Meet Samantha Cabrera | Editor of Calla Press & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Cabrera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to create a Christian literary journal that published work from new writers, namely, writers that haven’t found a home for their work because they haven’t found the right place. Calla Press is a place for emerging writers, and established ones, to share their work from poetry to articles. I also wanted to grow spiritually and academically in my field of creative writing; I have my ELAR 7-12 teacher certification and taught for two years, but I knew when I had my babies, that I’d need something to work on with my hands when I was home, too. I also wanted to incorporate writing into what I do every day, thus, I get to read others’ work and write my own; I’m currently working on finishing my memoir, The Doctor’s Wife.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It took a long journey of letting, honestly, to get where I am today; I let God lead me. He led me to California for almost two years where I realized how many people have a story to tell. He led me to write copy for a web publishing business that made me realize how much I did not want to sit behind a desk all day! He led me to get my MFA in Creative Writing along with my 7-12 ELAR teacher certification. He led me to write for numerous magazines and Christian online platforms, such as Christian Woman, Believe.com, and Faithlife Women, a division of Logos Bible Software. He led me to start my own business. He led me to create Calla Press out of crippling depression. Now, I’m the editor of a literary journal that has a faithful readership and I have the honor and privilege of publishing incredible work, truly. I want others to know that it was not easy to get where I am, but I pushed through trauma, abuse, mental illness, and lots of anguishing to get where I am, but it was all worth it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh! I would take me and my best friend to get our nails done. Then we would go to Splashville, because, you know, Texas heat! Honestly, I live in a smaller city in the Texas countryside, so there is not too much to do here, but if I could do this with my best friend, I would: 1) Eat ice cream and Sonic French toast sticks for breakfast
2) Gel the nails
3) Antique Shopping and we’d have to visit all the thrift stores
4) Go to a ranch and pet some baby goats!
5) Bake sugar cookies and flood them
6) Walk the square and eat at a local diner and talk about all the things

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I truly give all credit and glory to God, first; without Him, I wouldn’t care to share others’ stories, much less, my own. I want to thank my husband for always believing in me and supporting my dreams. I have had the privilege of publishing over 300 writers on Calla Press and we nearly sold out of our first print literary journal; we have two left of 100! I also thank my twin sister, Savannah, who despite battling her own illness of NMO has never ceased to spur me on; we have always had Little Women as our sister theme, she being Beth and I being Jo; I get teary-eyed just thinking of her and how much she encourages me in my pursuit of writing and Calla Press. I also thank my family and my Nana, who is like a mother to me, for reminding me of my dreams since I was a little girl. Also, my friends encourage me and uplift me in this pursuit!

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Website: www.callapress.com

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