Sandra Olivarez, who lives and works in Northwest Arkansas, had never considered herself a writer.
She was used to taking complex topics and simplifying them into reports and presentations in her professional life, but she never felt ready to tell personal stories – that was, until the week of Thanksgiving last year.
“I simply couldn’t not write it anymore,” she said.
She had the first 10 chapters of the book complete by the end of that holiday week, though she said they were far from ready at that point. However, less than a year later, her debut work, Becoming the Silver Lining: How Adversity Shapes the Way We Live, Lead and Rise, is hitting shelves Sept. 22.
“The book is less about what happens to us, and more about how those experiences shape the stories that we carry about ourselves, and how we can move forward differently, with greater self-awareness,” she said.
Olivarez also launched her own press in conjunction with the book, Silver Lining Press. She has experience running a business through Sigma Strategy Group, which she co-founded, but said the process of getting Silver Lining Press up and running has given her a new appreciation for publishers.
Olivarez feels her work experience in workforce development, strategy, innovation and organizational leadership has played into her book and press as well.
“I’ve spent my career helping organizations navigate change and solve complex workforce challenges,” she said. “The through line [between the book and Sigma Strategy Group] is helping people move forward through transition.”
Not quite memoir, not quite self-help, the book occupies a unique space.
“It’s less about my own stories, but I reference some of my life stories and experiences to help others see themselves and reflect on their own life,” she said.
Balancing her businesses and writing has not been easy, but Olivarez said she is used to a heavy workload and was able to carve out time to complete the book.
Even though she is mostly focused on the debut of Becoming the Silver Lining, she also has one eye on the future, including expanding the press and working on another book, The Philosophy of Becoming.
“I see Silver Lining Press growing into a home for thoughtful work around growth, self-leadership, purpose and becoming,” she said.
As she thinks about her book finally getting into readers’ hands, she thinks about wanting those readers to see themselves in the pages.
“I hope they come away understanding that the things we’ve lived through don’t have to define what comes next and that something meaningful can still be made from even the hardest parts of our stories,” Olivarez said.
READ ALSO: Kevin Kooman Named to White River Bancshares Board
