We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Michelle Gibes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erin Michelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’m a single parent, and I needed flexibility in my schedule, plus enough income to support my household. There weren’t any traditional jobs out there that allowed me both flexibility and a reasonable income. Also, I didn’t know it at the time, but I have ADHD (I was diagnosed a few years ago), and have come to learn that I need the unique combination of structure and flexibility I get from being my own boss. I don’t thrive in a traditional 8-5 work environment.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In addition to coaching and supporting other creatives with ADHD as part of my business, I am a speculative fiction writer. I had a handful of short stories published before my son was born in 2015, and have since been working on a novel project, which I am about halfway through. Learning I had ADHD has led to my biggest breakthroughs creatively, because it has informed my process and helped me understand how to work with my brain instead of fighting against it. Writing a novel is vast undertaking for any creative person, but is uniquely challenging for writers who have ADHD. So is building a sustainable business. If there’s anything I want people to know about my story, it’s that it is ok to ask for help. Your goals (creative and financial) are important. They deserve your attention and commitment, and they deserve your bravery in seeking the support you require in order to achieve them.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most of my friends are other writers, so I think they’d understand and expect that my itinerary would include mostly bookstores and coffee shops. I live in Longmont, so I usually recommend a visit to Barbedwire Books (for an incredible selection of well curated used and new books, plus employees that love talking books as much as you do), Javastop (for the best tea), Ozo coffee (for the best coffee), Cavegirl Coffee (for the best coffee house food), and Brewing Market (for the best coffeeshop to work/write in). Also, I don’t get to as many concerts as I used to, but I think everyone should experience a live show at Red Rocks at least once in their lives.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Can I do two? I’d like to Shoutout Sarah Elizabeth Schantz and her W)rites of Passage workshop series. She’s been a writing mentor and friend for many years, and her teaching and feedback have been instrumental in my growth as a writer and as a human. I’d also like to Shoutout Jennie Nash and her Book Coach Certification company, Author Accelerator, who provided me with the training that gave me the opportunity and support to start my own business.

Website: https://erinwritesmagic.com/about

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

Image Credits
I took all these pictures myself. I work from home, so I don’t have pictures of the work I do. These show my workspace, one of my bookshelves, and a handful of books by Colorado authors.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.