Anthologies
Volume 1
DESERTS TO MOUNTAINTOPS
Our Collective Journey to (re)Claiming Our Voice
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Available for purchase NOW!
Deserts to Mountaintops is the inaugural anthology from Soul Speak Press, chronicling 22 women's voices and their unique journey from the desert of self-abandonment to the mountaintop of self-love. Each chapter focuses on one woman’s specific story that recounts how she has reestablished a relationship with her intuition, reconnected with her truest self and experienced the hard-won joy of reclaiming her VOICE.
The inspiration for this collection of essays, stems from the lead author, Jessica Buchanan's, own self-abandonment experience in 2011. Even though her intuition was screaming at her not to go on a project mission for her NGO in Southern Somalia, she ignored what she knew was true and went anyway. The result of silencing her truth, changed the trajectory of her life, and nearly killed her. She spent 93 days living in the deserts of Somalia at the hands of land pirates who held her hostage for a 45-million-dollar ransom demand. She was starved, beaten and abused until by order of President Obama, SEAL Team VI parachuted into the desert on a moonless night, and rescued her. While Jessica's story is wild, her experience and practice of self-abandonment is NOT unique, and in the last ten years of her healing journey, she has learned so much about herself as she has climbed the mountain back to self-love.
Throughout the chapters of Deserts to Mountaintops, readers will connect with these women's experiences as they cover themes such as overcoming abuse, alcoholism, toxic workplaces, single motherhood, mental health, and suicide- just to name a few. These women have struggled to make their voices heard- and reclaimed them in a powerful way.
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FREE Companion Guide
Read along with the Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to (re)Claiming Our Voice with these thought-provoking discussion questions based on each author's story and chapter. Perfect for group discussions or book clubs!
COMING SOON
Volume II
Deserts to Mountaintops: The Journey of Choosing Our Bodies and Healing Through Radical Self-Acceptance
Taking Submissions NOW!
The second volume of anthologies centered on the theme of reclaiming our bodies is slated for publication in November 2023 and is currently open for contributing author submissions. We are looking for stories of body reclamation- however that may be interpreted. Whether you have moved through life with disordered eating, have survived a health crisis, overcome the trauma of abuse or have transitioned in body to match your soul- all stories are wanted.
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Volume III
Deserts to Mountaintops:
The Pilgrimage of Motherhood
The third volume of anthologies highlighting the spiritual journey one has taken to the sacred place of motherhood in whatever way that might be interpreted is slated to publish in March 2024. Subscribe to the DTM newsletter to stay up to date on all project launch dates.
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The project officially launches in April 2024 but advanced inquiries are welcome.
Interested in becoming a contributing author for one of the upcoming anthologies? We are taking submissions now!
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Email Jess at info@jessbuchanan.com or schedule a time on her calendar to chat with the link below.
Anthology Curation
Bring your authors -- Let us curate and project manage your anthology experience
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1 Edited chapter per author
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Comprehensive editing, feedback and developmental support
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2 individual sessions per author with edits and peer review
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Project Management
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Invoicing, contracting, author communication
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5 Group Sessions
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Meet and Greet, Writing Workshop, Marketing and more
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​Production, publishing and uploading of all versions of book for worldwide distribution through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Ingram and other trade outlets
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Amazon subject placement strategy session with Lead Author
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Book sales support for Lead Author
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Coordination of advance copies available at wholesale prices for your own personal distribution and sale
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Branded social media assets personalized and curated to promote the project and your new role as a BEST SELLING AUTHOR!
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A personalized PR and marketing package designed specifically for this project that you can use to launch your work upon publication
Interested in learning more about curating your own anthology?
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Email Jess at info@jessbuchanan.com or schedule a time on her calendar to chat with the link below.
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"I have always taken to writing but never given a real published platform to share. When I learned there was room for my voice in DTM, I grabbed it. I didn’t let my fear and anxiety even let me think twice about not taking the chance, because I knew Jessica was a guide, pillar and visionary. She effortlessly brought a collective of beautiful women together who will be forever connected by this experience, and who are all sharing themselves for their own healing and for that of others.
Jessica guided, encouraged, nurtured and pioneered. I couldn’t have written such rawness if she wasn’t there to hash it out of me. She’s opened up a door for me, and held space, for one of the first times in my life. To manage all these women and give enough of herself to make each feel like they’re in the spotlight has been an incredible experience."
Rula Abirafeh