A Day in the Life of an Independent Author: Walking With Purpose, One Story at a Time

Most days for me begin before the sun has fully settled into the sky. As a full‑time background investigator in the transportation industry, my mornings start with structure, deadlines, and the steady rhythm of a 40‑hour workweek. It’s a job that demands precision and focus, and it anchors my day with a sense of responsibility. But even as I move through application files and reviewing reports, the stories behind Stolen Voices: Missing and Murdered in Big Horn County are never far from my mind. They sit quietly in the background, reminding me why I do the work I do long after I clock out.

When the workday ends, the second shift begins. The one fueled by passion rather than payroll. Being an independent author means wearing every hat in the business: marketer, publicist, social media manager, accountant, event coordinator, and storyteller. I spend evenings drafting posts, responding to readers, updating my platforms, and planning out content that keeps the mission behind Stolen Voices alive. There are emails to send, speaking engagements to pitch, book signing events to secure, and interviews to prepare for. It’s a full-time job layered on top of another full-time job, but it’s also the work that fills me with purpose.

“Every day is a balancing act between duty, purpose, and heart, moving from my full‑time job to the work of telling stories that matter. The hours are long, but the mission behind Stolen Voices keeps me grounded and moving forward. In the middle of it all, service, community, and the people I love remind me why this work is worth every step.”

Some days, the schedule expands even further as I make space for the nonprofits that have become part of my life’s rhythm. When time allows, I join Feeding My Starving Children to pack meals for children around the world. Small boxes that carry big hope. Once a month, I spend a day at The Wildcat Sanctuary, washing the dishes that lions, tigers, bobcats, and hybrid cats eat from, and helping with enrichment activities that keep their minds and bodies engaged. It’s humbling work, grounding work, and it reminds me that service comes in many forms, some quiet, some wild.

Mentorship is another thread woven into my weeks. As a Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentor, I carve out time to show up with consistency and heart, offering support, encouragement, and a listening ear. And each month, I sit down to write letters for Letters Against Isolation. Sending notes sent to elderly individuals who may not receive much mail or connection otherwise. These letters are small gestures, but they carry warmth, and they remind me that storytelling isn’t always about books; sometimes it’s about reminding someone they’re not forgotten.

Even with a schedule that stretches in every direction, I work hard to protect time for the people who matter most. Family dinners, coffee with close friends, spontaneous conversations, and shared laughter are the moments that refill my cup. I’ve learned that advocacy and creativity can’t thrive without rest and connection, so I make room for vacations, concerts, and the kind of experiences that remind me I’m not just working—I’m living. These breaks are not escapes; they’re fuel.

By the time night settles in, I often find myself back at my desk, writing, planning, or dreaming up the next chapter of this journey. My days are full, sometimes overwhelmingly so, but they are stitched together by purpose. Every task, every volunteer shift, every event, every letter, every moment with loved ones becomes part of a larger story. It’s a life built on service, creativity, and advocacy, and while it’s not always easy, it’s always meaningful. And at the end of each day, I’m reminded that the work behind Stolen Voices is not just something I do—it’s something I live.