Meet Erica Castro (Lopez) | Publisher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Castro (Lopez) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Growing up my voice was silenced. I didn’t know how to stand up for myself and I began to write poetry in high school. The publishing process seemed so far away from me. Later, as an adult I wrote 3 books and going through the publication process was tough, so I learned the process and published my books and other authors to help amplify their voice. I am also publishing student work at the high school I work at because I want high schoolers to know that their voice matters. This year I am publishing the Schurr high school’s anthology, and 6 student authors. I am beyond proud of Lola Fernandez, Katlyn Borge Ortega, Leland Fernandez, Jakob Belloso, Brianna Troncoso, and Angie Santana. They all put a book together.

What should our readers know about your business?
I founded Daxson Publishing because it was very difficult for me personally to get through the publishing process, but really it was to help one of my friends Rosalilia M. Mendoza. It is amazing when you care about others you are willing to move mountains for them, more than what you would do for yourself. She had an incredible book called Lili of the Valley, and I wanted to make sure it was published, so I was blessed to have the opportunity to publish her book. I learned the process. I was mentored learned the process and in one year I have published 10 books through my company. It was hard, and there were times I wanted to quit, but I always told myself if you do not learn there is going to be an author in the future who needs you, and he/she will never know you because you quit. I am dedicated to helping publish marginalized authors. I believe everyone has a voice, and it needs to be heard. Poetry, stories, and books are so powerful and I think they heal others and help them overcome the pain. I always tell my authors and my students you tell yourself so the world can heal. I think art, music, poetry, stories, and photography are all avenues to self-expression and healing. I can honestly say that nothing has healed me like writing a book. I lost a loved one to suicide in 2022 and during the March of last year I wrote my collection of poetry that chronicles my grief in dealing with this loss. I never cried in my life like I did that month, but it brought me so much closer to healing because in writing I was processing the grief, and when you are in a lot of emotional pain you have to find an outlet to process it and that is what I did with my writing. One of the lessons I learned along the way is that there are different ways to do things and you have to keep trying. I had to step away from a project many times and then come back and find another way. I want the world to know that everyone’s voice matters, and everyone should speak their truth through their artistic modality. There is nothing more important than artistic expression because it gives purpose to our life, so send me your books, I am accepting manuscripts at daxsonpublishing@gmail.com

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The first person that impacted my life in publishing was Brenda Vaca owner of Riot of Roses Publishing house. She inspired me and taught me the process of publishing and she introduced me to Professor Mathew Mejia owner of Nervous Ghost Press, and with his mentorship I learned to publish books. I am beyond grateful to both of these rockstars who changed my life.

Website: https://daxsonpublishing.com

Instagram: ericalopez74; daxsonpublishing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericalifecoaching