is not just about the flavors of the food, but the ambiance of the environment. Good barbecue, Tex-Mex, and fried chicken are staples but adventures in the international district are where you can get amazing, cheap food at hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

I’d also take visitors to San Antonio to the riverwalk and to the Winstar World Casino for entertainment!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My entrepreneurial journey started in 2017. My mom had passed from cancer so I quit my job to mourn her death. To honor her memory, I wrote her story of how she bravely escaped Vietnam after the fall of Saigon and how she started a new life in America with nothing. Her grit to flee Vietnam was based on one mission — to get me the life-saving operation I needed to fix my congenital heart defect. I owe my life to her and dedicate this shoutout to Ms. Tuyet Ngoc Le.

After publishing my first book, Snow in Vietnam, my writing journey grew legs and wings. Today, I am the author of five books and founder of Quill Hawk Publishing, an Asian American, woman-owned company helping writers indie-publish their work. It is QHP’s mission to amplify diverse voices through storytelling, one book at a time, and through a concierge approach, we guide the writer from idea to publication and beyond.

My husband is the hook I hang my hat on each day and the pillar of support I need when the foundation cracks. To Joseph Walls, I thank you for cheering me on to achieve my dreams of writing and publishing. Entrepreneurship is a hustler’s game and no one achieves success without the support of a community. I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by a tribe and street army who uplift and go to bat for me.

Website: www.quillhawkpublishing.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_m_le/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amymle/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amy_m_le

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quillhawkpublishing/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi7us6JMa2kyBQWWIKyM7ag

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@quillhawk