Community Highlights: Meet Myriah Gould of Goulden Publishing

Today we’d like to introduce you to Myriah Gould.

Hi Myriah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been a writer since I could hold a pencil; it’s part of my soul and has always been an outlet. I explored everything from poetry to writing music, and when I moved to LA at 18, I started my freelance journey. After about 10 years of exploration in almost every writing category possible, I realized how difficult it was to land a writing agent and publisher, which deterred me quite a bit. Five years after a pretty decent transition in life and some major introspection, I was watching the show “Younger” with Hilary Duff and Sutton Foster about powerhouse women working in a publishing house. I kind of just had an epiphany-type moment and realized that’s what my calling was. I took it upon myself to build a book publishing business, wanting to help beautiful writers that perhaps haven’t had their voices told yet, due to circumstances in the entertainment industry, like not having an agent.

I was fortunate enough to land an absolutely amazing author, soul, and human being. Two of my best friends introduced me to Kelly Balch, an incredible photographer in Los Angeles, who had recently told them she wanted to focus more on a book she’d written in 2010 and find a publisher to rebrand it. I’d just started my company so this was perfect timing. Upon first talking to her, I just knew that we were in for an amazing journey. Her book is incredible and is a story I knew everyone needed to read. A year and a half later, Aphrodite’s Sister: The Goddess of Emotion was released, on May 30th, 2023 and we had an amazing book launch party/signing at the iconic Book Soup on Sunset Blvd. It’s crazy because I remember going to Book Soup almost every day after going to my favorite coffee shop back when I had just moved to LA at 18. It was such a special, full-circle moment. We had three amazing sponsors for the event too: JuneShine, Necromancer Brewing, and Craig’s, which is where I worked for six years, so that was amazing too!

The book is available to order anywhere you’d get your books, and Kelly also has other signings lined up; hopefully, it’s only the beginning of what’s to come! I am so proud to know her and to have her by my side during this entire thing; it truly has felt more like a partnership than just a business client.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh man, the road has been TOUGH! I explored the idea of getting investors for a brief minute in time, yet ultimately decided to do it all on my own. So basically, my daytime work in brand management has helped me “moonlight” as a book publisher! It’s been grueling at times and I’ve been learning as I go; there’s been a lot of lessons, I’ll tell you that. However, that is par for the course and I’m here for it all.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Goulden Publishing?
Goulden Publishing wants to hear YOUR story. We want to hear the voices that wouldn’t necessarily get the chance to be heard without an agent. We accept unsolicited manuscripts and will read anything that comes in to properly give it a chance. We are more author-focused, making sure the author is happy. If they want something changed, we’ll change it. Most publishing houses focus predominantly on the well-being of themselves, and we want to help change the narrative of that.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can stay connected on Instagram or Facebook at Goulden Publishing or check out our website at www.gouldenpublishing.com.

You can also order Aphrodite’s Sister: The Goddess of Emotion anywhere you’d get your books, such as Book Soup or Barnes & Noble.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gouldenpublishing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gouldenpublishing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GouldenPublishing
• Other: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aphrodites-sister-kelly-balch/1142892738

Image Credits
Molly Adams