Conversations with Melissa Herrera

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Herrera

Hi Melissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Where to begin? My story most likely begins reading voraciously at a young age. I progressed to poetry and other writings through my teens. Through my early married years when the toddlers took over I didn’t write as much as I wanted. That changed when they got older and I could focus.

I began writing for a newsletter and could see that my writing itch needed to be furthered. In 2010 I landed a weekly column with Graphic Publications (Now AloNovus) a publisher of small newspapers in Ohio.

I have now been with them for 14 years, but expanding outside this circle is something I want to do very soon. My goal is to become a syndicated columnist.

In 2020 I self-published a book on my husband’s life titled TOÑO LIVES. It was a long time in coming and I spent time at a writer’s residency in Oaxaca, Mexico where I wrote the bulk of it. I have at the very least two more books inside me.

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?
The life of a writer is filled with lots of potholes, wine, and edits. I’m smiling as I write this because I wouldn’t change a thing. Getting yourself seen is one thing, but actually having folks listen to what you say is another. I wish I had been more aggressive in getting my work out there. I was 42 when I began my column.

I struggled to write my books. I’ve written two—one my husband’s story and the other I was a ghost writer. The blank page you need to fill can become a horror story if you’re not disciplined.

But my column? I was born for that type of platform. Every week I sit down and write it, sometimes not knowing what I’m going to write about. I’ve had great editors, fantastic ones, and they’ve been so helpful along the way.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Every week I write a personal essay/column for AloNovus. It’s printed in newspaper form as well as online. It’s read by many people who may agree or disagree with my opinions. I am stopped frequently by people who tell me they read my column faithfully. I was born and raised in the community the paper comes out in, so I have many Amish folks (men and women) who tell me they never miss a column.

I’m known for writing about life, politics, and immigration, and food. I use a soft approach that draws the reader in. I’m not a hammer, but more of a tiny scraper that scrapes off the top layer of topics most thought they had one idea on. My niece once said, “Missy’s writing is soft and gentle and in the next paragraph has just told you to go to hell and you don’t even know it.”

I’m proud of all my columns plus books, but several of them stand out. The ones on racism and immigration are some of my best.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have some close knit friends that I consider mentors. One group is called Breakfast Club. We meet every few months to hash out our lives and goals. We end with sending each other out with an objective that is within grasp.

I consider each of these strong women my mentor. They’ve given me life-saving advice that I could put into action. Lots of coffee and food helps these meetings! We are close.

I also have another group that I consider a sounding board. One woman in that group is someone I talk to everyday. She is also someone I consider a mentor. We see each other some times, but online we connect every day through messaging.

I think mentorship can look different than regular norms if we open our eyes to it.

Pricing:

• I work freelance for my writing projects. Pricing upon request.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/junkbabe?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=bbae0618-7db2-4bc6-800d-1ae97b90fb24
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junkbabe68/profilecard/?igsh=MXdwbWpwdjVvZGQxNA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missy.herrera?mibextid=JRoKGi
• Twitter: https://x.com/junkbabe68?s=21
• Other: https://substack.com/@melissaherrera?r=b21z&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile