Standout Authors Unbound amplifies the voices of underrepresented writers and indie authors to disrupt an industry that rewards conformity over authenticity.
What if the body tells the truth long before we do?
Soleil is a writer and somatic practitioner whose work centers on the quiet, everyday ways systemic oppression settles into the body… and how we can begin to soften, listen, and reclaim ourselves.
Soleil is the author of Decolonizing the Body, a book packed with somatic practices that help you slow down, unhook from the stuff you’ve carried for too long, and reconnect with the version of you that feels most true.
We get into her beginnings in journalism, the unexpected virality that changed her career, the emotional labor of writing something brave, and the very real challenge of promoting a book without losing your center.
If you’re a writer who cares about truth, embodiment, and making an impact without burning out, this one’s for you.
Highlights
Writing for the Right Reasons
Soleil reminds us that real writing comes from a deeper internal impulse.
“I don’t do it for the fame… there has to be an impulse other than that.”
Truth Tells the Story
Honest writing lands because readers feel its sincerity.
“The more unflinchingly you can tell the truth, the more that will touch the marrow of another being.”
The Unpredictability of Publishing
You never know which piece of writing will resonate or take off.
“You can never tell. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve written or what has happened in previous attempts to write.”
Relationships Shape the Work
Community and reciprocity fuel the writing journey.
“So much of it is actually about who we’re in relationship with and how we can consciously cultivate relationships of reciprocity.”
Aligned Marketing Matters
A message lands best when it’s shared with the right audience.
“I think you need to really have an aligned audience for the people that are going to be receiving this message.”
Rest Is Part of the Process
Creativity needs spaciousness, not constant effort.
“If your mind is always working, you’re not going to be able to use it to the best of its ability. It needs a break just like any other part of your body.”
Word-of-Mouth Wins
Personal recommendations still move books more than anything else.
“Word of mouth promotion is… gold.”
Let the Journey Surprise You
Writing often leads us somewhere we didn’t expect.
“It might take us places we don’t expect to go.”
Bravery Over Perfection
Courageous honesty is what truly connects with readers.
“Just be as honest and truthful and, you know, brave as you can in your writing and it will touch people.”
Follow the Thing Calling You
The most meaningful work usually starts with what we’ve been avoiding.
“Get really clear about what is that one thing that’s been calling that it’s just been hard to make the time for?”
Closing Reflection
Talking with Soleil is a reminder that honest writing is brave writing that moves people.
When we slow down, listen inward, and tell the truth about what’s really been calling us, the work becomes more than a book or a project. It becomes a reclamation.
If this conversation impacted you, you’re in the right community. Standout Authors Unbound is for writers who want their words to touch people in deep, meaningful ways. If that’s you, or someone you know, reach out. Let’s make sure your story gets the space it deserves.
