Meet Doreen “Dee” C. Whitfield | PublisHer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doreen “Dee” C. Whitfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doreen “Dee” C., what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Assisting clients with great stories to tell & share with limited writing skills or an outlet to do so.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Chosen Vessels International Publishing House, Inc. is a “REACH OUT & TOUCH” publishing house. We are just a phone call away. We pride ourselves on the business of connecting with our clients in person. Our clients speak to actual team members on our staff. Me included. We’ve had a ten-year run at the Publishing business, and it hasn’t been easy as an African American and female. Yet, the passion I have for the gift of storytelling and writing motivates me to help others tell their stories. I’m super excited when a book is born and bookshelf ready! For CVIPH, it’s not just about being an author; it’s about sharing a part of yourself with others. Writing is a beast! Writing isn’t for you if you fear putting your heart and soul on paper tastefully! I’ve lost friends, family, and acquaintances as a writer. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but the drive of knowing the gift I’ve been given will help others makes it all suitable.
The support system has been minimum, but with the minimum has come loyalty. There’s no tradeoff for loyalty with CVIPH. I’ve learned you will never please everyone, and that’s ok. My company’s name is CHOSEN VESSELS because everyone needs to be CHOSEN to share their writings with our company. We believe each individual we are blessed to have as a client has been CHOSEN because “WE DO IT WRITE!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week-long visit to Jacksonville means beach time. There’s nothing like the beautiful beaches in Jacksonville, Florida. We would stay at One Ocean. The hotel is on the beach, and the food and atmosphere are to die for. An early Saturday morning Boat Tour or a Water Sports activity. There are many Bars and clubs for Nightlife. The Shim Sham Room is a great place to hang out. Flask & Cannon is a lively beachside spot to relax after exploring the beaches. Players by the Sea theatre. A thirty minute drive to Daytona beach is always a welcoming addition to your visit. There are so many places to drink and party. The itinerary is vast!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost my Mentor Lynn Skapyak Harlin is a top notch Editor. I started out as a poet at many of the venues Lynn Skapyak Harlin would attend, then a full-on mentee, following her from poetry venue to poetry venue around Jacksonville, Florida. Then, we eventually became real friends. She is forever my writing mentor who understands the gift of writing as no one I’ve ever known. She contains a magnitude of knowledge. Lynn is a role model for me and the many poets, writers, & authors she has embraced. Lynn encouraged a part of me I didn’t know existed. Lynn’s classes on her and her husband’s Shanty Boat would either allow you to become a better writer or send you home never to write another word. She was hellacious when it came to taking writing seriously. There would be no “One hit writers” in her class. You would either do it WRITE because you would not waste her time! I am grateful for her courage to show me what the gift of writing should look like.
Her long white ponytail, rimmed glasses, and cigarettes were a signature statement. You don’t come into Lynn’s class wearing your sleeves on your shoulders because you would get your feelings hurt by her critique! I would be afraid to share my writings with her because writers are sensitive about their stuff! You had to shake that sensitivity off when you were a student of Lynn Skapyak Harlin. Her raspy voice would cut you up and chew you out with words you didn’t want to hear. “Darling, who told you how you should write that phrase? It’s garbage, to say the least. Here’s what you need to do to make it better!”
Lynn has been an Educator and a Truck Driver. What a combination! She had stories and poems to share, and she has shared them with her supporters, students and the world.
I am a better writer, woman, and teacher because her life touched mine. She is simply the best. I would never have become a publisher without her mentoring, love, and encouragement. I’m where I am in the industry because I am blessed to have had parents who were writers and orators. God allowed me to meet an incredible Woman, Poet, and Writer I call a friend. Lynn Skapyak Harlin.

Website: www.eatingwordscafe.com