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From Self-Published Author to Publishing Company CEO

“Your story does not need permission to matter. If it lives in your heart, it deserves a place in the world.”

Amy M. Le, Founder of Quill Hawk Publishing

Meet Amy M. Le, an award-winning author of historical and women’s fiction as well as a soon-to-be-published memoir, From Broken to Brave: Memoir of a Heart Warrior scheduled for a July 30, 2026 release; a Congential Heart Defect (CDH) warrior and co-founder of The Heart Community Collection, a resource for the CHD community; and the CEO and founder of Quill Hawk Publishing, a company that provides hybrid publishing services and coaching for independent or emerging writers seeking non-traditional publishing paths.

I first met Le at a Pacific Northwest Writers Association conference several years ago. We stayed in touch, and I watched in awe as she charged forward in the publishing world blazing her own unique trail. She launched Quill Hawk Publishing after self-publishing her first three books: Snow in Vietnam, Snow in Seattle, and Snow’s Kitchen. The trilogy was inspired by her mother’s life in Vietnam, her escape and journey to the United States via refugee camps in Galang (Indonesia) and Singapore with her dangerously ill daughter (Le), and the challenges she faced when she settled in Seattle.

During our interview, Le described her initial navigation of the self-publishing process as a “nightmare,” but she said her dream of publishing her mother’s story provided the impetus to persist. Her resilience paid off. By the time she’d published her third book, she’d become an expert in copy editing, ISBN codes, cover and page design, formatting for print, timelines, distribution, SEO, reviews, and ads, etc. Having gained this extensive knowledge through hard work, long hours, trial and error, and tenacity, Le said she decided to use her hard-won expertise to guide other writers through the arduous independent publishing journey.

According to Le, her mission is “to amplify diverse voices through storytelling.” She accepts a limited number of submissions each year, gauging an author’s excitement and passion for their writing during a thirty-minute discovery call. 

Quill Hawk Publishing not only works with emerging writers to publish and launch their fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books but also with existing authors who have already published independently or traditionally. Le provided the following background on two existing authors she had the pleasure of working with and guiding through the publishing process in two very different situations.

Shira Sebban is a registered migration agent for refugees and a writer based in Sydney, Australia. Her book, Vietnam’s Modern Day Boat People: Bridging Borders for Freedom, was published in 2024 by McFarland. Sebban wanted the Vietnamese-translated edition published to reach the Vietnamese community in the United States; however, she faced many challenges finding a publisher. After an initial discovery call, Sebban joined the Quill Hawk Publishing family and got the Vietnamese edition, Thuyền Nhân Việt Nam Thời Hiện Đại: Vươn Tới Tự Do, published in April 2025 to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The book tells the story of how volunteer advocates from across the globe banded together to help several Vietnamese refugee families on their journey to freedom. Le joined Sebban in California and Texas on her successful U.S. book tour which was enthusiastically received by Vietnamese communities.  Encouraged by Quill Hawk Publishing, Sebban entered her English edition into The Bookfest contest where it won in the Human Rights & Political Movement category.

Le Ly Hayslip is a living legend and humanitarian titan. Her two memoirs, When Heaven and Earth Changed Places (1989), and Child of War, Woman of Peace (1993), chronicled her journey from war-torn Vietnam to a peace advocate. She inspired millions worldwide, and her work gained international recognition, inspiring the acclaimed film Heaven and Earth (1993), directed by Oliver Stone. This cinematic adaptation amplified her message of peace and reconciliation, enabling her to expand her humanitarian efforts. Ms. Le Ly wanted to publish a 380-page memoir that captured her 40 years of humanitarian work through her foundations. Despite her fame, her agent and publishers did not want the book. Quill Hawk Publishing not only published The Bamboo Can Bend but Not Break: Celebrating 40 Years of Service, but also traveled to Vietnam in March 2026 to help Hayslip get it published there, negotiating contracts with printers and navigating the requirements of the Vietnamese government. It was a successful launch followed by a plethora of media appearances. In the U.S., Quill Hawk Publishing published the book in time for Black April, coinciding with the end of the Vietnam War 51 years ago. The book launch party will be held July 4th in San Diego to commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States.

Quill Hawk Publishing will celebrate its fourth birthday in August. Since its founding, Le has helped publish seventy-six books and is currently under contract with seventy-seven authors. Click here for the Quill Hawk contact page. Le is happy to hear from any writers seeking publication or who want coaching through the self-publishing process.

Margaret Speck Ogawa
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Written by

Margaret Speck Ogawa

Raised in Honolulu, Margaret holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Hawai'i, an MBA from Northwestern University, and a master's degree in creative writing and literature from Harvard University. She has enjoyed careers in marketing, product management, and fashion. She currently lives in the Seattle area and is working toward publishing her debut novel. She enjoys all forms of creative writing and likes to incorporate diverse characters and cultures into her stories. She believes in enrichment through diversity and is passionate about family, friends, writing, reading, and travel.

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